Seek God's Word
“Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.”(Isaiah 34:16)
[ The Lord GOD Will Seek Them Out ] "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”(Ezekiel 34:11)
“How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?”(Psalm 119:84)
“When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.”(Psalm 141:6)
[ Judging Others ] "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;”(Luke 6:37)
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”(John 12:47)
“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”(John 12:48)
“and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me.”(Jeremiah 16:12)
"But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'”(Jeremiah 18:12)
“They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.'"(Jeremiah 23:17)
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”(Matthew 6:24)
“But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”(Acts 8:20)
“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.”(Isaiah 60:12)
“Thus says the LORD:"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 I set watchmen over you, saying,
'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'
But they said, 'We will not pay attention.' 1”(Jeremiah 6:16-17)
“Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.'"(Jeremiah 6:21)
“And you shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.”(Jeremiah 7:28)
“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”(Luke 13:3)
“there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”(Hosea 4:2)
“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."(John 6:27)
“Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.”(Habakkuk 3:5)
“those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him."(Zephaniah 1:6)
A Rebellious Son
A Rebellious Son 18"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."(Deut 21:18-21)
“Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.”(Malachi 2:11)
“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.”(Exodus 29:45)
“[ Further Disobedience and Oppression ] The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve him.”(Judges 10:6)
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words."(Jeremiah 19:14-15)
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”(John 10:16)
“say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand.”(Ezekiel 37:19)
"In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God.”(Jeremiah 50:4)
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;”(Isaiah 65:2)
“All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding.”(Obadiah 1:7)
I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,”(Isaiah 45:5)
The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.”(Jeremiah 2:8)
"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
(Jeremiah 4:22)
“They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD.”(Jeremiah 9:3)
“Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.”(Jeremiah 9:6)
“Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the LORD. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.”(Jeremiah 5:15)
“The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,”(Deuteronomy 28:49)
“He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!”(Isaiah 5:26)
“The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.”(Isaiah 17:13)
“and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.”(Isaiah 66:19)
"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'”(Jeremiah 31:10)
“I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken."”(Joel 3:8)
“He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;”(Micah 4:3)
“Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people is coming from the north country,a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.”(Jeremiah 6:22)
“behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.”(Jeremiah 25:9)
"For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.”(Jeremiah 50:3)
“For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.”(Jeremiah 50:9)
"Behold, a people comes from the north; a mighty nation and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.”(Jeremiah 50:41)
And the word of the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”(Isaiah 28:13)
“envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”(Galatians 5:21)
“the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?”(Jeremiah 5:31)
“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”(Ephesians 5:5)
“do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."(1 Cor 6:9-11)
God is preparing a kingdom of priests. Those who will are willing to follow him.
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”(John 10:4)
“and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:10)
“in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“(Ephesians 2:2)
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”(1 John 5:18)
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”(Galatians 6:8)
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”(Colossians 2:8)
“Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"(John 14:22)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.”(1 John 5:9)
“Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?”(Isaiah 2:22)
“the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.”(Psalm 94:11)
“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.”(Psalm 144:4)
“I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."(Psalm 116:11)
“through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,”(1 Timothy 4:2)
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44)
“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,”(Hebrews 6:17)
“But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.”(Job 32:8)
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”(Titus 1:9)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”(John 4:23)
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."(John 4:24)
“even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”(John 14:17)
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”(John 15:26)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“[ God’s Sovereign Choice ] I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—“(Romans 9:2)
“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”(1 Corinthians 2:13)
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”(Ephesians 1:13)
“[ Stand Firm ] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”(2 Thessalonians 2:13)
“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”(1 John 4:6)
“[ Testimony Concerning the Son of God ] This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”(1 John 5:6)
“[ Jesus Is Coming ] And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."”(Revelation 22:6)
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”(Psalm 37:4)
“He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”(Psalm 145:19)
“who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4)
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”(James 1:14)
“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”(1 John 2:16)
“Do Not Love the World 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”(1 John 2:15-17)
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”(John 15:6)
“[ The Righteous Shall Live by Faith ] For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."”(Galatians 3:10)
“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”(2 John 1:9)
The Authority of Jesus
“ 28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."(Matthew 7:28-29)
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,”(2 Peter 1:5)
"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”(Haggai 1:4)
“You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.”(Haggai 1:9)
“Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?”(Micah 6:11)
“You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”(Haggai 1:6)
“no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.”(Matthew 10:10)
“He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—“(Mark 6:8)
“And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.”(Luke 9:3)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”(Ecclesiastes 4:9)
“For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”(1 Peter 2:20)
“he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'”(Luke 8:10)
“And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”(Matthew 13:11)
“And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,”(Mark 4:11)
“And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish.”(Exodus 19:21)
“For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matthew 22:14)
“And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:”(Mark 4:2)
Those are few
“But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.”(Matthew 19:11)
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”(Matthew 7:14)
“The Narrow Door 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' ”(Luke 13:22-27)
Where are you? Who are you? What are you doing?
