Month: November 2023

We are all living in the end times foretold in the Bible. We know it in our heart and we can feel it in our bones. I’ve been restless the last six months especially. I have this sense of foreboding that something bad is about to happen to the United States and I can’t seem to shake this feeling of doom. I’m not the only one who feels this way either. I’ve talked to other people who feel the same way. I’ve studied God’s word for almost twenty years and Bible end time prophecy has been a primary focus for me from the beginning. In previous blogs I’ve tried to figure out when the rapture will occur, when the Second Coming will happen, and who the antichrist will be. I’m not going to go through all those machinations again. You can go back in my archives and read it yourself. Instead, I’m going to start with some of those previous conclusions as a baseline premise and build on them with new information and theories about what’s going to happen in this world very soon. I believe we only have ten short years before the rapture occurs in which to do our work for God. I will present Bible verses that support my assertion. In the meantime, God commands all believers to build up treasure in heaven by witnessing for Christ in order to save as many nonbelievers as they can for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Hosea 6:1-2 – Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.

Most pastors and Bible scholars will tell you the rapture could happen at any time because they say there are no more Bible prophecies that still need to be fulfilled before Jesus Christ comes in the air and calls all believers, both dead and alive, to himself before taking the saints back to heaven with him. I totally disagree with that assessment. I admit I don’t have their education or their credentials. I’m just a believer who loves to study God’s word and in so doing I’ve come to a different conclusion than they have. Let me explain my reasoning. The key to understanding God’s rapture timeline can be found in the small Old Testament book of Hosea, chapter six, verses one and two. Let’s break these verses down to see what God is telling us about the rapture to come:

Hosea 6:1 – “Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.”

The Israelites rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah so God has torn his church from them and given it to the Gentiles. God has punished his chosen people by making them pariahs among the nations of the world. However, God has not forgotten his promise to Abraham that the Israelites will be his covenant people forever. To fulfill his word God will one day restore the Jews to their former place as the apple of God’s eye. We know that will occur at the Second Coming when Jesus will save a Jewish remnant for heaven. Don’t believe all that evolution crap. The humanist world has been pushing evolution down our throat all our lives through our education system to the point where most people believe it. It just goes to show you if you tell a lie long enough most people will believe it.

Evolution is linear and there is no way a single cell organism could crawl out of the ocean and evolve into a human being made up of thirty trillion highly specialized cells comprised of vital organs, a multitude of different body tissues and complex body systems; and topped off with the greatest computer in the universe. You’ve got to be kidding me! God created man in one 24 hour day from the dust of the earth. God created human history to be 7000 years long; 1000 years for each of the seven days of creation. One day is equal to a thousand years and a thousand years is equal to one day. This is confirmed in 2 Peter 3:8. There was roughly 2000 years between creation and Abraham; another 2000 years between Abraham and Jesus; and there will be 2000 years between Jesus and the rapture, which is the church age we’re currently living in. Finally, there will be the last 1000 year period known as the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth from Jerusalem.

Hosea 6:2 – “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in his sight.”

Since the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah the Gentiles became the church of God by default, which is why the church age we are currently living in is called the time of the Gentiles. When the church age officially ends God will then turn his attention back to his chosen people Israel; to punish them and to save a Jewish remnant on the last day. God says the church age will last for two days. We’re talking about god-days which are 1000 years long. Scripture says the church age will last for 2000 years and AFTER that length of time God will again engage with Israel for the last week of God’s dealings with Israel. This is the seventieth week foretold by the prophet Daniel. A week in God’s economy lasts for seven years. The scriptures cannot be broken and God cannot lie. That means the rapture will not occur until God’s word is fulfilled. The rapture has to wait until the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled (2000 years).

In fact, the rapture is the event that signals the end of the church age and the end of 1000 year god-day number six. The third day referred to in Hosea is the millennium, the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ, who will rule the earth from the holy city of Jerusalem. We are currently living at the very end of the church age and the rapture is only ten years away. As believers this is a lucky time to be alive because many of us will not taste the sting of death because we will be translated while alive to meet Jesus in the air at the rapture where we’ll receive our glorified bodies. At the end of the millennium God will resurrect from hell within the earth all the nonbelievers bodily; in their condemned, putrid, and maggot-riddled bodies, to be judged by Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment . They’ll be sentenced to the lake of fire for all eternity (see Mark 9:44,46,48). Now would you rather be in eternal pain and agony in a body like the one I’ve just described or would you prefer to have a glorified body kind of like the body of “superman”, and live forever in heaven? It’s a stark choice you must make and you would be wise to choose God over Satan. In fact, you’re a fool if you choose Satan over God. You don’t have to take my word for it. In the Bible that’s God’s definition of a “fool”.

2 Peter 3:8 – But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

We know from the scriptures that the current church age began fifty days after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in 33 AD, which we know is the day of Pentecost. That is the day God sent his Holy Spirit to earth to indwell all believers as their helper from that day forward forever and to seal all believers as God’s possession. Even in heaven believers will always be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. If we fast-forward the two thousand years alluded to in Hosea we know the church age will end at Pentecost in the year 2033, which falls on June 5th. God said the rapture will happen and God cannot lie. We know the church age will officially end when all believers are taken out of the world by Jesus at his appearing. All of God’s children are priceless in his eyes and therefore our goal must always be to witness the gospel of Christ in order to save at least one more for Jesus while there is still time.

If the rapture were to occur prior to June 5th in 2033 then the Bible would be wrong about the length of the church age and God would be proven to be a liar, which cannot happen. Take a deep breath and relax a bit. I love the rapture as much as you do but the rapture won’t happen for another ten years so we have plenty of time to make our plans and do the work God has given us to do. As believers we all want to be raptured to Jesus in the air some day, given our glorified bodies, and then return to heaven with the Lord. However, that day can wait because God’s work takes priority. God needs us here on earth right now so we can witness for Christ to help save nonbelievers to the kingdom of God. We’re conflicted, as the Apostle Paul was, but we know that we must be obedient to our God because millions of nonbelievers are dying every day and going straight to hell for the lack of a witness for Christ. If we don’t do it who will? We owe it to them to try and save them.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:53 – For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God.

