💥 Proverbs 2 / Wisdom

(Comments by Joan Boney)

I believe we are currently living in the end time period Jesus calls "The Beginning of Sorrows."  

Matthew 24:8  (Jesus says)

5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

This comes before Jesus returns to awaken the dead and to gather the elect to take them to the new heaven and new earth which God has created for them for eternal life shown to John in the following scripture:

Revelation 21:1-5   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

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In the period of The Beginning of Sorrows, 

Matthew 24

3 And as HE sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIS privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of THY coming, and of the end of the world?

4-5And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  WW I & WW II covering the whole earth which had never been seen before.  Regional wars also.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences (Coronavirus of 2020), and earthquakes (50,000 killed in 2023 in Turkey & Syria), in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

These are preludes to the coming of Jesus and The Great tribulation where God pours out plagues upon this world as a judgment before the end of this world.  The 7 angels bring the first 7 plagues.  Then 7 more angels pour out vials containing various "woes" upon this earth.  

At the end of this world, God destroys this present heaven and earth with fire.

2 Peter 3:10-14

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

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Set yourself in agreement with the scriptures in the Holy Bible.  Put yourself in the way of God.  Correct your way.  Repent of any evil before the judgment of God consumes this earth and before Jesus gathers the elect.

Go forward in the wisdom of God.

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Proverbs 2

1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY words, and hide MY commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

As I read the Bible, I'm always looking for scripture to do.

For the doer of the Word is blessed. (James 1:25)

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6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

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

7 HE layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: HE is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

(The righteous are those who seek the ways of God and do that which is right in the sight of God.  We learn by the Word of God by the examples given us in the Holy Bible.)

(buckler: a shield ... When we follow the scriptures and see the examples in the Bible, we are shielded from many temptations of this world as we choose to do that which we believe to be right in the sight of God.)

8 HE (God) keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of HIS saints.

(The Holy Spirit of God who lives in us searches the heart of God and brings to our mind what HE hears from God and we go that way. 1 Cor. 2:10-12  The Holy Spirit is always compatible with the Holy Scriptures and HE will not go against the scriptures.)

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

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10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

(discretion: doing that which is called to your memory which is compatible with the scriptures; usually doing that which is right by the Spirit of God.)

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil, from the man that speaketh froward things; 

(froward:  stubbornly unruly, especially against the Word of God)

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

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(We know evil for we know the scriptures:  Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft (superstitions), hatred, variance (to vary/ debate), emulations (to try to outdo another person), wrath (to want evil to come to another), strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (partying, usually with excess of drugs or alcohol), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (in God and in HIS word), meekness, temperance:

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Proverbs 2

14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

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16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good, and keep the paths of the righteous.

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21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

It will get much worse in the days ahead on this earth.

No wonder Jesus said:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  (Mt. 24:21-22)

We must learn to operate in God's wisdom, obeying the Holy Scriptures.

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

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Podcast: Follow after the things that make for peace and things whereby we can edify one another

 

 

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

* peace:

     - freedom from civil disturbance

     - harmony in personal relations

     - state of tranquility or quiet

     - freedom from war or violence

     - calmness; untroubled mind

* edify:

    - instruct or improve spiritually, morally

    - build or instruct in the faith in God and knowledge of the way of God

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Hymn: I know that my Redeemer lives

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  I know that my Redeemer lives
And ever prays for me;
A token of His love He gives,
A pledge of liberty. 

2.  I know that my Redeemer lives,
A quick’ning Spirit He;
I know eternal life He gives—
Amazing grace—to me.

3.  I find Him lifting up my head;
He brings salvation near;
His presence makes me free indeed,
And He will soon appear.

4.   He wills that I should holy be:
What can withstand His will? 
The counsel of His grace in me
He surely shall fulfill.

5.  Jesus, I hang upon Thy word:
I steadfastly believe
Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord,
And to Thyself receive.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

(www.hymnal.net):  

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Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

v. 1   I know that my Redeemer lives
And ever prays for me;

Hebrews 7:25   Wherefore HE is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by HIM, seeing HE ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:24-34    For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?   But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

And HE that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because HE maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

For whom HE did foreknow, HE also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom HE did predestinate, them HE also called: and whom HE called, them HE also justified: and whom HE justified, them HE also glorified. 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

He that spared not HIS own Son, but delivered HIM up for us all, how shall HE not with HIM also freely give us all things?

