Book of Jonah Bible study review
"Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9 ESV
Opening Prayer.
Our Father in Heaven, we come before you now, with hearts of Thanksgiving. Thank You for Your Love, Mercy, and kindness that has set us free from death, giving us everlasting life instead. Forgive us of our sins, we pray and help us all to do what’s right in Your sight. Draw us closer to You as we study Your word, the Bible, show us wonderful things that we have yet to know and understand, lead us to victory, enable us to persevere, equipping us for every good work. In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen.
Note: This letter includes many links to help everyone better understand the subject matter. Please take your time and check out the links. You will benefit significantly more if you do. Thank you!
Be like the Bereans, confirm if these words spoken to you are Accurate, and Scrutinize everything.
Just because someone says something is true doesn't mean it is. For example, the Bereans, residents of the city of Berea, were mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Acts. They searched the Scriptures daily to see if Paul and Silas taught the truth when they preached to them. They used their discernment to test everything they heard, proving it was accurate by checking the scriptures themselves. As a result, when they confirmed those teachings as valid, they became believers, even many of the prominent Greek women and men.
Acts 17:10-12 NLT: "That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures, day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.”
Why am I writing this bible study? The most important thing.
There is something you need to know about me. I don't have prestigious titles in front of my name. It's just James, and I'm not a holier-than-thou type, meaning I'm no better than you. I'm just an ordinary surfer-dude whose heart the LORD has burdened with genuine compassion for people, believers, and unbelievers. I'm one of those who asks the most crucial question in life and seeks an answer: "Where are we all going to spend eternity when we die, Heaven or Hell?"
We are about to have a heart-to-heart exchange about life and death issues. I'm not always going to write a feel-good story, so in the end, we might think better about ourselves, be senselessly entertained, or aimlessly pass the time. No, what we're talking about here is very serious. This conversation is the most valuable thing to talk about, the most important thing.
This writing was motivated by a sincere intention and meaningful purpose to clarify many things. In this letter, we will hear much-needed words of encouragement, warnings, honest self-examination, and sound wisdom to strengthen and better prepare us for perilous times ahead.
If this letter had been written only for the one person who needed encouragement, writing it would have been worth all the effort. As well for the one beloved soul who has fallen away from fellowship with the LORD and now needs to return to Him, all these words were meant just for you. Equally written for the one person who has never had a life-changing encounter with Jesus and is now reading this letter to find answers, to be sure these words were written for you so in this letter's conclusion, you would believe and call out to the LORD and be forever saved.
"Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near." Isaiah 55:6 NLT
So let us all draw closer to the LORD now while He is near, and may Heaven be where we will all gather together forever in His coming Kingdom.
"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT
A vital question: are you or I real Christians? The Bible says we must examine ourselves to determine whether our faith is genuine.
"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT.
What is a Christian? A Christian is a follower, believer, or disciple of Jesus Christ as LORD, who puts their faith and trust in Jesus alone as their Savior. "IMPORTANT POINT" Going to church every Sunday and reading the Bible doesn't make someone a Christian." Only when someone calls out to GOD, repents of their sins, turns away from evil, receives the gift of eternal life, is reborn anew from above (born again), given the Holy Spirit to live within them forever as the promised seal of being saved, and is now following Jesus, living in a personal relationship with Him, now a Christian, a child of GOD, a member of His everlasting Family awaiting His soon return.
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." Ephesians 1:13 ESV.
"Let us now examine ourselves to see if our faith is genuine. Test yourselves."
Have you or I called out to GOD, repented of our sins, turned away from a sinful life, and received His gift of everlasting life?
Acts 16: 25-31 NLT: "Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." Acts 16: 25-31 NLT
Are you or I now followers, believers, or disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the one they wrote about in the Bible, who created all things, was crucified (died) and rose from the dead on the third day, the Savior of the world, the LORD (Adonai) GOD (Elohim) Almighty (El Shaddai) Revelation 17:14, John 1:1, Revelation 1:7-8, 4:8, 1 Corinthians 15:13-15
Yeshua is Adonai (hebrew4christians.com) Excellent resource.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me." John 10:27-28
Jesus asked Peter three times, do you Love me? And just like Peter, we must ask ourselves, do we genuinely Love Jesus?
"A third time, he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep." John 21:17 NLT
Do you or I desire to obey the LORD's commands?
"Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them." John 14:23 NLT
Are you or I trusting in Jesus alone to save our souls, or are you or I working to help Him save us? We can't save ourselves by our good works, no matter how many of them we do. Jesus is the world's only Savior, and there is no other who can save our souls. Everyone must repent of their sins, call out to GOD, and turn from doing evil. Jesus is our only reason for an assurance of being saved, and we are now and forever secure in Him. He is our Salvation.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Is there evidence that we have been reborn from above (born again). Are there good fruits of the Holy Spirit manifesting in your or my life?
Galatians 5:22-25 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."
Do we Love one another?
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 NLT
Do you or I still love the world and strive to live only for its pleasures, or do we seek GOD's presence and strive to do what is pleasing in His sight instead, loving not the world nor what it offers?
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." 1 John 2:15-17 NLT
Are you or I still following the desires of our sinful nature without a sense that there is something wrong with our lives? Do you or I still believe we will inherit the Kingdom of GOD while actively living that lifestyle listed below without repenting, forsaking those things, and turning to the LORD?
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Do you or I fear the LORD and hate evil?
"The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." Proverbs 8:13 ESV
Do you or I have a testimony of how GOD has changed our lives?
Testimony: a declaration of a changed life, a statement about our faith in Jesus, a witness, evidence of GOD's Love, an account, a public profession of faith, proof of a new life.
"And so, you will bear testimony to me." Luke 21:13 NIV
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11 ESV
"And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." Revelation 12:11 NLT
What is a Christian Testimony?
The final examination of our faith must always be the LORD because only He can see what is within our hearts. Oh, LORD, test us. See if we are indeed Your children if our faith is genuine.
"Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart." Psalm 26:2
"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
What does the Bible say about self-examination? | GotQuestions.org
Questions to Examine Yourself to See if You are in the Faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) - Thankful Homemaker
If we are Christians, authentic followers of Jesus, then we are forever saved NOW!
"And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life." 1 John 5:11-13 NLT
Authentic: genuine, not false, not counterfeit, honest, legitimate, accurate, true.
We must be sure about our Salvation, thus having a steadfast assurance. We are either saved now or have yet to be. There is no middle ground in this. We must be sure about it. The Bible speaks clearly about this. For true believers in Christ, your Salvation is forever now. Knowing with confidence that you are eternally secure in Christ is vital because if you are unsure about this, it will be harder for you to live victorious now and in the coming seasons ahead.
Knowing that we are indeed Christians, without any doubts, will encourage and empower us to persevere through difficult times fearlessly. We will have hope and peace that surpass all understanding, even in the chaos. Knowing that we are securely resting in the Almighty Hands of our GOD will enable us to be courageous and persist even when dangers come our way.
Here are many excellent links to help you better understand this critical subject. Spend some time studying this. Only move on once you have concluded that you have been born again and are truly saved now. For those who are unsure and have never accepted Jesus as their LORD and Savior and are still looking for answers, please keep reading to the end. This letter still has more to say to you.
"True Salvation is not to be found through the mere reception of any creed, however true or scriptural. Mere 'head notion' is not the road to Heaven. "You must be born again" means a great deal more than that you must believe certain dogmas. The study of the Bible cannot save you! You must press beyond this; you must come to the living, personal Christ, or else your acceptance of the soundest creed cannot avail for the Salvation of your soul. Salvation lies in Jesus only!" ~ Charles Spurgeon, Baptist preacher (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892)
What Does It Mean to Identify as a Christian? (ligonier.org)
The Doctrine of Salvation: Assurance (gty.org) Grace to you: John MacArthur
12 Characteristics of a True Christian | Anchored in Christ (kevinhalloran.net)
How can I know if I am saved? | GotQuestions.org
If you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved? | GotQuestions.org
"I John's Tests of Your Salvation" | Shawn Thomas
Why Jesus Asked Peter "Do You Love Me" 3 Times (biblestudytools.com)
Satan's Methods of Attacking the Christian's Assurance - Ask Pastor Tim (youtube.com)
Now, put on the Helmet of Salvation.
"Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 NLT
In the book of Ephesians chapter 6:10-20, the apostle Paul illustrates the armor of a Roman soldier to show us how to prepare ourselves to be able to stand against all the strategies of the Devil and the fallen angels, listing seven pieces of armor, #1 the belt of truth, #2 the breastplate of righteousness, #3 shoes of the Gospel of peace, #4 the shield of faith, #5 the helmet of Salvation, #6 the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, #7 prayer.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
The Helmet of Salvation protects our heads and guards our minds on the spiritual battleground whereby our enemies try to influence our thoughts. Our enemies know that if they can get us to be uncertain about our Salvation, it will weaken our courage to fight fearlessly and without compromise. Thoughts that we are still lost, we're not good enough, GOD doesn't honestly Love us. Therefore, maybe thinking the LORD is not truly with us. He isn't protecting us as He promised, and so on. Our Helmet of Salvation is a vital part of armor to guard our hearts and minds. "Wear it daily."
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 ESV
The Armor of God: The Helmet of Salvation (gty.org) Grace to you: John MacArthur
What is the helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17)? | GotQuestions.org
To everyone who is called GOD's people, please listen now. We have been declared "the OVERCOMERS," not the defeated.
"Because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 BSB
What is faith? "It is what gives us the sure confidence of what we hope for and proves what we cannot see." It is our belief and trust in the LORD alone above everything else. It is a persistent hope and loyalty to GOD as we draw closer to Him daily. Faith is the confident, continual trust and dependence in the LORD's promises to us. Christian believers are called "the overcomers" because they have come to believe that Jesus is the Son of GOD, the Savior of the world, and victoriously declare that greater is He that is in them than He that is in the world.
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 ESV
Dear beloved, we have been declared the overcomers not because we are wiser than most or more competent than many but because of our simple belief (faith) in Jesus as the Son of GOD. Yes, we will endure many hardships and suffering, but we must not forget that our LORD will never forsake us but will uphold us every step of the way forward. Most of the time, we will not feel we are the overcomers. It's not about a feeling, but this confidence comes from the fact that Jesus has already overcome the world for us. And for this reason, we are truly called the overcomers.
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT
"Yes, we are the overcomers and also more than conquerors."
No, in all these things we are "more than conquerors" through him who loved us." Romans 8:37 ESV
Conquerors: someone who is victorious over an adversary, champion, defeater, above measure, internal and external victory.
As conquerors, we whom the LORD calls His people are more than overcomers because of GOD’s great Love for us. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from His Love, as the Bible says, neither trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, or sword. We need to be encouraged as overcomers that we are not the defeated but the victorious, even when it doesn't appear that way. We, as overcomers, must be continually reminded that we walk by faith in the LORD, not by the appearance of what might be happening around us and to us. Remember, our faith in GOD and His everlasting Love for us gives us victory. So be encouraged. We are the OVERCOMERS. Yes, we are.
What does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)? | GotQuestions.org
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT
Characteristics of an overcomer
Overcomer: someone who prevails in the face of opposition and trusts the LORD despite adverse circumstances. Overcomers persevere through trials and tribulations because the object of their faith is Christ Jesus alone. He has already secured the victory.
An overcomer is someone with complete trust in the LORD and His faithfulness.
One who has put their confidence in GOD's promises.
Overcomers can have the peace of GOD even during times of great tribulation because they know the LORD is by their sides, never to depart.
They will be victorious over hostile evil forces because overcomers believe without doubts that He who is in them (GOD) is greater than the one (the devil) who is in the world.
Overcomers understand that there's an ongoing spiritual battle behind the scenes, so they put on the whole armor of GOD daily to withstand the forces of evil. Ephesians 6:11-17.
An overcomer will have a bold testimony about Christ Jesus, their LORD, and how He saved them from death and gave them eternal life.
Overcomers no longer walk in darkness. They walk in the light and can discern things as they are.
These saints endure patiently. They have not forsaken their commitment to live for Christ and continue to hold on to His words (as written in the Bible).
Overcomers understand that the storms of life are providentially controlled, meaning GOD has absolute direction over the outcome of everything. GOD has a purpose for the storms (hardships), using them to strengthen the overcomers and increase their faith and trust in Him so they will be better able to persevere.
These confident individuals know victory is through GOD's power alone. They understand that their strength is inadequate. Therefore, overcomers have a constant, faithful dependence on the LORD, believing that the LORD will rescue them when needed so that they can continue persevering onward and upward.
Overcomers look forward to eternity, not just to the present life but also to the future.
The overcomers know that nothing can ever separate them from GOD's Love, and because of this, they are eternally victorious.
Perseverance of the Saints /got questions/ forever secure in the LORD.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or Persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long. we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:35-39 ESV.
Ten encouraging things we need to know about how much the LORD Loves us!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." 1 John 4:9 NLT.
#1 GOD Loves us and continues to prove it to us.
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 NLT
#2 The LORD uniquely and wonderfully created you in His image. Each of us is different, dearly loved, and truly special.
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." Psalm 139:13-14 NLT
#3 The LORD calls us His children.
"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him." 1 John 3:1 NLT
#4 The LORD has declared that His thoughts toward us can't be numbered. He is always passionately concerned about every detail of our lives.
"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" Psalm 139:17 NLT
#5 The LORD knows all our sufferings. Nothing goes unnoticed or will ever be forgotten.
"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your Book." Psalm 56:8 NLT
#6 He made plans for our lives and chose us to be with Him forever. We have all been given a destiny, planned in detail long ago, even before GOD made the world. He Loved each one of us.
"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." Ephesians 1:4 NLT
#7 He has adopted us into His family.
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5 NLT
#8 Jesus loved us and showed us this by coming to earth from Heaven in person to save us from our sins.
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 NLT
#9 We have the absolute promise that nothing can separate us from Christ's love for us now or forever.
Romans 8:35-39 NLT "Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake, we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep." No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 NLT
#10 Yes, the LORD will wipe away every tear and be with us in person for all eternity. Is not this His greatest promise to us out of them all.
"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
Indeed, our only response now is to bow down and worship Him. The LORD is our maker. He is our GOD.
"Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care." Psalm 95:6-7 NLT
What God Thinks About You | Desiring God
"First Things First"
Since posting the last study, the LORD impressed on my heart a few vital things we need to be aware of before we discuss the Jonah Bible study review.
May it be remembered that we are here studying the Bible together because it is the only sure way to draw closer to the LORD, to know him more intimately, and to discern between good and evil. The Bible uses the LORD as a reference for good in contrast to evil because only He is absolutely perfect (Holy, Good) and unchanging. We would still be lost in this present fallen world if the LORD hadn't pulled us out of the darkness, rescuing us by His grace and mercy, opening our eyes to see the difference between good and evil, and now, as a blessed consequence, we desire to do what's right in His sight.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalms 34:8 NLT
Let me share something from my heart with you. I want everyone who reads this letter to know it is my prayer that we will all meet again in Heaven. I've been burdened to be concerned that we don't get lost along the way. Assuredly, someday in the future, we will all celebrate together in His coming Kingdom. What a moment that will be, so thank You, LORD, for keeping us in Your loving care and drawing us near as we study Your word, the Bible.
So, as a wise priority, we must all be continuously informed of the present dangers around us as Christians traversing hostile territory on our way to Heaven. If your house was on fire, and you were asleep, wouldn't you want somebody to knock on your door, warning you to wake up? Or would it be better for someone to say? I don't want to offend anyone and remain silent.
"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" 1 Kings 3:9 ESV
Whenever you see this warning flag, it indicates that I have something "SERIOUS" to say to you that maybe some wouldn't tell you. You see, GOD has called me to tell you the whole truth, to warn you of existing and impending dangers. Not just the wonderful things about the LORD, which everyone welcomes and finds easy to digest.
The Church Apostasy as a sign that the last days are upon us.
Apostasy: an abandonment or renunciation of faith in the LORD, an act of departure from the historic Christian belief in GOD's word, the Bible as the final authority in all things that pertain to living a righteous life pleasing to GOD, a falling away, teaching and believing false doctrine, withdrawing from faith and trust in the LORD alone, falling into rebellion against the Creator, disobedience, a defection, a turning away from GOD.
Understanding the Bible's definition of Apostasy- a deep dive.
The Church in the Last Days (2 Timothy 3:1-9) IMPORTANT: Please read this. It is a must-read.
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV.
Evident to all who are taking notice, authentic Christianity has been in radical decline, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. This departure from genuine Christian faith, believing in GOD and the Bible as the supreme authority in all matters of life, has come under severe attack.
Remnant: a small worldwide body of faithful authentic Christians remaining in the last days before the 2nd return of Jesus Christ, something remaining from a more significant portion, a few.
