Twice-Guilty Thieves #1

Sunday, January 13, 2013

“For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face” (2 Corinthians 11:20 KJV).

Beloved, take today’s Scripture to heart, lest religion take your heart so they can take from you!

Recently, I watched a Bible teacher on television who claimed, “God has material riches waiting for you, and you can discover all the details by buying my book. [Seems to me like he is going to receive the ‘material riches!’] Just send in a ‘seed of faith’ to my ministry and watch God give it all back… and more! Claim those promises in Deuteronomy chapter 28, and receive those material blessings from God!”

We cannot imagine the millions who are lured into this trap. This scheme is especially useful in times of financial instability, when people are seeking economic relief. Jesus Christ condemned the religious leaders of His day because they “devoured widows’ houses” (Matthew 23:14). He called Israel’s Temple “a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:12,13). Paul even admitted, when he was lost, he “profited in the Jews’ religion above many [his] equals” (Galatians 1:14). As Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee, he enjoyed a lucrative lifestyle.

It is certainly Scriptural to “name and claim” Israel’s material promises in the Bible. However, it is also dishonest and undispensational to “name and claim” Israel’s material promises in the Bible. Just because it is in the Bible does not make it God’s Word to you. Can you honestly expect God to honor your taking someone else’s possessions and claiming to do it in His name?! God forbid! Does God agree with these church leaders mishandling His Word so they can extort from their congregations?! God forbid!

Bluntly, “name it and claim it” preaching is summed up as, “Quote the verse and take the purse!” It was true of religion in the day of the Apostle Paul (today’s Scripture), and it is definitely true today. Dear saints, let not the religious system take you and rob you of your spiritual wealth in Christ. Give under grace—dispensationally, cheerfully, and carefully.

Wilt Thou Love Instruction or Hate Reproof?

Saturday, January 12, 2013

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1 KJV).

We can choose to either love instruction, or hate reproof.

No one person has the perfect answer to every issue in life. God’s Word, the Holy Bible, does not tell us specifics about how to handle every life matter. However, there is plenty of “instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) contained therein, and it will literally take an eternity to soak it all in. Will we, by faith, submit to God’s instructions to us, or will we distance ourselves from the Being whose “understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5)?

As sons and daughters of Adam, we do not naturally “love instruction” (today’s Scripture). We want to do things our own way, in our own time, and at our own pace. “Me! Me! ME! You are not my boss! Do not tell me what to do! I will make my own decisions, no matter what the consequences are.” Such an attitude is “brutish” (today’s Scripture): it is uncivilized, senseless, and even animal-like. God has tolerated this for 6,000 years from billions of people—imagine the longsuffering of God for witnessing it for this long!

The Bible is one giant book of instruction, for it informs us regarding what God has done, is doing, and will do. It also demonstrates His mercy, wisdom, love, and grace. Alas, very few “love [that] instruction.” In fact, the Bible’s claims are often met with, “I do not believe in God; leave me alone!” “That Book has mistakes; it was written by man.” Such replies are “brutish.”

The Bible is one giant book of reproof, for it reprimands us concerning our fallen (sinful) state. It also provides information about God’s plan to restore us unto Himself through Jesus Christ. Alas, almost all “hate [that] reproof.” In fact, the Bible’s claims are often met with, “Oh no, not me! I am no sinner!” “I can get to heaven without Christ.” Again, such responses are “brutish.”

Let us cherish and believe God’s instructions to us—Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. Let us not be brutish.

By Little and Little I Will Drive Them Out

Friday, January 11, 2013

“By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land” (Exodus 23:30 KJV).

God promises to slowly evict Canaan’s inhabitants so Israel can possess the land. Will Israel believe God?

The LORD claims He will drive out the Promised Land’s inhabitants “by little and little,” as opposed to instantaneously. Why? The previous verses demonstrate God’s wisdom in that regard!

God says to Moses regarding Israel’s entering the Promised Land: “I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee” (verses 27-29).

Firstly, notice God’s power over the natural world. We cannot help but smile when He promises to utilize hornets (wasps) to chase Israel’s enemies out of the land! Secondly, observe why God will slowly drive them out. These Gentiles have houses, fields of crops, and herds of livestock, and God will give those possessions to Israel. Lest the wild beasts come into the land and take it over before Israel comes, God will gradually remove these Gentiles, and slowly, Israel will move into their residences, gaining all of their substance.

Joshua and Caleb encouraged Israel, who feared the size and strength of those Gentiles: “Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9). Israel, despite all of God’s promises, wanted to stone to death Joshua and Caleb (verse 10). And so, sadly, foolish Israel spent the next 40 years wandering outside of the Promised Land, until that generation died, for they believed not the LORD who said, “by little and little I will drive them out….”

The Son of Man Hath Not Where to Lay His Head?