In the book of Hosea God says he will raise us up on the third day. The third god-day will of course start soon after the second god-day, which officially ends with the rapture. The verse in Hosea has a dual meaning. The dead in Christ raised up at the rapture will return back to heaven with Jesus so that they can live in the sight of God forever. God will also save a Jewish remnant seven years later at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth to fulfill his covenant promise to Abraham. The saved Jews will also be raised up at that time and live in God’s sight forever. Both Jew and Gentile are equally loved children of God and both will live in heaven forever as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus . The rapture has to wait until Pentecost of 2033, at the earliest, but it could happen at a later date and still fulfill the scriptures. Let’s try to figure out the window of opportunity in which the rapture could occur. God loves the number forty for some reason which I’m unaware of, which makes me believe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be in 2040. We know Pentecost of 2033 falls on June 5th. That means we have almost seven months left in the calendar year in which the rapture could occur; if we think the Second Coming will happen some time in 2040. God’s timeline for prophetic events is closely associated with the Jewish people and their festivals to worship God.

Ephesians 1:11 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Revelations 21:7 – He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Colossians 1:13 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Sons of His love.

While we may not have a precise rapture date pinned down we do know that the date of the Second Coming will be very precise, to the day, exactly seven years after Israel signs a peace agreement. So during that seven month window when the rapture could occur (June 6th to December 31st, 2033) Israel will be at war with someone, otherwise there wouldn’t be any need to sign a peace agreement. You don’t need to sign a peace agreement if you’re already at peace. That’s just common sense. My guess is Israel will be at war with Iran or Syria, or both, and they’ll likely end hostilities with a peace agreement brokered by a third party such as NATO. Israel likes to have official signings occur on festival dates that are important to them; like Yom Kippur for instance.

Rosh Hashanah is the feast of Trumpets, which falls on September 23rd in 2033. We know that scripture says the trump of God will announce the Second Coming of Christ so there is a possible connection there. Rosh Hashanah is also the Jewish new year and the day on which God created Adam and Eve. Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, falls on October 2nd in 2033. Israel says they are at war right now with Hamas but I’m referring to a war with another sovereign nation some time in the future. My guess is any peace signing will occur on or near Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, in 2033 because on this most sacred day of the year the Jewish high priest makes atonement for the nation’s sins. Jesus Christ is Jewish and the eternal high priest of both Jews and Christians. On the last Day who better than Jesus Christ to forgive the Jewish remnant of their sins against God on their most sacred day? That means if I’m correct the Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord will be on September 16, 2040 and Israel could sign a peace agreement on September 16, 2033.

Hebrews 4:4 – Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

2 Timothy 4:8 – Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Philippians 2:9-10 – Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.

Many Bible scholars think the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth will be in 2033 and the rapture in 2026 but they’re all wrong. It’s just too soon. They’re not taking into account that the church age must run its full 2000 years; two god-days. The seven year tribulation period is not a part of the church age which they assume to be the case. The rapture and the Second Coming are not one event but two separate events separated by seven years. According to the book of Daniel God will deal with Israel for 490 years. When the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah God then suspended his dealings with Israel at 483 years and gave his church to the Gentiles for the next 2000 years, at which time God will resume the seventieth week with Israel in order to fulfill the last seven years of the time God has allotted to Israel (490 years) as foretold in the book of Daniel. In the Bible the last seven years of human history is called the tribulation and the Jews refer to it as the “time of Jacob’s trouble.”

This seven year tribulation period is the time for God to pour out his wrath on Israel and the godless nations of the earth for their sins against God. The tribulation couldn’t be a part of the church age because God promises in scripture to remove the saints from the earth BEFORE he pours out his wrath on the world. God will not punish the saints whose sins he has already forgiven. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God forever and the scriptures confirm the Holy Spirit will also be removed from the earth before God’s wrath is poured out. The Holy Spirit can’t be removed from the earth without also removing the believers who have the Holy Spirit inside them. Once a believer has been is indwelt by the Holy Spirit he is sealed by God and the two can never be separated; not on this earth or later in heaven, forever. It’s just common sense and the scriptures confirm it over and over.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:30 – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 1:13 – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

We know the antichrist will come from a political organization in Europe. I have always assumed the antichrist would be the head of the European Union but I’ve since changed my mind. I see what’s happening with Russia attacking Ukraine, which is scaring the heck out of everyone. All nations are banding together and looking to protect themselves from Russia and her imperialistic ambitions. Finland and Sweden could see the handwriting on the wall so they applied to be members of NATO as quickly as they could. Every nation in Europe fully understands that Putin wants to regain all of eastern Europe to resurrect the great Russian empire and Putin won’t stop until someone stops him. The Baltic countries especially are aware of this. Ukraine is the first domino that must fall for Russia which is why everyone is arming Ukraine. Everyone knows they could be next on Putin’s agenda.

Looking at the book of Revelation, I always wondered what would scare these European counties enough for them to give up their national sovereignty and give their common defense to one organization; one man. The answer is obviously Russia, and Russia is on the march as I write this blog. Russia is getting their butt kicked right now in Ukraine but that will change. This war will make them stronger and more determined in the long run. The Russians are a warlike people and Russia has unlimited natural resources to work with. They are learning from their mistakes and they are adapting. Russia is going all-in on the war with Ukraine by switching to a war-time economy while we in the west aren’t as committed. That means the most important political organization in Europe going forward will be NATO and not the European Union. That means the most important man in Europe in the future will be the Secretary General of NATO and not the head of the European Union.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 – And now you know what is restraining, that He (the Holy Spirit) may be revealed in His own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way (by the rapture).

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 – Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. therefore comfort one another with these words.

