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Understanding Revelation 20 Sermon 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 Clean and Unclean God’s word reveals to man how to live, how to think and what he should do to be pleasing to God. He also revealed to man those things which He created to be edible for man (Lev. 11:46-47). These laws were established from the very beginning of the creation of man (Gen. 6:21; 7:8; 8:20). A list of clean and unclean animals can be found in Leviticus 11. God created certain animals for food. He knows what foods are healthful. Still, people object to God telling us what to do. Some say followers of Jesus Christ are free to eat anything; others do not. Let’s examine some Scriptures used to justify the eating of unclean foods and see what God says. The first mention of clean and unclean meats occurs well before Abraham received the old covenant. Hundreds of years earlier, Noah was commanded to take seven pairs of every clean animal onto the ark, but only two of every unclean animal (Gen. 7:2). Why? Certainly, God provided some of the clean animals for Noah to eat while on the ark. Since Noah would not be eating the unclean animals, only two would be required of each type. We can see then, the laws of clean and unclean foods existed before the Mosaic Law. Mark 7:19 is used to justify the consumption of unclean foods by some. In Mark 7, Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples that true worship of God is obeying God from the heart and not keeping useless religious traditions (James 1:27; Heb. 13:16; Is. 1:11-20). Jesus was telling the disciples that the inward, evil heart causes sin, not the eating of food. A Translator’s Handbook on the Gospel of Mark (by Robert G. Bratcher and Eugene A. Nida, United Bible Societies, 1961), notes that the phrase, “Thus He declared all foods clean,” is an addition to the Mark 7 text. The King James Version, which predates all new translations of the Bible, does not have this clause in Mark 7:19. It is a clause added by man (which is why it is italicized), in later versions to perpetuate man-made doctrine and does not agree with the rest of God’s word. Two Greek words are often translated as “unclean.” The first is “akathartos” which means unclean, impure. Akathartos is often used to describe unclean demons or spirits. The Bible verses that use the word akathartos are: Matthew 10:1; 12:43; Mark 1:23, 26-27; 3:11, 30; 5:2, 8, 13; 6:7; 7:25; 9:25; Luke 4:33, 36; 6:18; 8:29; 9:42; 11:24; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 10:14, 28; 11:8; 1 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 16:13; and 18:2. The other Greek word is “koinos.” This word means common, common property, impure, unclean, unholy. Bible verses in which koinos appears include: Mark 7:2; Acts 2:44; 4:32; 10:14, 28; 11:8; Romans 14:14; Titus 1:4; Hebrews 10:29; and Jude 3. Romans 14:14 says nothing is unclean in itself. In this verse, unclean means common or religiously defiled (koinos). Paul devotes all of Romans chapter 14 to one theme: Do not offend a brother or sister who is new in the faith. He points out that sacrificing meat to an idol does not make that meat defiled, but it is defiled or unclean to a person who is trying to come out of pagan beliefs. While reading Scripture, people commonly confuse the two definitions of unclean. In Acts 10:14, Peter said, “I have never eaten anything unholy (Greek: koinos) and unclean (Greek: akathartos).” Here unclean (akathartos) refers to the eating of unhealthful foods. Unholy (koinos) means here that Peter did not eat food that was religiously defiled or meat that had been sacrificed to pagan idols. Peter, who was taught by Jesus Christ, did not eat either religiously defiled or unclean food. What most people think refers to unclean meats does not, but instead refers to ceremonial uncleanness. The word which would include unclean meats (unclean because the meat is unhealthful) is ‘akathartos’. The bottom line on clean and unclean food comes from the Apostle Peter. In Acts 10:14, Peter (who was trained by the Lord for three years) states emphatically, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean.” The Apostle Peter was shown a vision of unclean animals and he heard a voice come to him which said, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat” (Acts 10:13). It was a shock to Peter, for he knew it was not pleasing to God. He knew it was an abomination to eat things that God said are unclean (Lev. 11:46-47). This is why Peter was greatly perplexed as to what this vision should mean. He knew God was not making void His law of clean and unclean. After all, it was made for the nation of Israel because God was concerned for the health of His people. Finally, God revealed to Peter that he should no longer consider the Gentiles unclean, as God was opening the door of salvation to them (Acts 10:28). The vision did not even concern food. However, many people who do not know, and understand, God’s word still use Acts 10 to condone the eating of unclean foods when it had nothing to do with food. Is there a specific command in the New Testament that tells followers of Jesus Christ not to touch unclean (akathartos) things? Look what God says in 2 Corinthians 6:17. The “unclean” referred to there is not a man-made religious tradition, but it is unclean because God says it is unclean. God says that certain foods are unclean (akathartos), and that demons are also unclean (akathartos). Colossians 2:16 tells us to let no one judge us in regard to food or drink. This verse does not tell us we are free to eat everything, but instead tells us to let no one judge us. Some religions say you cannot eat meat on certain days. Some say disciples of Jesus Christ should not dance or drink alcoholic beverages. Others say people should eat fish on Friday. Paul is telling us here that true religion is obeying God from the heart, not following man-made religious traditions (Colossians 2:11; 3:5-17). First Timothy 4:1-5 warns Christians against following doctrines of demons. Paul warns of persons who abstain from eating foods that God created for human consumption. Did God create everything for consumption? No. (See Leviticus 11, Genesis 7:2, and Isaiah 66:17—which is referring to the near future). Would we be free to eat poison ivy or toadstool mushrooms? Certainly we would suffer the consequences of eating these poisonous foods! If you look to the Companion Bible, you will see the notation for Leviticus 11:4 states; not eat. These laws are not arbitrary. Food plays a chief part in health and sickness. It is our wisdom to obey these laws now, as far as possible. All are based on the preservation and health of the race. Some for sanitary reasons. First Timothy 4:3 describes certain doctrines held by various churches. First Timothy 4:5 and 1 Corinthians 10:27 give the follower of Jesus Christ instruction on what to do when eating a meal prepared by an unbeliever. Remember, love is the greatest of all attributes (1 Cor. 13:13). For example, if someone sets before you a pork roast and they do not know any better, it would be showing love to eat it, so as not to offend your neighbor. God says it will be sanctified or cleansed with prayer in order to show love to an unbeliever (Luke 10:8; 1 Cor. 10:27, 31-32; Rom.14:17). In the same way, there is a balance and wisdom we should use in our day-to-day life as well, meaning, we should abide by God’s food laws as much as possible and pray over all of our food to cleanse it, believing it is clean, being we may not know every little thing that is in it, nor is it always absolutely necessary to, being your food is sanctified through God in prayer (1 Tim. 4:4; Matt. 21:22). In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 it says; Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. We need to use godly wisdom when in public places that serve food and be considerate of others (1 Corinthians 10:25). We do our best and God does the rest (Jere. 17:10). However, you would be forcing a test on God if you purposely went to the market and bought a pork roast, because you would be preparing and eating food that you know God never made to be eaten (Matt. 4:7). This would be rebellion (1 Sam. 15:22-23). Jesus Christ does not change, Hebrews 13:8 says. The law will not be abolished until all is accomplished, says Matthew 5:17-19. We are to keep the law now in the spirit of love. Remember the prophecy in 2 Corinthians 6:17 where the Lord says, “Do not touch what is unclean and I will come to you.” God’s word is true and consistent. In the near future, God is coming to execute judgment by fire and those slain by the Lord will be many. Isaiah 66:15-17—For behold, the Lord will come in fire and His chariots like the whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For the Lord will execute judgment by fire and by His sword on all flesh, and those slain by the Lord will be many. “Those who eat swine’s flesh, detestable things, and mice, shall come to an end altogether,” declares the Lord. Consider this prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled. God does not lie nor does He change (Mal. 3:6). The wrath of God abides on those who refuse to obey God, but those who obey the Son of God shall receive eternal life (John 3:36). God knows what’s best for us, for He created us out of His love. 