Little is Much

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and behold how the people cast money into the treasury: and much that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41,42 KJV).

In today’s Scripture, Jesus watched people throw money into the Temple treasury. A poor widow cast in two mites, a farthing—only 1/64th of a laborer’s daily wages! The Lord Jesus calls over His disciples and tells them (verses 43,44): “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

This poor widow had almost nothing, and yet she gave what little she did have. Today’s “make-a-quick-buck” religious systems demand you give large “tithes.” Give a generous donation for candle lighting and prayers. In special cases, some churches press their members to give away all their savings to the church!

In this the Dispensation of Grace, the Apostle Paul never sets a minimum (or maximum) for giving. Today, you cannot give “too much” or “too little.” Then how do you know what amount to give? We read in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” No matter how much you give, do it “cheerfully” (put your whole heart into it!).

God’s work needs to be accomplished through the ministry of the local church. It requires money. You need to consider playing a role in giving to your local grace church or ministry. Let God’s Word work in you and God’s Word working in you will cause you to give what He wants you to give. Never let someone tell you that you gave too much or too little.

If you cannot afford to give much just remember the poor widow: little is much!

The Holy Spirit: Person or Force?

Monday, July 18, 2011

“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? … Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3,4 KJV).

Is the Holy Spirit a Person of the Godhead? According to the cults, the Holy Ghost is simply God’s “active force,” not God. Today’s Scripture says that the Holy Ghost is God. Will you believe God? (Will you believe the Holy Ghost?) Or will you believe the worthless, foolish tradition of men?

Furthermore, according to the Bible, the Holy Spirit exhibits the characteristics of a Person, not an inanimate force:

  • The Holy Ghost speaks, shows, and guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
  • The Holy Ghost can be blasphemed/spoken against (Matthew 12:31,32; Mark 3:29-31; Luke 12:10).
  • The Holy Ghost can be grieved/saddened (Ephesians 4:30).
  • The Holy Ghost teaches with words (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
  • The Holy Ghost speaks (2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Kings 22:24; 2 Chronicles 18:23; Ezekiel 11:5; Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11; Acts 1:16; Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19; Acts 28:25; Galatians 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:7; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; Revelation 3:6,13,22; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 22:17).
  • The Holy Ghost reveals (Luke 2:26; Ephesians 3:5).
  • The Holy Ghost lives/dwells (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14).
  • The Holy Ghost appoints (Acts 20:28).
  • The Holy Ghost invites or requests (Acts 11:12).
  • The Holy Ghost bears witness (John 15:26; Acts 5:32; Acts 20:23; Romans 8:16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 5:6-8).
  • The Holy Ghost makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26,27).
  • The Holy Ghost reasons/thinks (Acts 15:28).
  • The Holy Ghost has knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10,11).
  • The Holy Ghost can be tested (Acts 5:9).
  • The Holy Ghost can be vexed/troubled (Isaiah 63:10).

The above verses are just a few examples of the Holy Ghost exhibiting the attributes of a Person. He is not simply “God’s active force,” as the cults suggest. The Holy Spirit is a living Person, one of the three Persons of the Godhead.

The One Baptism

Sunday, July 17, 2011

“There is… one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:5 KJV).

Do you need water baptism for salvation? What about for a testimony? In today’s Scripture, our Apostle Paul tells us that we only need ONE baptism today. Rather than speculating as to what that one baptism could be, why not search Paul’s epistles for the answer?

Evidently, our one baptism is not water baptism, for Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize” (1 Corinthians 1:17). In fact, Paul did not water baptize every believer in Corinth, only some of them (1 Corinthians 1:14-16)! At this point, by our forbidding water baptism today, 99.999 percent of Christendom would disagree—oh well! “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The ONLY baptism we need today is the baptism whereby the Holy Spirit—not a priest or preacher—places us in the Church the Body of Christ. This is a waterless, supernatural baptism. Paul also refers to this baptism in Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, and Galatians 3:27. Remember, “baptism” in Scripture does not necessarily mean water baptism.

Today’s Scripture, in its context, lists three of the seven doctrines that we share as members of the Church the Body of Christ. The one baptism that you need today is already yours in Christ! When you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you received your one baptism by the Holy Spirit placing you into a living, unbroken union with Jesus Christ. That is the one baptism necessary for salvation today in the Dispensation of Grace.

Never let some minister try to force you to be water baptized, either for salvation or for a testimony. Water baptism was for the salvation of the nation Israel in her kingdom program (Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).

Binding the Strong Man

Saturday, July 16, 2011

“Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house” (Matthew 12:29 KJV).

Do you ever wonder why the Lord Jesus Christ cast out devils during His earthly ministry? Why did Christ give His apostles the power to cast out evil spirits (Matthew 10:8; Mark 16:17)? From Genesis to Malachi, the Bible is almost silent about evil spirits. When we come to the Four Gospel Records, there is a tremendous rise in devil possession. Why?