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we (the saints) must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

The Secretary General of NATO is elected by consensus from the 31 member states and they serve four year terms that can be extended, also by consensus. Jens Stoltenberg is the current Secretary General of NATO and he has been serving in that position for the last eleven years. I’m now convinced that the antichrist will be the man who will be chosen to be the Secretary General of NATO AND serving in that position during 2033, the year when the rapture will occur. If the head of NATO winds up being a woman then I’m wrong. The Secretary General of NATO is the only person who will control the collective military might of 31 countries, mostly in Europe, and the only person who will have the authority to offer Israel national security guarantees in exchange for signing a peace agreement. Israel wouldn’t trust a single country with their security but they’ll trust NATO because it has 31 member countries that are supporting the decision. Israel will feel they are truly safe from future attacks for the first time and they won’t have a clue they’re actually dealing with the antichrist who will one day renege on his promises to protect Israel.

Galatians 3:28-29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Mark 9:44, 46, 48 – Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

In summary, I believe the rapture of the saints will occur in 2033, possibly during Rosh Hashanah but more likely during Yom Kippur. I believe Israel will sign a peace agreement just before or after the rapture of the saints. I believe the Second Coming of Christ will come exactly seven years after the peace agreement signing by Israel, again probably on Yom Kippur, which falls on October 2nd in 2033 and on September 16th in 2040. Lastly, I think that the antichrist will be the Secretary General of NATO, who sponsors the peace agreement Israel will sign. Since this is a political appointment Satan will use his malign influence to make sure his man is selected. Nonbelievers have no defense against the power of Satan. There’s no way for us to know who the antichrist is until he reveals himself by being chosen to head NATO. Believers are powerless to do anything about it but we can warn people when the antichrist rises to power. The false prophet serving the antichrist is easier to predict. There are a number of Bible scholars who focus on end time prophecy who think the false prophet will be the Pope of the Roman Catholic church and so do I.

I think that because I know the Roman Catholic church has been owned by Satan since the papacy of Gregory the Great in 600 AD and probably well before then. Every Catholic church dogma, doctrine, and tradition is 180 degrees from what God commands us to do in his word. That’s not accidental; it’s done on purpose by evil men under the influence of Satan. Catholics are told to go to their priest for the forgiveness of their sins instead of to God. Catholics are told to pray to Mary, a human being, and not God himself. Catholics are told to put the Pope before God. Catholics make Jesus Christ a cookie used only for the eucharist. Does this sound right to you? Are you okay with the fact that everything the Roman Catholic church stands for and does is contrary to the word of God? I’m not. Will you believe evil men or God?

Many of the 1.5 billion Catholics in the world are saved by their faith because they’ve accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; not because of the Catholic church but in spite of the church. The Catholic church wants salvation to run through the church and not through Jesus. There are millions of Catholics who think they’re saved but really aren’t because they’ve put their faith in the Pope, their priests, and following Catholic church dogma, doctrines and traditions to save them and not Jesus himself. These Catholics will be in shock when they’re left behind at the rapture. At that point, they will need to go to God’s word and accept his saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Unfortunately these left behind Catholics will still have to go through the tribulation but at least they’ll be saved. The Protestant Reformation movement in the early 1500’s was God peeling his church away from a Catholic church that has become corrupted by Satan.

Matthew 15:9 – And in vain they worship Me (the Catholic church), teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

People who know about military matters say it’ll take Russia approximately 6-9 years to rebuild their depleted war machine again to the point where they can challenge NATO forces. At that point they’ll attack Europe or Israel, or both, and this timeframe will fit in perfectly with my end of the age predictions. The Bible confirms Russia will attack Israel so I’m not telling you anything that isn’t already known. With any guess of this nature you don’t have to be spot on because there are so many moving parts; you just have to be in the general ballpark and I believe I am. As believers our goal is to watch for the coming of Jesus in the clouds while continuing to do the work God has given us to do; which is to witness for Christ to all nations and all people (the Great Commission). If you’re a nonbeliever at the moment you’re in great danger. You need to accept God’s saving grace as soon as possible and before the rapture occurs or risk being left behind to face the wrath of God. Once the rapture has happened it’s too late for you to escape God’s fury. You can still be saved through faith in Jesus after the rapture but then you’ll have to live through the seven year tribulation period before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth.

Revelation 18:4-5 – Come out of her (the Catholic church), my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive her plagues. For her sins have reached heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

If you do manage to become a believer during the tribulation your prospects for survival aren’t that good. Be prepared for the antichrist and his false prophet to eventually get around to hunting you down for your faith. Most of the people who do become believers during the tribulation period will be killed by one of God’s many plagues. There will also be millions of new believers during the tribulation who will have their heads cut off for not renouncing their faith in God and for not worshipping the beast and taking his mark. Read Relation 2:10 for confirmation. Once you take the mark of the antichrist (666) on your head or your hand you’re going to hell. That’s all there is to it. It’s the Roman Catholic church who will organize and carry out the slaughter of millions of saints during the tribulation period in support of the antichrist. The Roman Catholic church will have blood on their hands before God. I’ll be surprised if more than a handful of the very early popes even make it to heaven. On the last day all believers will be in the audience when Jesus Christ condemns all the evil popes and has them tossed into the lake of fire for all eternity.

Revelation 2:10 – (Jesus speaking) – Do not fear any of these things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

I know saying these things against the Catholic church will piss off a lot of Catholics but as a true believer I must speak the truth of God to those in power; and the Catholic church is very powerful. There’s no room for political correctness when it comes to serving God. It has been Satan’s plan all along to silence the voice of believers through the peer pressure of political correctness and I refuse to go along with it. Simply obey God and don’t worry about what the world may say. To escape the wrath of God to come simply accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior right now. Google “sinner’s prayer” and pray it back to God in faith. If you do that you’ll be saved instantly unto eternal life in heaven and when you die you’ll be in the presence of Jesus forever. God has given his promise that you will be saved and God cannot lie. God makes salvation easy for us because he wants all of us in heaven with him. In the meantime, I’ll continue to monitor the world situation and blog about my findings as long as I’m able. Please help me by sharing your witness for Christ with all nonbelievers and also by sharing information about this blog with everyone you meet.