"The last day’s faithful believers"
"Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” Jude 1:3 NLT
In the last days, there will be a remaining group of faithful Christians worldwide who have continued to believe in the historic Christian faith, who did not succumb to lies (heretical teachings) or deceived as to fall into Apostasy and abandon the true faith. Those faithful saints who heeded the warnings and still held onto the truth that GOD entrusted to them will be the ones the LORD will enable to persevere to the end.
Let us pray: "Dear Father, thank You for being attentive to our prayers. We ask for Your continued protection from evil and to increase our ability to discern between truth and error. Fill us with Your wisdom so we will be better equipped to persevere through trials and tribulations now and in the near future.
Renew within us a hunger and thirst for Your word to establish a firm, unshakable foundation, enabling us to stand strong in Your might and power despite our weaknesses, enduring triumphantly to the end. In Jesus' Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:10-13 ESV
Satan, and the attack on the Christian Church from within.
"Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” Revelation 12:12 ESV
How Has Satan Attempted to Destroy the Church? (blueletterbible.org)
The attack by Satan and his demons on the Christian Church from within has been occurring since the very beginning, and false teachings of ministers of unrighteousness have been successfully leading people astray. To all who are paying attention, there has been an increased attack by Satan on the Christian Church with an intensity like never before seen because he knows his time is running out and the end is near.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NLT
The Devil has been busy attacking the Christian body of believers and their families, causing divisions among believers and dividing marriages, children against their parents, problems with fear, depression, hopelessness, suicide, substance abuse (drugs), pornography, child abuse, gender confusion (Gender dysphoria) promiscuous behaviors, to name a few of the ways Satan and his demons have been causing divisions and numerous sinful behaviors.
"All the New Testament writers speak of the approaching apostasy. To them it was just a little cloud on the horizon the size of a man's hand. But that cloud has now darkened and covered the sky. Today you and I are in the storm. We are seeing one of the greatest departures from the faith in the history of the church." Dr. J. Vermon McGee, blue letter bible
Don Stewart: Signs of the End Times Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities
What are some signs of Apostasy in the Christian church? (carm.org)
What does Apostasy look like in the last days before the 2nd return of Jesus Christ?
"For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." Jude 1:4 NIV
In the last days, many Christian leaders and Bible teachers who profess to be true believers in the LORD will be, as a fact, teaching false doctrines, only wolves in sheep's clothing, meaning they will appear to be the real thing, but in reality, they will be the ones leading people astray with their heresies, drawing the innocent further away from GOD, not closer to Him.
2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV.
What are apostate teachings (destructive heresies or doctrines of demons.)?
Destructive heresies include divisions, selfish ambition or conceit, a deviation from the historic Christian teachings only found in the Bible, and mixing the teaching of unbiblical doctrines with absolute Bible truths.
Christian doctrines: teaching, instructions, beliefs.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE? (CHRISTIAN TEACHING)
“But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to “seducing” spirits and doctrines of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1 ASV
Seduction: The act of seducing, enticements to live an unholy life, led astray to do evil, enticed towards immorality, ungodly sexuality, temptation, the influence of wickedness, a lure to practice sin, persuading one to act perverted, a debauching attitude, a perverse attraction, a trap or snare set up to capture its prey, an ungodly desire, a withdrawal from Holiness, a sudden moral decay, a departure from abiding in GOD's presence.
Beware of Seducing spirits.
A few words about this vital issue. Beware of "giving heed to seducing spirits." Most often, when we think of seduction or temptation by the Devil, the first thought that comes to mind is usually related to sexuality or the use of harmful drugs and alcohol, and indeed, these things have been powerful vices used by the Devil and seducing spirits throughout all human history to lead people away from GOD.
But to be more attentively alert to this danger, we need to stay vigilant to the many ways of seduction used by these seducing spirits (demons) who are always at work planning our destruction.
Beware of any distractions that would take away our focus on the LORD and His Kingdom, such as worthless pursuits that lead you in the wrong direction, the love of money (wealth), unholy attractions such as ungodly movies, videos, music, social media, books, or anything that doesn't bring glory and honor to GOD that can be used by seducing spirits to draw us away from the LORD.
The seduction used by these evil spirits has been proven effective, so they continue to repeat the same tactics. Their seducing begins very subtly at first, and most often, one does not readily realize that they are allowing something into their lives that is destructive and dishonoring to GOD, that will eventually have devastating consequences to themselves and others, slowly developing into something even worse, seducing them into living a sinful lifestyle and ultimately leading them away from the LORD.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 ESV
Understanding the Seducing Spirit (gty.org) This audio recording from Pastor John MacArthur is highly recommended for anyone who is sincerely investigating this topic to understand it more thoroughly.
Satan’s Ten Strategies Against You | Desiring God
What are the teachings of (Doctrines of Demons)?
Doctrines of demons deceive people everywhere and especially cause Christian believers to be led astray from faith in the one true GOD of the Bible. These false teachings multiply over time, starting most often with just one lie and leading to others, so in the end, one cannot tell the difference between what's false and what's true. The primary goal of these Demons is to separate people from GOD, which will ultimately lead them into a state of blindness, where discerning between good and evil becomes very difficult, and as an eventual fatal consequence, being taken captive by a demonic scheme that seeks the utter destruction of everybody. The Bible warns us to be alert of these things.
"So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT
Four important videos to keep us informed and alert to the present dangers that threaten Humanity and believers in Christ.
The first Video is " What are Demon Doctrines?" by Dr. John S. Barnett. The next is " Doctrines of Demons" by Dr. Walter Martin. The last two are " Doctrines of Demons" sessions #1 and #2 by Ron Matsen.
Bible teacher Dr. John S. Barnett has taught the Bible for over 30 years. Here is a short description of John. I recommend him to everyone.
"Walter Ralston Martin (1928 - 1989), was an Evangelical Christian apologist who founded the Christian Research Institute in 1960 as a para-church ministry specializing as a clearinghouse of information in both general Christian apologetics and in counter- cult apologetics." Quote from Theopedia
In this video, Dr. Martin discusses the doctrine of demons infiltrating the Church and a case of demon possession. He was one of the first Christian apologists to formally oppose Cults and their false biblical teachings, writing the classic book Kingdom of the Cults, first published in 1965.
Ron Matsen is currently the president of Koinonia House. He has over 30 years of pastoral ministry experience and has taught extensively on topics related to evangelism, leadership, and the end times.
This video is an excellent first of a two-part series by Pastor and Bible teacher Ron Matsen. He talks about the end times and the warning of doctrines of demons deceiving many within the church.
Session part #2 Doctrines of Demons/ Ron Matsen
It's essential to have a good understanding of the false teachings of the cults and how many of these same teachings have, over time, secretly crossed over or crept into the church. The church hasn't been heeding the warning to be watchful and sadly accepted these false teachings as coming from GOD when, in reality, they came from demons who infiltrated the church through false teachers.
So now is the time to be on high alert and attentive to what is happening around us. It is not an option but is vital because we have demonic enemies who are seeking our destruction. They will not stop their plans of deception to lead us astray, so we must all stay vigilant.
"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you." Matthew 24:4 NIV
Let's examine some of these teachings now. Please review them carefully. This summary is not an exhaustive list. More false teachings could be added, but these are some of the most vital.
Unbiblical teachings of the apostate Church
False teachings (doctrines of Demons)
False teachings (doctrines) inspired by Satan and demons that lead people away from the LORD, not closer to Him.
Stay alert to people indoctrinating others by promoting falsehoods as truth, using persuasive words of deception, and claiming the miraculous signs and wonders that follow them prove they are teaching the truth.
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:24 NIV
Absolute: complete, perfect, unconditional, unlimited, unrestricted, independent, definite, timeless.
Attacks on the Eternal Absolute Attributes of GOD.
Any teaching about GOD's attributes that would diminish Him of His eternal nature (naming a few, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, self-sufficient, immutable, transcendent). Those qualities which establish Him as an unlimited GOD without boundaries, absolutely unrestricted in every way. For example, a false teaching that says the LORD doesn't know everything and is limited in His knowledge. He didn't know that Adam and Eve would sin in the Garden of Eden, so He made His plans as He learned. His understanding isn't eternal or complete. As a result, his knowledge is continuously increasing. Any attempt to reduce the LORD to anything less than absolute would be a man-made god, just an inventive construct of the human mind and not the GOD Almighty of the Bible, who is a GOD so awesome that He is truly beyond all human comprehension.
"The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent." Psalm 104:2 NIV
An attack on the Bible as the infallible word of God.
A belief that the Bible has been corrupted and is no longer accurate or trustworthy, and new revelations have come forward. Believing that once hidden knowledge now supersedes the Bible as authoritative, declaring that the only way to know God and be saved is to follow these new teachings.