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wholewheatonline.com Search How to Obey Jesus Christ It sounds ridiculous, but millions of professing Christians do not know how to obey Jesus Christ. Many believe that being a good person means going to church and being faithful to your tithes, and that this is how to obey Christ. Is this true, or is obedience to Christ something entirely different? First Peter 1:2 says that we must obey Jesus Christ to have our sins forgiven and be sprinkled with His blood. So, we see that obedience precedes forgiveness. How, then, do you obey Christ? You obey Christ by keeping His words (John 8:51). You live the life that He came to show you how to live. If you say you believe in Jesus Christ, then you must obey Him and do what He says (Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:24). The very definition of believe means “obey.” The word of God says that Jesus overcame evil (Rev. 3:21). We do this now by keeping Christ’s works by living to please Him in all respects (Rev. 2:26; Col. 1:10). Obeying Christ, then, is doing what is right daily in His sight and being pleasing to Him in everything we do. Jesus explained to His disciples everything that was pleasing to the Father in heaven. That is why we are to keep Jesus’ words and sayings. They represent how God the Father lives in heaven. God’s Ways represent God’s works, and these are the works that Jesus did when He was on this earth. This is how Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33). Remember, Jesus was tempted by Satan, but He overcame worldliness by keeping the Father’s works or Ways. The Father’s works are all righteous, says God’s word in Psalm 145:17. We are to overcome evil also, like Jesus did, by keeping His works and endure keeping them so we can reign with Him when He returns (Rev. 2:26; John 14:12). Jesus’ works, then, are what we are to do daily to please the Father in heaven. This is how the Father in heaven is glorified. This is how the Father in heaven is worshiped, which is the definition of “glorify” in Matthew 5:16. This is our new spiritual service of worship—using our bodies as instruments of righteousness to God (Rom. 12:1; 6:13). This is how to do God’s Will on earth as it is being done in heaven by God (Matt. 6:10). Being wholly-committed to God, then, is being zealous for good works for God as Jesus was. He is our example of perfect righteousness. No wonder God’s word says: “And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good [for doing good]?” (1 Peter 3:13). Jesus was zealous for good works and so were His apostles and all of Jesus’ true disciples, including Dorcas. She was continually doing deeds of kindness and charity (Acts 9:36). This is what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to live the life of Christ in our bodies each day as we walk His holy, precious, righteous Way. All of this is done when we practice righteousness towards others continually. Jesus warned His followers to only live to do good with the right attitude by practicing righteousness. He told them not to do good to be noticed by others, but rather, to do good in secret to be noticed by God (Matt. 6:1; Eph. 6:6-7). So, obedience to the Lord is putting His words and His sayings into action in our daily life. This is how we worship God in heaven today. This is how we become a doer of God’s word (James 1:22). We do the practicing; God does the perfecting and causes the spiritual growth in us (1 Cor. 3:7). We are then taught by God to love one another from the heart—as He commanded us to do from the beginning (1 Thess. 4:9). This is the truth: •that will set you free from your old nature and your old ways that are not pleasing to God; •on how to live a spiritual life before God each day; •on how to keep God’s Ways; •on how to do God’s Will on earth as it is being done in heaven by God daily; •on how to obey Jesus Christ; The truth must be practiced if one is to understand God’s word (John 3:21)! Obeying Jesus Christ is the truth! 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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I Am God of Peace VO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Is There Only One Way? Is There Any Future For Me? How Do We Seek Peace & Pursue it? Finding Peace in This World Newsletter PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search Believe it or Not If you have been given ears to hear, and if you are being called of God, if you are being drawn by God’s Spirit, then there is indeed good news for you (Matt. 13:14-17; Acts 2:47; John 6:44, 65-66). Believe it or not, Jesus Christ came to bless you, by showing you how to turn from your wicked ways (Acts 3:26). The only reason you weren't living a blessed life before is your sins were withholding God’s blessings from you (Jer. 5:25). Jesus wants to make a change for the good in your life. He wants you to live the rest of your life to please Him and no longer do what is pleasing to yourself. He says if you will do this, He will bless you, answer your prayers, heal your sicknesses, forgive all your sins—even the sins of your father and grandfathers the sins you are paying for that go three or four generations back (Ex. 20:5; Num. 14:18). What a deal, and that’s not all. There is more. God will give you eternal life. He will resurrect you from the grave, should you die while living the good life, which is the God life. Yes, if you will but begin to imitate the Lord in your life and use His Spirit that He will give to you freely to live this wonderful life-changing Way, you’re on your way (Acts 5:32). God has even made a provision, when necessary, in the last days to bypass the need for a person to lay hands on you for His Spirit. All you need do is ask Him to give it to you (Luke 11:13). In regard to baptism, you can have a good friend baptize you by fully submersing you in a swimming pool, hot tub, lake, etc. (Matt. 28:19). God’s Spirit is a Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). All these qualities can be summed up in the word charity (Luke 11:41). This is what the Lord wants you to practice towards others until He has a chance to form His new nature in you (Gal. 4:19). The Lord wants you to learn to be a servant of others so that you can rule with Him in a few short years and teach the nations of this earth righteousness (Rev. 2:26-27; Is. 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3). The Lord wants you to learn to be a servant of others, so that you can be an example to society and perhaps lead others to His Ways by doing so (Titus 2:7). But first we must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness daily (1 Tim. 4:7; 6:3; Titus 1:1) so that we might be found worthy to help God in the end (Rev. 19:14-15). If we are being called to be a kingdom of priests to reign on this earth, what are we waiting for (Rev. 5:10)? It is time to learn how to serve others and learn righteousness by doing so (Is. 1:16-20; Rom. 15:2-3; Matt. 20:26-28; Mark 9:35). This is how we will abide forever (Psalm 37:27; 1 Peter 3:10-11; Rom. 12:21; Rev. 2:26). What are you waiting for? Begin a life in service to God by: • Studying God’s word each and every day (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15). • Learning to apply it in every way. • Praying for your needs and the needs of others (1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:2; James 5:16). Then, keep pleasing the Lord and He will answer your prayers (1 John 3:22; John 9:31; 8:51). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

RIGHTEOUSNESS VO Learn how righteousness is true repentance in this podcast His Righteousness PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search A Loving Father Any father who loves his sons or daughters will teach them how to respect and obey him. He will teach them not to lie or steal or swear. He will teach them how to control their tempers and how to share what they have with others. He will teach them good manners and how to practice moderation in all things. He will teach them to be thankful for what they have and how to take care of those things. A loving father will teach his children to respect the elderly, the lame and the blind, and how to serve them in love and respect whenever possible (Job 29:12-16). He will teach them not to think that they are better than others, but to help others in need (Matt. 25:33-40; Luke 14:13). He will teach them to live a good life by doing good and to live a pure life with a pure heart, always doing God’s Will (Psalm 125:4; 103:21; 106:3; James 2:14-26). Children, if brought up correctly, should live their lives to please their fathers. They will never bring reproach or disrespect on their parents as long as they live (Eph. 6:1-3). Our heavenly Father wants the same respect and honor from us (Mal. 1:6). He wants adults to practice these same godly principles. He wants us to repent from a life of doing wrong and sin, and come into a life of doing right by practicing righteousness (1 John 3:7, 10). This is what is expected of those who repent. This is how to repent! This is the repentant life a true disciple of Jesus Christ lives daily, glorifying God with good works (Matt. 5:16). This is the Way of righteousness that Jesus came to show us (Matt. 21:32; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Acts 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4). The Bible asks, "Those who teach others not to steal, do you steal?" We cannot teach our children to be decent unless we become decent adults first. We need to clean up our lives first by making up our minds not to practice things that do not please our heavenly Father. Then begin to diligently teach these godly principles to our children (Luke 1:17). God wishes to be worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1). He expects us to practice the truth taught in His word in our daily lives (John 8:51; 3:21; James 1:22). In the near future, the Lord is going to punish the inhabitants of this earth with horrible chastisement (Jude 14-16; Is. 24:3-6). Now is the time to prepare so you will be ready to meet the Lord when He comes (Luke 1:17). Remember, without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14, King James Version). Will you repent by living the rest of your life to please your heavenly Father in Christ’s name (Col. 3:17)? Will you repent by engaging in a life of continually doing good, as Christ gave you example to do (Titus 3:8)? If you do, the blood of Jesus Christ will be applied to you, and your sins - past, present and future - will not be held against you (1 John 1:6-7, 9; 1 Peter 1:2). This is the truth. 