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wholewheatonline.com Search Jesus, Our Example Jesus is our example. One of the reasons He came to this earth was to show us and tell us the Way to live. We, as His true disciples, are to walk in the same manner as He walked, which means to live as He lived (1 John 2:6). How, then, did Jesus live? Jesus did not live to please Himself (Rom. 15:3). Instead, He lived to glorify God. Jesus’ purpose was to do God’s Will on earth as it is being done in heaven and to accomplish that which He was prophesied to accomplish in the word of the prophets (John 4:34; Luke 24:44). People asked Jesus how they could do the works of God and He told them they must believe in Him whom God has sent (John 6:28-29). Very few know that the word believe means adhere to the teachings of, put your trust in, take action and live the message of Jesus Christ. Believe also means obey (John 3:36; 11:25-26). Jesus said He was among us as one who serves (Luke 22:27). He instructed His disciples to be servants of all (Mark 9:35). He said, "For he who is least among you, this is the one who is great" (Luke 9:48). Jesus took the form of a servant to show us how to serve one another in love (Phil. 2:7). He was a servant to others for the glory of God (Matt. 5:16). He said His Way is easy and pleasant (Matt. 11:30). So the one who is great in the eyes of God is the one who serves others in love, just as Jesus did (Matt. 20:26-28). Jesus is making disciples who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). People who obey Him and worship the Father by practicing good works of love in serving others, are the ones who let their lights shine (Matt. 5:16). They are the righteous ones in God’s eyes because they practice righteousness continually for God (1 John 3:7, 10; 3 John 11). If it is with difficulty that the righteous - those who practice righteousness daily for God - are saved, what will become of the godless people and the sinners - those who will not practice righteousness for God by serving others (1 Peter 4:18; Matt. 25:41-46)? PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

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wholewheatonline.com Search Know the Lord "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). But how can you rejoice in the day unless you know the Lord; and how can you possibly know the Lord unless you serve Him? How can you possibly serve Him if you do not know how to serve Him? How can you serve Him if you do not know His Ways? And if you knew His Ways, how could you serve Him if you did not keep His Ways? How can you imitate the Way God lives daily, if you do not read your Bible and study to find out how He lives and how He thinks (Eph. 5:1, 10)? How can you serve the Lord with all your heart, soul and might unless you know exactly how that is done (Matt. 22:37)? "Teach me Thy Ways, Oh Lord, that I may walk in Thy steps" (Psalm 86:11). God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and example, that we should walk in the same manner as He walked (Col. 1:10). When we live as He lived, then and only then do we abide in Christ (1 John 2:6). Jesus was our perfect example. He came to show us how to live as He does. We are not to put Him up on a pedestal and claim we could never live like He is, as many people do. Jesus said His Ways are very easy and pleasant, not complicated or impossible to keep (Matt. 11:30). "Return to Me so that I may return to you," says the Lord of hosts (Zech. 1:3). How do you return to God? Repent! Turn around! Stop practicing evil and begin to practice righteousness daily to please and glorify God (Matt. 5:16; 6:1). The Lord has told you what is good. He requires you to practice justice and honesty in all your dealings with your fellow man, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). You are to walk as He walks, talk as He talks, and live daily on earth as He lives in heaven (1 Peter 4:11; Eph. 5:1; Matt. 6:10). You are to serve others daily by practicing righteousness (doing good toward others) until God makes it come from your heart. Then you will be a new creature in Christ, having His nature formed in you (Eph. 6:6; Matt. 5:20; Gal. 6:15; 4:19). You are going to have to strive and persevere (Luke 13:24; 21:19). You are going to have to make your body your slave, if you are ever going to cease being a slave to sin and be a happy slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18; 1 Cor. 9:27). True disciples of Jesus Christ are happy, contented and blessed. They experience a stable change in their lives for the good as they daily do God’s Will. They are peculiar because they are fighting the good fight of faith, and they are purified because they are zealous in doing good works for God’s glory in Christ’s name (2 Tim. 4:7; Titus 2:14; Col. 3:17). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

The Condition of Your Heart The condition of our heart really matters to our Lord. We can try to put on a false front to those around us, but we cannot fool God. He knows what we think and how we feel. When He chooses us, He has a very special plan for us. Part of His plan is to work with and change our heart. He says in Colossians 3:12-13, “Those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” And, Colossians 3:14 says: “And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Another matter of the heart is peace. Colossians 3:15 talks about peace ruling in our heart. Peace rules when we think peaceful thoughts. However, one may constantly think of how evil the world is becoming. This is true; this is a fact. But we need to think on how we can make the world a better place by showing love—saying good words and doing good works (actions) toward others for God. We can be assured that our Lord is fulfilling His prophecies, and we can think of all the positive things happening to make this all come about. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 PREV NEXT Click below for full Bible Study: Matters of the Heart: A Woman to Woman Article

wholewheatonline.com Search This Beautiful Message God wants you to keep His commandments. He wants you to live by His every word. He wants you to know His Ways and live those Ways daily in your life. God wants you to do only His Will on this earth by performing only His Ways on this earth. So, what are God’s Ways? God’s Ways are all righteous and good (Psalm 145:17; 11:7; Jer. 9:24). God’s Ways are all kind and filled with love. By knowing, keeping and performing His Ways toward each other in our daily lives, we are loving our neighbor as ourselves (Gal. 5:22-24; Matt. 7:12). Our neighbor is any human being, whether our enemy or our friend (Matt. 25:40; Luke 6:45). True love toward another human being does no harm to that person, only good. As God’s word puts it, true love does no harm to its neighbor (Rom. 13:10). When people hear the word neighbor, they immediately think of the person next door. But in God’s word it simply means another person. We are to love one another by constantly serving one another. Isn’t this what our Lord and Savior is constantly doing in heaven to His creation here on earth, even to this very day (Matt. 6:10)? If you were to continually keep yourself occupied with serving, loving, giving, sharing and caring for others, you would be living a charitable life. You would be living as God lives. You would be living holy. You would be living righteously. You would be keeping all of God’s commandments, all of His statutes, all of His judgments and all of the requirements of the Lord (James 2:8; Rom. 13:10). Tragically, this is not known by many today. God’s law of physical requirements was made for sinners. If you keep God’s laws in the flesh, you will sin more (Rom. 8:5-8). But if you keep God’s laws in the Spirit, you will come out of sin and become righteous and perfect (Rom. 8:13; Matt. 5:48; Phil. 3:15). You will become a new creature or creation and it will not be difficult to obey the Lord (Gal. 4:19; 6:15). No wonder pure religion to God is to do good to others and thus come out of the world (James 1:27). In other words, the one who practices pure religion before God comes out of the flesh by continually doing good for God (Gal. 5:13, 16, 18). This is the one and only way to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24; Rom. 6:13; 12:1). So simple, so pure - just continually doing good to one another, as Jesus said we should. Oh, how man has complicated this simple message with all his traditions and man-made rules. As a result, he has made his worship of Jesus Christ in vain (Mark 7:7). Let’s not tamper with this beautiful message, but simply live it and experience the glorious transformation that takes place in our lives. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