Matthew 7:22-23 – (Jesus speaking) – Many (members of the Catholic church) will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And I will then declare to them, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

NOTE: In the above verses when Jesus says “many” we know he can only be talking about an established Christian church that worships the Lord our God. We have only two choices; Catholics or Protestants. When you look at the types of activities that Jesus is referring to he can only be addressing the Catholic church because they have done those things in the past and still do, whereas the Protestants do not. If you’re Catholic you’d be wise to heed God’s command in Revelation 18:4-5. In scripture God uses the term “lawlessness” when he is describing the evil of the tribulation period. God uses the same term in the above verses to tell us that “many” Catholics will be participants in this “lawlessness” during the tribulation. When Jesus says, “depart from Me” you know we’re at the Great White Throne judgment and Jesus is condemning “many” Catholics to the lake of fire for all eternity.

The Bible affirmations I use in prayer to praise God with my lips are not my own. I borrowed them from a book titled. “The Tongue – A creative Force”, written by the pastor and noted author Charles Capps. Many years ago I bought this little paperback in a Goodwill store for fifty cents. I bought it on a whim thinking it was about public speaking. This best seller was first published in 1976 so it’s out of print now. I gave my first copy away to someone who needed it so I had to go to Ebay to pick up another copy for my reference library which cost me a lot more than fifty cents this time around. Buy this book if you want to learn more about using affirmations to worship God. You can make affirmations out of just about any Bible verse you choose. I’m happy to use the Bible affirmations that Charles Capps uses himself to worship God. This blog will cover the remaining Bible affirmations I use.

BIBLE AFFIRMATIONS FOR WORRY AND FEAR:

1. I am the body of Christ and Satan has no power over me. For I overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21 – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2. I am of God and have overcome him (Satan). For greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4 – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world.

3. I will fear no evil for thou art with me Lord, your word and your Spirit they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 – Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

4. I am far from oppression, and fear does not come nigh me.

Isaiah 54:14 – In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

5. I am delivered from the evils of this present world for it is the will of God.

Galatians 1:3-4 – Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

6. No weapon formed against me shall prosper, for my righteousness is of the Lord. But whatever I do will prosper for I’m like a tree that’s planted by the rivers of water.

Psalm 1:3 – He (a believer) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

7. No evil will befall me neither shall any plague come nigh my dwelling. For you have given your angels charge over me and they keep me in all my ways, and in my pathway is life and there is no death.

Psalm 91:11 – For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

8. I am a doer of the word of God and I am blessed in my deeds. I am happy in those things which I do because I am a doer of the word of God.

James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

9. The devil flees from me because I resist him in the name of Jesus.

James 4:7 – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

10. Great is the peace of my children, for they are taught of the Lord.

John 1:12 – But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

11. Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Therefore, I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon this body. Every disease germ and every virus that touches this body dies instantly in the name of Jesus. Every organ and every tissue of this body functions in the perfection to which God created it to function, and I forbid any malfunction in this body, in the name of Jesus.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

12. I take the shield of faith and I quench every fiery dart that the wicked one brings against me.

Ephesians 6:16 – Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

13. I am an overcomer and I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.

Revelation 12:11 – And they (believers) overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

14. The word of God is forever settled in heaven. Therefore, I establish his word upon this earth.

1 Peter 1:25 – But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word by which the gospel was preached to you.

BIBLE AFFIRMATIONS FOR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE:

1. I trust in the Lord with all of my heart, and I lean not unto my own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

2. In all my ways I acknowledge him and he directs my path.

Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

3. The word of God is a lamp unto my feet, it is a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

4. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.

Psalm 138:8 – The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hand.

5. I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Colossians 1:9 – For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

6. The Spirit of truth abides in me and it teaches me all things, and He guides me into all truths. Therefore, I confess I have perfect knowledge of every situation and every circumstance that I come up against. For I have the wisdom of God.

John 16:13-15 – (Jesus speaking) – However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

7. I do follow the good shepherd and I know his voice and the voice of a stranger I will not follow.

John 10:14 – (Jesus speaking) – I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own.

8. I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of him that created me.

Colossians 3:9-10 – Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

9. Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Therefore, I confess I have the wisdom of God, and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

10. I receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened. And I am not conformed to this world but I am transformed by the renewing of my mind. My mind is renewed by the word of God.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

11. I am a new creation in Christ, I am his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I have the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God is formed within me.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

12. I let the word of Christ dwell in me rightly in all wisdom.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

BIBLE AFFIRMATIONS FOR COMFORT AND STRENGTH:

1.I let the peace of God rule my heart and I refuse to worry about anything.

Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule your hearts, to which you were also called in one body; and be thankful.

2. I speak the truth of the word of God in love and I grow up into the Lord Jesus Christ in all things.

Ephesians 4:15 – But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.

3. I am complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power. For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that I should walk therein.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

4. The peace of God which passes all understanding keeps my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus. And all things which are good, and pure, and perfect, and lovely, and of good report, I think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there in anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

5. The joy of the Lord is my strength. The Lord is the strength of my life.

Nehemiah 8:10 – Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

6. I will not let the word of God depart from before my eyes for it is life to me for I have found it and it is health and healing to all my flesh.

Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

7. I am increasing in the knowledge of God. I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power.

Colossians 1:10-11 – That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

8. I am delivered from the power of darkness and I am translated into the kingdom of His dear son.

Colossians 1:13 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

9. I am born of God and I have world overcoming faith residing on the inside of me. For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4 – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

10. I will do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

11. I let no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth, but that which is good to edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearer. I grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby I’m sealed unto the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:29-30 – Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer. And do not grieve the the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

12. God is on my side. God is in me now; who can be against me? He has given unto me all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Therefore I am a partaker of His devine nature.

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

13. No man shall take me out of His hand for I have eternal life.

John 10:29 – (Jesus speaking) – My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

14. I am a believer and these signs do follow me. In the name of Jesus I cast out demons, I speak with new tongues, I lay hands on the sick and they do recover.