Thursday, January 10, 2013

“And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58 KJV).

What did the Lord mean in today’s Scripture?

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were poor (Luke 2:24 cf. Leviticus 12:8), but their poverty is not the issue in today’s Scripture. The context suggests that our Lord is actually exposing Israel’s unbelief.

Today’s Scripture is Jesus’ response to a previous statement, so read that preceding verse: “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (verse 57). According to Matthew 8:19,20, the companion passage, this man is a scribe, a religious leader in Israel.

This scribe makes a promise to Christ, to follow Him wherever He will go. Yet, notice Christ’s reply: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” The foxes and birds have places of residence, but not Jesus Christ. Where can He go? His nation—His own “flesh and blood”—unapologetically rejects Him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11).

Over 30 years prior to the events of today’s Scripture, a baby (Jesus) was born to a virgin in Israel. He was Israel’s Messiah-King, but sinful Israel did not want Him. Instead, she let wicked King Herod murder His (toddler) contemporaries, forcing Joseph and Mary to take the young child Jesus and flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18). When they later returned to Israel, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph dwelt in Nazareth, the “despised place” (verses 19-23). “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

With His nation callously rejecting Him, the only place Jesus Christ could go was Calvary’s cruel cross, to be sacrificed for their sins! Even after His resurrection, they refused to have Him. He ascended to heaven as a royal exile, but He shall return, and then He shall have a place to lay His head!

A Glimpse of the Kingdom of God

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

“But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27 KJV).

What did the Lord mean in today’s Scripture?

Our Lord is speaking of three apostles in particular, as the next verses (28-36) explain. In the verse previous to today’s Scripture, He spoke of Himself “coming in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (verse 26).

Notice how Matthew and Mark record that verse: “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1).

If we consider today’s Scripture in light of Matthew 16:28 and Mark 9:1 (above), we understand that these verses describe Christ’s glorious Second Coming to establish His earthly kingdom. Reading Matthew 16:28–17:8, Mark 9:1-8, and Luke 9:27-36, we realize that Jesus, in today’s Scripture, is referring to the Apostles Peter, John and James, who saw His radiant body on the Mount of Transfiguration. Essentially, Peter, John, and James saw a preview of Christ coming in His glory at His Second Coming to set up His kingdom on earth. The Lord’s appearance was glowing white, and His clothes were whiter than bleached garments!

Matthew 25:31 says: “The Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:” Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, refers to “the brightness of [Christ’s] coming.” Peter, describing Christ’s kingdom, writes in 1 Peter 1:11, “the glory that should follow.” Many years after Christ’s earthly ministry, John later saw some of that glory when he later just before he wrote the book of the Revelation: “and [Christ’s] countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (1:16).

What a glorious day Christ’s Second Coming will be!

Established Saints #7

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

I speak from experience when I claim that denominational teaching hides God’s will from Christians. Religious tradition deceived me for nearly 15 years, so I was scripturally ignorant. Today’s average “Christian” church is so fixated on vain customs, rites, ceremonies, programs, rituals, prayers, dogmas, and experiences, its members have little to no time to study the Bible for themselves. The method whereby God grows us spiritually is Bible study, so if we are distracted by everything else, is it any wonder why most professing Christians know little to nothing about what God is actually doing today, and know everything they presume Him to be doing today?

Dear saints, if we are to be used of God to the fullest extent, we must be “established:” we need to be Christians who have a solid footing in sound Pauline Bible doctrine. This is only possible when we study and believe the Bible “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15). Unless we understand where we are in God’s Word, and where in the Bible to find ourselves, we will never appreciate our identity as members of the Body of Christ, and we will never know what God wants us to do in this the Dispensation of Grace. We do not go to the non-Pauline books of the Bible to try to find God’s will for us there (although we study all of the Bible!).

Trusting Christ as our personal Saviour is our birth into God’s family. Learning that Paul is our apostle is the first “baby step” in the Christian walk. Delving deeper and deeper into Paul’s epistles to discover God’s Word to us, and our belief in those doctrines we read, will mature us spiritually. We can then become adult Christians, who have a clear understanding and an immense appreciation of God’s will for us. Be ye “established saints!” 🙂

Established Saints #6

Monday, January 7, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

God wants “perfected” (matured) saints, an “edified” (built up) Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Thus, the layout of Paul’s epistles in Scripture is designed to educate the grace saint from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood, so the Christian can understand God’s will, delight in His will, and then work with Him to accomplish His will, like an educated, grown son would help his father in the “family business!” Hence, the “doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness” of the Holy Bible makes “perfect” Christians who are “throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age [spiritually mature], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13,14). As 1 Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

The Apostle Paul, in today’s Scripture, wanted to visit Rome and teach the saints sound Bible doctrine. The Holy Spirit through Paul desired these saints to be “established,” that their minds would be firmly settled in a clear understanding of God’s Word to us. However, Paul was repeatedly hindered by Satan’s policy of evil (verse 13). So, he wrote an epistle—the book of Romans—and sent it to Rome.