The context of today’s Scripture is Christ has just healed a devil-possessed man, who was also blind and dumb (mute) (verses 22-30). Immediately, the Pharisees blurt: “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils” (verse 24). The Pharisees wrongly accuse Christ of using Satan’s power to cast out Satan’s evil spirits.

Today’s Scripture is part of Jesus’ response: “I am binding the strong man.” Devil-possessed Jews is Satan’s method of hindering Christ from establishing His kingdom in the earth! In Matthew 12:28, Christ explains why He cast out devils: “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”

Israel’s kingdom is near, so Satan has polluted Israel with his evil spirits. By casting out devils, Christ is cleansing Israel of her satanic possession and preparing her for her kingdom to be established. The devils indwelling the Gadarene man “besought [Jesus] much that he would not send them away out of the country” (Mark 5:10). The “country” here is Israel.

The prophet predicted what the LORD would do one day: “I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zechariah 13:2). Whenever Christ sets up His earthly kingdom at His Second Coming, He will bind Satan in the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).

Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, God is not trying to reclaim the earth. Consequently, devil exorcism is unnecessary today.

A Scrawny Man Serving a BIG God

Friday, July 15, 2011

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee;” (1 Samuel 17:45,46 KJV).

Imagine seeing Goliath, whose height was “six cubits and span” (verse 4)—roughly 10 feet (3 meters)! Verse 7 says his spear’s head alone weighed about 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and verse 5 says his armor coat weighed 165 pounds (75 kilograms)!

Goliath, ready for battle, grips his gigantic weapons. Suddenly, a puny Jewish boy appears before him with only a sling and a bag of five stones. How ridiculous, right? How can little boy David overcome Goliath, the Philistines’ champion? Someone BIG is behind little David.

“…Not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are:” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

Saints, in today’s Scripture, we see God’s wisdom demonstrated. Watch little boy David sling his small stone. Gigantic Goliath chuckles, until God sinks the rock deep into his forehead, killing him (1 Samuel 17:49,50). Goliath was a BIG man who served a PUNY god. David was a SCRAWNY man who served a BIG God. David won only because God won.

Our work for the Lord is difficult. Like David, we are so weak in our own strength. Satan’s world system is so strong, like Goliath. We, as young David, boldly say, “We will not be intimidated. The power of God Almighty is behind us. We are on God’s side, so in the end, we [scrawny people] win!”

“Old Granny” Planet Earth?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them” (Genesis 2:1 KJV).

Most scientists tell us the universe is 13.7 billion years old. They insist that our solar system and earth are about 4.55 billion years in age. Throughout my undergraduate years in college geology, those numbers were drilled into my head. However, my mind was well grounded in the Scriptures. Consequently, I was set on a young (6000-year-old) earth.

Note the complex systems: the complicated chemical makeup of rocks, the intricate human genome, and the meticulous movements of the planets and their moons around the sun. These complex systems do not haphazardly appear! There must be a Creator God.

Man has devised a means to “get around” the evidence of the Creator: “Just give it enough time, billions upon billions of years, and it will come to pass!” Geological and biological evolution demand long periods of time—termed “deep time.” Deep time is the linchpin of evolutionary theory. By destroying the concept of deep time, the Bible silences evolutionary theory.

Genesis describes an original, fully functional universe. Everything is “good” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25). Chapter 1 concludes: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Upon the completion of the six consecutive days of creation, God sees everything as “very good.” Perfect!

God was pleased with the universe’s workings. God resting on the Sabbath was an indication that creation was finished (Genesis 2:1-3). There was no sin, sickness, decay, or death. Nothing needed improvement. The Bible does not demand deep time for systems to increase in functionality and efficiency.

In fact, just a few hours old, Adam was talking and naming the creatures (Genesis 2:19,20,23)! Hours-old trees were already producing fruit (Genesis 2:9,16,17)! The universe’s systems were fully functional from the beginning, throwing a monkey wrench into the concept of deep time.

Time to live in reality. Believe Genesis as is. Earth is no granny—she is but a teen! 🙂

What About Unanswered Prayer?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalm 66:18 KJV).

Unanswered prayer is a popular topic. Why are some prayers “unanswered?”

Read Isaiah 59:1,2: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Using the above verses, denominationalists say that if we have unconfessed sin, God does not hear our prayers (or He refuses to answer them). Of course, these religionists are not “rightly dividing the word of truth” like 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs.

Before we claim a Bible passage as ours, we need to notice to whom is the passage written. Psalm 66:18 and Isaiah 59:1,2 are not written to us in the Dispensation of Grace. They are God’s message to the nation Israel. God made a covenant with Israel—if Israel refused to listen to Him, He judged them in chastisement (in this case, unanswered prayer). Israel had to perform and obey if they wanted God’s blessings. That was their agreement with God in the Old (Mosaic) Covenant (see Deuteronomy 28).

