Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #3

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Be sure to notice the following verses that Paul wrote during the Acts period. Romans chapter 11: “[7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. [8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) unto this day. [9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: [10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

“[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them….

“[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

As opposed to the LORD God reaching the nations through redeemed Israel as prophecy foretold (Isaiah 60:1-3, Zechariah 8:20-23, and so on), He is presently evangelizing the world through Paul’s ministry and Israel’s blinding, fall, and diminishing (Romans 11:11-14). Here is the pause in prophecy….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #2

Monday, June 3, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Our Authorized Version King James Bible refers to “Saul” (of Tarsus) 22 times—and only in Acts (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1,3; Acts 9:1,4,8,11,17,19,22,24,26; Acts 11:25,30; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:1,2,7,9; Acts 22:7,13; Acts 26:14). From today’s Scripture onward, the Bible begins designating him “Paul”  (158 times total). Interestingly, the Apostle Paul never refers to himself as “Saul” in any of his writings, Romans through Philemon; he always uses “Paul.” Why?

Remember, he was both a Hebrew citizen (Acts 26:4; Philippians 3:5) and a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37,38; Acts 22:25-27,29; Acts 23:27). Thus, he was given two names at his birth. “Saul” is Hebrew (meaning “asked, desired, wished”), whereas “Paul” is Latin or Roman. You can see the Greek form of his name “Paulus” in Acts 13:7—although this was the deputy or governor of the island of Cyprus. From the time of Acts 13:9 (today’s Scripture), the Apostle’s Gentile (Roman/Latin/Greek) name begins to take preeminence in the Bible record and “Saul,” his Jewish name, becomes less used.

In the context of today’s Scripture, we find the first miracle of Saul/Paul as documented in the Bible. This miracle illustrates his ministry. Re-read Acts 13:1-12. A Gentile (Sergius Paulus) expresses desire to hear the Word of God from Barnabas and Saul/Paul, but an unbelieving Jew (Elymas/Barjesus) interferes by refusing them entrance. Elymas/Barjesus represents his apostate nation Israel under Satan’s influence, obstructing Paul’s apostleship from reaching the nations of the world (check 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). Responding to Elymas/Barjesus, Paul curses him with temporary physical blindness—which corresponds to Israel’s momentary spiritual blindness as Paul’s ministry converts the Gentiles (Romans 11:7-14,25-27). Observe it well: it is in this setting that the Bible begins switching his name from “Saul” to “Paul” (Acts 13:9).

Doing a little research, we gather that “Paul” in Greek is “Paulos” (meaning “little”). It is closely related to “pauo,” which is defined as “to pause, stop, desist, cease.” God the Holy Spirit is communicating through the miracle of Acts 13:1-12 that He has paused Israel’s prophetic program to begin our mystery program….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #1

Sunday, June 2, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

To answer this question, we read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

“[5] And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. [6] And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: [7] Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. [8] But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

“[9] Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. [10] And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? [11] And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. [12] Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

Looking closely at today’s Scripture, we comprehend the pause of prophecy….

333 Turns 13!

Saturday, June 1, 2024

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17 KJV).

Dear saints and readers, “333 Words of Grace” celebrates its 13th birthday today!

Through the years, many questions have been (hopefully) answered. Perhaps a few doubts and misconceptions have been dispelled. Maybe a couple of new friends have been made. The Church the Body of Christ might have grown in size and maturity. Doubtless, faith has been given a firm foundation in sound Bible doctrine, the Word of God’s Grace. In a world of ever-increasing uncertainty and instability, is it not comforting to actually know what is going on and how to fix it? Education, religion, drugs, alcohol, activism, political elections, philosophy, and theology are man’s futile attempts to correct problems he was able to cause but is utterly powerless to reverse.

Christianity is not we using sinful flesh to “do right” or “do better.” The flesh always wants to do something, be something, and live something. However, we are not perfect, so we cannot do something. We are doomed in Adam, so we cannot be something. We are dead in our trespasses and sins, so we cannot live something. It will be an extremely happy day for us when we swallow our religious pride and place our faith solely in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Not only is this Gospel of Grace the key to being saved (delivered) from Hell, but also from sin’s dominion every day.

Over the course of these last 156 months, we have studied the Authorized Version King James Bible rightly divided as per 2 Timothy 2:15. No, we do not know everything, but we know more than we did yesterday—and, certainly, more than we did 13 years ago! God’s words and will have become a little clearer, now that we have become a tad wiser (today’s Scripture). We are growing in grace, are we not? Some of us have graduated to Heaven, having left Earth. Others have moved off into apostasy, departing from the truth. Still, we are here to rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ as touching this ministry milestone and reflect on all these years of daily grace Bible studies. We are truly thankful, and, by God’s grace, we move onward!

Please note all 13 years’ worth of studies are archived here.

Christ’s Spit #4

Friday, May 31, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

As the Lord Jesus Christ was compassionate toward these disabled men of Mark chapter 7, Mark chapter 8, and John chapter 9, so He is merciful even now toward the entire world. Billions of souls are still spiritually blind, deaf, and speech-inhibited. Deceived by the evil world system, they cannot see, hear, or speak the simple Gospel of the Grace of God. Yet, we can and will!

“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Just like the Lord imparted physical health to the disabled, so He offers to graciously provide us with spiritual health. On Calvary’s cruel cross, He took upon Himself the penalty for our sins. He suffered as our substitute, that we not pay for our sins forever in Hell and the Lake of Fire. “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Romans 3:23-28: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Also read Romans 4:1-5.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30,31). Here is how we have the spit (life) of Christ applied to our account!