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wholewheatonline.com Search Honor the Lord with Your Wealth We are told to live by every word of God because God wants to teach us how to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). He wants to teach us to be giving, loving, sharing, caring and charitable people. He wants to make us into the servants of the most (Mark 10:43-45). God wants you to be a willing giver, from the heart, not a person who gives only out of a sense of guilt. He wants to bless you in your life until you have no more needs (Mal. 3:10). He wants you to reap bountifully. He wants to give you abundance so you can have abundance for every good deed (2 Cor. 9:8). He wants you to trade in your old life of getting for a new life of giving. He wants you to multiply your substance or money (seed for sowing) so you may increase your righteousness (2 Cor. 9:10-11). God promises that if you give, He will inspire others to pour blessings into your lap until it is running over. To whatever extent you serve others, God Himself will return blessings to you (Luke 6:38). The Lord is not only telling you to do good with your money, but also to serve others with your time. However, where a man’s treasure (money) is, that is where his heart is also (Matt. 6:21). When you honor the Lord with the first of your substance, you set it apart as God’s money and do good with it (Prov. 3:9). Some people set a fruit jar on the dresser to remind them to disburse God’s money. As the portion in God’s money jar grows, God wants to teach you how to do more good with it and live a life that is blessed. He wants to train you in righteousness by allowing you to disburse His money to those in need. You will discover all kinds of things you can do with God’s money that will glorify Him (Matt. 5:16). Would not this be quite a world to live in if everyone would honor the Lord out of each paycheck and get involved in doing good with it for God? People would be so busy doing good, they would not have time to get into trouble and do evil. Instead, they would be overcoming evil by doing good (Rom. 12:21; Psalm 34:14; 37:3, 27; 1 Peter 3:10-11). God says we are considered righteous when we practice righteousness to please Him (1 John 3:7, 10). When we practice righteousness from the heart, we are truly born of God and we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created (1 John 2:29; 3 John 11; Eph. 2:10). That is why we are reminded not to get weary in well-doing (2 Thess. 3:13; Gal. 6:9; Rom. 2:7). Yes, sowing seeds of righteousness always results in a life of blessings from God (Eph 6:8). Won’t you get involved in disciplining yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7)? Imitate God daily until Christ is formed in you (Eph. 5:1; Gal. 4:19). You will be a doer of God’s word and live as Jesus said to live (John 8:51; 1 John 2:5-6, 17). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Will You Be Faithful? Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). We need desperately to fully understand what Jesus Christ meant in this statement. There are different kinds of faith. There is the faith of Abraham. There is the faith of Jesus Christ. There is the faith that God will heal you, and the faith that He will forgive you. Some people have faith in the devil—the ruler of this world. Others have faith in the God of Abraham. Some have faith in their faith, which is their religion (Rom. 16:26). Others have no faith in man’s religions, but only trust their faith to Jesus Christ, who alone is faithful. Let us clear up, once and for all, the truth behind the word “faith” and its many meanings. God came to this earth some 2,000 years ago in human form to show us His Ways so that we could do His Will on this earth daily as it is being done in heaven daily (Matt. 6:10). He said those Ways are very easy and pleasant (Matt. 11:30). God’s Ways represent God’s faith. Jesus Christ kept those Ways perfectly while He was here on this earth. He was faithful (Heb. 2:17). He kept the faith. He performed God’s Will. Jesus not only showed us those Ways, He told us about those Ways also. He did this so we could have an example to follow. He also gave us a written record of those Ways in His word, the Bible. Faith involves trust. When you know what the Lord expects of you, and you do those things daily, you are keeping the faith. You are pleasing the Father daily, just like Jesus did. As a result, you can trust the Lord to fulfill the Scriptures for you pertaining to the righteous. You can trust Jesus Christ to carry out His word in your life and take care of all your needs, wants and desires (Matt. 6:33). No good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). God expects us to offer the sacrifice of righteousness and trust in the Lord (Psalm 4:5). That sacrifice is continually doing good and sharing because it pleases God (Heb. 13:16). Therefore, if we are continually doing good toward others, we can have faith that our prayers will be heard. That’s how simple it is to keep Jesus Christ’s commandments (1 John 3:22). Faith means obedience to God’s Ways. Unfaithfulness means disobedience to God’s Ways. Belief means obedience to Jesus Christ’s words, and unbelief is failing to practice God’s Ways toward others. Faith means trusting in God and not leaning on your own understanding. Faith means this, and so much more. Having faith means consistency in giving. The new covenant is full of Scriptures regarding giving as well as supporting a righteous cause. “Give, and it will be given to you,” God promises in Luke 6:38. In this Scripture, God is referring to giving to others who are in need. This could include giving clothes or food to someone in need. It could include giving shelter to someone who needs a place to stay (Matt. 25:33-40). It can also include giving financial support to a truly worthy cause. It is plain to see that Jesus was supported in His cause by many who believed in what He was doing. There were many who supported Him, not just a few (Luke 8:3). I know that if I were called of the Lord 2,000 years ago, I would have supported His cause. The gospel of Jesus Christ was preached around the whole world in Jesus’ day. He sent out His apostles to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and eventually to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). It says the gospel will again be preached to the whole world, in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ (Matt. 24:14). We are preaching and publishing that same gospel and truth now, throughout the world, exposing the religious lies that have been taught in the name of Jesus Christ. We are all being called for one great purpose—to be faithful. Will you be faithful to God and His Ways? Will you be consistent in your faithfulness? Be faithful and support this great work of the Lord that is going out to the world and changing lives. By doing so, you too are a fellow worker for the Lord as it says in 3 John 7-8. To be part of the Lord’s work, in whatever way He calls us to be, is the greatest blessing and honor we could ever hope to be a part of in our lifetime. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search How to Accept Jesus Christ How can we accept Jesus Christ and be certain that He lives in us? Jesus makes a plain statement in John 14:23-24 that if we keep His words, His Father loves us, and He and His Father will come to us and make their abode with us. He also makes it abundantly clear that if we won’t or don’t put His words—which He received from the Father—into daily practice, we definitely do not love Him. It should be clear, then, that Jesus lives only in those who keep His words and put them into daily practice. The words Jesus spoke are spiritual, and continually abiding in them—doing what He said—is the only way to assure that you have eternal life (John 15:6-7; Luke 6:45-48). “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Jesus’ spiritual words are the directions to eternal life, as well as how to live a blessed life while here on earth (Acts 3:26). Jesus said plainly that He could do nothing by Himself, unless it was something He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). No wonder we are to imitate Him daily (1 Cor. 11:1)! We are to be pleasing in God’s sight, just as Jesus was, by living the Way He gave us example to live (Jer. 27:5; Eph. 5:10). If we were to write down all the things Jesus told those who follow Him to live, we would have the exact directions and requirements for eternal life. We would know exactly what is expected of us as true disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus says plainly, if we keep His words, by living them daily, we will never see spiritual death (John 8:51). Then, whatever Jesus did or said must be the Will of the Father, that we must imitate daily, if we are to abide forever. “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the Will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). If we say we believe in Jesus and expect to never die, we must live the life that Jesus lived as our example. Jesus said, “Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Many do not. Many are taught they need do nothing to be saved. The word “believe” means obey and adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ (John 3:36). In order to accept Jesus Christ and be sure He is living in you, you must obey Him daily. You must live as He lived. It’s just that plain and simple! PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Creator ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: In League With the Stones of the Field A Life Free From Fear Are We Born Evil? God Keeps Records Ever Learning But Never Able PREV NEXT

CHAPTER 7 PREV NEXT We recommend you follow along in your Bible being there is a lot of information to take in, and additional Scripture references given throughout, that you will want to make note of. In addition, to really immerse yourself, we suggest using headphones to listen to the narrarted version, to fully expereinece the cinematic style bringing the chapters to life.