Mark 16:17-18 – (Jesus speaking) – And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

15. I’m the body of Christ, I am redeemed from the curse, and I forbid any sickness, or disease to operate in this body. Every organ, every tissue will function properly for greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

16. Jesus gave me the authority to use his name. And that which I bind on earth is bound in heaven. And that which I loose on earth is loosed in heaven. Therefore in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I bind the principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world. I bind and cast down spiritual wickedness in high places and render them harmless and ineffective against me in the name of Jesus.

Matthew 16:19 – (Jesus speaking) – And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

NOTE: To honor God I’ve created my very first Bible affirmation based on one of my favorite verses from the Bible. Here it is:

I will serve the Lord my God on earth and in heaven forever and ever. I will glorify God with hymns of praise from my lips to worship Almighty God on his throne in heaven forevermore.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

I’ve been blogging on this site for four years now (2019-2023). Today’s posting is blog number 635. I’ll continue to blog until I reach at least 700 blogs and after that I’ll probably stop. The number seven is important to God; and multiples of seven . The number seven signifies “completeness” in God’s economy. We know God made the world in seven days. The Bible says God punished the Israelites for their disobedience by putting them in bondage for seventy years. We understand from God’s word that seven thousand years is the length of human history and God’s dealing with man. If I do 700 blogs it will not only honor God as a multiple of the number seven, it’ll also signify my ministry before the Lord is “complete” as far as “passively” sharing the gospel of Christ in written form through my blog postings on this website. You see, long ago the Holy Spirit gave me my ministry of reconciliation through studying God’s word and sharing the “good news” of the gospel of Christ in writing through my blog and also by distributing Christian tracts that also contain the written gospel message.

If the Holy Spirit still urges me to continue my written witness for Christ in this manner I can always start a new blog or use my second blog site (www.christiantractministry.com). Either way, I’ll continue to keep this blog site active by paying the annual fees to keep it current. It’s important that those who are searching for God have a website that can guide them to the truth of God and his saving grace. I know this to be true and you have my testimony: salvation awaits all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you’re surfing the net and reading Christian blog sites then you’re looking for something that’s missing in your life. God has put eternity in the hearts of men so we’ll always be searching for him until we find him. We have a void in our life only God can fill. The twin themes of my current blog site are studying God’s word and witnessing for Christ. Really it’s studying God’s word SO THAT you can witness for Christ and I show you how to do it.

You see, God made us and put us here on earth to first find our salvation unto eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and then we’re to help save other people to the kingdom of God. It’s really pretty easy to know what God expects of us because it’s all there in the Bible if we just read it. The hard part is obeying the commandments of God. God came off his throne in heaven and came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ so that he could die on the cross in our place in order for a just God to forgive our sins. One of the spiritual truths of heaven is the wages of sin is death. Another spiritual truth of heaven is that there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of sinless blood. Only a sinless man could be sacrificed before God the Father for the forgiveness of the sins of man.

Since all men inherited Adam’s sin God had to become a man himself and be that sinless sacrifice for us otherwise all men would still be destined for an eternity in hell. When I first read the Bible and understood God’s salvation plan for man through the shed blood of Christ the first thought that went through my mind was, “This is perfect.” It was abundantly clear to me that this salvation plan for us couldn’t have come from the mind of man. I knew in my soul that it came from the mind of God. The human mind simply could not have conceived the possibility that an omnipotent God would love us enough to choose to become a man and die a terrible death on the cross in our place just to save us from going to hell for all eternity. I’m smart enough to know the truth of God when I see it and there are billions of believers just like me who also know this truth and we’re all saved from hell.

If you study God’s word long enough as I have you’ll notice God repeats himself a lot. Repetition is good. Our mind is giant computer that’s programmed based on what we repeatedly tell our mind. If we input the same information into our mind over and over our mind will eventually accept that data as the truth and incorporate that information into our belief system. That’s why it’s critically important that we feed our mind with God’s word every day through daily Bible reading so that we gain the truth and wisdom of God. By the same token, we need to unclutter our mind. We need to keep the disinformation of the humanist world out of our head. Try to avoid the many lies of Satan that he has promulgated in the world through the false religions and false gods he has created throughout history to hide the truth of God from man. Satan has put blinders over the eyes of nonbelievers so that they cannot find God and his saving grace. Because of this, God’s word is foolishness to the nonbeliever. Satan truly is the god of this world and through his malign influence millions of nonbelievers are dying every day and going straight to hell because they haven’t accepted God’s saving grace which the Lord has provided through the shed blood of his dear son, Jesus Christ, by his crucifixion, death and resurrection.

In my blog I picked up on the literary device of repetition because I saw how effective it is for God in his word and because I know from my own experience that repeating something helps secure that information my mind. I often repeat myself in my blogs as a way to stress an important point and exhort nonbelievers and believers alike to study God’s word and witness for Christ. These are the two things God wants most from us. Whatever I write about in my blog I usually find a way to tie that in with my twin themes. I’ve talked about my twin themes in just about every way imaginable. I mean, after 635 blogs it’s getting to the point where I know I’m beating a dead horse on my blog. Go get saved and witness for Christ! That is man’s all! Either you get my message or you don’t. I can only repeat myself for so long. The other day I poured my heart out in a blog about the Lord and I thought I had explained myself pretty well but then I had one reader ask me to go into more in depth.

I was crushed that I wasn’t eloquent enough in my writing to reach that person with my message. I don’t have a baby’s high chair or any baby food on me so that I can spoon feed you. If you’re a new believer you’re still on the spiritual milk of God’s word. I can’t wean you off spiritual milk. You must do that yourself. What I have to offer is help with the spiritual meat of God’s word. I can’t chew it for you but I can show you where it is. If you want to grow spiritually you must put in the work yourself. There are no short cuts; no Clif notes to make it easy. I realize my message won’t resonate with everyone out there. That was never my intention or expectation because I understand witnessing for Christ is a volume business similar to cold call selling which we all know is stressful. I know this from personal experience. There will be a lot of rejection so expect it and move on. Don’t take it personal. You have to reach a lot of people to make one sale. That’s one reason why I leverage my witness for Christ by “passively” spreading the gospel message in writing to reach more people.