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 The Message of the Apostles The apostles told people to repent as soon as they heard the true message of the kingdom of God, so they would not harden their hearts (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Heb. 3:7-8). What is this kingdom of God the apostles were telling people to enter? This kingdom of God is within your heart (Luke 17:21, KJV). God will give you a brand new heart so that you will want to obey Him, but you must be willing to change and allow Him to change you (Heb. 8:10). You must maintain a child-like attitude to enter this kingdom (Matt. 18:3). You must have a "yes, Father, Your Will be done and not mine" attitude (Matt. 6:10). Instead of continuing to practice lawlessness, which simply means living the way that seems right to you, you agree to practice righteousness for God (Rom. 6:19; Prov. 14:12; 1 John 3:4, 7, 10). You agree to use the members of your body as instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:13, 18-19). Jesus died for your sins that you might live to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). You live to righteousness by practicing righteousness, with the help of His Spirit, which He gives only to those who obey Him daily (1 John 2:29; Acts 5:32). You keep His sayings and do what He has commanded (Matt. 7:24; Luke 8:21; 11:28; John 8:51; 15:14). You glorify God by doing good works, which is your spiritual service of worship and what you were created in Christ Jesus to do (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 2:10). Satan, who is the enemy of all righteousness, hates those who practice righteousness for God (Acts 13:10). Satan is against good works done for God's glory because he knows this is how his nature in you is crushed by God (Matt. 5:16; Rom. 16:20). God's Will is righteousness (Heb. 13:21). Once you know the Will of God, you know the Way into the kingdom, which is true conversion (Matt. 7:21). You must be zealous and persevere as you overcome evil by doing good deeds for God (1 Peter 3:13; Luke 21:19; Rom. 12:21). You will be doing Jesus Christ's deeds as you strive to enter the narrow Way leading to the kingdom of God, which very few find (Rev. 2:26; Luke 13:24; 16:16; Matt. 7:14). God's Ways are all good and you are to walk in them daily. Imitate the Way God lives and talks (Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 4:11). Study God's word every day to find those things you can think, do and say to be pleasing in God's sight. The Lord will take notice and answer your prayers because you are living to please Him (1 John 3:22; John 9:31). Once you start, you must endure (Heb. 10:36). Don't look back, but fight the good fight of faith (Luke 17:31-32; 9:62; 1 Tim. 6:12). It's easy (Matt. 11:30)! It's worth it! It is the very purpose of this life (Acts 5:20). 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 The Law and the Prophets "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 7:12). The Law was the Ten Commandments, the statutes and the judgments. It did not include the sacrifices, which were added later (Jer. 7:22). The Ten Commandments and the statutes and judgments are like the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution forms the basis for all our statutes, laws and judgments, which then clarify and expound upon the Constitution. Now, if a person keeps the laws of the land begrudgingly, he is not as good a citizen as one who keeps them with a good attitude, an attitude of service to his country. If a person is loyal to his country and practices doing what is right, by obeying the laws with a right attitude from the heart, he will be in favor with God and man, as long as those laws are not contrary to God’s Ways. All governments exist only by the consent of God, and the leaders of the government are servants of God, whether they know it or not (Rom. 13:1-7). "The Law and the Prophets," then, is the method by which we are to keep the law - by practicing righteousness for God. We are to walk in the Law and put it into daily practice in our lives (Luke 8:21; 1 John 2:6, 29; 3:7; 2 John 4, 6). We are to continually practice living as God lives (Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 4:11). This is what it means to do God’s Will on earth as it is done in heaven (Matt. 6:10). Why are so many blind to this truth (2 Cor. 4:3-4)? Find out for yourself what the message of the prophets was. Read Isaiah 1:16-20; Jeremiah 4:22; 5:1; 9:23-24; 22:15-16; Ezekiel 33:13-16; Zephaniah 2:3; and Zechariah 7:9-10. The prophets were stoned for telling the people how to walk righteously before God and keep His Ways. They were stoned because they told the people to practice righteousness one to another daily and be honest in all their dealings. They told people to glorify the God of heaven and earth in the way He wants to be glorified and worshiped - by doing good works daily for God (Matt. 5:16). This was the message of the Law and the Prophets. 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 The Resistance Factor Jesus Christ couldn’t have been our Savior if He hadn’t resisted Satan’s temptations. Jesus was tempted in all things, but He resisted all temptations. Many people are unaware that godliness comes from resisting evil daily. Our natures put up resistance to everything we attempt to do for God. How many people resist their evil natures and discipline themselves to study God’s word on a regular basis? The central message of the Bible is how to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (Titus 1:1). The apostle Paul told Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). Paul said if any minister does not preach about the doctrine that conforms one to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing (1 Tim. 6:3-4). The benefits of bodily discipline, such as weight lifting and running, are temporary, but godliness is profitable for all because it holds a promise for this life as well as the life to come (1 Tim. 4:8). You discipline yourself spiritually by resisting evil thoughts, avoiding evil or dirty movies or television, dirty magazines, etc. You resist foul language, swearing, and using God’s name in vain (Psalm 34:13-14; 139:20). When you resist evil, or the devil, he will flee from you. Satan goes around seeking those he can devour by tempting them not to read their Bibles (1 Peter 5:8-9). He tempts you not to pray to God. He can make more excuses for you than you can imagine. Why can’t you do what you know you should do? Humans constantly give in to Satan instead of resisting him for the glory of God! Most Christians are unaware that the resistance inside them is Satan himself—our adversary—our resistor. Many Christians are unaware that the overcoming process is resistance to all evil. It is doing what they know they should do, even though they are tempted not to do it. In the Bible, Satan is compared to a snake. The more you resist him, forcing yourself to do what is right and pleasing to God, the weaker the snake or pull of Satan becomes. Eventually, if you continue to resist evil, and overcome daily by doing good, Jesus Christ will crush Satan’s hold on you (Rom. 12:21; 16:20). The easiest way to force yourself past the point of the resistance of your evil nature, is to set your mind. Are you going all the way, or not? Settle it within yourself. Whatever you set your hand to do, do it with all your might. Any job worth doing is worth doing right. It’s all in making up your mind. Once you make up your mind, you can quit smoking, lose weight, stop swearing and stop lusting. With God on your side supplying the strength, nothing will be impossible to you. So, continue to force yourself to study your Bible every day. Force yourself to continually pray for others. Force yourself to do all the things you know you should do to please God, and you will be victorious. You will overcome if you continue to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Remember to resist. Resist! Resist! You must persist. Persist in doing good! By forcing yourself in this manner, you are entering the kingdom by force (Luke 16:16). 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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THE BODY The resources below correspond, in order, with the video to give further Scriptures and encouragement: How to do God’s Will With Your Body How to Glorify God DAILY GRAIN: Leaning on God’s Wisdom Not Mans How to Be a Beautiful Person Overindulgence What is Worldy is Not Godly Mirror Mirror on the Wall The Biblical Definition of Idolatry The Resistance Factor Public Enemy #1 What Happens if I Sin? How to do God’s Will With Your Mind How to do God’s Will With Your Mouth Who Are the Stumbling Blocks? Can We Be Perfect? Be Fully Commited Podcast Information on Righteousness Be Like Jesus Christ Be Wholehearted A New Creation An Honest and Good Heart Understanding Human Nature Satan’s Number One Weapon I feel bad Guilt My Rock and Strength Prayer for Help The Bible is... Why Should I Pray? Promise of Wisdom Learning How to Overcome Evil Prayer of God’s Servant Spiritual Boost Camp 10 Simple Ways to Start Living For God Today The Purpose of Life *This information is not meant to be medical advice but spiritual encouragement based on God’s word. PREV NEXT