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, WHO is even at the right hand of God, WHO also maketh intercession for us.

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v. 2  I know that my Redeemer lives,
A quick’ning Spirit He;


John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 John 16:13  Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

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v. 3  His presence makes me free indeed,
And He will soon appear.

Ephesians 1:12-14 ...  That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

John 8:31-32   Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (die) in Jesus will God bring with Him. 

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede)  them which are asleep (dead). 

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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Job 19:25   For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

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💥 "One step at a time, one step at a time... it is enough," God said to me many years ago.

Especially avoid fear.  

 

Do not try to make the future happen. 

Wait on God to show you what to do.  But when God shows you, be sure to go through that door as quickly as possible for devils will try to reason away what God has told you to do!

Know this:

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

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💥 King Solomon's wisdom: Proverbs 1

 

Comments by Joan Boney:

We spent several months on Proverbs from April to June recently, but repetition of scriptures often pays very big dividends.  Therefore we will repeat the Proverbs on blog.  I find I see "new things" as I reread scriptures and have additional opportunities to make adjustments to my life.  

When God gives me further information during this period of time, I will write that and publish 2 writings that day on the blog.  I am careful to present new information when God gives it to me so you will hear that information immediately rather than having to wait.

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Wisdom from God is something we greatly need to pursue and to seek at this time in our lives as we continue to wait for the return of Jesus and as we witness those things coming upon the earth in the days now and ahead.  

* unusual storms at strange times of the year; 

* earthquakes; 

* Coronavirus pestilence; 

* volcanic eruptions; 

* extreme heat and forest fires; 

* governments of men working in great debt; 

* blatant and overt wickedness flaunted before our eyes on TV; 

* no shame; 

* men lying without concern; 

* moral corruption; 

* sins in church groups even to removal of doctrines of Bible from the congregation, 

* the apostate churches of the end times.

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God makes this promise to HIS people, HIS church today.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Sometimes we simply forget to talk with God about our plans.  And we go forth in our own thinking.  It might work out and it might not when we go about it like that.  Why take the risk?  when we have the promise from God that if we ask HIM for wisdom, HE will give us wisdom?

I believe this series on Wisdom will help each of us to remember to seek wisdom from God.  And I believe these writings over the next month will cause us to have an understanding of wisdom and to keep in our minds the need we have for wisdom to become deeply rooted in each of our hearts.

We should find these writings to be very exciting, profitable and comforting as we go forward daily.

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King Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave Solomon wisdom and Solomon was the wisest of men because it was from God!

I Kings 3

4 And the king (Solomon) went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. 

 

5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, THOU hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before THEE in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with THEE; and THOU hast kept for him this great kindness, that THOU hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O LORD my God, THOU hast made THY servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And THY servant is in the midst of THY people which THOU hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore THY servant an understanding heart to judge THY people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this THY so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in MY ways, to keep MY statutes and MY commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. 

And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

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The wisdom God gave to king Solomon has lasted for centuries and even today in secular TV shows, I have heard reference made to the wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom from God is greatly to be desired, more than rubies and silver and gold.  There is nothing like wisdom that comes from God.

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The wisdom of Solomon:  

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

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5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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To fear God and choose HIS way is safety, prosperity, and health.  True wisdom is to choose God and that which HE shows you.   

Fear of the Lord is to have great awe of that which God shows you and to know that to go any other direction is to risk extreme danger and is very foolish.

We have a sure thing when we hear a word from God and go that way!

I was born again in 1975 and began reading the Bible and seeking to do the Word.  I saw the information about king Solomon and wanted wisdom from God.  Also I saw that God promises to give us wisdom if we ask HIM.  

I wrote on each book of the Bible, "Remember to ask God for wisdom."