The false belief that the Bible has changed from its original writings, so it is no longer accurate or considered trustworthy. Sadly, this thinking leads one to deny that the LORD is Sovereign over all creation, and is entirely unable to keep His word, the Bible, from being corrupted by Humanity.
Abandoning the belief that the Bible (GOD's word) is the final authority, not believing that it still supersedes all administrations, whether human governments or any ruling power that contradicts it. Anything that exalts itself in the place of the LORD Almighty should be rejected. The Bible (GOD's word) should always have the final say in how we live our lives, without exception.
Teaching that only some books in the Bible are inspired and others are not.
Bible teachers who say they are "the only ones with true knowledge about GOD" and, therefore, the only ones who truly understand the Bible, thus the only true Christians in the world.
The Authority of the Bible | Bible.org
What Does the Bible Have to Say about Its Own Authority? by Don Stewart (blueletterbible.org)
What does it mean that the Bible should be our sole authority for faith and practice? | GotQuestions.org
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT.
An attack on the divinity of JESUS Christ, the Savior of the world
Denying the Deity of Christ, claiming and teaching that he was created, such as being an Angel or just a mere man, a good teacher, or a prophet, but certainly not GOD incarnate, they falsely claim.
Any teaching proclaimed to reduce His divinity, meaning any teaching making Jesus (Yeshua) less than GOD Almighty, preexistent, uncreated, coequal to GOD the Father and GOD the Holy Spirit, all existing together from all eternity.
Only the real JESUS of the Bible can save our souls, not the Jesus of Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Bahai, Christian Science, Rosicrucian’s, Scientology, or any other teacher or group teaching people a false Jesus.
Since the beginning of Christianity, the deity of Jesus Christ has come under the most hostile attack more than any other belief in the Christian faith because the Devil and his demons know if they can convince people to believe in a false Jesus who isn't able to save, then they will all be on their way to hell. That's why Jesus said.
"That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." John 8:24 NLT
"Unless we have the real JESUS, we will all die in our sins."
"There is Salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NLT
An attack on the true Gospel (the Good News), teaching another or different Gospel.
Gospel (Good News): GOD's plan of Salvation for humanity, Justification, Sanctification, "regeneration, being born again," Redemption, and Reconciliation so that we may be made right with GOD.
Teaching another or different gospel (Good news) that one's good works will save one’s soul. Another gospel would be anything that adds to or subtracts from the simplicity of Salvation by GOD's grace and mercy alone. GOD's plan of Salvation is His work on our behalf, not our work to help Him save us.
Galatians 1:6-9 ESV: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one, we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9 ESV
"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 ESV
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10 ESV
An attack on (Hell) the teaching of eternal punishment
The false teaching that there is no hell or eternal punishment. Believing GOD will send everyone to Heaven because GOD is good.
Annihilation: extermination, elimination, complete destruction, reduction to nothing, nonexistence.
Teaching that GOD will annihilate all people who are not saved (the lost) after the last judgment. Falsely believing GOD will end their existence, and they will cease to exist. Because of this, they believe there will be no eternal consequences for sin.
Universalism: The false teaching that believes all people, no matter what they believe, will go to Heaven someday because GOD is Love and would never send anyone to hell for all eternity.
It is essential to know that Jesus taught about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Without this teaching, salvation is diminished, GOD's love and mercy are also reduced, His righteous judgments are made of no consequence, and His Holiness is lessened to not being perfect. All of His attributes come under dispute as a result. If hell doesn't exist, then it also makes Him a liar and not the GOD revealed to us in the Bible.
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:46 NIV
The Pit of Hell (Pastor Charles Lawson) This video is a must-watch for everybody. We need to hear these words more often as a solemn reminder that the reality of hell is only one breath away for all those who die without Jesus.
An attack on the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Over the years, the denials that Jesus Christ was crucified and rose from the dead on the third day have been many, even within the Church. Any hopeless view that teaches that Jesus didn't rise bodily from the grave would be a false teaching. Also, any denial of the historicity of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be a direct attack on Salvation. If Jesus didn't rise, there wouldn't be any atonement for our transgressions. We'd still be in our sins, and Christianity would be worthless.
"Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19 NKJV
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:17 NASB
An attack on Jesus (Yeshua) being the Christ (the Messiah or the Anointed)
"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22 AB
Messiah: the anointed one, the chosen, the promised deliver, the Savior of the world.
Failure to acknowledge the truth about Jesus that He is the true Messiah (Christ) coming to earth as a man in the flesh and dwelling among us. Emmanuel, GOD is with us.
An attack on repentance, teaching that Christians no longer sin but can live a perfect life now, just like Jesus did, sinless.
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." 1 John 1:8-10 NLT.
Teaching about confession and repentance of our sins is not a popular topic of discussion these days. Still, it should be the number one thing we need to hear because of the prevalence of sinful lifestyles in the world and within the Christian church.
Hearing the call to repentance and confessing our sins to the LORD continually should make us astutely aware of our comparison to Him, that we are less than perfect while He is blameless and Holy. Therefore, knowing that we are all still sinning and not yet living perfect lives should indicate our need to repent. Confession of our sins also shows us if we are genuinely Christians in an intimate relationship with the only true and Holy GOD, the great I AM, the LORD Almighty.
"And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Luke 24:47 ESV
What Happens to the Church When Preachers No Longer Preach Against Sin | worldchallenge.org David Wilkerson (1931-2011) January 17, 2005
Other false, unbiblical views
The false teaching that GOD is not a personal God (Impersonal) and that one cannot have an intimate relationship with Him, nor does He desire to have one with us. But to the contrary, Jesus (Yeshua) came to free us from our sins, restoring our relationship with GOD, so we no longer need to hide ourselves from His presence.
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." Genesis 3:8 ESV
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing." John 15:5 ESV
"But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." Psalm 73:28 ESV
"That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:21 ESV
Teachings that GOD sanctifies shameful beliefs of immorality and that same-sex unity (homosexuality 1 Cor. 6:9-10). Gender reassignment (LGBTQ- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) This false teaching tries to make the argument that GOD accepts this as Holy, therefore allowed by Him to be taught within the Church.
The teaching that prosperity is a God-given right? And He wants us all to be rich here now in this life. With that being a sign, one is saved, and God is working in your life from the seemingly outward appearance of His blessings. Giving the people a false sense of eternal security.
Teaching as biblical, mixing humanistic psychology and seemingly profound philosophies of this fallen world with Bible truths. Man's wisdom, not GOD's.
Merchandising Christianity for nefarious purposes.
Not condoning abortion as an act of murder. But accepting it as a human right to terminate a baby from the point of conception onward, thus being acceptable by GOD.
Teaching that man is a god or can become one.
Teaching New Age concepts as Christian beliefs.
Teaching to forbid people from marrying and abstaining from eating certain foods to be holy.
"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." Jude 1:24-25 NLT
The attack on the Christian Church from without.
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IS REAL AND IS HAPPENING NOW.
Surge of Violence Against Christians. Christian World News - January 12, 2024
Satan's intense persecution and discrimination of Christians through men and women in his control has been growing worldwide.
Global deception currently operated by Satan and his fallen angels, an attack on the Christian Church.
This quote below is from a previous letter, Part #3, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Exposing what's behind this Evil curtain of deception, My Christian Testimony, Apocalyptic future events."
“Crimes against the Christian Church and Humanity”
“Satan and the fallen angels are currently very active. They are behind Global evil everywhere, and their crimes against Humanity are as stated, to name a few of their worldwide Operations: all black market toxic drugs killing people, Drug and alcohol addiction and every harmful addiction that kills, Adultery, broken marriages, Pornography, Rape, Child Molestation, Sex Slave Human trafficking of all ages and genders, Abortion, Murder, Violence, unjust wars, all harm against the innocent everywhere, All programs designed to alter the human species, All sex change operations for altered Gender identities, Gender reassignment, Transhumanism, Human DNA manipulation via Vaccines and or ALL other means, Genocide, enforced sterilization, All GOD given rights being taken away by any means, ALL crimes against humans created in GOD’S own image.”
"All Governments everywhere plotting to cause harm to their people using false information ( misleading Narratives) broadcasted by major News Media outlets and health institutions, lying to the people about the harmful effects of all drugs, Vaccines, and all dangerous, deadly chemical agents of any kind, Cognitive Warfare, false narratives to control people such as Global warming or Climate change, Institutions that are murdering innocent babies via abortion and saying its family planning or pro-choice, all forms of New Age Occultism, Witchcraft, Satanism, the dark arts, any form of occultic activity, all UFO, UAP, Phenomenon that is being used to deceive Humanity, when in reality only Demons (fallen angels/Hybrids) posing as aliens from other Galaxies, all paranormal activity, false signs and wonders, Crop circles, Bigfoots, all demonic interdimensional beings of any kind, Demonic Genetically altered hybrids, demonically controlled A.I. Technology that is designed to manipulate and deceive people. All Presidents, Kings, Queens, or anyone in authority used to defraud or mislead people. All Globalist activities and agendas being used for power to control people everywhere."