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Psalms 90-91 PREV NEXT

Forgiveness Learn more about forgiveness PREV NEXT

How to Live a Happy Life God’s word says that supreme happiness comes from being totally selfless. This is done by becoming a full-time servant of others. On the surface, this sounds like it is a supreme sacrifice on one’s part, but that notion couldn’t be further from the truth. Happiness comes from serving others, and teaching yourself to be totally outward is sheer health to your bones. If you don’t want the problems that others have, then help others who have those problems. This is a way of life that takes total commitment. But who wouldn’t totally commit themselves to being happy if they could be assured of the outcome? This assurance comes from the many changed lives of individuals who have started and finished before you. You can see by their lives that there has been a positive change for the good so, indeed, this is the truth. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 2:3-5 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 "And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:26 PREV NEXT Click below for full Bible Study: How to Live a Happy Life

God Most High & Awesome ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: God’s Message to Mankind Message of the Prophets Newsletter PREV NEXT

Giving Your Worries to the Lord When we worry, we are out of the Will of God because we lose the peace God admonishes us to seek and pursue. Since we must pursue peace continually, then it must be fleeting. The pursuit of peace is a discipline we must learn by continually putting our concerns into God’s hands, and having faith that He will prevail in all matters of justice. Our Creator is the God of justice. He has said He will fight our battles for us if we are living His Way of life by serving others. If God is for us when we put others first, then who can prevail against us? Worry impairs our health, our well-being and our daily outlook on life. Worry zaps the pleasure out of life and makes living a burden. Worry is a tool Satan uses to destroy our peace, which eventually will destroy our faith in God. Worry accomplishes nothing, but faith accomplishes everything. When we have worries, Jesus Christ wants us to come to Him with them. We have no need to be troubled. We are to cast all of our anxieties, troubles, cares and worries on Jesus Christ and let Him solve our problems. Jesus Christ truly cares for you. Do you believe that? He wants you to continually make peace, keep the peace, and to never lose your peace. As you live to please God every day by serving others, your worries disappear, and you can truly lead the blessed life! Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. Psalm 89:14 …but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles… 2 Chronicles 32:8 If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:31 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Matthew 17:20 PREV NEXT Click below for full Bible Study: Worry

God Who Sees & Is Near ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Understanding the Fear the Lord Understanding Repentance God Wants us to be Good Spiritually in Tune With God Be Zealous in All You Do PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search What Does Complete Mean? What does the Apostle Paul mean when He tells us to be "complete" (2 Cor. 10:6; 13:9, 11)? A person who is complete has perfect love coming from a pure heart and a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5, 19). He is constantly showing God’s love to others by his actions (1 John 4:20-21; 3:10, 17-18; Col. 3:17). An incomplete person lives in fear of doing wrong. He is constantly at odds with his nature (Rom. 7:15-16). He wants to do one thing, but God’s word says to do something else. A person who is not yet complete is in the process of realizing, like Paul, that nothing good dwells in him and that he must be set free from his evil nature (Rom. 7:18-19). As long as you are fighting the good fight, overcoming evil by doing good, and practicing righteousness in your daily life to please God, you are abiding in Jesus Christ (John 15:4, 8; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 4:15-16). You are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:4). Your body is alive to righteousness because you are daily putting to death the deeds of the body and living to the Spirit by practicing righteousness (Rom. 8:10, 13). Yes, there will be some suffering involved in this process, but it is only a little (Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Peter 5:10). When you are complete, you will walk in perfect love with no fear inside (1 John 4:18). God will have perfected your faith as a result of your works (James 2:22). Your life will radiate peace (1 Peter 3:11). Your mind will be at peace (Is. 26:3). Others will see the new nature – Christ’s nature - that has been formed in you, and you will be ready to tell others how it happened (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15). Your lips will reveal what is in your heart (Luke 6:45; Psalm 49:3). Because you now have this new nature, you will not hinder others. Instead, you will use this life-saving key of knowledge you have to help others to enter the kingdom of heaven (Luke 11:52). You understand how to force your way into the kingdom that is within you (Luke 16:16; 17:21). You are disciplining yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). You know this is the narrow Way that few find because it requires daily discipline on the part of those who are trying to enter it (Matt. 7:14; Luke 13:24; 1 Tim. 4:7). This Way is not hard, but easy and pleasant (Matt. 11:30). Anyone can live this Way (1 Cor. 1:26-28). Now that you know what it means to be made complete, isn’t it time to obey the Lord so that He can make you complete (Luke 6:46; 2 Cor. 13:9, 11)? Wholeheartedly strive to please the Lord and make all your ways pleasing to Him. Persevere in keeping God’s word by serving others to please Him. Remember always that only those who have an honest and good heart are being considered for eternal life (Luke 8:15; John 8:51; 10:26; Rev. 3:10). 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 Why Serve the Lord? Is the Almighty pleased if you are righteous? Is there any profit if you make your ways perfect? Psalm 37:27 says you will live forever. Zephaniah 2:3 says you may be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. Revelation 3:10 says that God will keep you from the hour of testing if you pray always that you may be found worthy to escape all the things that are about to come upon humanity in these last days (Luke 21:36, King James Version). Remember, we will win our souls through perseverance in doing good (Luke 21:19; Titus 2:7, 14). We must strive to live like Jesus Christ, our example of good works, who is the narrow door (Luke 13:24; John 10:9). Only the sheep enter that door (John 10:3; Luke 12:32). These true disciples serve others for Jesus Christ, as He has commanded (Matt. 25:33-40; 1 Cor. 10:24). Jesus Christ says, "You are My friends if you keep My words and do the Will of God" (John 8:51; 12:47-48; 1 John 2:17; Matt. 7:21). You must be willing to do God's Will to be Jesus Christ's brother (John 7:17; Matt. 12:50). This means you must hear Christ's sayings and do them daily (Luke 8:21; James 1:22, 25). You must act on them, observe them and keep them (Matt. 7:24; Luke 11:28; 1 Peter 4:2; Rom. 12:2). Don't be foolish or remain ignorant, but understand the Will of the Lord and do it, think it and speak it (Eph. 5:17). Then your prayers will be answered (John 15:7, 16; 16:23-24). When you show respect for God and do those things that are pleasing in His sight, nothing shall be impossible to you, including the healing of sicknesses (John 9:31; 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15; Matt. 21:22; 17:20; Luke 1:37; James 5:15-17, 20). You will have an abundant life, filled with joy and every good thing (John 10:10; 17:13). What does it profit to serve the Lord? Serving the Lord will result in answered prayers, the abundant life and having sicknesses healed, plus you will receive the free gift of eternal life, which could never be earned. If you are not presently serving the Lord by serving others in words and deeds for God's glory, you may say you are rich and in need of nothing, but you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Col. 3:17; Rev. 3:17). Be saved from this perverse, wicked and sinful generation and turn, every one of you, from your wicked ways (Acts 2:40; 3:26). Then God can bless you. Turn to the Lord by doing good daily for God (1 Peter 3:11). 