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No good comes from traveling with the evil seekers:

Proverbs 1:10-16    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

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2 Corinthians 6

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be MY people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean ; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be MY sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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At the time I was born again, so far as I know, none of my friends were Christians.  And I was changed so dramatically by God that I no longer wanted to be with those people I had been around.  I wanted to hear things of God.  I wanted to read Bible.  I wanted to go to Church and attend things of God with people of God.

Two Baptist women said to me, "Don't give up your worldly friends."

But I no longer had anything in common with my previous friends.

The Baptist women were thinking maybe I could lead some of my past friends to Christ.  But that is not the way I felt.  I just didn't have anything in common anymore with them.  I was very changed by God.

Ezekiel 36  God says:

23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.

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If we reject God's counsel:

Proverbs 1

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

(God says)

23 Turn you at MY reproof: behold, I will pour out MY spirit unto you, I will make known MY words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out MY hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all MY counsel, and would none of MY reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon ME, but I will not answer; they shall seek ME early, but they shall not find ME:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of MY counsel: they despised all MY reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

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33 But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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Consider this:

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

I believe we live now in the beginning of the end times warned about in the Bible.  If so, we are told by the apostle Paul to expect these to be "perilous times".

2 Timothy 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection (homosexuals / lesbians / abortionists), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(Paul doesn't tell us to keep company with this world or disobedient church people.  Paul says to turn away from them when you see this.  And that is what I did.)

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And Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Matthew 24

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

💥  Wars:  World Wars I & II ... spectacular in that they included most of the nations of men on this earth.

💥  Pestilences:  2020  Coronavirus covers entire world as we have never seen before.  NYC was empty of people and traffic as we usually see it.  On March 11, 2020, I was shocked to hear they were cancelling the major college basketball tournament, "March Madness".  Professional basketball and professional golf and professional baseball cancelled games and tournaments and entire seasons. Most things completely shut down, never before seen. And it happened all over the earth!  It reminded me of the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18.  (It was not that event but I was seeing things that were described in the writings concerning the fall of Babylon.)

💥  Earthquakes:  2023 Great earthquake in Turkey and Syria kills almost 50,000 people (unheard of).

How can these things not get our attention?

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And Jesus speaks of more things to come at the end.

Matthew 24:12-13  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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And Jesus tells us how really bad the time will become:

Matthew 24:21-22  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

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Churches are everywhere in USA.  How could it ever get this bad?

The apostasy comes into churches.  They fall away from scripture and set up other doctrines. They feel secure because they say "Jesus is Lord", but they cast aside scripture which is "Jesus".  And they have no idea they are a part of antichrist and the apostasy of the end time.

If we really love The Word of God, we will live by the instructions of the scriptures.

A quick test:  Jesus said:  Matthew 5:32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Is this what they teach and do at your church group?

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery?

* The divorced woman commits adultery if she remarries?

* The man who divorces a faithful wife is the cause of her committing adultery if she remarries?

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The apostasy in today's churches is rampant.

Do they teach the following about homosexuals and lesbians at your church group?

Romans 1:26-28  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

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"without natural affection":  (2 Timothy 3:3)  ... Is it "natural" for a woman to kill her unborn child with abortion?

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"sex outside of marriage" ... fornication ... The apostle Paul says at the time of sexual intercourse two become one flesh, even if you have sex with an "harlot" (prostitute)

I Cor. 6:15-18  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

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It will get much worse in the days ahead on this earth.

No wonder Jesus said:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  (Mt. 24:21-22)

We must learn to operate in God's wisdom, obeying the Holy Scriptures.

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

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Podcast: David says: "The LORD (the Word) is my shepherd. I shall not want."

 

 

Certainly this Psalm of David is valid for today's church who have as their shepherd Jesus, The Word.

Psalm 23

1 The LORD (The Word) is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 HE (The Word) maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE (The Word) leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 HE (The Word) restoreth my soul: HE (The Word) leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me; THY rod and THY staff they comfort me.

5 THOU preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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Hymn: HE leadeth me!

(Click forward arrow > to play music:) 


1. He leadeth me! O blessed thought, 
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught;
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis Christ’s WORD that leadeth me.

Chorus:

He leadeth me! He leadeth me!

By His own WORD He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,
For by His WORD He leadeth me. 

2.  Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His WORD that leadeth me. 