When you’re a sower of the gospel seed and not the reaper of a soul for God it’s harder to estimate your effectiveness. I’m conservative with my estimate because I’d rather be pleasantly surprised on the last day rather than disappointed in how many people I helped save for God. For that reason I only count one saved soul for every 1000 hits on my blog and one saved soul for every 1000 Christian tracts I distribute to nonbelievers. That’s one tenth of one percent effectiveness. If I use this as a baseline I won’t be disappointed. I keep track of how many souls I save for the kingdom of God because that’s how I keep my passion for God’s work. Everyone has to do what works for them. My mindset, my mantra every day when I wake up is to save, “one more for Jesus” through both my blog and my Christian tract ministry. That’s what I live for because that’s the work God has commanded me to do (the Great Commission). You have the same commandment as I do so what are you waiting for? God’s harvest field is great and the workers are few. Every day I pray for more workers to join me in God’s harvest field.

When you work for God in his harvest field helping save nonbelievers through your witness for Christ you have to self-motivate by praying to God and reading his word on a daily basis. One additional thing that energizes me is to repeat Bible affirmations to the Lord. Reading and hearing God’s word is wonderful but for sheer spiritual power there is nothing quite like speaking Bible scripture back to God in prayer while phrasing it in such a way that it’s a declarative statement of belief that God will confirm and fulfill what you are asking him to do because it aligns with God’s will. Say your Bible affirmations in a loud and clear voice as through you were making an important speech to a throng of thousands while using appropriate hand gestures to drive home the point you’re making. Practice your Bible affirmations like you’re preparing to give a speech. Bible affirmations glorify God because they are prayed before the throne of grace with a spiritual audience that includes the heavenly host and also Satan and his demons who have to witness God being glorified. The angels love it and the demons hate it. Bible affirmations will get you jacked up to serve the Lord your God! Saying Bible affirmations before the Lord is like having your own personal pep rally with God. An affirmation is a statement declared firmly or publicly.

I blog about my Bible affirmations about once a year which is why the title of this blog contains the word “revisited.” I never recycle my old blogs but I do return to some topics over and over because they are on my mind. As believers we’re all on the path of spiritual growth as we walk with God during our time here on earth and we’re constantly changing and growing as a person over time to be more like Jesus. This sanctification process is done by God as long as we’re giving a reasonable effort to obey God’s commandments. It’s 80% God and 20% us so do your part. I keep my Bible affirmations on my desk. They are written on 4X6 index cards and broken down into four categories which are, wisdom and guidance, worry and fear, comfort and strength, and material needs. You should read your affirmations daily but if you’re like me you won’t have the discipline to do it that often. I manage to read about one set of affirmations per week but if I had the discipline to read them more often God would bless me more. I know this to be true because the Bible confirms that the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro across the earth so God can fulfill his word and thereby bless his creation. Our part is to walk humbly with our God in great fear.

BIBLE AFFIRMATIONS FOR MATERIAL NEEDS:

1. Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Christ has redeemed me from poverty, Christ has redeemed me from sickness, Christ has redeemed me from spiritual death.

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

2. For poverty he has given me wealth, for sickness he has given me health, for death he has given me eternal life.

2 Corinthians 8:9 – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

3. It is true unto me according to the word of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – (God speaking) – My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

4. With what measure I mete, it is measured unto me. I sow bountifully, therefore I reap bountifully. I give cheerfully, and my God has made all grace abound toward me and I having all sufficiency of all things do abound to all good works.

2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

5. The Lord is my shepherd and I do not want because Jesus was made poor, that I through his poverty might have abundance. For he came that I might have life and have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 – (Jesus speaking) – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

6. The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant, and Abraham’s blessings are mine.

Galatians 3:29 – And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heir according to the promise.

7. I delight myself in the Lord and he gives me the desires of my heart.

Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

8. I have given and it is given unto me good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, men given unto my bosom.

Luke 6:38 – (Jesus speaking) – Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

9. There is no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

10. And I having received the gift of righteousness do reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 – For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

I’m not going to break down every verse in the book of Proverbs for you. That’s ultimately your job as you study God’s word for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. I can’t spoon feed you the information you need to make you wise but I can guide you and show you the way to achieve the wisdom of God. At the moment of salvation all believers are given one or more spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit in order to better serve the God who made them. God isn’t going to tell you what your spiritual gifts are. You must find out for yourself what spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has blessed you with. Sadly, most people have no idea what their spiritual gifts are. In my case, my spiritual gifts from God are exhortation and giving. I received my ministry of reconciliation from the Holy Spirit of God which involves studying God’s word and then giving my testimony of Jesus Christ in writing through my blog (exhortation) and also by funding the distribution of many thousands of Christian tracts and many hundreds of Bibles to inmates in our prison system (giving). God has an individual plan for each of our lives that nobody else can complete. Either you do what God has planned for you to do or it doesn’t get done. In the eyes of God you are irreplaceable.

Psalm 33:11 – The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generation.

Psalm 20:4 – May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.

So find out what God has planned for your life and then go do it. You’ll never be truly happy until you let God fill the void in your heart and you do what you were meant to do in this life. I don’t care how much money and power you accumulate during your lifetime. It doesn’t matter. You’ll never be successful in the eyes of God without obedience to his word. You can’t obey God until you study his word for knowledge, understanding and wisdom in order to find out what God requires of you. You cannot “do” until you “know” what to do. It’s not a secret that the number one command of God for all believers is the Great Commission; to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ to all nations and all peoples by your witness in order to save nonbelievers to the kingdom of God. You cannot save everyone but by your witness for Christ you can save one.

Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Hosea 13:4 – Yet I am the LORD your God….there is no Savior besides Me.

In the last blog I showed you how to isolate a teaching from God; from the book of Proverbs (verses 1-7 of chapter one). When studying the Bible always have a good dictionary handy to look up the meaning of words in scripture when you’re unsure of the meaning in the context in which it is used. Use the definition of a word that’s most applicable to the culture and historical setting in which it’s used. Also be aware that some words have a biblical meaning that is totally different from the dictionary meaning. Take the word “fear” for example. We all understand what the normal definition of the word “fear” is but, biblically speaking, the word “fear” means to show awe, great respect and reverence for God. Most words have several meanings so choose the one that makes sense to you. If a dictionary definition makes sense to you in the verse you’re reading then it’s probably the right one.