wholewheatonline.com Search What is God's Plan? The plan of God is too marvelous for words. He created man. He is making righteous men perfect (Heb. 12:23). God, since Adam, has been choosing only a few people from each generation to become world leaders and help Him rule the nations of this earth with a rod of iron when He returns (1 Cor. 1:26, 28; John 15:16; Rev. 2:26-27; 17:15; 11:15; 5:10). In the future, God will no longer hide the true message of the gospel in parable (riddle), for He will no longer speak in a figurative language. He will speak in plain language when the mystery of God is finished, just as Jesus Christ preached to his servants, the prophets (John 16:25; Rev. 10:7). In Jesus’ day, it was granted for the mysteries of the kingdom to be understood by the apostles (Mark 4:11-13; Matt. 13:11, 16). Everyone else heard a parable (Matt. 13:35). Jesus was explaining the secrets of the kingdom to His disciples in private (Mark 4:34; John 10:6). Even the book of Revelation reveals specific numbers of people who will be saved (Rev. 7:4). Just before Jesus Christ returns, the majority of the religiously deceived of the world—the tares that Satan made—will rejoice over the fact that God’s two witnesses have been put to death (Rev. 11:7, 10; Phil. 3:2). The tares are people who profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him (Titus 1:16; John 16:2). True disciples of Jesus Christ will be hated by the false Christians because the true disciples will expose those who are false by their righteous deeds (John 15:19). True disciples know that works are necessary in order to have Christ formed in them. They know their evil nature is put to death by living a life of good works, and that overcoming a life of bad works is true repentance (Acts 26:20 NIV). When Jesus returns, He must reign until He has put all of His enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25). He will have a little over 1,000 years when He returns to accomplish this (Rev. 20:6). During this time, He will teach all nations about His Ways, which are simple (Micah 4:2; Is. 1:16-17; 2:3). Job knew God’s Ways and he constantly practiced them (Job 29:12-16). As a result, Job was turning away from evil by doing good (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). He was considered blameless by God because of his daily actions (Job 14:16-17). Righteous Daniel advised the king to overcome evil by doing good, and that is Christ’s advice to us (Dan. 4:27; Matt. 5:20; 7:21; 1 Peter 3:11, 13; Rom. 12:21; Titus 3:8, 14). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Jesus Command: Love One Another Many think today that we automatically love one another, as a natural result of being a follower of Jesus Christ and having God’s Spirit within us. Do you agree with this? Let’s see what the word of God says. First let’s examine these Scriptures: John 15:12—Jesus Christ said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another.” John 15:14—“You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” John 15:17—“This I command you, that you love one another.” Hebrews 10:24—Let us stimulate and provoke one another to love. 1 John 3:10-11—Anyone who does not practice righteousness for God, or anyone who does not love his brother, remains a child of the devil. This is the message we have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:14—We know we have passed out of death into life, because we love each other (the brethren). Anyone who does not love those who are living for God, abides in death. 1 John 3:16-19—We know we love those, who are living for God, if we would lay down our lives for each other. Whoever sees his brother or sister in need and closes his heart against them, how does the love of God abide in him? Let us not love in word but in deed (good works). We will know by this that we are of the truth and we will assure our hearts before God. 1 John 3: 23—And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as Jesus commanded us. 1 John 4:7-8—Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God (born again) and knows God. The one who does not love his brothers and sisters who live for God, does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:11-13—Beloved, if God loved us, we also ought to love one another. If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. This is how we know we abide in Him and He in us. We know also He has given us His Spirit. 1 John 4:16-21—God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. This is how love is perfected in us. We will have confidence in the day of judgment, because as Jesus lived, we also live like Him in this world. There is no guilt or fear in love, but perfect love casts out all guilt or fear, because the one who fears or feels guilty is not perfected in love. We love, because He loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” and does not love his brother, he hates his brother; he is a liar, for the one who does not love those who live to please God daily, whom he has seen and knows, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brothers and sisters who love God also. 1 John 5:2-3—By this we know that we love those whom God has called, when we love God and keep His commands. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and they are not hard to keep. 2 John 4-5—I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 3 John 11—The one who does good is from God. How do you love one another? Share with others, and thus learn how to share (Acts 2:45-46; Titus 3:14; 1 Tim. 6:18). Love each other with God’s love, that He will give you liberally. Show kindness to others (Prov. 14:22). Pray for others continually and from the heart (1 Thess. 5:17). Say only good of others, always giving the benefit of any doubt (Eph. 4:29, Luke 6:31). Be genuine and complimentary to others (Luke 6:45). If you know someone who is sick or going through an illness, send them a note of encouragement or a small gift to show them love (Prov. 19:6; Acts 9:36). Open the door for someone, buy someone a cup of coffee, let someone go ahead of you in line (Prov. 11:25; Phil. 2:4; 1 Cor. 10:24). Go to nursing homes and cheer up the lonely for God. This will make the widow’s heart leap for joy (Job 29:13). Show hospitality to the elderly, the blind or crippled, and fulfill Jesus’ commands (Luke 14:13). There is so much good we can do, it’s really exciting. “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13). In closing, follow the same advice that the apostle Paul gave the people of God in Macedonia: For indeed you do practice love toward all your brothers, but I urge you brethren to excel still more and do not get weary in doing good for God’s glory (1 Thess. 4:10; 2 Thess. 3:13). Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Our Perfect Example of Suffering Jesus Christ came to show man the life of God, which true disciples are to live to become partakers of the new divine nature. The suffering Jesus went through was for His perfection. He became obedient through suffering. Christ was made perfect by the Father through His suffering (1 Peter 4:1). He was the perfect example of the conversion process to all those who obey Him and have eyes to see (Heb. 5:8-9). When you discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, or when you are disciplined by God the Father for the purpose of having Christ formed in you, strange things begin to happen to you (1 Tim. 4:7; 6:3; 2 Peter 1:4; Gal. 4:19). Old friends turn their backs on you. People you have loved and helped begin to persecute you (Matt. 5:10). All kinds of fiery ordeals that are rather perplexing begin to happen to you. Slowly, you begin to realize that you are undergoing tests sent by the Father for the perfecting of your faith (1 Peter 4:12-13). Some of those tests could be personal tragedies in the home. Maybe your wife or husband turns against you (Matt. 10:36). Maybe your children become your adversaries. Sickness may strike you or your loved ones (Dan. 8:27). It could be boils as Job had or a grievous sore as Hezekiah experienced (Job 2:7; 2 Kings 20:1). Your grievous trial could be an accident or a sickness that brings you near death. The Bible records many examples of sickness that can help us understand the purpose for suffering. Lazarus was sick (John 11:1). Another disciple of Christ, Epaphroditus, was sick to the point of death (Phil. 2:25, 27). Many disciples who were backsliding were sick and many of them died (1 Cor. 11:30). Paul left Trophimus, a disciple of Christ, in the city of Miletus because he was sick (2 Tim. 4:20). Dorcas, a disciple of Christ, became sick and died, and then was resurrected (Acts 9:36, 40). James tells us what to do when we become sick (James 5:14). Once you understand suffering, you begin to understand the conversion process. Suffering is the method God uses to weaken sin in our bodies and to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish godly character in us (1 Peter 5:9-10). Just remember to be zealous in pleasing God daily and everything will work out for good (Rom. 8:28). Who will harm you if you are doing good, saying good and thinking good things all the time, to please God (1 Peter 3:13)? When you are zealous for God, that proves to God you are not seeking to save your old life. Instead, God sees you are seeking to please Him with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength (Matt. 22:37; 2 Cor. 5:9; 1 Cor. 15:58). He sees you are hot, zealous and on fire for what is good (Titus 2:14). But if your deeds are lukewarm, you are forcing God to spit you out of His mouth and severely test you (Rev. 3:15-16). Let’s do it the easy way – God’s Way (Matt. 11:30)! PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Godly Advice to the Unmarried In years past, there was a thing called courtship. Many today call it dating. This is when a man and woman would get to know each other and see if they were compatible to be husband and wife. The man would woo a woman by taking her out to dinner, bringing her flowers, or other tokens of affection as acts of kindness. He would show to her, by his continual actions, that he was kind, generous, outgoing and a lovable type of person, marriage material, if you will. She would show him the same by her words and actions. Today, courtship or dating has become living together, fornicating and using one another for self-gratification. People engage in sexual activity with anyone they want, at any time, without much thought, many times with no intention of even continuing a relationship - much less marriage. This is considered lascivious in the Bible, which is being loose or indulging in improper lustful desires (Mark 7:22; 2 Cor. 12:21; Eph. 4:19 KJV). Yes, people have turned what was designed by God to be beautiful, into a nightmare of continual sin. How far removed we are from what was intended for our own good by a loving Creator. If a man looks upon a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery or fornication with her in his heart, says Jesus Christ our Creator and Sustainer (Matt. 5:28). How much more has one sinned, when enticing a man to lust after her, by removing her clothes and exposing her body for him to gaze upon. People do not realize that God is the one who brings sinner’s ways back on their own heads (Psalm 125:4; Jer. 4:18; 26:3, 13; 32:19; Ezek. 7:3, 9; 11:21; 18:32). Shouldn’t we, then, make all our ways pleasing to the Lord so He can bless us instead of curse us? The Lord is righteous in all His Ways and kind in all His deeds (Psalm 145:17). God wants us to make all our ways right before Him. He wants us to make all our deeds righteous and kind so He can bless us and answer our prayers. God hates sin and sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). God loves purity, decency and morality. God is against adultery, fornication, or sexual experimentation. The advice to an unmarried person is, if that person cannot demonstrate self-control sexually, then marry, for it is better to marry than to burn. We are warned and admonished by the word of God to flee immorality (1 Cor. 6:18). When you join yourself to another through intercourse, you become one flesh or the same as married in God’s word (1 Cor. 6:16; Matt. 19:6). This being so, you must now follow God’s commandments on marriage (1 Corinthians Chapter 7). However, if you do not honor that relationship, as if you were married, and go and have intercourse with someone else, now you have committed adultery (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:8-9). Because of immorality, let every man have his own wife (1 Cor. 7:2). We are constantly warned not to act immorally (1 Cor. 10:8). The Bible says immoral persons will go into the lake of fire, which will be located in Jerusalem, and this is the second death (Is. 31:9; Rev. 21:8). It is not a sin to think immoral thoughts, only to dwell on them. It is Satan’s job to tempt you. When you put immoral thoughts out of your mind, you resist Satan and he will flee from you. What you premeditate, you normally do, sooner or later. So premeditate doing good for God and overcome evil by doing good (1 Peter 3:11; Rom. 12:21; Rom. 2:7; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7). Many people do not know that the tests we go through in this life are from God. He wants to see whether or not we will obey Him and cry out to Him in our time of need. God hears the prayer of the righteous—those who do good and not evil continually; those who are the sheep and not the goats (John 9:31; Matt. 25:33-46). Remember always, God is watching us from a distance (Psalm 33:14). Galatians 5:19-21; Mark 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; and Malachi 3:5 cover the acts of our sinful nature, which we are to put to death with the help of God’s Spirit (Rom. 8:13). Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things, God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient (Col. 3:5-6). Therefore, do not be partakers with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Find out what pleases the Lord and engage in it daily for repentance (Eph. 5:6-10, 17; Matt. 3:2). In Bible times, those who were true disciples of Jesus Christ were overcoming evil by continually doing good for the Lord (Rom. 2:7; 12:21; Psalm 37:27). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and so is His message of overcoming (Heb. 13:8). We need to put His words into action daily and do God’s Will so we will abide forever (John 8:51; 1 John 2:17). Remember, there is nothing impossible for God’s disciples to overcome (Luke 1:37; Matt 17:20). It just takes daily determination and fighting the good fight of faith for God (1 Tim. 6:12). You can do all things through Him that strengthens you (Phil. 4:13). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Put No Confidence In the Flesh PREV NEXT

Our founder's wife wrote about her experiences as a woman of God, and the wisdom that came from them, in this beautiful series that transforms some of her most cherished writings into inspiring videos. A Woman of God Doesn't Worry Learn more about being a woman of God here. PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search Baking With Whole Wheat: A Woman to Woman Article As homemakers, we have choices when we cook and bake things for our families and others. We have a variety of sweeteners such as sugar, honey, maple syrup, and molasses. We have a variety of flours such as bleached or unbleached white flour, rye flour, or whole wheat flour. We can choose from fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables. Quality is our choice. Quality is our choice when it comes to the way we live spiritually, as well as physically. Jesus Christ tells us about the most high quality bread of all—the “bread of life.” In John 6:35 He says, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me (obeys, trusts and has faith in) shall never thirst.” This is an awesome spiritual bread that so completely satisfies all aspects of our lives. This bread Jesus Christ was speaking of is the Way of life we share with you in every Whole Wheat issue. Whole Wheat newsletter is the product of a vision a man had when he approached my husband. The man saw loaves of bread, whole wheat bread, stored up and waiting to be shared with the world. The man was awestruck at what he saw. Little did he realize that my husband had been writing researched Bible study articles for years, and he eagerly desired to share them with the world. These articles explain clearly that Jesus came to show us how to be wheat instead of tares. In the parable found in Matthew 13:24-30, the wheat and tares grew together until harvest. At harvest time, the tares were removed and burned. The wheat was bundled up to be saved and stored in the barn. God will spare us, too, if we are wheat (righteous, godly, good for something). By living His Ways, we become fully converted and become whole wheat who live to please God by serving others daily. In Luke 11:3, we are taught to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Our spiritual daily bread is allowing the Lord to teach us by studying His word daily—the bread of God which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33). The bread of life (Jesus Christ) gives life (a Way of life) to the world. This Way of life is full of blessings, instead of curses, because we put Jesus’ words into action. What is the big bonus for eating of this “bread of life,” or living to please God every day? John 6:51 says, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever.” Do you want to live forever? Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to be happy? The key to eternal life, blessings, and happiness goes back to fulfilling the basics: ℹ️ Study God’s word daily! ℹ️ Pray for others and your own needs! ℹ️ Live to please God by serving others continually, especially the less fortunate! These are ingredients for a quality life, made of wholesome ingredients…so let’s get cooking! PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