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 Are You Passing Your Test? Everyone who is called of God at the end of this age will be salted with fire (Matt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 3:13; 1 Peter 1:7; Mark 9:49). What might some of these tests include? Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Matt. 10:34-36). This example would also include a husband against his wife. What is this test about? The Lord said those He would send with His message would be hated and misunderstood by the world (John 15:18-20; 1 John 3:13) because they preach the truth from God’s word. This test is about your loyalty to God and His servants who brings you God’s truth. Jesus said that He will receive the ones who accept or receive the person He sends with His true message (Matt. 10:40-42). You don’t have to receive that person as a prophet. You can just receive him as a righteous man (John 13:20). Notice that God continued to send other apostles, other prophets and other teachers as time went on (1 Cor. 12:28). Jesus said that He puts in charge those who should teach His household, and if they remain faithful until He comes, Jesus will put them in charge of all His possessions (Matt. 24:45-47). You are to obey these true men of God because they must give account of you before God (Heb. 13:17). How would you know for sure whether these men were from God? The blind would receive their sight. The deaf would hear. The lame would be healed. The dead would be brought back to life, the poor and lowly or teachable people, would have the true gospel preached to them (Luke 7:22). How would anyone know the real truth in this religiously deceived world unless someone were sent from God anyway (Rom. 10:15)? And how will you understand unless someone preaches to you that one truth (Rom. 10:14-16)? Yes, God is still sending apostles, prophets and preachers. That is His business, not the business of seminaries. Jesus Christ is still training and revealing His one truth to men whom He chooses, such as the Apostle Paul who Jesus taught personally through revelation (Gal. 1:11-12; Ex. 4:12; Psalm 32:8). There is only one truth that comes from one God, that is found in one book, the Bible. It is the only book that requires your repentance in order to believe (Mark 1:15). By only this book, will the world and all who live in it be judged (John 12:47-50). Just like Jesus was, those whom He sends will be spoken evil of (John 7:12). The person God sends would not be a lover of money as the false ministers are today (Luke 16:14; Titus 1:11). In regard to those who followed Jesus by being loyal to those He sent, He said that some would leave their homes, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters, children and farms for His sake. This would also include husbands and wives (1 Cor. 7:12-16). He said if they passed that test they would receive a hundred times as much in this lifetime, and in the world to come they would receive eternal life (Mark 10:30). He also said, however, that they would continue to be persecuted. God is going to test our loyalty to Him with the members of our own household. Another test that many will receive concerns wealth. When a person keeps God’s Ways and does His Will daily on this earth (lives to be pleasing to his Maker daily), God gives that person the power to make wealth (Deut. 8:17-18; Prov. 10:22). God makes the poor and the rich (1 Sam. 2:7). However, many are the problems of the rich. Some become wise in their own eyes (Prov. 28:11). God warns the rich not to boast of their riches (Jer. 9:23-25). Riches make it harder for a man to enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:23-24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). Why? The rich spend so much time with worldly things and worldly pursuits that they become lukewarm towards pleasing God, daily studying His word and serving others for Christ. Pleasing God is no longer first in their lives. They stop producing fruit on their trees, which means they stop building godly character (Matt. 13:22). It is the rich who become lukewarm for good deeds in Revelation 3:15-19. God is going to remove the lampstand of those who lose their first love for the truth because they are no longer loyal, and because they are not doing the good that they do with the same zeal and love they had at first (Rev. 2:5). God wants the rich to be rich in good works, and generous and ready to share (1 Tim. 6:17-18). Another test of loyalty would be that the Lord’s disciples are to be of one mind—one accord. They are commanded to love one another, serve one another, and cause no dissensions among each other. They are to be loving, giving, forgiving, and full of long-suffering (able to endure suffering). They are to practice all the fruits of God’s Spirit toward one another daily (Gal. 5:22-23). They are to practice being without spot or wrinkle towards each other (John 15:12-19; 1 John 3:10-11, 14; 4:7-8, 11-12, 20-21). If they have a spiritual problem, they are to discuss it with the one who told them the truth and thus be loyal to him and God. If you have God’s minister sent to you with the truth, you are to obey Him, says God’s word (Heb. 13:17). Most of all, they are to prove this message is the truth, and then be loyal to the one God has sent in their lives to preach this truth to them. Many are now being tested with the tests that have just been described. Many will fail. A few, however, will pass the test that God is testing them with. Will you pass your test? This article was written for you, in the hope that you do. 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 Water Baptism Is water baptism necessary to be saved? For example: A person comes to know and understand the truth. He begins living his life to please God. Shortly thereafter, enemies invade his country. Because of circumstances beyond his control, he is facing a firing squad. Is that person justified by God? How about elderly people who no more than come into the knowledge of the truth, and then pass away? What if there is no one around who could baptize you? It seems evident that God makes an exception in cases such as these. But what about the majority of us—those who are not the rare exceptional cases? Jesus said if anyone keeps His word, he shall never see death (John 8:51). Christ said those who have been taught about true repentance should be baptized (Matt. 28:19-20). He also says, anyone who hears His sayings and does not keep them, rejects Christ (John 12:47-48). It’s pretty hard to ignore these straight-forward statements. John the Baptist did not think it was necessary for Jesus Christ to be “water baptized.” John tried to prevent Him from being baptized. Jesus said that He was doing this to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was doing it so those who would follow Him would be baptized also (Matt. 3:13-15). Jesus, Himself, was having all who were coming to Him baptized in water (John 3:26; 4:1-2). In Mark 16:16 Jesus said, “He who has believed and is baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved [or disobeys God’s command to be baptized] shall be condemned.” After Christ was ascended to heaven, Peter went on to proclaim what Jesus had taught him: “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). So then, all who had received the true gospel were baptized (Acts 2:41-42) Notice in Acts 8:12, when the people heard the true gospel about the kingdom of God within, which Jesus also talked about (Luke 17:21), they were being baptized, men and women alike. There is even one time when Peter “ordered” people to be baptized (Acts 10:48). An angel sent Philip to baptize a person and a miracle happened at that baptism in which the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip up in the air and he found himself in another city (Acts 8:26-27, 39-40). Then there is the example of the jailer and his family who were baptized after learning God’s Ways (Acts 16:31-33). Paul also was baptized after he learned God’s Will (Acts 22:16). If water baptism is not necessary, we would not have such clear examples in our Bible to do so. Now study Romans 6:3-19. Here Paul explains what it means to be baptized. Baptism represents the beginning of your new life of righteousness. It shows God that you mean business about getting rid of your old way of life and learning to live as a servant of God by serving others. It becomes very clear what the Lord wants you to do. But remember, when you put your hand to the plow, which is doing good works daily for God’s glory, you cannot turn back again to your old life of sin (Matt. 5:16; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-27). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Scriptures of Peace Find more peace here. PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search What Was Paul's Message? The message the Apostle Paul gave would be the same message others gave about the saving of souls. His words would have started out the same as John the Baptist’s, Jesus Christ’s or the apostles’. "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 10:7) - right now! He was saying, if Jesus Christ has given you ears to hear the message, and eyes to see the truth, you should repent this instant (Matt. 13:13)! You must "turn around" or live another way. That’s what repent means (Matt. 13:15). He was explaining that when you keep Jesus Christ’s commands, He will heal your eyes and open your ears (2 Cor. 3:16). He will show Himself to you (John 14:21). It is utterly amazing how many people are trying to understand the Bible without obeying it (2 Tim. 3:7)! How many times did Jesus Christ tell us to keep His words (Matt. 5:19; 7:24; Luke 8:21), do His words (Luke 10:28,37; 11:28), keep His sayings (John 12:47; 8:51; 13:15), keep His works (John 14:12; Matt. 7:21), keep His commandments (John 15:10; 1 Cor. 7:19), and walk in His commandments (1 John 2:17; 2 John 6)? Today, people lie, steal and commit adultery. They love their friends and hate their enemies. They attend church, holding to a form of religion but not possessing the power that results from living a godly life (2 Tim. 3:1-7). They are continually learning about something but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). This truth they are seeking is the truth about desiring to live godly in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:12). It is the knowledge of how to repent, how to keep God’s Ways and how to do God’s Will daily on earth as it is done in heaven (Matt. 6:10). It is how to overcome and how to put to death the deeds of the flesh by living to the Spirit daily (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:16, 24). Paul overcame his fleshly nature by keeping the deeds of Christ (Rev. 2:26). His message of overcoming with Jesus Christ’s Spirit in us is seldom heard today. How many completed believers are there today who are zealous for good deeds or good works (Titus 2:14)? Jesus was glorifying the Father by good works (Matt. 5:16). He also said we will do greater works than He did because we will live longer than He lived (John 14:12). We are to leave this world a better place than when we came into it. We accomplish this by living like Jesus Christ and serving others in need. This was Paul’s message. 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 Spiritually in Tune With God Have you ever telephoned someone you had on your mind and discovered that person was also thinking of you just before the phone rang? How much more spiritually in tune is God to our every thought (Psalm 94:8-11; 125:4; 1 Cor. 3:20)? There is a way to become spiritually in tune with God, just as there is a way to become spiritually out of tune with God. When we live in sin, we are spiritually out of tune with God. We are in tune with Satan’s wavelengths and we are doing Satan’s will (2 Tim. 2:26). When we repent and come out of a life of sin by living a life of righteousness, we become in tune with the Father, who is righteous (Psalm 11:7; 145:17). All unrighteousness is lawlessness or sin (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 3:4; 5:17). This is why the one who repents is to imitate what is good by doing good (3 John 11). We are to imitate God daily instead of Satan (Eph. 5:1). We are to do good daily instead of evil. Instead of being slaves to unrighteousness, God wants us to repent and become slaves to righteousness (Rom. 6:13, 17-19). God’s Will is righteousness (Psalm 106:3). Satan’s will is lawlessness or unrighteousness. God is righteous and He wants us to imitate Him by practicing righteousness daily (Eph. 5:1). He wants us to glorify His name with good works (Matt. 5:16). Jesus laid out those works in the parable of the sheep and goats found in Matthew 25:33-46. Satan is an enemy of all righteousness and good works when they are done in secret for the glory of God (Matt. 6:1; Eph. 6:6). Why? Because that is how he is crushed in our natures and put under our feet by God (Rom. 16:20). Good works and righteous deeds are God’s Will. When we do good works daily on earth as they are done in heaven, we are in tune with God (Matt. 6:10). Now, all we need to do is stay in tune with God (Matt. 24:13). We will have Jesus’ nature formed in us (Gal. 4:19). We will overcome the evil in our lives by continually doing good toward others for God (Rom. 12:21; 1 Peter 3:10-11, 13). We will have our prayers answered because we are doing God’s Will and pleasing Him in all we do (1 John 3:22; John 8:29; 9:31). Not only that, because we are seeking first God’s kingdom by practicing righteousness for God, the Lord will give us all the things we need (Matt. 6:33; John 8:51). So, what are you waiting for? The Lord is waiting for you to become spiritually in tune with Him. 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 In League With the Stones of the Field When was the last time you saw a sparrow die of starvation (Matt. 6:26; 10:29)? Who feeds the lions and the ravens (Job 38:39-41)? Isn’t it their Creator? How would you like to have all your needs taken care of by your Creator and never have to worry about anything ever again? You can if you seek God’s kingdom first by practicing God’s righteous Ways in your life (Matt. 6:33). Birds and animals were created by God to conform to the Will of God and to perform accordingly. Because of this, all their needs are met. Man, on the other hand, was created in the image of God, with the potential of God but lacking God’s nature. God’s nature is God’s Will or God’s Ways. When you set your will to do something, you are accomplishing your own will or ways. God says His Ways are as far removed from ours as the east is from the west (Is. 55:8-9). Our ways are not God’s Ways, but by keeping God’s Ways, we can have Jesus Christ’s nature formed in us (Gal. 4:19). We must stamp out Satan’s will in our lives by resisting him daily and doing only God’s Will - which is righteousness - on this earth as it is done in heaven (Matt. 6:10). Jesus Christ did this and overcame, and we are to follow His example (Rev. 3:21). We stamp out Satan’s will in our lives by doing only God’s Will in our lives, and by glorifying God with good works done in Jesus Christ’s name (Rom. 10:2-3; Matt. 5:16; Col. 3:17). We continue to do our good in this way until our righteousness exceeds the pharisaical stage and as happy slaves of Jesus Christ, we do God’s Will from the heart (Eph. 6:6; Matt. 5:20; 25:33-46). Once this occurs, we are fulfilling God’s purpose for our existence and we are in league with the stones of the field (Job 5:23). Now, God will take care of all our needs and all things will be added to us (Matt. 6:33). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Are We Born Evil? PREV NEXT

My Rock & Strength ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Will You Be Able to Stand A Way of Escape - Place of Safety Scriptures A Stand Alone Faith Newsletter Promise of Strength PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search The Two Great Commandments Amplified Matt. 22:37 — Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” If those who call themselves believers knew how to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, they would be zealous for good works done in Jesus Christ’s name (Titus 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:8). Matt. 22:38 — “This is the first and great commandment." If this Scripture were understood, people would be living words of God. living by the words of God, living by every word of God, living like God, living for God and imitating God (Deut. 8:3; 1 Pet. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:11; Eph. 5:1). They would be serving others continually for the glory of God, being servants of the most and being doers of His word (James 1:22). Matt. 22:39 — “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Gal. 5:14 — For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. This Bible study will prove that serving God is serving others with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind (Deut. 11:13). 1 Cor. 13:13 — And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Charity means affection, compassion, mercy, love, benevolence, good will; It is also that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow man. Good will toward men or liberality to the poor consists of giving money to the poor, doing good for those in need, relieving people in distress, liberality in gifts and services to promote public service, and liberality in judging men and their actions (James 1:27). It includes thinking the best of people. The highest form of charity is charity toward the uncharitable (Luke 6:35). It includes any act of kindness toward another and being liberal in the judgment of others (James 5:9). 1 Cor. 13:5 (KJV) — Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. (NIV) — It [love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. A person who lives godly—lives for God—no longer seeks to please self or live a selfish life, but rather, now lives to please and serve others in any and all areas by living charitably (1 Pet. 4:2). A disciple of Jesus Christ is kind in all His deeds and in all his actions, and is continually serving others for the glory of God (Matt. 5:16). 