The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Read the Parable of the Sower in Matt 13:3-9, 18-23. Overall, four classes of people heard the Word of God, but only the last group (1/4) actually received by faith that sound Bible doctrine. The other 3 groups represented lost souls —but who all heard the Word! Furthermore, after concluding the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned Israel not only to “hear” His words but “do” them, Matt 7:24-26. Now, also read this remarkable passage is Acts 24:24-27. Governor Felix heard the Gospel of Grace from Paul —and literally shuddered when he realized he was a lost, Hell-bound sinner! But, Felix procrastinated in receiving the gospel. For 2-years, he had more "Bible discussions" with Paul, but he remained undecided and lost, keeping Paul in chains.  Like so many people, it was far better had Felix heard nothing, than to have heard so much from God and yet believed none of it! So, to recap thus; hearing the Word of God is insufficient. We must respond to it in faith! ______________ Joi...

In Gal 1:11-12 Paul wrote, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Then in Gal 1:15-17 he added, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen (the Gentiles); immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,...".  Paul makes it very clear that his gospel came to him through direct revelation from the ascended Christ. It did not come from the other Apostles or any other person. I often hear people say, "I go by what Jesus said, not by what Paul said." The problem with this reasoning is that Paul's doctrine DID come from Jesus, after He ascended to heaven. So, if they are not going by Paul's doc...

  Just like Zechariah's prophecy in the image, there are dozens of other Old Testament prophecies that combine Christ’s two comings without any gap between them for our dispensation. Prophecy foretells two great events, (1) the meek and lowly advent of the Messiah as the Son of man, and (2) the defeat of Israel's enemies and the Millennial kingdom on the earth in which Israel would be preeminent. The Old Testament prophets didn't know of two additional comings of Christ to divide the two prophesied comings —one coming to start our grace dispensation (saving Saul) and one to end it (the rapture). These are the two comings according to mystery, that “which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom 16:25-26). Nothing in the Old Testament indicated God would delay the prophetic program for 2,000 years, but God delayed His judgment and extended His grace so Jews and Gentiles can be saved by faith alone in believing Paul's gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is grace! ____...

Faith is not emotions or feelings. Faith is knowledge of the truth. In other words, if the Bible says, "God is near you" (Eph.2:13), then faith believes that, irrespective of emotions and feelings. If your emotions rule you, then your life will be like a roller coaster, constantly tossed between the highs and the lows. Emotions cannot provide you any stability in your relationship with God. However, if you stand on faith, then no matter what your emotional state, you have a firm grounding, and God will be near, because truth says so, not because you think you feel Him. How do you learn to have faith? Well, remember that your whole being, your flesh (or human reasoning), defaults to emotions and feelings. Your default response to everything is feelings since you are conditioned on these since you were born. But faith comes by the Word. You grow in faith by learning the Word, studying the Word, gaining knowledge in the Word. As the Word starts to fill your thoughts, you will st...

If Judas was a disciple of Jesus but lost his salvation as prophesied when he betrayed Jesus, what is the chances that I can lose my salvation? Salvation under the Kingdom gospel was not secure because their salvation was based on their own faith and endurance. Jesus preached that kingdom believers had to pick up their cross and follow Him, and the one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom, and they had to endure to the end in their faith, Matt 24:13; Mk 13:13. In this regard, Judas lost his salvation. In the Tribulation, if one turned from faith in God, it meant that one was turning in allegiance to the Antichrist, and to eternal damnation! Thus, in this time one's salvation is also not secure. Our salvation in this dispensation of grace is eternally secure! Why? Because our salvation is not based on our own works and endurance, but it is based on the perfect faith and work OF Christ. It's because of Christ that we are sealed into the Body u...

  In 2 Cor.5:16, Paul says an incredible statement! "Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer" . You might think that Paul is blaspheming! How could Paul say this? Well, it's not that we forget Christ. Never! Paul means that we do not know him in his earthly ministry, which was under prophecy and to the Jews only (Gal.4:4; Matt.10:6; Matt.15:24). Today, we recognize Jesus "according to the revelation of the mystery", Rom.16:25. Jesus' earthly ministry, teachings, and signs, were for the Jews, to prove His identity and prepare them for their earthly inheritance. We can read the 4-gospels today and receive nuggets of truth, but none of it is directed to us. Our instructions are written in Paul's 13-epistles, and these are the commands addressed and directed to us today. Paul's epistles help us to know Jesus according to the revelation of the mysteries. We must study the Bible dividing prophecy and mys...

Did you know that Matt.5-7 is the inside scoop on how the Millennial Kingdom will be governed. Read it with this context and note its uncompromising laws. It is clear that righteousness is on a WHOLE new level.  Now, if you wonder how in the world one can abide by those laws; know that the Jews will be perfect examples of this righteousness, having the laws written on their hearts and empowered by the Spirit to walk in these ways, Jer 31:31-34. Second, Satan is imprisoned in the bottomless pit, Rev 20:3, thus temptation and deceit in the Gentile nations will not be prevalent and education in the law will keep them in the ways of righteousness, truth, and peace. We are not in this Kingdom today and we are still subject to temptation and deceit, but we have the Grace doctrine. As we grow in knowledge of God's Word and submit to obedience to it, 2Co 10:5, we can mortify the deeds of the body, walk in the spirit, and learn to please God, Rom 8:1-17.