God Wants to Bless You PREV Search NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search Where is Your Heart? God does not show partiality (Gal. 2:6). Those who obey Him are as the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8). The people or nations who do not obey Him mean less than nothing to Him (Isa 40:17). In the past, God blotted out everyone in the world, but spared Noah, who was a righteous man and had a heart for God, and his family. Those blotted out would not repent and live to please their Maker. He has blotted out scores of nations from the face of this earth because they were wicked and would not repent and change. Man’s downfall through the ages is that he has not taken the Lord seriously. As a result, many have perished in the past. What God has always desired of man is that he would repent (Luke 13:3, 5). The Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities that surrounded them not only for their sins, but also for an example to mankind of what will happen to all who continue to sin (2 Peter 2:6). God is slow to anger, compassionate, gracious, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth. But many times mankind has pushed God to the limit. How do we repent and make ourselves pleasing in God’s sight? To begin with, we know that it pleases God when we study His word daily. When we study His word, we are approved of God (2 Tim. 2:15). It pleases God when we continually practice charity toward others (Acts 9:36). There are many ways to supply the needs of others—being kind, cheering up someone, giving clothing, money, shelter, or anything to someone in need (Matt. 25:33-40). We are careful to serve and include the lame, the blind, the elderly or the poor, who cannot possibly pay us back (Luke 14:13-14). We are then fulfilling Scriptures that the righteous are to fulfill. God’s word says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). This word treasure comes from the Greek word thesauros meaning; something very much valued or valuables. So where we put our money, our time, our vested interest – our heart is revealed also. We are placing a value on whatever we support or put ourselves into. Take a moment to think about what you put your heart in. When people donate to a church it becomes part of their heart. They support it and feel a bond, so they are behind it. What if that church is not preaching the truth from God’s word (Matt. 7:15-24; Mark 7:7-9)? What are you actually supporting then? Think of this when it comes to any other organization you may donate to or support. On the surface many things can look good. Think about if you were to vote for someone. You are putting your heart into that candidate or person – you value them highly enough to cast a ballot in your name and vote for them, whether you actually give them money or not, you are supporting them. You have given your stamp of approval and are now associated with what they stand for. You feel an obligation to support or defend what they say or believe, simply because you voted for them - because you have put your heart there (Rom. 16:18). It is a very slippery slope when you become entangled with the world (2 Pet. 2:20). Think about the ramifications of what you may find yourself entangled in. We must be careful not to become enslaved to the world, by attaching our heart to things, or people, of the world. This would surely be dividing our treasure unwisely (Matt. 12:35; Luke 6:45, 12:21; James 5:3). In Colossians 2:3, it refers to the same treasure as wisdom and knowledge (from God). Therefore, let us wisely consider, with the knowledge God has given us, what we give ourselves to or who we stand with. As Matthew 6:24 says: ‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (the god of riches – Satan – ruler of this world). The Amplified Bible expounds on mammom even further: [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. God does not want us to store up treasure on earth but wants us to instead store up treasures in heaven which is our good deeds of righteousness, done for repentance, for the glory of God (Matt. 6:19-20; Acts 26:20). When we look to the Bible we see several examples of those who trusted in their treasures connected to earth and were destroyed (Job 20:26; Jer. 48:7; 49:4; 50:37). Who does God want us to support? Let’s look to the Scriptures and see. God wants you to honor Him by setting aside a portion of your weekly earnings (treasure) for Him (Prov. 3:9; Eph. 4:28). Then He wants you to learn how to do good for others with His money (1 Tim 6:17-19; 2 Cor. 9:6-11; Luke 6:38). He wants you to give money to the needy, loan money without charging interest, and He wants you to do so expecting nothing in return (Matt. 6:2-4; Luke 6:34-35, 38). He tells us to support those who teach the truth of God’s Ways in His name, so that you too may be a fellow worker for the Lord. Therefore, if you are supporting the work of God and those who do it, you have become part of that work as a fellow worker (3 John 7-8). This is another way to draw closer to God because you are putting your treasure and therefore your heart behind His work (Mal. 3:8-10). This has a way of strengthening your commitment and relationship to God (Matt 12:30; John 4:35-36; Matt. 9:36-38; Rom. 10:13-15; Matt. 22:21). These are all wise uses of the treasure God has given you (Acts 20:35; Phil. 4:15-19). God wants you to continually give so He can continually bless you and continually increase your income so you can continually increase your giving (2 Cor. 9:10; 2 Cor. 8:7-8). God does good even to ungrateful men (Luke 6:35). When it comes to using your God’s money, remember that when you give directly to the needy, 100 percent is going to the source and you are being a good steward of God’s money. This is one of the best ways you can make the most of your money set aside for God. Before you support any worthy cause, you should investigate it and know for sure that it is indeed a worthy cause. Always check on what percentage is going to that worthy cause and ask for the proof. Many ads for ‘worthy causes’ can be very deceptive, and only pennies on the dollar actually go to serve the need they are soliciting for. God wants you to learn righteousness by engaging in it daily, for He knows if you don’t, you won’t learn righteousness (Titus 3:8). God also wants us to be a good example in all respects. It is pleasing to God when we say only what is good and right, keeping our conversations pure. Whoever speaks is to do so as though they were the actual words of God (1 Peter 4:11). He hates those who swear and use profanity, and we are His enemies if we use His name for a swear word or a curse (Ex. 20:7; Psalm 139:20). He hates those whose mouths speak foolishly or coarsely, whose mouths are not courteous and kind at all times. The mouth of a fool speaks foolishness (Prov. 1:7, 3:35, 9:6, 10:8, 23, 12:23; Psalm 107:17). A foul mouth indicates a foul heart, but those who speak what is right, are a constant praise to God as well as men. Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us He also hates haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who declares lies, and one who spreads strife. What the Lord desires in a man is kindness—kindness in words and in deeds, deeds being first and foremost (1 John 3:18). The Lord wants righteousness and justice from us (Ezek. 33:16). He wants us to be just in all our dealings with mankind, to pay our debts on time, keep our word, owe no money to any man, as much as possible, and be at peace with all men as much as possible. He does not want you to go into debt and lose your peace of mind. He wants you to save your money and pay cash for what you buy as much as you possibly can. The world wants you to go into debt. They say you must, if you want good credit. God says you should not go into debt because it encourages coveting, lust and greed (Rom. 13:8). It will take your peace and you will be unhappy. Instead, be content with what you have. Be content at all times (1 Tim. 6:8). Make your requests known to God and He will bring them to pass (Phil. 4:6). God knows if you obey Him, you will have to depend on Him for everything. This is what He wants you to learn to do. He wants you to learn to depend on Him. Soon, God is going to punish the nations for their sins. He will accomplish this by causing nation to war with nation and kingdom with kingdom (Matt. 24:7). This will bring in great tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world, nor will it ever be that bad again (Matt. 24:21). A time of distress such as has never occurred since there was a nation will soon occur (Dan. 12:1). This will come upon the whole world as a snare when least expected. For when they say, “Peace, peace,” watch out, because here comes the war (1 Thess. 5:3-4, 9-10). At the time God chooses everyone who has been written in the Lord’s book of remembrance will be rescued. Only those who showed God respect (feared God) daily by practicing the principles outlined in God’s word will be considered for escape (Mal. 3:16-17). Only those who prayed continually that they would be considered worthy to escape all these things will be considered (Luke 21:34-36). Make no mistake about it, these Scriptures will be fulfilled just as surely as all Bible prophesies in the past were fulfilled. If you keep God’s word with perseverance now, and practice the principles you know in your heart are true, God may keep you from the hour of testing which is surely coming upon the whole world. God will soon test all the people of the world to see if they will repent by continually doing good (Rev. 3:10). When war comes, then people repent. God knows only those with an honest and good heart will build godly character (fruit) for Him now (Luke 8:15). The others will wait for the war to come. We are told to continue to practice righteousness and stay humble or teachable. Perhaps we will be hidden by the Lord in the day of His wrath against the nations and their peoples (Zeph. 2:3). There is no guarantee because we are untrustworthy, but God is trustworthy. God encourages those who begin to live for Him when He says, “Tell the righteous all will go well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their own actions” (Is. 3:10). God wants from us so little compared to what He will do for us in return for our daily obedience. Only a fool would ignore His words. Show God where your heart is, by continually honoring Him in all you think, do and say, living a life that is pleasing to Him in all respects. Then, if you endure to the end, God willing, He will declare you to be His very special treasure (Mal. 3:16-17 AMP). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Guilt Guilt is one of Satan’s most effective weapons. Satan wants you to feel you are not doing enough. He wants you to think you are unworthy. He wants you to doubt and he wants you to be discouraged. But all of these feelings are not in the Will of God (Mark 4:19). So how do you get rid of them and stop Satan from choking your relationship with God? These thoughts and feelings have no place in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. You know you are not worthy. You know you are not doing enough. But it is God’s job to perfect more of Christ’s character in you (1 Cor. 3:7). God trims any tree that bears fruit so it will bear more fruit (John 15:2). The fruit is righteousness, and when you practice righteousness, you are automatically going to bear good fruit. But notice! It is God who trims the branches so you can bear more good fruit. God builds the character in you that will produce more fruit. When you worry that you are not doing enough, you are opening a door to Satan so he can discourage you enough to quit altogether. If Satan can get you to quit bearing fruit in good works, he has accomplished his purpose, which is to stop you completely (Col. 1:10; 1 Peter 5:8). You are not to evaluate whether or not you are doing enough. You are just simply told to practice righteousness and overcome evil by practicing good (Rom. 12:21). You are to do it with enthusiasm until God makes it come from your heart. Satan would like you to make a big deal out of it, when Christ said His Ways are easy and pleasant (Matt. 11:30). You just do the practicing and let God do the perfecting. Don’t let your human nature stop you. Have the mind of a little child. “Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous, even as God is righteous” (1 John 3:7). So, there is no need to feel guilty. Just continue pleasing God by doing what is right and pleasing in His sight, and you will abide in His love. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Public Enemy #1 God’s word says that it is our thoughts, our ways or deeds, our thinking and our actions that are not good. Our human nature represents our will, which is also referred to as Satan’s will. Our ways, our deeds, and our thinking is Satan’s thinking. It is his consciousness or his will that is in us (2 Tim. 2:26; John 2:25; Rom. 16:20; John 8:44; James 3:15). I am making a point: we are to no longer think the way we used to think, talk the way we used to talk or walk the way we used to walk. We are to turn around and live how God says we are to live, think the way God tells us to think, talk the way God wants us to talk and walk the way God wants us to walk. We are to no longer live by our old ways that caused us every problem we ever had, and immediately begin to live by God’s Ways only! Stop talking! Stop thinking! Start acting! Start walking! Stop making excuses and just do it! Many talk about their problems but are unable to do anything about them. Stop talking about your problems and just do something about them in secret. You are giving in to your old ways—making excuses. Fight the good fight of faith. Stop thinking why you can’t; start doing what needs to be done. Stop talking about your problems; start walking the right way. Just do it! God has His new nature waiting for you when you get rid of your old nature with the power of His Holy Spirit. We will never know the new until we get rid of the old. Stop giving in to your old ways. Start resisting your old nature by not giving it space in which to exist by continually doing good. Stop thinking to the flesh; just start thinking to the Spirit: “How can I please God?” Satan is at the door of your heart, and he is trying to get you to destroy yourself but you must master him. You must take hold of your nature and tell it what to do and not give in to Satan’s wiles and let God tell you what to do (Gen. 4:7). You have God’s Spirit—use it! You have the power of prayer—use it! You have the tool of fasting—do it! God’s Spirit is a spirit of power, a spirit of love, a spirit that is stronger than any spirit of the devil. Jesus was tempted in all things, but with the power of God’s Spirit, He never gave in to sin. Many who have God’s Spirit of power today give in to everything, like they never even received God’s Spirit of power. Stop making excuses. It’s killing some of you. You’re giving in to Satan. God never called you to continue to live an undisciplined life. Use that Spirit of victory! Control your body, control your thinking, control your mouth and control your appetite. Eat to live and don’t live to eat any longer. God gives you His Spirit of a sound mind. Use it or you’ll lose it! God is not only watching you from a distance, He is also testing you to see whether you are building godly character in your life or not. You will not enter the kingdom of God within unless you control your bodily actions from without. You must maintain the attitude of a little child and get rid of your arrogant, vanity-filled nature that’s prideful, egotistical and sensual, or you will never change! For many years I have counseled many people about their problems. The number one thing that was wrong was their thinking and their words. Stop thinking bad thoughts, stop condemning yourself to use that as an excuse for not doing something about your problems. You know the right way. Make up your mind to do it now! Thousands of people are losing weight, while thousands are making deadly excuses. Thousands are changing and getting rid of their old self with their old ways, while thousands are making excuses. Don’t talk—just walk the right way! Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a daily discipline. The very word “disciple” comes from the word “discipline.” Strive or discipline yourself to enter by the narrow door or you won’t be able. I can’t make you change and neither can God. Yet, God is standing by to help you, should you put forth the slightest effort. Get your mind off of self and on to God and never turn back. The root of all of our problems is wanting our own way. God says, in Psalms 50:22-23, that we are to order all of our ways right (make them right) before God; this is the sacrifice of thanksgiving which honors the Lord. If you forget this you are forgetting God and He will tear you in pieces and there will be none to deliver you. What right do you have to talk about God’s Ways to others, when you hate discipline? God says that the undisciplined person is wicked (Psalm 50:16-17). There are some of God’s servants who are drinking too much. God says the drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God, and He is coming when you least expect Him (Matt. 24:49-50; Luke 21:34; 1 Cor. 6:10). We need to know who the Bible says the wicked are. Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees. They understood what He was saying to them, and yet, they didn’t apply it; they were still in their sins (John 9:40-41). After a person hears the truth, they no longer have an excuse for their sins (John 15:22). We need to realize there are no excuses and remember that. Therefore, the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17). In these last days, God is going to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God (does what God says) and the one who does not serve Him (Mal. 3:18). We know well that the goats described in the Bible will be thrown into the eternal fire, not only because they didn’t do good to those in need, but because they would not study their Bibles daily to be approved by God and apply God’s word in their lives (Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Tim. 2:15 King James Version). God’s word clearly states that serving God is done by serving others (Matt. 25:40, 45; James 2:15-26; 1 John 3:18-19). It is also receiving a love for God’s truth (His word) so as to be saved (2 Thess. 2:10-12). Sin shall not have dominion over you anymore, should you stop giving in to your old nature with its old ways and excuses (Rom. 6:14). Unless you allow the Lord to reign in your life and unless you obey Him, you will be slain by Him when He returns (Luke 19:27). God’s truth is like a hammer shattering a rock—smashing a rock—delivered by His ministers who are like flames of fire (Jer. 23:29; Heb. 1:7; Psalm 104:4). They have to be, because of the stubbornness of all of our hearts. Don’t allow yourself to be lulled to sleep by another Bible study, for unless a person applies God’s word and obeys God’s word, they will surely perish (Ezek. 33:31-33; Luke 13:3, 5; Matt. 3:10; 7:19). Jesus said that His Ways are very easy and very pleasant, and what He commanded us to do was not burdensome (Matt. 11:30; 1 John 5:3). It is the way to peace, happiness, blessings and eternal life, but you must do what you are supposed to do to receive it! God only wants the best for you and He has blessings ready and waiting for you. You must want the best for yourself to make it happen. Many are being blessed today and finding that God’s Ways work; but you must work by putting your hand to the plow by doing what is right. Let’s get rid of public enemy #1 and then we will be #1 in God’s eyes and be a good example for others. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search If Jesus Should Come Back Tomorrow Would you be ready today if Jesus should come back tomorrow? We are to live our lives today as though Jesus would come back tomorrow. Be ready at all times—living right, thinking right and doing right. We must be alert at all times against sin, because we do not know which day our Lord is coming (Matt. 24:42). We are continually warned in God’s word to be on guard against sin. Then, these sins are listed in Luke 21:34, which include being weighted down with dissipation. Webster’s Dictionary says dissipation is: wasteful expenditure of time or self-indulgence (shop ’til you drop; endless browsing of the internet or social media; countless hours spent in front of the television or streaming videos; binge watching); free indulgence in drinking (drunkenness); riotous living; the cares of this life; the worries of life (Matt. 13:22). God’s word warns that if these things are in your life, that day could come upon you suddenly, like a trap (Luke 21:34). Yes, the day of the Lord will come when mankind will least expect it. There is a test coming upon the whole world very soon that is from God. Only those who persevere steadily and faithfully, and keep and perform Jesus’ words will be spared from that hour of testing (Rev. 3:10). The Lord wants to know who will be faithful and endure to the end and who will not. He wants to know who will serve Him and who will not (Mal. 3:18). He wants to know who will be the sheep and who will remain as the goats—who will serve others and who will not. The Prophet Daniel was consistent and steadfast and faithful in his walk with God. In a prophecy concerning the last days, it states that everyone of Daniel’s people (people who are faithful like Daniel) will be rescued (Dan. 12:1; Prov. 11:8, 21). What are we to be faithful in? Faithful in giving (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-8). Faithful in studying God’s word so you are approved (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV). Faithful in prayer (Luke 21:36 KJV; Eph. 6:11-18). All will go well for those who remain faithful to righteousness (Is. 3:10). The Lord will not cause the righteous to hunger (Prov. 10:3; 13:25). Because Jesus said the gospel of the kingdom would be preached and published in all the world for a witness, I believe some people will take the message soberly and take warning and change their way of living to that of Jesus’ Way (Matt. 24:14). They will begin to study (not read) God’s word daily. They will cry out in private to the Lord to save them and show them the Way to live so that they might please Him each day. The others will wait until it’s too late—when they see the sign of the Son of Man coming in the sky (Matt. 24:30). They will be the ones who will hide themselves in caves because they know the Lord is coming, and His wrath is for them (Rev. 6:15-16; Is. 2:19; Hosea 10:8; Is. 24:6; Luke 23:30). Yet, verse 17 of Revelation 6 says: For the great day of their wrath has come. Whose wrath? Those hiding in the caves. The Scripture ends with the question, “Who is able to stand?” Both Psalm 24:3-6 and Psalm 50:22-23 give the answer In conclusion, it all comes down to this. Repent! How? Be a daily doer of the word (Psalm 34:11-14; James 1:22). Fulfill the Scriptures that the righteous fulfill, or you will automatically be fulfilling the Scriptures of the wicked (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:41). Now you know how to get ready today, should the Lord return tomorrow. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Mirror Mirror on the Wall: A Woman to Woman Article “Who’s the fairest of them all?” Most of us can recall this familiar storybook tale, where the wicked witch was very jealous of the pure and innocent Snow White and plotted against her. She succeeded in poisoning Snow White with a poisoned apple which put her into a deep sleep. The wicked witch thought she had won, but the prince broke the spell with the kiss of love, and Snow White remained the “fairest of them all.” This is another classic tale of good vs. evil. Satan is like a lion, roaming about to see whom he can destroy (1 Peter 5:8). We must build solid walls of purity and righteousness to keep Satan out. We only have one defense against Satan’s wiles—it is the way we live daily. When we live to please the Lord every day, He is right there to help us through our battles with Satan. Ephesians 6:11 speaks of the armor of God. It says, “Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Yes, the devil schemes just like the wicked witch. The devil is out to destroy anyone he can, who is living a pure life. Our struggle is a spiritual struggle, against wickedness (Eph. 6:12). Ephesians 6:13 gives us the complete answer on how to do battle against this spiritual wickedness: “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Snow White was very innocent and pure. The wicked witch’s heart was black and evil because of her pride, vanity and arrogance. The witch poisoned Snow White in her innocence, not being “wise as a serpent,” as the Bible tells us to be (Matt. 10:16). In our walk with God, Satan sets out “poisoned apples” to try to snare us and trip us up. If we put on the armor of God, we will see the traps Satan sets for us. Let’s take a look at that armor listed in Ephesians 6:14-18: 1. Gird your loins with truth. Yes, study God’s word daily, that we may know and understand His Ways and live by them. 2. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Yes, live to please the Lord every day by performing acts of righteousness continually towards others in love. 3. Shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Yes, every step we take we stand for good and make peace, whenever possible, among all those who cross our path. We are to walk in the Ways of the Lord by being living words of God (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4). 4. Take up the shield of faith. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). This is a strong shield God provides when we live according to His Ways by being a constant example to others. Eph. 6:16 tells us we will then be able to extinguish all flaming missiles from the evil one. Remember, it is by our works that our faith is made complete (James 2:22). 5. Take the helmet of salvation. A physical helmet protects our head—our brain, the part that thinks. The spiritual helmet of salvation protects our mind from evil thoughts and influences, which, if it continues, will turn into evil actions. This helmet is God’s Spirit, which is protection and helps us think on only good things that please Him every day. 6. Take the sword of the Spirit. God’s word is our sword. When His word becomes our every thought and deed, then we are thinking and living as the Lord, and then we have more power than the devil. We are to “pray at all times in the spirit and be on the alert with perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). Yes, pray for our brothers and sisters who are living by God’s Ways and watch out for those “poisoned apples” the devil throws before us. When we live to please God every day and wear His armor it will protect us from spiritual wickedness. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Those who live for God each day, by living His Holy Way! PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