It would make no sense to steal Israel’s passages (like Isaiah 59:1,2 and Psalm 66:18), because God dealt with Israel under law whereas He deals with us under grace (Romans 6:14,15). We are NOT in Israel’s works-religion (performance-based acceptance) system.

God judging us for unconfessed sin? If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we have perfect righteousness. How can God impute sin to us when we are in His Son (Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19)? As Christians, we can boldly come to God our Father in prayer. He hears all our prayers.

So, why do we not always get our prayers answered how we want? Evidently, we are trying to get God to do something He is not doing today (like asking Him for the promises He gave Israel and never promised us). Unanswered prayer is the result of us not praying in accordance with Paul’s epistles.

On the Sufferings of This Present Time

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 KJV).

Everyone suffers, Christians and lost people alike. Our suffering originates from three sources:

  1. We all live under the curse of sin. According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, matter is becoming less and less usable. Every living creature grows sick and eventually dies. Romans 8:21,22 and Genesis 3:16-19 explain the curse (the bondage of corruption) was instituted on creation because of sin. Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
  2. We make mistakes, hurting ourselves and others. Others make bad decisions, and they negatively affect us. Of course, this too is closely related to #1 (sin). Christ said, “That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).
  3. We Christians suffer for righteousness’ sake. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29).

Until we leave this present evil world of Satan, we will continue to suffer from all of the above. The good news is what Paul writes in today’s Scripture: this temporary suffering is nothing when compared to the eternal glorification that is awaiting us as members of the Body of Christ.

When we Christians receive our glorified bodies in heaven, we will be free from these bodies of sinful flesh, never to suffer again. What a hope we have in heaven, all because of Christ Jesus and His finished cross work on Calvary!

Lest They Also Come Into This Place of Torment

Monday, July 11, 2011

“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27,28 KJV).

While fools often quip they anticipate their partying with friends in hell, the rich man of today’s Scripture was certainly not partying. By the way, this is NOT a parable.

The Bible says the rich man’s soul was in torments, greatly tortured by hell’s flames (verses 23-25). His mind was overwhelmed with regretful memories. He remembered he still had five lost brethren alive on earth, so he asked Abraham to send Lazarus to go witness to them and warn them of hell’s torments.

Notice Abraham’s response: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (verse 29). If someone wants to avoid everlasting hellfire, he or she needs to study God’s Word and learn how to escape God’s righteous judgment against our sins.

Christian ambassadors, we have been entrusted with “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Our ministry is to tell the entire world they can have an opportunity to avoid hell because Jesus Christ suffered for them and as them on Calvary’s cross!

“[Christ] tasted death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). Christ was “made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). The Bible says that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

It has been said that the spirit of evangelism is stronger in hell than it is in the Christian heart. We all have family and friends headed to hell, yet we lapse into attitudes of unconcern, hoping that someone else will witness to them. Be bold in Christ. Tell them of Calvary’s cross. Pray for their salvation, too.

Whenever you fall into a state of complacency (unconcerned) in sharing the salvation found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be motivated to speak up when you remember the rich man’s haunting words: “Lest they also come into this place of torment!”

Aquila and Priscilla

Sunday, July 10, 2011

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Romans 16:3,4 KJV).

In Acts 18:1-3, during his second apostolic journey, the Apostle Paul came to Corinth for the first time. It was here that he met Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish husband and his Jewess wife who recently emigrated from Rome. Like Paul, they were tentmakers by craft, so the Apostle lodged with them. During that time spent with Paul, Aquila and Priscilla came to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

From subsequent verses, we learn that Aquila and Priscilla became a husband-wife ministry team, laboring alongside Paul in the Gospel (Acts 18:18). Finally, Paul left them at Ephesus. There in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met Apollos, a Jew who was not using the Bible correctly. The Bible says they explained God’s way “more perfectly” to Apollos (Acts 18:24-26).

When writing to the Corinthians, in the A.D. mid-50s, Paul penned, “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla’s house served as the meeting place for a local Christian assembly! Suddenly, the Bible is silent about them for many years.

By the time Paul writes his final epistle, 2 Timothy, circa A.D. 66-68, Aquila and Priscilla have been saved for approximately ten years. Thankfully, they are some of the few Christians who have not abandoned Paul. Just before dying, Paul writes, “Salute Prisca and Aquila…” (2 Timothy 4:19).

In today’s Scripture, Aquila and Priscilla are noted for risking their lives for the Apostle Paul. Precisely what they did is unknown, but let us always be willing to risk our lives in order to preserve the lives of our Christian brethren. After all, if Christ laid down His life for us, surely we can lay down our lives for others, especially for those in Christ.

Aquila and Priscilla, two saints of mighty deeds!