Listed above are some of the crimes these Creatures of evil (Satan and the fallen angels) are inflicting upon the Christian Church and the human race. They will all suffer Judgment and be held accountable for their detestable actions without GOD's mercy.
Part #3 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Exposing what's behind this Evil curtain of deception, My Christian Testimony, Apocalyptic future events."
The Jonah Bible Study Review and (the Bigger Picture)
Bigger Picture: the summation of things, looking at things from a different perspective, concentrating on the whole, focusing on all the details, and having a better understanding of related events.
In this overview of the last three letters of the Jonah Bible study, we will seek to discover and understand the bigger picture. Asking the question, “What is the LORD speaking to us now through those studies?” (the Invitation), the (INTRODUCTION), and (Jonah 1:1). We will review each letter individually and then, in the end, combine them for the final overview to understand (the Bigger Picture).
From Genesis, the Bible's first book, to the last account, the Book of Revelation, we see how GOD has revealed His plans to His people in stages throughout history. The LORD still reveals things we need to know about our present conditions in real time (currently).
Hindsight: understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.
Progressive Revelation: is a view that GOD reveals more insight (Revelation) about His plans over time, in stages.
"Progressive Revelation means that we who live in the new covenant era are blessed to know more about God's plan and its outworking than those who lived under the old covenant. That does not mean, however, that we ignore the old covenant revelation, for Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). We need the Old Testament as much as we need the New Testament to know our Creator and how to love and obey Him." Progressive Revelation | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org
“Cry out for insight and ask for understanding.”
Proverbs 2:2-11 NLT
2. "Tune your ears to wisdom
and concentrate on understanding.
3. “Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.”
4. Search for them as you would for silver.
Seek them like hidden treasures.
5. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6. For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7. (He grants a treasure of “common sense” to the honest.)
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8. He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
9. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10. For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11. Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe."
Proverbs 2:2-11 NLT
"Please come and join us. As we journey through the entire book of Jonah, Verse by Verse. This will be a deep dive bible study, exploring this Awesome book's fine details. We will take our time and learn everything GOD wants to speak to us now in these TEMPESTUOUS times." Quote from "The Invitation."
“The Invitation” was the first letter inviting everyone to come and join in to study the book of Jonah. Yes, at the time, that's what I thought it was all about, just an invitation to study, but now, in hindsight, looking at the Bigger Picture, it was much more than that.
“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David." Isaiah 55:3 NLT
Invitation: the call for someone to come somewhere, a request to join together, an offered welcome, a written consideration to share something, an incentive to be together, a solicitation to be a part of the whole.
The Bigger Picture for "The Invitation" is that the LORD invites everyone to be Rescued.
We need to be reminded that the LORD is the one who rescues us, not just once, but over and over again. He is always waiting to deliver us, and His "Invitation" is always available for those who ask.
He's inviting those who already know Him to be encouraged and draw closer and still inviting others who have lost their way to come back to Him, while for others who have never met Him, He's inviting them to meet Him for the first time.
The Invitation to those who already know Him is to draw nearer.
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18 NIV
To those dear followers who have continued to seek the LORD, draw near to Him, and obey His commandments, He invites you to remember He loves you. Be encouraged and strengthened because no problems greater are than His Love for you. He has promised to keep you, protect you from evil, and watch over you with an everlasting love that never stops caring.
Be reminded that the LORD is your keeper. He is always waiting to rescue you in time of need. You have nothing to fear. He is here to fight your battles, and He is your redeemer.
Why are we here together, dearly beloved, because the LORD is strengthening us now and for the days ahead. He’s drawing us into a closer relationship with Himself. We are the present-day Christian preppers storing up everything we need for approaching difficult times.
But, instead of putting all our trust in things and stockpiling material provisions, the LORD is prepping our hearts, building our faith and trust in Him, so when the darkness increases, we will be better able to stand firm because our trust is not in the perishable things of this world but in the living GOD Almighty. Then we'll proclaim without hesitation, saying we know our GOD "whom or what shall we fear?" because our GOD is on our side, never to leave us no matter what happens.
"The LORD rescues the godly, He is their fortress in times of trouble." Psalm 37:39 NLT
The Invitation to those who have lost their way is to return to the LORD.
"We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!" Luke 15:32 NLT
A divine appointment: an ordered event, providentially orchestrated occurrence, miraculous timing, Heaven-sent.
What is a divine appointment? | GotQuestions.org
It seems like it happened overnight when your devotion to GOD grew distant. You stopped reading your Bible, seeking the LORD in prayer, and suddenly, your thoughts started focusing on the things of this world around you more than GOD. Whatever the circumstances that caused you to fall away, whatever sins that have held you captive, the LORD is now inviting you to return, saying I am waiting to rescue you with loving arms. I’m calling you back now.
Let me tell you something coming from the heart. I have personally been where You are, as have all of us to some degree. We understand that you feel there's no way to return to GOD after all you've done. But that thought is a lie. It's coming from your enemy, the Devil. You are loved by GOD more than you could ever understand. You think it's an accident that you are reading this letter, No. It was not a mistake to be here now. It was by divine appointment, meaning the LORD led you here.
Surrender now and say yes to the LORD. It's easier than you think. Reach out to Him. You're brokenhearted because the LORD broke you, causing you to understand life without Him is empty. He wants to deliver you from having no hope and rescue you from all your troubles.
You are at the end because He allowed you to hit rock bottom. You can turn back to Him now, knowing that a life without fellowship with the LORD is empty. Turn now and cry out to GOD. He's listening. His arms are open!
"I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day." Ezekiel 34:12 NLT
The Invitation to those who have never met Him is to meet the LORD now.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelation 3:20 NLT
I'm saying you are here now because GOD has been waiting for you to read this study and has called you here by His providence (divine appointment).
And then you say to yourself?
"This guy, James, is so deceived and confused about all these things he's talking about, and the most obvious thing is he doesn't have any proof to back up what he's saying about GOD, not a shred of evidence."
Or another might think?
"I’m not sure if GOD even exists. I feel why GOD hasn’t made Himself known in a real way yet to me, so I’d have a sure reason to believe without having any doubts. I'll consider it if I see GOD in person, but not until then."
Or still another might feel?
I'm here reading this letter because I've been curious about this for a long time. I'm checking things out, believing I will eventually discover the true meaning of life somewhere. I've been searching and open to discovery, but I don't know if Christianity is the answer. I’m open to the possibility that this whole thing has some merit, but definitely not convinced of anything.
Before you say anything more, I've got a question for you. Who do you trust? You might say that,
"My mom and dad always tell me the truth. My brothers and sisters do most of the time, and hopefully, most wives and husbands, children, family, and close friends can be relied upon to tell the truth.
While discussing the subject of trust together, I'd like to share a story with you. As recorded in the Bible, looking at one particular historical event in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, one day at an appointed time, He heard the call to go to the Temple, the Church of his day. Upon arriving, He saw many people there who had set up businesses inside, dishonest merchants taking advantage of everyone only to make a profit, thus turning the Temple into a marketplace instead of a holy place to be near GOD.
Jesus saw what was happening and exposed their dishonesty to everybody and their true purpose for being there. He went over to their business tables and turned them over, making their money fall everywhere on the floor. He said, don't turn my Father's house into a place of merchandise.
The people and the priests got upset and offended by what He had said and done. They said why are you doing this? Who do you think you are?
"If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it." Then, Jesus replied without any hesitation. He said.
“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said, “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said." John 2:19-22 NLT
What He told them was, “you're going to crucify (kill) me. And then I'm going to come back to life in three days. I'm going to raise my body from the dead as proof that I am who I say. I'm telling you the truth. If nothing else, believe me, because of what happened.” We have only two remaining choices now. Either Jesus was a liar and never really came back to life, or he told the truth, rose from the dead, can be trusted, and is still alive today.
But still, there is more to tell you. Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his friends (disciples) to show them the proof that he was alive. Let's both read it from the Bible now.
Jesus appeared to His friends (disciples) and Thomas, who needed proof to trust Him.
"One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing in him, you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:24-31 NLT
This account of what Jesus said and did is just one of the many miraculous events proving He can be trusted.