1 Cor. 10:24 (KJV) — Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. (NIV) — Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. It pleases God when we become servants of the most by continually serving and doing our best to please others (Matt. 23:11). We are not to live sinful lives, living for our flesh and self, but we are to live only to do the Will of God, which is serving others and helping God by continually helping others in need, in Jesus Christ’s name (1 Pet. 4:2; Col. 3:17). Gal. 5:13 (NIV) — You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (KJV) — For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. We are free from religious suppression as was found under the law of Moses with its priests, temple worship, tithing, sacrifices, holy days and Sabbath day (Matt. 11:28 AMP). Is there any question that God’s love is shown by words and by deeds of kindness (1 John 3:17-18)? Gal. 5:14 — The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. Now the entire law of Moses has been replaced with the command to love others by putting them first before self (Rom. 7:6 AMP). Rev. 22:12 — “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." If you continue to do nothing for God each day, then every day that you live, you remain unrepentant, unrewarded, unreconciled, unsaved and you continue to be under the wrath of God because of disobedience (John 3:36; Luke 6:46). 1 Tim. 5:10 (NIV) — And [the godly woman] is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. (KJV) — Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. A woman of God is well known for her good deeds toward others, she will bring up obedient, submissive and courteous children, and she is continually showing hospitality to others and sharing her home with others who need a place to stay (Proverbs 31:10-31). Acts 10:1-2 (KJV) — There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. (NIV) — At Cæsarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Cornelius showed God continual respect by giving generously to those in need, personally; and his whole family was following his example. They prayed for others all the time; therefore, their requests were heard by God. Acts 10:34-35 (KJV) — Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (NIV) — Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Any person who will continually live a charitable life, continually doing good for God by serving others, and learn righteousness by practicing righteousness and continually doing good toward others, will be accepted by God (Acts 10:35). Fearing God is showing God respect daily by keeping, doing and performing God’s Ways in all that we do (Deut. 8:6). Anything that is right is worth doing for God (Col. 1:10). 2 Chron. 6:14 (NIV) — He said: “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your Way.” (KJV) — And said, “O Lord God of Israel, there is no god like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and showest mercy unto Thy servants, that walk before Thee with all their hearts.” When you keep God’s Ways with all your heart, that is when your light shines before others and they can see your good works (Matt. 5:16; 6:1). Keeping God’s Way is easy and pleasant, and it allows God to crush Satan and put Him under your heel (Matt. 11:30; Rom. 16:20). 2 Chron. 15:7 (NIV) — But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. (KJV) — Be ye strong, therefore, and let not your hands, be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. Yes, a disciple of Jesus Christ has works and they are all good. They persevere in doing good because they seek to be glorified and honored and given salvation and eternal life (Rom. 2:7). When you are strong in good works and do not slack off in doing your good works, you will receive your reward from God. That reward is having Christ’s nature formed in you, which results in you becoming a new creature (Gal. 4:19; 6:9; 15). Rom. 2:6 — Who [God] will give to each person according to what he has done. If this Scripture means what it says, many people will receive absolutely nothing from the Lord. Rom. 2:7 — To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. It would be glorious if everyone who claimed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ would fulfill this Scripture daily. Rom. 2:8 — But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Those who continue to ignore God daily and live their lives for self will receive wrath and anger (Ezek. 7:8; Mic. 5:15). Those who will not practice the truth daily will remain of the devil (1 John 3:10). Remember you cannot reject the truth unless you know it and refuse to do it. Rejecting the truth is denying the Lord by being worthless for good deeds (Titus 1:16). Those who reject the truth are those who continue living detestable and disobedient lives before God. God will give them a strong delusion so they will follow the beast who is shortly to come (2 Thess. 2:10-12). Rom. 2:9 — There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Trouble and distress is the way of the unconverted, the wicked and those who remain under a constant curse from God. Rom. 2:10 — But glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile Notice, peace comes from doing good for God. Glory, honor and eternal life come to those who live in the Way of righteousness, which is a new and living Way (Matt. 21:32; Heb. 10:20). Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18). This Way of life causes no small disturbance (Acts 19:23). You enter the kingdom within by forcing yourself to do what is right and pleasing in God’s sight daily (Luke 17:21; 16:16). Practicing righteousness until we do the Father’s Will from our heart is how we achieve this Way of life (Matt. 5:20; 6:1; Eph. 6:6). Matt. 16:27 — “For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done.” If you have done nothing for God yesterday or today, and you do not plan to do anything for Him tomorrow, you are deluded if you think you are saved (James 1:22). To live is to serve others (Matt. 20:28). Eph. 6:6 (NIV) — Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the Will of God from your heart. (KJV) — Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart. If you are doing good for reasons of repentance, to please God and not men, and you are doing your good in Jesus’ name for the glory of the Father and to overcome evil, then righteousness will eventually come from your heart, because God causes the growth (1 Cor. 3:7). God’s Will is righteousness; and He loves those who practice righteousness and practice honesty at all times (Psalm 11:7; 106:3). Righteousness is a sacrifice but it is well pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 4:5; Heb. 13:16). Eph. 6:7-8 (NIV) — Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord Will reward everyone for whatever good he does whether he is slave or free. (KJV) — With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. When you serve someone, help someone, or cheer up someone, do it willingly, wholeheartedly, with zeal and compassion like you are serving the Lord. Do you really believe that you will receive blessings from the Lord by continually doing good for God? Do you believe that you seek the kingdom first by practicing His righteousness and by keeping His deeds and overcoming? Do you believe that many who have followed Jesus Christ in the past did more righteous deeds than Jesus did while He was here on this earth (John 14:12)? These things are true. 2 Kings 20:3 (NIV) — Hezekiah said, “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (KJV) — “I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.” And Hezekiah wept sore. Hezekiah was given 15 more years to live because he pleased God by doing what is good in God’s sight (2 Kings 20:6). 2 Chron. 15:2 — And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, “Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.” The Lord is with you as long as you are serving Him by doing what is right. If you seek Him by doing good continually, so as to reform your wicked ways, He will be found by you; but if you discontinue doing good for God He will forsake you forever. 2 Chron. 7:14 — If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Notice, to seek God’s face you must turn from your wicked ways by doing good. Of course the good done must be deeds meant for repentance, righteous deeds, which is God’s Will (Acts 26:20). Then God Will hear your prayers and forgive your sins (John 9:31). 2 Chron. 6:23 — Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. God is forgiving their sins because they repented. Acts 9:36 (KJV) — Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did. (NIV) — In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. Those who are always doing good for God and those who are always personally helping the poor are truly born again (1 John 2:29). Matt. 6:14-15 — “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 22:37-40 — Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” When you serve God by using your body as an instrument of righteousness, this is considered by God your spiritual service of worship (Rom. 6:13; 12:1). This is pure religion, undefiled (James 1:27). This is how you love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Get Ready For the Lord's Return PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search Will You Be Able To Stand? Noah was the only person God found who was practicing righteousness in his day (Gen. 6:9; 7:1). Noah stood alone before God. He didn’t need a church, nor did he depend upon a body of people to provoke him weekly to do good for God. Noah was mature in his walk with God. His relationship was complete. We cannot be found righteous unless we live righteously every day. If we never do anything for God, by serving others in need as Jesus Christ our example did, we are not righteous, neither are we considered righteous by God. How is your personal relationship with God? By the time you’ve finished this article, you will see exactly what must be done to make it like Noah’s. Enoch, Abel, Job, Abraham, Elijah and the prophets of old were all righteous. They stood before God and