3.  Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine (by reaching out and grabbing HIS Word and doing it),

Nor ever murmur or repine; *
 
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me. 

4.  And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,  
Since Thou in triumph leadest me.

(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

(www.hymnal.net):  
 

*** 

Defnitions:
 
Consider these definitions for the words "murmur" and "repine" in verse 3.

Nor ever murmur or repine;

murmur:  complain about 

repine:  to look back with intense longing for what one once had ...
             to be fretfully discontented ...
             to mope, to languish, to feel upset about, to be despondent over ... to brood, lament, grieve, mourn, sorrow

***** 

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Romans 8:11    But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

God, by HIS Spirit, brings thoughts to our minds to comfort us, to show us what to do, to stabilize us in times of trial.  Sometimes God will give us a dream to help us.  And God uses angels from time to time to deliver messages to us.  

John 14:26    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13   Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

***

I Corinthians 2:1-5   And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

***

John 5:30   Jesus said:   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.

***

I Corinthians 2:10-13    But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak

***

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 
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💥 Antichrist are the people who deny Jesus the Word, says the apostle John.

Jesus is The Word.

If we deny any portion of a scripture, we become antichrist ... opposite to that scripture, against that scripture, "anti" Christ.

I John 2

3 And hereby we do know that we know HIM, if we keep HIS commandments.

4 He that saith, I know HIM, and keepeth not HIS commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth HIS word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in HIM.

Jesus is The Word.  If we deny any part of any scripture we deny Jesus, The Word.  And we show ourselves as anti-Christ when we are against the Word.

For example:

Matthew 5:32  Jesus says:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife (divorce his wife), saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

* The man who divorces a "faithful wife" will be the cause of that faithful wife committing adultery if she remarries.

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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Homosexuals & lesbians:  (We read Bible and conform our own thinking to what God says in the Bible knowing this is truth.)

Romans 1

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified HIM not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, WHO is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

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Fornication:

I Corinthians 6

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

(Fornication is a sin different from all other sins.)

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We conform our thinking to what God says in the Holy Bible.  

As long as God leaves us on this earth, we read the Bible and stay with God's thinking on the issues keeping ourselves.

Thinking opposite to The Word is antichrist.  (opposite to Christ)

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💥 Our kingdom is not of this world.

💥 John 18:36  (Jesus said)  MY kingdom is not of this world: if MY kingdom were of this world, then would MY servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is MY kingdom not from hence.

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Hebrews 11

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

(The king had commanded that every male child be killed at birth because there were too many Jewish people in Egypt.  Moses would have been killed but his parents hid Moses in the river and Pharaoh's daughter found the Hebrew baby floating in the daubed ark and she took him to raise him as her own child.)

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

Like Moses, we too see HIM who is invisible.

Those things we can see with our natural eye will be burned up, destroyed by God, at the end of this world.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Matthew 24:35  (Jesus says)  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY words shall not pass away.

We see that which is eternal.  The people of this world see that which is temporary.

2 Corinthians 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(temporal: temporary; restricted by boundaries of time)

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Mark 8  (Jesus says)

34 And when HE had called the people unto HIM with HIS disciples also, HE said unto them, Whosoever will come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow ME.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for MY sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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Abraham is an example for us.  He wanted his "wealth" to come from God.

Genesis 14

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

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As those born of the Spirit of God, we try to do that which is right in the sight of God to other people.

We are not abusers of ourselves with mankind as are those people of this world.

I Corinthians 6

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexual), nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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We have inside of us the way of God as we deal with others, not wanting to take advantage of others to get what we want on this present earth.  

When something goes wrong and we suffer loss, we do not retaliate against the person who caused us to lose gain.  Allow yourself to suffer loss, if need be.  God will repay you.

We hold fast to personal integrity which comes from doing that which is right in the sight of God.  We base our way of life on what is right in the sight of God, living by scripture, living uncompromising lives, building a moral base from scriptures.

In pursuit of money and fame and position in this life, many lose personal integrity, compromising their way of life to get what they want.  Integrity is critical for each of us.

Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.  Our integrity is based on that which God teaches us from the Holy Bible and on that which God plants in our heart by HIS Holy Spirit.