"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." John 12:46 NLT
But then again, you might be the person who wouldn't believe if there was convincing evidence, even if Jesus would rise from the dead and appear to you in person just like He did with Thomas. You still would not believe it.
This feeling isn't anything new. It has been going on since the time of Jesus until the present. People don't care to believe because they don't want to deal with reality, even if there's undeniable evidence as convincing proof that something is true. As of now, truth isn't something people are seeking. Most people are trying to create their designer world with the thought, I have my reality, and you have yours. No longer the need to search for the true meaning of things.
"But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him." John 12:37 NLT
But still, let's continue with this conversation. I want to share another story Jesus told about a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazareth, as illustrated in the Bible.
Luke 16:19-31
"19. Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
20. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
21. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22. "Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried.
23. and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24. "The rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.”
25. "But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
26. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'
27. "Then the rich man said, 'Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home.
28. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them, so they don't end up in this place of torment.'
29. "But Abraham said, 'Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.'
30. "The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.'
31. "But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead." Luke 16:19-31
Did you hear what Jesus said? "They won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead." Speaking of himself, he knew that His resurrection wouldn't be enough to convince the many, even rejecting His invitation to repent of our sins and turn to GOD and let Him save us from the place of the dead, as spoken about in this parable.
With all that said, we are all just one prayer away from having our lives transformed (changed) and made new forever. We're all just one prayer away from receiving His invitation of Salvation, everlasting life, and a sure future.
Please, if you haven't called out to GOD yet. He's still waiting to hear from you.
The Introduction began to introduce us to GOD’s prophet Jonah. The LORD picked this reluctant prophet of His to warn the people of the Great Assyrian city of Nineveh of an impending danger. A judgment of destruction that would soon descend upon them in 40 days if they did not repent of their wickedness and turn from their evil ways.
Here’s a quote from the Introduction, "The Assyrian city of Nineveh was the Greatest in the World during the time of Jonah and the most wicked for its enormous cruelty, arrogance, and pride. The prophet Nahum described them in this way."
"All because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft." Nahum 3:4 NIV
We also learned much more about the prophet Jonah than appeared on the surface. For example, his name means dove, a symbol of sacrifice. Also, we discovered that "Jonah was a type or illustration of the Messiah, a foreshadowing of what would come later, what needed to take place next in GOD's perfect plan of Redemption for His chosen people and also for all Humanity, that Jesus would need to die a sacrificial death, taking upon himself the sins of all Humanity, as a perfect, unblemished Lamb and then be raised to life again on the third day."
A few more of the main points of discussion in the Introduction
What is the Holy Bible
Studying the Bible leads to good Discernment: Having a heightened awareness of an event, insight, sound judgment, a clear understanding of things, and the ability to separate facts from fiction and truth from lies.
Why is it essential to study the Bible now in times of World Apocalypse? "Studying the Bible is the only confident way to discern between good and evil. Unless you have a perfect representation of what is good (GOD). Then, you have no actual reference point to decide what evil is. And for this reason, it's imperative to draw closer to GOD and to know Him more intimately by studying His word, the Bible."
The LORD will test us. "We will also be tested to see whether our intentions are genuine. It's amazing how the LORD works to prepare us to live wisely. As we use discernment to test everything around us, at the same time, the LORD is testing us and perfecting us so we can better discern between good and evil. LORD, we ask, examine our hearts and see if our motives are pure."
The LORD is Absolutely Sovereign overall and is at work in (ALL) the details, "meaning He has absolute control over everything and is the ruler of the Universe and all Creation. GOD is likewise maintaining or sustaining all things that He has created. Nothing would function or be able to exist apart from Him."
The LORD is calling His people to come back to Him.
The conclusion is briefly quoted here. "We've learned how GOD has spoken to Israel through His prophets about their coming Messiah since the beginning and how the LORD has progressively revealed His plan of Salvation for all mankind until this point in history. Now comes Jonah on the scene, and the LORD will again openly display another revelation of His plan for Humanity, a plan made before the Creation of the World. Now it's time for the LORD to call Jonah His prophet."
Understanding the Bigger Picture for the INTRODUCTION.
We have all set out together on a journey to study the Book of Jonah. Many had always imagined beforehand that this story was only about a big fish and an old grumpy prophet who disobeyed GOD when He called him for an assignment. But as we have learned already, it's much more than that. The depths of GOD's Word, the Bible, are eternal, meaning there will always be something new to discover within its pages.
This account of Jonah is unique among other stories that Humanity has told throughout its history. Unlike all other accounts, this narrative about Jonah is different because it is alive (supernatural). It touches your soul to its very deepest part of who you are, speaking to you in a way with more profound insights of understanding, giving us the answers to why we are all here on this earth, which is to know GOD intimately, who He is, and what His plans are for us and His creation, how we fit into it all.
The Introduction is about the LORD's call to know Him. First, it is to know Him from afar. For example, we were introduced to Jonah, a prophet of GOD sent to warn the wicked inhabitants of Nineveh to repent, turn from their evil ways, and be saved from GOD's Judgment. But we can never know Jonah intimately because he is no longer with us. He has passed on to Heaven now.
But in contrast, the LORD is alive and here with us. He is calling us to know him. Not from afar any longer but up close and intimate now. No more introduction is needed.
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 NIV
"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying." Jonah 1:1 ESV
In the Jonah 1:1 study, we began answering the question. "Why are we here? What is the meaning of life?" and then following with many reasons why, one of them being, quote, "When you think the world situation can't get worse, it does. Never thought we'd be living through such times as these. Everything has happened so quickly that now drawing close to GOD as He draws closer to us is, without any doubt, the most sensible thing for us to do to make meaningful sense of it all."
We went on to look at the many false gods believed by people in times past, as discussed in the Bible. We tried to make a comparison with the true living GOD, the LORD Almighty. But we soon discovered no similarities could ever be made with those other false gods. Unlike the others, the GOD of the Bible has proven His existence, and He will continue to do so because He is alive and active, always displaying his attributes for everyone to see.
Let us now look at the main discussion points in the Jonah 1:1 study.
We are here to study His word, the Bible, draw near to the LORD, and see Him up close, no longer from afar, only superficial, but more intimate.
"Although the title of this book is Jonah, this narrative is truly about the LORD revealing himself to all of mankind."
Man-made gods, the man-gods, Satan, a god of this fallen World, and the Antichrist, a self-proclaimed God-man, all false gods whereby no comparison could ever be made to the LORD Almighty.
Who is the LORD? The incommunicable attributes and communicable attributes. We looked at all the many attributes or qualities of GOD and concluded. There is nothing or no one like Him. He is truly an Awesome GOD beyond our capacity to comprehend Him completely.
We learned how the LORD spoke to Jonah and how He speaks to us today in real-time.
Concluding in the end. GOD has proven and continues to prove each attribute of His to be true compared to other false gods who can't demonstrate anything because they don't have any real power, meaning originating from themselves. The LORD stands alone, and no comparisons of who He is can be made to any other man-made gods or created things. When the Bible declares that the LORD is an Awesome GOD, it does so because it's a confirmed statement, and no one can refute it. And because GOD is faithful and true to His promises, our future is secure. We now have hope for greater things to come. GOD Himself will dwell with us, and we will be in His care forever.
Discerning the Bigger Picture for the Jonah 1:1 Bible study?
"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying." Jonah 1:1 ESV
Bigger Picture: the summation of things, looking at things from a different perspective, concentrating on the whole, focusing on all the details, and having a better understanding of related events.
Hindsight: understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.
Superficial: only on the surface, exterior, external, outside, incomplete, lacking depth, shallow.
Intimate: closely acquainted, personal, dear, loved, deeply connected to someone, a faithful friendship, a comfortable trusting relationship, a cherished confidant friend, an inseparable union, affectionate, devoted, adoring, heartfelt.
Afar: far away, in the distance, on the horizon, further away from here, distant, not close by.
I continually prayed throughout this part of the Jonah study review, seeking the LORD to answer this question, "What is the overall meaning (the bigger picture)" of the last three letters? What was the most essential point to be understood? Without any doubt, it has become clear that the most important thing to realize out of everything we've learned and talked about so far as we seek to draw closer to the LORD is to understand the difference between knowledge about God, knowing Him from afar, and knowing Him up close, intimately as a friend, which are two different things altogether.
Let's look at some examples to obtain a better comprehension of this.
“Knowing the LORD from afar.”
"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship is a farce,
for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God." Matthew 15:7-9 NLT
Pharisee: an ancient Jewish sect member noted for strict observance of the law and oral traditions. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." Matthew 23:13 NIV
Modern-day Pharisees: Legalistic people who make rules, regulations, and traditions of men a prerequisite for Salvation. Standards to make one holy apart from GOD's grace and mercy.