How to Be Successful in Life Success in life is knowing Jesus Christ. Success in life is knowing God’s Ways. We are successful in life when we persevere in doing what is right, for the glory of God. Success in life is abiding in Christ. Success in life is entering the kingdom of heaven, which is within us. These principles of success are the key to riches and honor and eternal life. Yes, Jesus Christ - our Lord and Master - came to show us how to be servants of others on a one-to-one basis, so we can be truly successful for God’s glory. Remember, if the righteous are scarcely saved, what is going to happen to those who will not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ? For without holiness, which comes as a result of practicing righteousness, no one will see the Lord. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21, (KJV) To those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:7 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 1 Peter 4:18 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) PREV NEXT Click below for full Bible Study: Principles of Success

God Who Loves & Hates VO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Jesus Command: Love One Another Conditions for the Blood of Jesus Repent to Believe the Gospel The Mystery of Righteousness & Justice Revealed Loving Your Neighbor It Pays to be Good For God Deception Who Are the Stumbling Blocks? Fruits of the Spirit / Deeds of the Flesh PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search The Lake of Fire The pagan concept of the lake of fire is that it is an ever-burning place of torment, where unrepentant sinners go to be tortured for eternity. Close examination in the word of God reveals that concept is foolishness. God is not giving eternal life to those who are going to hell, but rather, eternal life is only going to those who are found worthy of it (Luke 20:35). Jesus says that the soul, as well as the body, can be destroyed by God in the lake of fire (Matt. 10:28). The lake of fire, then, is the second death (Rev. 20:14; 21:8). Isaiah 30:33 mentions a place called Topheth where the Lord sets a fire. This place Topheth is now a public park in the Jerusalem area. It is the place where the ancient Israelites sacrificed their children to the god Baal, which is just another name for Satan (Jer. 19:4-5). In Jesus Christ’s day, it was called Gehenna and it was the city dump. Those who died a dishonorable death were thrown into this dump area, where there were fires burning continually. People threw their garbage in there daily. The corpses were left to rot or be eaten by wild dogs. Isaiah 31:9 prophesied that this lake of fire, which is referred to also as a furnace, will be in Zion. Zion is another name for Jerusalem. Jesus Christ will start this lake of fire when He returns shortly to set up His government and rule the nations of this earth with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15). His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33; Is. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:25). We who overcome our evil natures by keeping Jesus Christ’s works, and endure to the end keeping them, will rule with Him (Rev. 2:26-27). The reward of the saved is to rule on this earth, not in heaven (Rev. 5:10; 1:6). Who goes into this lake of fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41)? The Bible is clear that the first two customers will be the beast and the false prophet (Rev. 13:14-17; 19:20). They love statues, which God abhors. God is going to destroy those who fall away after He has put them in charge over people He is calling (Matt. 24:48-51). The goats—those who knew that God’s true message of serving others and would not repent by doing so—will also be destroyed in the lake of fire. Anyone who goes on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth will be thrown into the lake of fire (Heb. 10:26-27). This is referring to anyone who has once been enlightened, known the truth, was baptized and received God’s Holy Spirit (Heb. 6:4-8). This is anyone who has known the Way of righteousness and has started to overcome, and then went back to his old way of life and was overcome by sin or evil again (2 Peter 2:20-22). These will all be written down in a book (Jer. 17:13). Because they did not overcome evil, but were overcome by evil, they will have their names erased from the book of life (Rev. 3:5; 1 Peter 3:10-11,13; Rom. 12:21; Ex. 32:32-33). They will go into the lake of fire. Those, however, who had good works and endured to the end will come into life everlasting (John 5:29). It should be clear that practicing good works daily is important in the true gospel message of Jesus Christ. This is how we repent (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:26). It is how we glorify God and let our lights shine before others (Matt. 5:16). We are blessed when we repent by doing good works, and thus, return to God (Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6, 10; Rev. 22:12; Acts 3:19; 26:20). We build godly character or fruit on our spiritual trees by practicing good works (Col. 1:10; Matt. 3:8, 10). This is how we imitate God and allow God to live in us (Eph. 5:1; Gal. 4:19). It is how we keep Jesus’ words and God’s commandments in spirit (John 4:24; Gal. 5:16). When we practice righteousness, we overcome our evil nature and have Jesus Christ’s nature formed in us (Psalm 34:14; 37:27; Dan. 4:27; 1 Peter 3:10-11; Rom. 12:21; Rev. 2:26). As we learn righteousness, our faith is perfected (James 2:22; Titus 3:14). We become constant doers of God’s word (James 1:22). We become kind and charitable people and righteousness (God’s Will) eventually comes from our hearts (Eph. 6:6). We clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ (Job 29:14; Psalm 132:9). This is the narrow Way, and it is not generally known or taught today (Matt. 7:14). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search God's Judgment on a Nation When God pronounces judgment on a nation through a prophet, there is a space of time given in which the people are allowed to repent. First, they must hear what they are doing wrong (Ezek. 3:17-19, 21). Then, they must be told how to repent by doing what is right. Notice that after Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar how to repent, 12 months went by before the curse announced by the angel of God came to pass (Dan. 4:27, 29, 37). The Apostle Peter describes the repentant life saying, cease to do evil, learn to do good (1 Peter 3:8-12; Is. 1:16-17). If the people were practicing wickedness, they had to stop doing those things and start practicing righteousness for God. If the people were using their bodies to do evil, they were told to begin to use their bodies to do good (Rom. 6:13; 12:1, 21). When the King of Nineveh heard of impending judgment on his city, he issued a proclamation that all the people, herds and flocks should fast from eating food and drinking water. Then, he commanded all his people to cease from sinning, to cease from all forms of wickedness and violence. When God saw their deeds, that they had turned from their wicked ways, He did not do what He had declared He would do to them (Jonah 3:6-10). The word of God says there is only one way to repent and turn from your wicked ways and that is by doing good deeds for God (Acts 26:20). That is how you turn away from your evil ways (Job 1:1; 2:3). It is the only Way! It is the narrow Way that few find (Matt. 7:14). It is ridiculous to think that a person can repent by doing nothing, as millions are erroneously being taught today. You cannot repent by living a life of doing nothing for your Savior, Jesus Christ. God says doers of the word are the only ones who are justified among those who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ (James 2:24). Now is the time to repent before God so that when God brings this nation into judgment for its sins, you will not be part of that judgment. God is going to send curses upon the whole world to test the people of the world (Rev. 3:10). He is going to determine who the righteous and the wicked will be (Mal. 3:18). He wants to know who will be the sheep and serve others by doing good for God, and who will be the goats because they refuse to repent and do good for God (Matt. 25: 33, 40, 46). In which group will you be? PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Over 250 Bible studies by subject to help you learn about God's Ways and how the Bible tells us we should live to honor God. BIBLE STUDIES GETTING STARTED DAILY GRAINS NEWSLETTER INDEX OF ALL BIBLE STUDIES BIBLE STUDIES BY SUBJECT: LOTTERY OF A LIFETIME THE PURPOSE OF LIFE HOW-TO-GUIDE REPENTANCE STUDYING THE BIBLE BELIEF / FAITH / GRACE KINGDOM OF GOD MESSAGE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD'S WILL PEACE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WOMAN TO WOMAN WORLDY VS. GODLY MISCONCEPTIONS VS. TRUTH BOOK OF REVELATION THE LAST DAYS LOVE & CHARITY OVERCOMING / SIN ALL ABOUT JESUS CALLED AND CHOSEN GOOD DEEDS / GOOD WORKS SICKNESS & SUFFERING BAPTISM MARRIAGE GODLY ADVICE TO UNMARRIED PRAYER YOUNG ADULTS / BEGINNERS THE NAMES OF GOD GODLY CHARACTER CHECKLIST FOR BELIEVERS THE LORD'S SUPPER NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE ESPANOL

