The end times will be different in several ways than life as usual. There will be a widening separation between those who love God and those who love themselves more than God. There will be increased trials and persecution, which is God’s way of purifying the world out of His children. And there will be increased error and deadly deception. Every one of these situations calls for a stronger faith, a deeper commitment and a better knowledge of God’s Word.
As
the fiery trials and persecutions increase, how will you fare? I can tell you
exactly the answer. In proportion to your connection with God through
Wordkeeping, which we know is personal prayerful Bible study. So what better
time than now to start increasing and honing your Wordkeeping skills, so you
can “Study to show thyself approved upon God,” and “be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear.
Put on the spiritual armor God has provided, and wield the sword of the Spirit against the attacks of the enemy. We must know our Bibles in order to be safe from deception. We must have God’s promises memorized, because we will need them more than we need anything else in the whole world.
Jesus
promised that the Holy Spirit will “bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. Can you remember something that
is not in your memory? No, you can’t. So this promise is only for those who
have put the Word in their memory. We won’t need to memorize speeches to
present to our persecutors, but we will need to have memorized scripture. “But
when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it
shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.” Matthew 10:19 Those
who have the Word abiding in their hearts will receive help from God to put it
all together to testify for Him.
Don’t neglect the Word, but take every opportunity to acquaint
yourself with it. Test God’s faithfulness and promises now, so you will be
ready for the difficult times. If your Bible is taken away from you, won’t it
be wonderful to have it written in your mind and heart, where no one can take
it away!
It is the Holy Spirit that takes the Words of God home to our
hearts, and seals us, preserving us for redemption. Again, our part is to
expose our minds to the Word, so that we can receive the Seal of God.
Jesus, in His prayer to
His Father said regarding His disciples, “They have kept thy word. Wouldn’t you
like to have Jesus say that about you? What does Jesus say to the Father about
your attitude to His Word?
In the end times,
everyone will be tested. We are to prepare for the huge final test. How does one
prepare for any test? Study! The signs are shouting, It’s time to CRAM! We must
spiritually be “burning the midnight oil.” So the Lord doesn’t come and find us
sleeping.
The test is the entrance
exam for what? Heaven! An eternity of blessing and bliss with our Savior. We
can’t afford to miss out!
In a few days we will be
discussing what WORKS are, as you might have a question about legalism. We’re
not talking about legalism here, but about a love so deep that we are being
totally responsive to God’s Holy Spirit. We are talking about being sanctified
by the truth.
Let’s enter into a covenant relationship with God, allowing Him to write His law, His character on our hearts. This experience will fill you with joy, and you will declare with Jeremiah, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by thy name, O Lord of Hosts.” Jer 15:16.
May God help us to be ready, so we can lift up our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh!
Here are your ten texts for today.
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Isa
26:3 |
Twkhipp, wmisot: bhtit. |
Isaiah
26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee. |
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Isa
40:11 |
HsfHflas: HsgtlwHa, actiHb, asglttawy. |
Isaiah
40: 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs
with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that
are with young. |
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Isa
40:31 |
BttwutLsrts; tsmuwwae; tsr, anbw; atsw, anf. |
Isaiah
40: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Isa
41:10 |
Ftn; fIawt: bnd; fIatG: Iwst; y, Iwht: y, Iwutwtrhomr. |
Isaiah
41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness. |
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Isa
43:25 |
I, eI, ahtbottfmos, awnrts. |
Isaiah
43: 25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins. |
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Isa
53:5 |
Bhwwfot, Hwbfoi: tcoopwuH;
awHswah. |
Isaiah
53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed. |
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Isa
55:6 |
SytLwhmbf, cyuhwhin: |
Isaiah
55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is
near: |
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Isa
55:7 |
Ltwfhw, atumht: alhrutL,
ahwhmuh; atoG, fhwap. |
Isaiah
55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon. |
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Isa
64:6 |
Bwaaaaut, aaoraafr; awadfaal; aoi, ltw, htua. |
Isaiah
64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away. |
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Isa
65:24 |
Aisctp, tbtc, Iwa; awtays, Iwh. |
Isaiah
65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and
while they are yet speaking, I will hear. |
In His Love,
Linda Kirk
(805) 239-1120