For our kingdom is not of this world, as is theirs.

That which matters to us is doing that which is right in the sight of God, even when it causes us to suffer worldly loss.

💥 Examples: I have a bed frame which raises and lowers the bed.  One of our kittens chewed through the wiring.  We set about to have the frame fixed.  But when the man from the mattress company came to replace the motor, he found the damage was far more extensive than anticipated so we would be better off to buy a new frame.  When I found we needed to do this, all I could think of is being sure we paid the man who came but couldn't do the repair work.  When I asked Pam, she said she had already paid him for his trip to our house.  Pam and I have the same Spirit, the Spirit of God, not wanting to do harm to others nor cause them to suffer loss.  (I Cor. 6:9  (not being) Abusers of themselves with mankind)

Another example:  I bought a new leather sofa several years ago. After they delivered the sofa, my cat jumped on the sofa and inspected the addition.  When my cleaning lady came to work, she said my cat had damaged the new sofa with one of her claws.  I looked at one of the seats and saw the claw mark.  Most people would not notice the small scratch.  I could have called and told the furniture store I had decided not to buy the sofa.  But if I did that someone else would suffer loss.  If the furniture store sold the sofa then the customer would have a slightly damaged sofa.  Or the furniture store would suffer loss if they discovered the blemish and had to discount the price to sell the item.  This is what Paul means when he speaks of being an abuser of themselves with mankind.  Is is worth losing your soul?

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I Corinthians 10:12-13  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

In 2019, when I moved to Colorado, I gave that leather sofa to my contractor's son.  Tom said his son was so happy to get the sofa.

Do not defraud another person.  Suffer the loss.  God will repay you.

This is a part of developing integrity.

Also it shows that person and whether or not this world is that person's kingdom.

We must do right by other people.

I Corinthians 6

6 Now these things (in the Bible) were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

(murmur:   complain)

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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Colossians 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

(What is right in the sight of God in this issue?)

2 Set your affection on things above (pleasing God), not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(At the moment we were born again, we died to this world and the things of this world, for God gave us HIS Spirit to live in us and teach us and guide us in HIS ways.  HE delivered us from this world and caused us to follow HIS Spirit.  So our goals differ from the goals of this world.  Now we serve God doing as God instructs.  We are dead to this world but alive to God. And we hold fast to the Word of God in all our ways, doing what is shown us by God through HIS Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.)

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.

5 Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

 

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The Book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom given to king Solomon from God and we can learn many wonderful things by these verses in this life, seeing the way of God, the way of true godliness for both this life and the next life which is forever.

 

Our kingdom is not of this world.  We see HIM who is invisible!

I often pray over myself the following:

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

When we brush against this world and the ideas of man, we often take on uncleanness of this world.  I depend on God to restore my soul to HIS ways and set me straight from the ways of men of this world.  So I ask God to cleanse my heart and spirit that I may serve God and go in HIS way.

After praying this and depending on God, I encounter perfect peace, as God restores me to HIMSELF and His truth and HIS way.

When God cleanses us, we are clean!

Start now with a good heart and lay your foundation in wisdom as presented by God as we spend the next month looking at the book of Proverbs and allowing God to work in us by HIS Word.

 

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Podcast: Philippians 4:6-7

 

 

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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A man is coming to our house this week to add a cable to my TV and repair one of my speaker cables that had a broken post.  He also plans to demonstrate some upgraded sound cables.

I have the money to buy these sound cables.  But making choices is burdensome with me.

So my request to God was that HE choose for me.

God knows what I should do.  

Psalm 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

God will choose that which is best for us!  And God will protect us from that which would not benefit us.

I find I just keep saying to God, "YOU choose."

After I prayed, I heard this from the Holy Spirit:  "Don't be afraid."

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As we pray over all things, we connect with God in all matters pertaining to this life.

Jesus tells us this makes us worthy to escape that which is coming upon this earth.

Luke 21  (Jesus says)

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away. 

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

 

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

We put our trust in God each time we pray over that which we do on this earth and each time we pray over all our concerns ... and by prayer we connect with God and make ourselves worthy to escape that which is coming upon this earth.

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