wholewheatonline.com Search God's Righteousness What is self-righteousness? Self-righteousness is righteousness done by self, for self, apart from God. What is God’s righteousness? It is righteous acts that God does daily for widows in distress, orphans and those who have no helper. It is anything God does in the way of righteous acts. Can humans perform God’s righteousness? Most certainly! Righteousness is the heart and core of Jesus Christ’s message. Jesus did all His righteousness in the name of the Father when He was performing His Father’s works upon this earth (John 10:25, 37-38). We are to do all our works of righteousness in the name of Jesus Christ for the glory of the Father (Col. 3:17; Matt. 5:16). Jesus said to have people over for dinner who cannot return the favor (Luke 14:12-13). He said to help people who have no money, visit the sick, clothe the naked, give a person a place to stay who is in need of it, practice hospitality, visit the widow in her affliction, help the orphans, and pray for people (Matt. 25:33-40). On and on the Scriptures go, showing us how to do Christ’s deeds or works and, in the process of doing so, overcome our human natures (Rev. 2:26; John 14:12). No wonder disciples back in Christ’s day did such mighty works (Acts 9:36). The apostles were making people who were doers of the word (Titus 3:8; James 1:22). They were becoming happy slaves of righteousness. They were doing God’s Will, which is righteousness, from the heart (Eph. 6:6). The rich were told to be rich in good deeds with their money and to be always ready to share (1 Tim. 6:18). Even Zacchaeus understood what God meant by repentance when he vowed to give half of his wealth to the poor and pay back four times what he had taken fraudulently from people (Luke 19:8). He knew God’s policy of righteousness never changes. Ezekiel 33:14-16 says, if the wicked turns from his ways and starts to practice justice and righteousness, he shall surely live. If he pays his debts to others, none of his sins will be remembered against him. If he has started to practice righteousness and justice, he will surely live. Remember, God never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). In every nation, the man who respects (fears) God and practices righteousness is welcome to Him (Acts 10:35). The righteousness God wants from us is His righteousness, not self-righteousness (1 John 3:7). So, beware of practicing your righteousness to be noticed by other people, because that is self-righteousness (Matt. 6:1). Instead, find out what God expects and begin to practice doing your righteous acts for God’s glory daily (Matt. 5:16, 20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2:15; Col. 3:17). Then you, like Abraham, will be God’s friend (James 2:23). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Walk in the Light What does the expression "walk in the light" as found in 1 John 1:7 mean? Light and darkness have always been used to represent good and bad, right and wrong, righteousness and lawlessness. Walking in the light is doing good, whereas walking in the dark is doing evil. Avoiding doing what is bad is not being good. Refraining yourself from doing evil is good only when it is connected with a life of doing good for God. You see, to overcome character weakness, you must be engaged in building character strengths, because you overcome evil by doing good (Rom. 12:21). Now, God knows human nature is lazy, indifferent, contentious, slothful and evil. It wants to do what is good but is unable. This is because the pull for evil inside is greater than the pull for good. So a plan had to be devised in which all could have an opportunity for Salvation - the lonely, the rich, the noble, the lame and the blind - everyone! The god of the carnal heart, Satan, had to be crushed and removed from the heart, and only God could do that (Rom. 16:20). The desire to do good had to be strengthened, and only God could do that. Godly character had to be built, and only God could do that (1 Cor. 3:7). Human nature had to be perfected, and only God could do that (1 Peter 5:10). But what could man do for his part? Repent! Repent means be willing to change your ways. Change your ways to God’s Ways. How? By disciplining yourself to perform acts that please God daily. Is it hard? Jesus Christ said His Way is easy and pleasant and a child would not have any trouble performing it daily (Matt. 11:30). When you walk in the light as Jesus Christ did by only living to please the Father, you are obeying Jesus Christ and will be sprinkled with His blood (1 Peter 1:2). The blood of Jesus Christ will then cleanse you from all your sins (1 John 1:7). Jesus Christ bore our sins in His body so we might die to our sinful natures by living a righteous life (1 Peter 2:24). We prove that we are God’s children by practicing righteousness daily for God (1 John 3:7, 10). The one who does good daily for God is of God (3 John 11). This good is done daily by sharing food and clothes with widows and orphans (Heb. 13:16; Luke 3:11; James 1:27). This good is done by acts and words of kindness and charity - to the blind, the lame, the old, the young, your wife, your children, your folks - all done in the name of our precious Lord and Master, and soon to return King, Jesus Christ (Acts 9:36; Col. 3:17). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

How about pictures of Christ? For more information on this question see the Bible Study: The Biblical Definition of Idolatry Prev Next

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wholewheatonline.com Search Happiness Is... Just as there is only one truth, there also is only one happiness. True happiness comes from a warm relationship with God. Abraham, Noah, Daniel and a host of other people have had this true happiness in the past. What is true happiness? Happiness is: * Finding the true purpose for your existence (Eph. 2:10). * Knowing God's Will and then performing it daily in your life (Matt. 6:10; 7:21; Luke 8:21; 1 John 2:17; 1 Peter 2:15; 4:2, 6; Col. 1:10). * Having the attitude of a servant toward others at all times as Jesus Christ, our Savior and example, did (Rom. 15:2-3; 1 Cor. 10:24; Matt. 20:26-28; 23:11). * Having the knowledge of the truth - God's word - and being set free from all religious deception, with its satanic tentacles that grip the earth (John 8:31-32; Rev. 12:9). * Being set free from all pagan religious traditions of men that make the worship of Jesus Christ in vain (Mark 7:7). * Receiving answered prayer because you are constantly doing God's Will and are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22; John 9:31). * Hating what is evil and loving what is good (Psalm 45:7; 97:10). * Hating worldliness and the things that war against the Spirit, such as dirty movies and magazines, swearing, lying, stealing, lusting, drunkenness, etc., for these things are not pleasing to God (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:18-20). * Always being patient toward others (1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Tim. 2:24; James 5:8; 1 Cor. 13:4). * Always forgiving others and not holding any bitterness toward them (Matt. 6:14-15; Eph. 4:31). * Always living to please God within your marriage and having happy and obedient children (1 Cor. 7:2-5; Prov. 22:6). * Always having peace and not letting those who have no peace take yours (Rom. 14:19; Psalm 34:14). * Always having faith in Christ Jesus that He will supply all your needs after you have done God's Will, and knowing that all will go right for the righteous (Is. 3:10, Matt. 6:25-33). * Going to God and His word for the truth, instead of to books written by men, which are a great source of religious confusion (Eccl. 12:12). * Keeping life simple by keeping it pure (1 Thess. 4:11; Phil. 4:8; Matt. 5:8). * Having the trusting attitude of a child toward the Lord at all times (Matt. 18:3, Psalm 131:1-2). * Learning who Jesus Christ really is by studying God's word, instead of believing what man says He is (2 Tim. 2:15). * Studying God's word for the answers to all of life's problems and questions (2 Tim. 3:16-17). * Wearing out your Bible for God by reading it every day and highlighting the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). In conclusion, true happiness is knowing God's Ways and putting them into action in your daily life. This is the only way to be a friend of God. Remember always, Jesus Christ is God and we must keep only His words in order to be truly happy and never see death (John 8:51). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