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

The number one rule of Bible study is the following: “If the verse you’re reading makes sense then seek no other sense.” God never tries to trick you with his word. God wants you to understand who he and what he expects from you. In most cases God will speak clearly and literally. There are some exceptions where it’s obvious God is speaking spiritually, symbolically or metaphorically, like in the book of Revelation. You can almost always tell in scripture when God completes a thought and begins a new topic. Evaluate each thought or teaching from God as a whole; as a group of related verses, so you don’t misinterpret the meaning. Never take a single verse out of context and try to reveal a spiritual truth of God because more than likely you’ll get it wrong. When the meaning of a verse isn’t clear to the reader the surrounding verses will often clear up the meaning.

A classic example of this mistake is the Catholic church taking the verse where Jesus tells Peter, “On this rock I will build my church”, and construing it to mean Jesus would use Peter to build his church. Since the Catholics claim that Peter is their first pope they think it legitimizes their claim to be the one and only true church of God. They are wrong on both counts. If the early church fathers had taken the time to read the surrounding verses they would have known that Jesus was talking about building his church around the “good news”, the gospel message of Christ coming to die for the sins of man and not about building his church by or through Peter himself. Before you begin any Bible study session pray to God for help in understanding his word through revelations from the Holy Spirit of God. You can’t even begin to know the wisdom of God without the help of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God. The Holy Spirit is God.

Daniel 12:2-3 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

You have God’s promise that when you pray to him he will help you, because God said he would and God cannot lie. You can be sure your prayers to God will be answered when they align with God’s will. What we can’t be sure of is the timetable in which God will answer us. God is inscrutable and his timing is his own business so we need to continue to pray to God until he answers us no matter how long it takes. I had previously studied the book Proverbs and broken it down to a list of core teachings and a list of categories to help me review and understand what God requires of me. I’ll share my study notes on the book of Proverbs in this blog posting. I’m a prodigious note taker and list maker because it helps me organize my mind and in this case it helps me when reviewing the many commands of God so I can be obedient. God wants our worship and he commands us to be obedient. God is glorified when we praise and worship him. We cannot please the Lord our God without first acknowledging the magnitude and majesty of almighty God and we cannot please God unless we’re obedient to his commands to the best of our ability. My Proverbs cheat sheet has twelve key teachings:

1. We must always fear the Lord our God – Jehovah created the universe and us, which he maintains with his upturned hand. Nothing is impossible with God. If the omnipotence of God doesn’t inspire awe in you I don’t know what will. Man is God’s masterpiece of creation and we should have a deep respect for the Lord our maker. We should revere God because he loves us and he has adopted us as children of the Most High so that we will live forever in heaven in his presence where God will shower us with honor, glory and riches. We must continually stoke our fear of God by keeping what he has done for us before our eyes. We should be constantly praying to God, reading our Bible, and meditating on the magnitude and majesty of God so we don’t lose sight of who God is and what he has done for us. As long as we maintain our fear of the Lord we’ll never fall out of fellowship with God. Never get complacent about God.

Job 28:28 – And to man He said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalm 112:1 – Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

Psalm 33:18-19 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

2. God is sovereign – God is our Lord and master; our king! God rules the universe from his throne in heaven. God knows all and he sees all; and in his perfect wisdom and his perfect will God directs every aspect of his creation. As the author of history God knows the end from the beginning so God is never surprised about anything. God makes all the rules, and he dispenses judgments for violating those rules and his law. Man is an eternal being because God gave each of us a piece of himself at conception (our eternal spirit) so we’ll live forever. Because God is eternal when God gives a part of himself to us it makes us eternal as well. Only God Almighty God can send man to hell for all eternity; therefore we need to be afraid of God’s judgment.

Nehemiah 9:6 – You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

Psalm 104:24 – O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

3. God knows you and wants to be your friend – God gave us the Bible so we could find him. I’m awed by the fact that God forgives me of my sins, overlooks my weaknesses, and yet he still loves me and wants to be my constant friend. A person cannot be saved unless God calls them. God made everyone with the same small amount of faith needed to be saved. Everyone needs to humble themselves before God and by faith ask for his saving grace in order for the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin and save them unto eternal life in heaven. God wants all of his children in heaven so we can rule by his side. Is our God awesome or what!

Psalm 16:11 – You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness and joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

4. All wisdom is contained in the Bible – The Bible is God’s wisdom; God’s truth. The Bible is our owner’s manual and we cannot successfully navigate our way through this life without an intimate knowledge of the Bible. There’s no true happiness in this world apart from a right relationship with God and the knowledge of his word. True knowledge comes from studying God’s word. True understanding comes from meditating on God’s word. True wisdom comes from applying the teachings of God’s word in our lives.

Psalm 119:97-99 – Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the seat of the scornful; but delights in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

5. Emulate Christ by the way you live your life – Strive to be a person of integrity and good character. It’s hard work that’ll take you a lifetime to accomplish, if you ever do. Before making any important decision or taking any noteworthy action always ask yourself this question, “What would Jesus do in my place?”, and then act accordingly. When you emulate Christ the nonbeliever can see the light of God in your actions and they’re attracted to the gospel message of Jesus Christ and his saving grace.

Ecclesiastes 12:13- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

6. Be obedient to the commands of God – Luckily the Bible tells us exactly what believers are to do to please God. The number one command of God is to witness for Christ in order to save nonbelievers unto eternal life in heaven through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. One of the above verses tells us to fear the Lord and obey God’s commandments. Another verse instructs us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. We cannot please God without obedience to his commandments. God has told us what to do so we have no excuse. There are 129 commandments in the Bible from God to the believer. Quite a few of these commands are redundant but still, that’s a lot of commands to keep track of and the only way to obey God fully is if you know your Bible intimately through daily Bible reading and intense study.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Proverbs 21:20 – There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.