"This is what the LORD says:
"Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT
When we look at the Pharisees in Jesus's time and listen to what He said, we quickly understand that Jesus (Yeshua) didn't regard them as ones who knew GOD intimately. Although they had much knowledge about Him, which was good, and did everything religiously required of them as recorded in the law in every detail, apart from all that, their hearts were still cold and prideful toward the LORD, and they still only knew GOD from afar.
"Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my father.” John 8:19
How can I experience true intimacy with God? | GotQuestions.org
Knowing God Personally - C.S. Lewis Institute (cslewisinstitute.org)
Lesson 78: Knowing Christ More Intimately (John 14:21-24) | Bible.org
It's a condition of the heart.
"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
The LORD is concerned about what's in our hearts. He's not calling us to a religion, but He's calling us to a sincere personal relationship with Himself, to know His Love is real, to know he is taking care of us, with no need to worry. We can trust in His faithfulness. He has made wonderful plans for our future, and we can trust Him because He is always faithful.
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3 ESV
“Knowing the LORD up close through sincere prayer.”
What is prayer?
It is childlike communication with GOD as our loving Father. Prayer is our direct link to the LORD, acknowledging Him as GOD, one who is always waiting for us to talk to Him, ready to listen whenever we reach out. Prayer is an action that draws us closer to the LORD on a personal level. It is a very intimate connection that makes us proclaim with certainty from the deepest part of us, "We know our GOD and our GOD knows us."
Let's look at a few examples of prayers from people who knew their GOD intimately and up close.
Daniel's Prayer in his book Chapter 9:3-19
Introduction to Daniel's prayer.
Daniel was a prophet of the LORD, living in captivity during the time of the ruling king Nebuchadnezzar and King Cyrus. He begins his prayer by declaring His GOD's Greatness, one who is trustworthy and faithful, who always keeps His promises to those who love Him and obey His commands. Daniel then acknowledges his iniquity and feels shameful for his sins and those of his people because they have all sinned against their GOD.
Daniel prayed, "But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him." Daniel made it known that his GOD was merciful and forgiving even though they had all disobeyed Him. He presented his petitions to the LORD not because he was righteous but because his GOD had great compassion.
It shows that Daniel knew the LORD intimately because he understood the difference between his lowly state, a people in rebellion, unfaithful and covered with shame because of their sins, in evident contrast to his GOD, who is exalted, who is Holy, righteous, trustworthy, faithful, a GOD of great Love and tender-hearted compassion.
Let's hear Daniel's prayer now!
Daniel 9:3-19 NLT
3. "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.
4. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:
"O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.
5. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.
6. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.
7. "Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.
8. O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.
9. But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.
10. We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets.
11. All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. "So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.
12. You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.
13. Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.
14. Therefore, the LORD has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The LORD our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.
15. "O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.
16. In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.
17. "O our God, hear your servant's prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.
18. "O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.
19. "O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name." Daniel 9:3-19 NLT
"We make this plea not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy."
Nehemiah's Prayer in the book with his name, chapter one, verses 4 through 11
Introduction to Nehemiah's prayer.
Nehemiah was the cupbearer of the Persian King Artaxerxes. The LORD used Nehemiah powerfully to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem and to restore the reading of the law, which resulted in a great revival that turned the hearts of the people back to obey the LORD once more. Here, we see Nehemiah praying to the LORD, asking Him to listen to his simple prayer, and crying out for help.
Let's hear Nehemiah's prayer now!
Nehemiah 1:1-11 NLT
1. “In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.
2. Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.
3. They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4. “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of Heaven.
5. Then I said, "O LORD, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing Love with those who love him and obey his commands.
6. listen to my Prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people, Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!
7. We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
8. "Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.
9. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'
10. "The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.
11. O Lord, please hear my Prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." Nehemiah 1:1-11 NLT
We first notice that Nehemiah says he is praying to the GOD of Heaven that his GOD is awesome, one who keeps His promises of loving kindness and tender mercies. He then confessed his sins, those of the people of Israel, and his family's sins: "I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!"
Nehemiah knew his sins and those of his people were the one thing that separated them from close, intimate fellowship with their GOD. He also understood that his GOD could forgive them of their sins, rescue them, and make everything turn out for the best. He believed in the LORD's faithfulness without any doubts and trusted that His God would do great things.
"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
Knowing the LORD up close through repentance and confession, how are they connected?
If we confess our sins / Grace to you/ John MacArthur
Finding freedom through genuine repentance. Please, this is a must-read for everyone.
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." 1 John 1:8 NLT
Transgression: sin, wrongdoing, offense, ungodliness, unrighteousness, immorality, iniquity, profanity, wickedness, evil, an offense against GOD, a violation, a separation, a hardening of the heart.
Repentance: a sincere regret or remorseful sorrow for sins committed, shame for sinful actions, changing one's mind and heart, turning away from sin, a turnaround, surrender, the start of a new life to walk with the LORD, a desire to draw nearer to GOD as He draws nearer to you.
Confession: acknowledgment of our sin, willingly recognizing our sin, declarations of wrongdoings or guilt, confession of an offense against GOD and others, admission of sin, admitting our sins before GOD, and asking for forgiveness.
Sanctification: declaring us holy and making holy as an ongoing action, being set apart, set free from sin and death by the blood of Christ.
What is sanctification? What is the definition of Christian sanctification?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Repentance isn't about fear and discouragement or condemnation. No, it's about freedom, joy, and unimaginable peace. It's grabbing hold of the victory over sin in Christ our LORD. Yes, we are the overcomers, and confession of sin doesn't reduce the finished work of Christ on our behalf, but it's the continuation of it through sanctification. It ushers us in before the throne of GOD so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Continuously confessing our known and unknown transgressions before the LORD is how we are renewed and restored. We confess our sins to please the LORD and draw closer to Him daily. In turn, confession should be what we wholeheartedly desire, without any reservations, to be holy as He is holy, transformed, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We are being made Holy, set apart for the LORD's Kingdom, more and more, day by day.
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 ESV
Intimately drawing close to the LORD, yes, it is all about the condition of our hearts.
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
"But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear." Isaiah 59:2 BSB
As I was writing this last part, I was reminded of how our known or unknown sins are the one thing that separates us from intimate fellowship with the LORD. So, for this reason, we need to confess our sins to the LORD often, even though we might not be aware of sins committed. The LORD is quick to forgive us of our transgressions, removing them as far as the East is from the West and casting them all into the sea, never to be remembered and, as a result, overlooked.
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9 NLT
Do Christians have to keep asking for forgiveness for their sins? Got Questions: “The concept of relational forgiveness is based on the fact that when we sin, we offend God and grieve His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). While God has ultimately forgiven us of the sins we commit, they still result in a blocking or hindrance in our relationship with God. A young boy who sins against his father is not cast out of the family. A godly father will forgive his children unconditionally. At the same time, a good relationship between father and son cannot be achieved until the relationship is restored. This can only occur when a child confesses his mistakes to his father and apologizes. That is why we confess our sins to God—not to maintain our salvation, but to bring ourselves back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us.”
The call to repentance
"From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Matthew 4:17 NLT
In the Jonah 1:1 study, we learned about many of the LORD's attributes and that He is truly an awesome GOD, and without a doubt, He can't be compared to any other false god anywhere. Knowing more about the LORD should always lead us to know Him more intimately, no longer from afar but now up close and personal.
Everyone must start with the call to repentance, first for Salvation and then to continue growing in intimate fellowship with our GOD. If we have sinned knowingly or unknowingly, without our sins removed, how can we draw near to the LORD who is Holy?
Let's first look at a few examples of the call to repentance.
John the Baptist: "In those days, John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Matthew 3:1-2 NLT
(Yeshua) Jesus of Nazareth: "From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Matthew 4:17 NLT: --- "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:5 NIV --- "Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. Revelation 2:5 NLT
The Apostle Peter: "Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 NIV.
The Apostle Paul of Tarsus: "God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him." Acts 17:30 NLT
King Solomon: "and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly" 1 Kings 8:47 NIV
Job from the land of UZ: "Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6 NIV
King David: "If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow." Psalm 7:12 NLT
Isaiah, a Prophet of the LORD: "Zion shall be redeemed by justice and those in her who repent, by righteousness." Isaiah 1:27 ESV
Jeremiah, a Prophet of the LORD: "O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent." Jeremiah 5:3 BSB
Ezekiel, a Prophet of the LORD: "Therefore, tell the people of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your detestable sins." Ezekiel 14:6 NLT--- "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:32 NIV
Hosea, a Prophet of the LORD: "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? Hosea 11:5 NIV
"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." Acts 3:19 NLT
What are the barriers of separation between humanity and GOD?