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wholewheatonline.com Search Practice Makes Perfect Psalm 4:4 says, “Tremble and do not sin.” Generally, religious people today do not fear God to such an extent that they tremble when they sin. People claim they cannot help but sin, because we are all sinners and people who say they have no sins are liars. They use 1 John 1:8, as an excuse to continue sinning. Yet, at the same time, Jesus says we are to ℹ️be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48). Jesus also commanded one person to go and sin no more lest something worse would come upon him. Was Jesus’ command unreasonable, or can we be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? Did Jesus teach this seemingly unreasonable doctrine about not sinning and being perfect to His disciples? One thing for sure is, not many people know the answer to this Bible mystery. The apostle Paul had the attitude that he had not obtained the state of perfection yet and therefore, he felt he wasn’t worthy to come up in a resurrection to eternal life (Phil. 3:11, 14). What a far cry his gospel is from those today who preach, “Give your heart to the Lord and just believe; you’ll be saved.” Some even go so far as to say you cannot lose your salvation once you have it. They use only certain Scriptures and avoid others that will not back up their false doctrines of half truths. Jesus Himself, who cannot lie, said you have to be considered worthy to attain to the age of the resurrection (Luke 20:35). Doesn’t He know what He’s talking about? Jesus told those who follow Him to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees (Matt. 16:6-12). Those Pharisees, or hypocrites, exist today much more than they did in Jesus’ day. Remember, there is only one true teaching and that comes from Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6). Let’s see what God’s word, the Bible, has to say about being perfect and not sinning. There is a word that is not used much or understood in God’s word. It is a word that few people realize is a key that unlocks the true gospel. That word is practice. We’ve all heard the expression, “Practice makes perfect,” but not many people take that phrase seriously. Yes, practice, when it is connected to ℹ️righteousness, does make one perfect, as Jesus said in Matthew 5:48. Ironically, the key word “practicing” is used for the first time, in the New Testament, in the very next verse. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus Christ Himself says to His true disciples; “Beware of practicing your righteousness to be noticed by men.” These words show that true disciples of Jesus Christ practice righteousness, and it isn’t just a few hours a week. It’s all the time. Why are true followers of Jesus Christ continually practicing righteousness—continually doing good? The first reason is, they are imitating their Savior, Jesus Christ, who continually went about doing good (Acts 10:38). Were Jesus Christ’s true disciples abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which they continually did? The answer is, yes (Acts 9:36)! This is how the Father in heaven is glorified and it is the Way a true disciple, or overcomer, let’s his light shine before others (Matt. 5:16). The second reason disciples of Jesus Christ are practicing righteousness is, for overcoming. You see, they are disciplining themselves daily for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). Jesus gave His true followers instructions on righteousness and warned them that the righteousness they were practicing had to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, or they would not be converted. In other words, they would not enter the ℹ️kingdom of God within until their righteousness came from their hearts. They would not receive the new nature, Jesus Christ’s nature formed in them, until their righteousness was no longer done hypocritically (Matt. 5:20; Gal. 4:19; Luke 17:21). All God’s Ways are righteous (Psalm 145:17). All Jesus’ Ways were righteous. All our ways must be made righteous before God. How can this be? God’s Ways are God’s Will, so then, God’s Will is righteousness. God says we are to do His Will from the heart, and then we will have His nature formed in us (Eph. 6:6; 1 Peter 5:10). There will be a certain amount of testing or suffering, but you can be sure it is nothing compared to the new nature and the revelation of His glory (1 Peter 4:12-13). In effect, when you practice righteousness each day for God, you are overcoming the evil one, overcoming your evil side, your evil nature, your satanic nature. Every time you resist the evil impulses of your snake-like nature, the snake and the evil impulses grow weaker. The food that keeps the snake strong and healthy in your body is sin (Gen. 4:7). Satan is put to death in your body by practicing righteousness for God and His glory (Rom. 12:21). This allows God to crush Satan and put him under your heel or authority (Rom. 16:20). Psalm 37:27 puts it all together when it says, “Overcome evil by doing good, so you will abide forever [live forever].” Many do not know that being born again is the ℹ️overcoming process. The one Scripture that is never mentioned by those who falsely say they are born again is 1 John 2:29. It is saying if you know that Jesus Christ is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is truly born of Him. True disciples practice righteousness daily for God’s glory, for God’s blessings and rewards, and for overcoming their evil natures. They practice righteousness so they can have Christ’s nature formed in them, and enter God’s rest as mentioned in Hebrews 4:10 and Galatians 4:19. Now, here is a point on righteousness about which many remain deceived. First John 3:7 says, “The one who practices righteousness [for God] is [considered] righteous just as God is righteous.” God’s word said it, we believe it, and that settles it. You are righteous in God’s eyes when you practice righteousness to please Him each day. What about those who will not overcome by practicing righteousness daily for God? They remain of the devil, according to God’s word, which cannot lie (1 John 3:10; Heb. 6:18). Jesus overcame the world. He was tested in all things and Satan could not find any fault in Him (John 14:30; 16:33). We, too, are to overcome the evil pulls of the flesh and put them to death with the help of God’s Spirit (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:16). If we don’t or won’t obey Jesus Christ, we won’t be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2). God gives His Spirit only to those who will obey Him (Acts 5:32). ℹ️We must live as Jesus Christ gave us example to live, and overcome our evil natures by keeping His works. We must endure to the end keeping them, if we are to be covered by His blood (John 14:12; Rev. 2:26; 3:21; 21:7). The only exception for anyone is a situation similar to that of the thief who was dying on a cross. Otherwise, there is no excuse for refusing to overcome. The word perfect, in the Bible, means spiritually mature. See the margin note in Philippians 3:15. Mature followers of Jesus Christ no longer practice sin in their lives, but only practice righteousness toward God for His glory. They do all the good that they do in the name of Jesus Christ as they have been commanded in Colossians 3:17. They do not hold out on God in certain areas of their lives, but are wholeheartedly devoted to pleasing God. They are perfect in attitude, perfect in gratitude. They have developed honest and good hearts, if they didn’t have them to begin with (Luke 8:15). They have been made complete (2 Cor. 13:9, 11). They have rested from all their works of the flesh and have entered the kingdom of God within, which is God’s rest (Heb. 4:10; Luke 17:21). Yes, practice does make perfect and idleness is the devil’s hand tool. That fact has been explained, and proven in great detail, in this study. If you want to be perfect, then you had better start to practice the faith of Jesus Christ, because there is only one faith (Eph. 4:5). God bless you in your walk with God. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Imitate God: A Woman to Woman Article We are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26). He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how we should live. Yes, we are to walk like God walks and talk like God talks in order to be healthy and happy (Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 4:11). Paul wrote this to the Ephesians: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:1-2). What an awesome thing Christ did. He gave His life as a sacrifice for us, so that when we live to please Him every day, this is our sacrifice of righteousness for Him. As a result, our sins are forgiven (Heb. 13:16). We are admonished in Ephesians 5:8 to “walk as children of light.” What does this mean? The answer is in the next two verses. Ephesians 5:9-10 say: “For the fruit of the light consists of all goodness and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” To learn what pleases the Lord is very important. It consists of studying the Scriptures daily by subject (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Ephesians 5:15 says: “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men [or women], but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Are we doing our best for God with each and every hour that passes? Are we performing acts of kindness and love and saying good words continually to glorify God in thought and in deed? Ephesians 5:17 tells us not to be foolish, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. Good words and kind deeds are His Will, and we are to do them in Jesus Christ’s name for God’s glory (Col. 3:17). We want to do all we do with the right attitude. See Ephesians 5:18-20: “...Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” It pleases God to do all we do in word and deed with an attitude of thankfulness and a happy heart. God is telling us to put on the new self with all these Scriptures. We are laying aside the old self and truly overcoming evil when we are doing good, which is putting on the new self in the likeness of God (Eph. 4:22, 24; Psalm 37:27). Let us sing a happy song, Let’s be thankful all day long. Making music in our heart, Gives each day a brand new start. It’s a song of thankfulness, It’s the Way of righteousness. Live to please the Lord above, Walking in His Ways of love. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

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wholewheatonline.com Search Understanding Human Nature What is human nature? It is sneaky, indifferent, evil, underhanded, untrustworthy, double-minded, unstable, destructive, degenerative, unreasoning, uncooperative, competitive, vile and evil in every way. It looks for what is wrong rather than what is right (Jer. 6:16). It sees the negative and hates the positive. It is dark because it is evil and hates the light, which is goodness. The Bible goes on and on, making list upon list about human nature and the deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21; Mark 7:21-23; Eph. 5:5; Jude 15-16; 2 Tim. 3:2-4; Rom. 1:29-32; Mal. 3:5). Human nature is evil and contains no good thing. Even the good we do in the flesh, is like filthy rags to God (Is. 64:6). The good we do in the flesh puffs us up, makes us haughty and arrogant, and makes us feel that we don’t need repentance. All the good we do in the flesh is done for self-interest, or for gaining advantage in one way or another. The good we do in the Spirit, however, is the complete opposite. When we overcome our evil natures by doing good works for God on a daily basis, and heed God’s warnings to do what we do in secret and not blow our horns, we begin to feel our old evil natures die (Matt. 6:1; 5:16, 20). We starve out the evil by just doing good for God with our bodies, our minds and our mouths. We force our bodies to do what is right with the power from the Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). God never made a nature He couldn’t crush, but He does need your cooperation, participation and effort to form Christ’s new nature in you (Psalm 50:22-23). He wants you to practice righteousness for Him daily. He wants you to put your hand to the plow and not turn back, or stop, until that nature is put to death. Then, God has had a chance to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you in His love (Luke 9:62; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 John 4:18).❑ PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

wholewheatonline.com Search Enduring With Patience What does suffering have to do with living God's holy Way of life? Isn't life a bed of roses once a person puts his hand to the plow and decides to practice God's Will in his daily life? But wait! What about the Scripture that says anyone desiring to live in a godly way will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12)? We know those who do wrong suffer (2 Peter 2:13). But is there suffering for those who are doing what is right (1 Peter 2:20-21; 3:17)? First Peter 3:17 says, "It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." Yes, God allows us to go through suffering for a very distinct purpose. God has opened our eyes to repentance by good works (Acts 26:20, New International Version). He has shown us how to live each day, letting our lights shine for Him (Matt. 5:16). We're going through the growth process. We are learning every day how to be more like our Father who created us to do good works (Eph. 2:10; 5:10). As we learn, we go through tests and trials. Through these tests and trials, we learn all of God's Ways. The nature that we were all born with needs to die. Our hearts are desperately sick, beyond all understanding (Jer. 17:9). We see that clearly as we go through tests, just as the Apostle Paul did (Rom. 7:18). When we learn to patiently endure suffering, our evil nature will die. God will form Christ's nature in us (Gal. 4:19). Tests and trials will decrease, and when they do come, we will know to be positive and endure, to study the Bible for encouragement and wisdom, and to pray to God and trust in Him to help us through our tests (1 Peter 5:7). We are trained through these tests and this training yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11). Suffering makes us grow. It is not something to grumble about, for it is what actually kills the evil inside our bodies (1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-16; Rom. 16:19-20). This is why true disciples of Jesus Christ persevered in doing good works for God. They were seeking for glory and honor and immortality (Rom. 2:7). How many who profess Jesus as their Savior are doing that today? We must overcome the evil pulls of our flesh by keeping Jesus Christ's works, which He came to show us, and we must endure to the end, keeping these works. By doing so, we will be fit to rule with Jesus Christ and teach the nations of this world the true way to peace-Jesus Christ's Ways (Is. 2:3; Rev. 2:26-27; Matt. 25:14-30). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

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