Proverbs 28:20 – A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

7. Always do what pleases God – On the flip side, never do what displeases God. The Bible does a good job of telling us what God loves and what he hates. Internalize that message so you also love what God loves and hate what God hates. You’ll never fall out of fellowship with God if you do this. If you’re a believer then you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God and you can hear the still small voice of God inside your head telling you what you should do.

Psalm 34:15 – The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears open to their cry.

Psalm 6:9 – The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Psalm 119:2 – Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

8. Seek God’s will for your life – God has a plan for each of our lives but we have to go to God to find out what it is. God won’t come to you but God will meet you half way. It’s up to us to seek God’s face through daily prayer and the daily reading of God’s word. God could speak to us audibly if he wanted to like he did with the prophet Samuel. However, God has chosen to speak to us in our time through the pages of the Bible. We speak to God in prayer. That’s how our two-way communication with God works. One thing you can be assured of is that God’s will for your life will be the best life you could possibly live. You will be successful and happy because God wants the best for us. Most believers never come close to achieving the goals God has for their lives. When we get to heaven we’ll all realize how much we left on the table that could have been ours during our lifetime on earth if we had established and maintained our fellowship with God as we should have.

Psalm 51:1 – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 45:1 – My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Proverbs 21:13 – Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.

9. Shun evil and sin at every opportunity – Avoid people who are evil. You know when you’re around someone you shouldn’t be. I know it. Don’t just walk away from them; run away as quickly as possible! It’s just common sense we need to avoid evil people and those who enjoy sinning so it doesn’t rub off on us. Make a conscious effort not to sin against God. And when you do sin, as we all do, immediately repent of those sins against God and ask his forgiveness. God will forgive us because he said he would in scripture and God cannot lie. When we get to heaven God will glorify us (glorification) to make sure we’re unable to sin, which is comforting to know. People are social creatures, like ants and bees, and we tend to go along with the group and emulate group behavior. Believers should have their spiritual antenna working at all times so as to avoid nonbelievers and then associate mostly with other believers. Don’t yoke yourself to the nonbeliever because on average nonbelievers will sin more than believers do and we don’t want to be tempted to sin by their behavior while in our company. We have to work with nonbelievers and associate with them to some degree. Our witness for Christ will be to nonbelievers so we can’t totally avoid them. I’m just saying don’t hang out with nonbelievers on a regular basis or have a nonbeliever as your best friend or you’ll eventually be corrupted by them. If it happened to King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, it could happen to you.

Psalm 37:27- Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore.

Proverbs 13:21 – Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

10. Be careful what you say – God tells us over and over in scripture we are to guard our tongues because corrupt speech can do us great harm. That’s a hard teaching for most of us to understand. I know we’re saved unto eternal life by the words of our mouth expressing faith if Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If we’re saved by the words of our mouth then conversely, we can also be condemned by what we say before the Lord. God remembers every word we speak in our lifetime, idle and otherwise, and we will be held accountable. The words of our mouth can bring us blessings or curses from God and he is just telling us to be careful what we say.

Psalm 50:23 – Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Proverbs 10:19 – In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

11. Be generous, loving and kind – Everything we have is from the Lord, including our money. People, especially believers, are to help the poor and needy. When you use the money God gave you to do his work you’re playing with house money. You’re being obedient to the commands of God and God is giving you the means to do so and you’ll be blessed by God as a result. That’s a great deal for us. We are to love others as ourselves and show kindness to everyone. These are the attributes of Jesus Christ during his life and ministry and when we emulate Christ by our good works the nonbeliever will see the light of God in our actions and be attracted to the gospel message of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. According to the Bible the more we serve God and give back to others the more God will prosper us and bless our lives. God’s eyes are always upon his saints so do what you know is right.

Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Proverbs 22:9 – He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 11:24- There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.

12. Do not commit adultery – In our society adultery has lost the stigma it once had. In our permissive culture adultery is no longer seen as being that bad of a sin. When I read the book of Proverbs I was surprised how many times God commanded man not to commit adultery and God’s detailed explanation of the punishment we’ll receive for committing adultery. I’m taking God at his word and you should too. I can tell by the words God uses in the scriptures that he really hates adultery and those who commit it. Our job is to love what God loves and hate what God hates. If God hates adultery then don’t do it. Our job is to always do what’s pleasing in God’s sight so when we stand before the bema judgment seat of Jesus Christ on the last day we’ll hear the words we all long to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” The temporary pleasure you receive from committing adultery is simply not worth the eternal wrath of God on the last day. The wrath of God Almighty is a terrible thing to behold because hell is forever so we need to avoid it at all costs.

Proverbs 5:15 – Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.

I also wrote down a list of do’s and don’ts from the book of Proverbs:

AVOID THESE THINGS: pride, evil, sin, liars, adultery, fornication, bad people, deceitful people, and miserly people.

DON’T DO THESE THINGS: lie, covet, steal, gossip, boast, quarrel, sow strife, bear false witness, do evil, plot evil, repay evil, be a glutton and be a drunkard.

DO THESE THINGS: guard your tongue, study God’s word, never listen to fools, obey God, live by faith and not by sight, do right by everyone, give to the needy, witness for Christ, pick a godly wife or husband, speak only good and not evil, love God, act justly, stand by friends, seek and accept wise counsel, love on another, respect your parents, fellowship with other believers, and discipline your children.

GOD LOVES THIS: a good worker and a generous giver.

GOD HATES THIS: a fool and lazy people

STRIVE TO BE THIS: humble, righteous, discrete and prudent.

KNOW THESE THINGS ABOUT GOD AND APPLY THIS KNOWLEDGE IN YOUR LIFE WHEN APPROPRIATE: God prospers the righteous, for long life honor your parents, for long life stay in God’s word, fear God and stay in his word, God loves us, anything God says is the truth and a promise he cannot break, we are God’s children, everything belongs to God, raise your children on God’s word, you reap what you sow so sow bountifully, repent immediately when you sin against God, love what God loves, and hate what God hates.