Dear saints, as in the case with the Roman saints, Satan will attempt to prevent you from learning God’s truth, too. Denominationalism hinders your spiritual growth, stunting the growth of your inner man as junk food does your outer man, thus robbing you and leaving you ignorant of God’s will. According to today’s Scripture, if you want to be “established” spiritually, you must rely on what Paul wrote 2,000 years ago, and forget appealing to church tradition!

Established Saints #5

Sunday, January 6, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

God wants us believers “established;” that is, to have us understand His Word as the Apostle Paul did. Our Lord Jesus Christ desires to His fill us with His life, but He cannot live His life in and through us until we know the doctrine that is His life!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Paul’s epistles follow this “doctrine, reproof, correction” pattern. Notice:

  • Romans – basic grace doctrine (Calvary’s finished crosswork: how it saves us and impacts our daily living; Israel’s past, present, and future statuses; practical grace living)
  • 1&2 Corinthians – reproof (carnality/spiritual immaturity, fornication, philosophy, pagan idolatry, denial of bodily resurrection, abuse of spiritual gifts, misuse of the Lord’s Supper, denial of Paul’s apostleship, embracing false teachers, condemned)
  • Galatians – correction (works-religion/legalism [Mosaic Law-keeping] condemned)
  • Ephesians – advanced form of Romans (Calvary’s finished crosswork: how it forms the Body of Christ and accomplishes God’s overall plan in creation).
  • Philippians – advanced form of 1&2 Corinthians (reproving disorderly saints)
  • Colossians – advanced form of Galatians (correcting asceticism, “self-denial” for religious purposes)
  • 1&2 Thessalonians – doctrine of the Lord’s coming for the Church Body of Christ (1), and for the nation Israel (2). After our glorification in heaven, reproof and correction are unnecessary.
  • 1&2 Timothy – church order
  • Titus – church order and good works
  • Philemon – brotherly love and Christian fellowship

The moment we trust Christ as our Saviour, we are spiritual babies. But, God wants us to grow spiritually, to become mature believers, to learn more and more and more about what He is doing and why He is doing it. We can then appreciate His Word and understand His purpose and plan for creation.

Established Saints #4

Saturday, January 5, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

The Bible’s canon—the arrangement of its books—is no coincidence, especially the order of Paul’s epistles. They follow the “doctrine, reproof, correction” pattern listed in the above verses. The Holy Spirit worked through believers in centuries past when they copied and collated the Bible manuscripts, and He supervised even the order of the Bible books!

Paul’s epistles are usually not arranged in the order he wrote them. The doctrine in the book of Romans is the most basic information for this the Dispensation of Grace, so it is the first of Paul’s epistles in the canon of Scripture (though Romans was not Paul’s first letter written). As we progress in reading through his epistles, we delve into deeper material (especially in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians). Before we try to grasp his latter epistles, we must first gain an understanding of the basic doctrine in Romans.

“Doctrine” is what we are to believe, “reproof” is a reprimand for misbehavior, and “correction” is to fix bad thinking. Paul’s epistles serve in all three capacities for the Body of Christ; the remainder of the Bible serves a similar purpose for the nation Israel. The Bible serves in these three capacities to “instruct in righteousness,” and its overall purpose is that, “the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17). God’s Word completely equips you to do everything He has for you to do and tells you everything you need to know. When you learn that information, you are “established” (today’s Scripture). God can then use you for His purposes because you know what He is doing.

Established Saints #3

Friday, January 4, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

God wants to build in us a “form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13). That word “form” is translated “pattern” in 1 Timothy 1:16. God wants to build inside of us a structure (an edifice) of sound doctrine. Thus, edification (building up) is necessary. “Ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Paul writes that he is “a wise masterbuilder” and he has “laid the foundation… Jesus Christ” (verses 10,11). The Apostle Paul is the chief architect. You must, must, MUST go to Paul’s epistles for the blueprints!

To wit, God wants to “stablish” (stabilize) your Christian life and inner man. He wants you to understand the life that He has given to you in Christ Jesus, so that you can understand what He is doing today. Then, you can, by faith, follow Him and work with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9)!

We read in Romans 16:25-26: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”

Notice the three-fold process of Christian edification:

  • “my gospel” — Paul’s Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is the foundation of the Christian life
  • “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery” — this is Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, the sound doctrine (building materials) which we use to build on that foundation
  • “the scriptures of the prophets” — this is all of the Holy Scriptures, in light of the doctrine revealed to Paul.

When we understand this information, we become “established,” firmly set, fixed, in a clear understanding of God’s Word (today’s Scripture).