Unconfessed sin, a hardened heart.
An unwillingness to repent and turn from one's transgressions, surrender, and obey GOD.
GOD is Holy and perfect, and humanity isn't.
Salvation: deliverance from sin, rescued from death, an undeserved gift, delivered from eternal punishment, removing the barrier of separation that exists between GOD and humanity, forgiveness, Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification, being made holy, a finished work of Christ on our behalf, a display of mercy and grace towards us, the pardon of our iniquities instead of deserved judgment for our sins, a secure future in GOD's Kingdom, a peace with GOD that will last forever, eternal life.
What are the differences between the saved soul and the unsaved soul?
The saved soul.
The saved are those who have been delivered from sin and death, heard the call to repent of their sins, and received the gift of eternal life by the grace and mercy of GOD. They now believe that Jesus (Yeshua) died for them, rose again from the dead, and is alive. They believe He is their Savior, and they're now putting their trust and obedience in Him to lead them to Heaven because they believe He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These are the ones who have been born again and have been filled with the Holy Spirit that now lives within them.
The saved now demonstrate a new-felt love for other people, a joy and a peace they have never experienced. It's evident to them that something has changed on the inside. Now, they are seeking the LORD to learn more about Him. While reading the Bible, they understand what it means more than ever before. These are the ones who have been redeemed, predestined for Salvation, taken out of the world, and given a place in Heaven for all eternity.
"For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!" Isaiah 64:4 NLT
The unsaved soul or the lost.
The lost are people who reject GOD and His gift of Salvation and are still under His judgment for their sins. They will not acknowledge that they are sinners and have no plans to repent. They are in a present state of being separated from GOD by their transgressions. Because they have yet to receive the gift of Salvation, they are in a state of spiritual blindness, which leads to having a distorted view of the world around them. Many call good evil and evil good, morning as the night and night as the morning, without knowing that they're doing it, but GOD is still reaching out to them with open arms, calling everyone to Himself so He can rescue them from His coming judgment.
"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22 NIV
"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent." 2 Peter 3:9 NLT.
Let us now pray together.
A Prayer for the saved to confess our sins.
Our Father in Heaven above, we ask You to hear our simple prayer of repentance. We know great things about You, LORD, that You are an awesome GOD. You can't be compared to any other false god of this fallen world. You are Almighty in Power and unlimited in wisdom. The universe cannot contain You, and the earth is Your footstool. You are absolutely Sovereign over everything that You have created.
You are the Creator, and You alone have done it all. We know Your mercy triumphs over Your Judgment, and You are a GOD of everlasting Love and kindness. We come before You now and ask for forgiveness for all our sins, those known to us and those we are unaware of. We repent of all our iniquities, remove from us anything that has caused barriers, walls of separation between us and You, interrupting our intimate fellowship. Now draw us in nearer still, we ask. Draw us close to You. We pray.
Thank You, LORD, for holding on to us and never letting us go. Even if we go astray, You come to our rescue. You are always protecting us, making plans for our good, and giving us hope and a secure future in Your Kingdom. Thank You, LORD, for Your continual watchful care. In Jesus's Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." Ephesians 3:12 NLT
Let us now pray together.
A Prayer for the lost to repent. Those who have yet to ask the LORD to save their souls and give them the gift of eternal life.
Oh, GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner. Forgive me for all the evil I have ever done, whatever it may be. I believe in You, Jesus. I believe that You died for me, for my sins.
I repent now before You, GOD. I'm asking You to forgive me of all my sins, remove them from me as far as the East is from the West, make me clean, remove the burden of sin that I've carried with me my whole life, set me free, rescue me from the darkness and pull me into the light, fill me with Your Spirit, make me new I ask, give me a new life.
Now, help me to follow and obey You, Jesus, all the days of my life until we meet face to face. In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
"The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18 NLT
Let us now pray together.
A prayer for everyone to draw near to the LORD.
Father in Heaven, we know this world is not our home anymore. We now await Your return as the world grows darker by the hour. An explosion of wickedness of every form has covered the land. People have become blinded by their sins, living a life of only selfish pleasures. The love of self has emptied their hearts of a humble desire to seek and find You, LORD.
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 BSB
Yes, we all live in a fallen, upside-down world where good is said to be evil and evil good. Immorality has been redefined as a standard for (woke) righteous living. A life pursuing holiness and doing what is right in GOD's sight is ridiculed as outdated and not socially correct. In reality, a hopeless life of sin without GOD will only lead one to hell in the end.
Dear LORD, protect us from evil and continue to draw us closer to You, we ask. Hold us tightly near Your heart, we pray, and yes, we know You will never leave us as we continue to abide in Your presence now and forever. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen
"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11 NIV.
What does it mean to live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24)?
The conclusion of this review
"Now all has been heard.
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV
Drawing closer to the LORD is about willingly surrendering our lives into His loving care, changing our hearts and minds, dying to self, sincerely repenting of our sins, humbly letting go of what we thought was our best life now, and discovering a better life in His presence.
Our heart's only desire now is to grow closer to the LORD daily, confident that no matter what happens in this world, whatever we go through, good or bad, He will always be with us. His peace will overshadow us as we find unending rest for our souls. "If GOD is for us, who can be against us?"
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me." John 10:27-28 NLT
You know my name - Rivers & Robots - GOD bless you all!
Lyrics to the song. "You know my name."
You've numbered every hair on my head
And You know my every thought
And You know my every thought
My name is on the palm of Your hands
And Your hands they hold the stars
And Your hands they hold the stars
and Though You're infinite in wisdom
Powerful and mighty
Still, You call me Your friend
and Though You're seated in the heavens
King over creation
Still, you call me Your friend
cause I have cried out, and You have heard me
You know my name, You know my name
cause I was lost and
Then You came and found me
You know my name, You know my name
Your perfect love is better than life
And Your mercy never ends
And Your mercy never ends
Like a Father, You have opened Your arms
And You've called me back again
And You've called me back again
and Though You're infinite in wisdom
Powerful and mighty
Still, You call me Your friend
and Though You're seated in the heavens
King over creation
Still, you call me Your friend
cause I have cried out, and You have heard me
You know my name, You know my name
cause I was lost and
Then You came and found me
You know my name, You know my name
You see me
You hear me
You know me God
(And Your thoughts cannot be numbered)
You see me
You hear me
You know me God
(And Your thoughts cannot be numbered)
You see me
You hear me
You know me God.
What's next?
We will continue our journey together in our study of the Book of Jonah, moving on to verse 1:2.
"Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."
We will again dive deep into the Bible, uncovering more amazing things to ponder and, as always, desiring to draw closer to the LORD.
"Oh, that we might know the LORD!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." Hosea 6:3 NLT
My closing prayer for you all.
Thank You, LORD, for this precious time to study Your word, the Bible. We sincerely desire to learn more about You and, most importantly, to know You more intimately up close, no longer just from a distance.
LORD, I ask for Your blessings on everyone who has read this review. Enabling them all by the power of Your Spirit to do what is right in Your sight, oh GOD. May Your peace that transcends all understanding comfort their souls as You overshadow them with Your Great Love. Keep them all safe, daily protecting them from evil as they abide in Your presence, now and forever. In Jesus' mighty Name, we pray, Amen.
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." Psalm 16:11 NLT
GOD bless you all!
I appreciate you brother and your comments and prayerful meditations on various writings through the year. Thank you . You encourage others and me very much!
This is wonderful! Thank you James, over half way through yet still got the rest to read. It's jam-packed full of necessary imperative information that will want to go back to again to deeply absorb and reflect over. It's sad & actually heartbreaking that repentance renewal transformation and regeneration as well as sanctification and obedience that all is derived from Jesus Christ heavenly father & the Holy Spirit in the first place is seen and spoken of as works, as merely dirty filthy rags and even unnecessary, that we are actually encouraged, expected to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, to bring forth fruits that befit repentance & Jesus' righteousnes and Jesus' character nature image and likeness to be developed in us that is brought about by grace through faith, God does it in us but we must be willing to co-operate with God in this phenomenal process, instead obedience and reciprocating God's love that He loved us with first is seen and taught as something shameful prideful or arrogancy, that our father in heaven is always angry & never pleased with anything we do that He empowers us & enables us to in and through Him to will and to work for His good pleasure. But this truth has become so sadly distorted and perverted and deeply misunderstood today.