stood alone as mighty men of God. Even when Job’s friends tried to discourage him, and his wife told him to curse God and die, Job’s one-to-one faith in God stood firm (Job 2:9-10). Many doers of the word who worshiped God in the past willingly gave their lives to God and laid down their lives as testimonies of their solid, unshakable, stand-alone faith. They trusted in the Rock of their salvation, Jesus Christ, and as a result, became solidly established in their faith—as rocks. The requirements of our faith in Jesus Christ are: A. Practice righteousness for God and keep Jesus Christ’s words and sayings (John 8:51). Continue to do God’s Will daily in our lives, remaining faithful by continually doing so. B. Study God’s word continually to find out what God’s Will is, and perform it daily in our lives (Eph. 5:17) C. Honor the Lord with your wealth, by setting aside from each paycheck a certain amount with which to do good for God (Prov. 3:9-10). This is God’s money and no longer ours. It is entrusted to us by God. We are His trusted servants who distribute that money to the poor, the needy, the stranger, or anyone who would borrow from us. You do not need to spend it all before the next paycheck, but safeguard what is put aside for God in your trust, and use it continually to do His Will. God Himself will continually teach you what to do with this amount you have set aside regularly to honor Him. God always teaches those who continually obey Him on a personal basis. He teaches us how to love one another, how to serve, how to give, how to share, and how to forgive one another continually. He wants to teach us about His Ways, but He can’t do this unless we continually, on a daily basis, imitate the Way He lives. D. Pray constantly for guidance, and for others (2 Tim. 1:3). Prayer is the tool we use to commit all our ways to God. It is how we break down all the strongholds of sin in our lives and put them into the captivity of Jesus Christ, making all our ways Christ’s Ways. It is how we telephone God and keep in touch daily. Prayer is how we make known to Him all our needs and desires. It is our hot line, a direct connection to the God whom we serve daily. Always remember, we have great favor with God because we serve others daily on His behalf, which makes us His true servants. We are continually serving others, and, as a result, we are continually growing more and more like Christ each day. We know the secret that God causes the growth when we serve others as Jesus Christ gave us example to do in His name (Col. 3:17). We know the secret, that unless we imitate Jesus Christ daily, we will never be like Him. We know that imitating Jesus Christ is how we repent, how we abide in Christ, how we clothe ourselves with Christ, how we become doers of the word of God, and how we overcome our evil natures and have Christ formed in us. If these things are in our lives and are continually increasing, we will never fail (2 Peter 1:3-10). God is making stand-alone disciples. He wants us to be stimulated to more love and good works daily, drawing near to Him through personal Bible study and as He continues to allow, through all the resources He has provided us on wholewheatonline.com, to stir up by way of reminder the simple truth God has called us to (Rom. 15:4-5; Heb. 3:13; 2 Peter 1:12-13). He wants us to seek Him with all our heart, and develop our one-to-one relationship with Him, maturing in our faith, so we are able to stand alone; going to Him for all our needs and learning to discern His voice (1 Chronicles 28:9; John 5:44; Acts 17:27; James 4:8; John 10:27). He wants us to be an example for those in our life that are not yet mature (Titus 2:7-8, 1 Tim. 4:12). Will you help Him and learn to stand-alone? Will you be His example of love? Will you show by your godly life and example how to live a repentant life before God daily (Heb. 5:12-14)? If you do, you will not only have found the purpose of life, but you will be living it and showing it in all your thoughts, words and deeds. You will be letting your light shine for God’s glory (Matt. 5:16). You will be an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). You will be like Noah, and will be ready for all that is to come (1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Pet. 5:8; Matt. 24:42). You will be the apple of God’s eye, His trusted servant, the one of whom He loudly proclaims, “This is my beloved son (or daughter) in whom I am well pleased” (2 Pet. 1:17). God is, and always will be, your friend because you cared enough for Him to have Jesus Christ formed in you (John 15:14). When you are fully trained, you will be like your Teacher, because you have been taught by Him (Luke 6:40). Now, you will be able to stand. PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International

Return to Me PREV NEXT

wholewheatonline.com Search What is Worldly is Not Godly "This is pure and undefiled religion, to visit the widows and the orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself unspotted by the world" (James 1:27). The people of this world are concerned about the things of this world. They are concerned about food, clothing and shelter (Matt. 6:25). They are concerned about bigger homes, stock markets and the price of gold (Matt. 13:22). They are concerned about what they read in the newspaper and what the weather is going to be from day to day. Most people worry about this and that, while the person who loves God has no such concerns (1 Peter 1:14). He knows that the Father will take care of all his needs because he has sought the kingdom first by subjecting himself to the righteousness of God, as Jesus Christ did (Matt. 6:33; Rom. 10:1-3). He knows the world is going the wrong way, but feels wonderful because he knows he is going the right way – God’s Way. He has been saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40). He is in God’s care now. He knows that if he lives to serve only God, as Jesus did, he will end up where Jesus is - with a new body that cannot die (Matt. 4:10; John 14:2-3). He does not live for self any longer, but he lives totally for God by serving others (1 Cor. 10:24). Continuing to live for self is Satan’s will (2 Tim. 2:26). Continually living for others by practicing righteousness and serving others is God’s Will (Matt. 25:40-41). You live for the one you serve, and God’s friends live only to serve the Lord by serving others. The people mentioned in James 4:3-4 were selfish. They were still living for self and had friendship with the world. They were lukewarm and double-minded (Rev. 3:16; James 4:7-8). They were not resisting Satan, which is resisting selfishness. They were not allowing the God of peace to totally crush their old natures by totally committing themselves to the Will of God (Rom. 16:20; 1 Peter 4:2). In Revelation 18:2 and 4, God commands His people to come out of Babylon. This means we are to come out of religious confusion by worshiping God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). How is this done? We are to be concerned about the poor and the needy, and come to the aid of a widow or an orphan who needs help. When we get involved in acts of righteousness such as this, we please God in heaven (Luke 9:23, 48; 6:46; Mark 9:35; 10:43-44; Matt. 20:26-28; 23:11). Then, we just keep ourselves unspotted by the world, which means we keep serving others in order to refrain from sinning (James 1:27). 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 What is the Reward of the Righteous? If all the rewards for being righteous were known, we would have many more people who would want to be disciples of Jesus Christ. "Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him?" (Job 21:15). What would we gain if we did? Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or profit if you make your ways perfect (Job 22:3; Matt. 5:48)? You bet there is! The following are just a few examples: 1. God hears your prayers and delivers you from trouble (Psalm 34:17; James 5:16; Prov. 11:8). 2. The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger in times of famine (Prov. 10:3). 3. You will be delivered from death (Prov. 11:4). 4. You will be rewarded with prosperity (Prov. 13:21). 5. You will be protected from harm (Prov. 12:21). 6. You are guaranteed answered prayer (Prov. 15:29; John 9:31). 7. You will be protected from a whole list of woes (Job 5:20-27). 8. God will save you from sickness (James 5:14; Psalm 41:3). The list goes on and on, but how can we be righteous in God’s eyes (Psalm 145:17-18)? The word of God says those who practice righteousness for God are righteous, even as God is righteous (1 John 3:7). It also says those who practice righteousness are truly born of Him (1 John 2:29). The righteous give and do not hold back (Prov. 21:26; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; Matt. 6:2). The righteous are concerned for the poor (Prov. 29:7). Compare Ezekiel 18:14, 16, 17, Job 29:12-16, and Job 31:16-23 with Matthew 25:35-36. God never changes. Compare Job 22:7 with Matthew 25:42-43. Yes, there is a Way of righteousness (Matt. 21:32). It is the Way all who love God live. We prove our love for God by the way we live (John 15:8). Now is the time to live like God by living for God, as Jesus Christ did, showing us His pure and simple Way (Eph. 5:1; John 6:38; 2 Cor. 11:3). PREV NEXT 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED All About the Bible PDF MORE BIBLE STUDIES PODCASTS HOME © 2025 Whole Wheat International