*NOTE: Saints, by God’s grace, we have now closed 13 full years of daily Bible studies here at “333 Words of Grace!”

Christ’s Spit #3

Thursday, May 30, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Re-read Mark 8:22-25. As we can see, Christ again employed spitting as a method of healing. This time, He ministers to a man who was blind. Why did He spit on the man’s eyes? Recall our earlier comments as touching the miracle in chapter 7. These eyes are functionally dead. If they are to work as the Creator intended, He must intervene by imparting life and lubrication (saliva) to them. He does just that, thereby showing Israel how He can restore them to see spiritual truths clearly.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2; cf. Matthew 4:16). “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness” (Isaiah 29:18). “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house…. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:6,7,16).

Re-read John 9:1-7. The Lord Jesus cured this blind man by first spitting on the ground, mixing His saliva with the clay/soil, and then placing this concoction directly onto the man’s eyes. Finally, He sent the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man returned with his sight! What we want to see here is Jesus’ spit (life) was again instrumental in restoring organs that were functionally dead. The washing with water rinsed away the dirt and spit. You can see verses 10-15 for additional information. Israel is granted spiritual sight, free from the blindness of sin and Satan!

Still, there is more….

Christ’s Spit #2

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Re-read Mark 7:31-35, today’s Scripture in its context. Listening to these verses, we understand this poor man was both unable to hear and speak properly. However, the Lord Jesus healed him… in a most bizarre way. He spit on His finger and then touched the man’s tongue! While we find that rather disgusting, that was the way Jesus chose to cure him. Why?

If we come to appreciate more about saliva, we can get a better understanding of Jesus’ procedure. Approximately 99 percent of saliva is simply water. (The other one percent is made of various enzymes and proteins that aid in tasting and digesting food, and protecting from tooth decay.) The man’s tongue is functionally dead. In Scripture, water symbolizes life. “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6). “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb…. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:1,17). Thus, one way to look at the Lord’s behavior here is Him imparting water/life to the man’s tongue.

Moreover, saliva lubricates our tongue and lips to facilitate our speech. We can also see Christ as moistening the man’s mouth, making it easier for him to talk for the first time in who knows how long! What is being demonstrated here? Israel, now converted from Satan, can speak forth God’s Word to evangelize the Gentiles in the Millennial Kingdom (see Zechariah 8:20-23, for example). Read verse 23: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

There is still more….

Christ’s Spit #1

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Today’s Scripture in context: “[31] And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. [32] And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. [33] And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; [34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. [35] And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.”

Now, Mark chapter 8: “[22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [23] And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. [24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. [25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

Finally, John chapter 9: “[1] And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

We study this more fully….

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 27, 2024

“For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV).

In the United States, today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their time and lives to provide our physical freedom. Likewise, as Christians, we have spiritual freedom, which was more costly. Someone had to die to give us the eternal life we now enjoy….

Scripture describes a spiritual warfare between good and evil, God’s truth program versus Satan’s lie program: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11,12; see also verses 13-20).

Satan distracts mankind from God’s pure Word, the Bible, keeping unbelievers lost (dead in their sins), and preventing unbelievers and Christians from knowing God’s will. The devil draws them away (seduces them) from God’s Word by using religious tradition and human “wisdom” (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 3:1-3).

God loves us, so at Calvary’s cross, Christ fought for us sinners, died in battle (today’s Scripture), shed His divine sinless blood, and eternally rescued us from Satan and sin: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15).

Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.”

If we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Now, God can use us for His glory for all eternity.

Beloved, let us rejoice in our victory over sin, death, and hell that Jesus Christ secured for us by going to Calvary’s rugged cross! Jesus Christ is now alive forevermore—He is our Hero, the Greatest Hero!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study “The Greatest Hero,” which can be read here or watched here.

Jeremiah 29:11 and Right Division #7

Sunday, May 26, 2024

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).

What is the truth about today’s Scripture?

Today’s Scripture is connected to the Jews’ Babylonian Captivity (see verse 10). For 70 years, the Kingdom of Judah would live in the foreign territory of Babylonia because of habitual violation of the Law of Moses. However, a remnant would come back to the Promised Land. In the short-term, that was the return under Zerubbabel and Ezra (see the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). In the long-term, however, it speaks of a regathering of Israel even future from us. That would be Christ’s Second Coming in Matthew 24:30,31.

Read the verses immediately following today’s Scripture: “[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [14] And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Israel’s believing remnant will recognize their apostate nation is doomed under the Old Covenant—but will be blessed under the New Covenant. As God drove the Jewish people from the land of Canaan during the Babylonian Captivity, so He will bring them back to the land of Canaan at Messiah’s return. See also Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Psalm 126:1-6; Isaiah 11:11,12; Jeremiah 16:14,15; Ezekiel 36:16-38; Zephaniah 3:20; et cetera.

We study the Bible “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15), carefully separating Israel from the Body of Christ, prophecy from mystery, Peter from Paul, earth from heaven, and law from grace. After the “evil” or curses of the Law have fallen on Israel and Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 39:16; Jeremiah 44:27), the “thoughts of peace” will be brought to pass (the “expected end” or hope of today’s Scripture). This is the LORD dealing with Israel, not us! “For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Jeremiah 32:42).