Do they go to Heaven?
“[ I Never Knew You ] "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21)
“On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”(Matthew 7:22)
****
Preparation & Timing It is all about preparation with everything the Job always goes quick and easy when you prepare.
They were virgins and ran out of oil. They had to go back for more but it was too late.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'.'But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”(Matthew 25:11)
*****
DIG DEEP
[ Build Your House on the Rock ] "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."(Luke 6:45-49)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."(Matthew 25:1-12)
God says we must be born again virgins clean from sin."LUST" impure thoughts.
"Pure Heart"
“It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,”(Revelation 14:4)
Born again virgins
Even though they were virgins they still could not get in because they did not prepare for his timing.
He was delayed they all slept.
All of the Apostles feel sleeping too, even Peter.
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”(Mark 14:37)
“And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.”(Mark 14:40)
“And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”(Mark 14:41)
“saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'”(Matthew 20:12)
“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?”(Matthew 26:40)
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”(Mark 14:37)
“And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.”(Revelation 17:12)
We are that last. God saved the Good wine for Last.
"These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last."(Matthew 20:12-16)
We need to get prepared for the last hour.
“saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'”(Matthew 20:12)
“[ Warning Concerning Antichrists ] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”(1 John 2:18)
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
“But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”(1 Thessalonians 5:4)
the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean.”(Leviticus 13:39)
“Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?”(Psalm 94:8)
“Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."(Isaiah 6:10)
“[ Evil and Oppression ] Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;”(Isaiah 59:2)
“You will give them dullness of heart; your curse will be on them.”(Lamentations 3:65)
“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'”(Matthew 13:15)
“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'”(Acts 28:27)
“[ Warning Against Apostasy ] About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”(Hebrews 5:11)
"But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”(Exodus 23:22)
“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”(Luke 21:15)
“for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”(1 Corinthians 16:9)
“but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries”.(Hebrews 10:27)
“[ The LORD Proclaims Judgment ] Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts:"Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.”(Jeremiah 5:14)
“Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”(Jeremiah 23:29)
“Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.”(Ezekiel 20:47)
"I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.”(Daniel 7:11)
“and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,”(Luke 1:69)
“He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!”(Psalm 148:14)
“All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”(Psalm 75:10)
“For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.”(Psalm 89:17)
“My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.”(Psalm 89:24)
“He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.”(Psalm 112:9)
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”(Psalm 18:2)
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”(2 Peter 3:7)
“[ To the Church in Thyatira ] "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”(Revelation 2:18)
“my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.”(2 Samuel 22:3)
“God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.”(Numbers 23:22)
“God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.”(Numbers 24:8)
“A firstborn bull —he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."(Deuteronomy 33:17)
“I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”(Zechariah 9:10)
“And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”(Micah 5:4)
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles,that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"(Acts 13:47)
“But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth,and their words to the ends of the world."(Romans 10:18)
“Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!”(Psalm 22:21)
“This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”(Psalm 69:31)
"Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.”(Judges 5:22)
“This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”(Psalm 69:31)
“their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind.”(Isaiah 5:28)
“At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands,”(Jeremiah 47:3)
“With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.”(Ezekiel 26:11)
“I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.”(Ezekiel 32:13)
“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the LORD,their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”(Micah 4:13)
“For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.”(Zechariah 11:14)
“But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil.”(Psalm 92:10)
“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”(Psalm 55:21)
“if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.”(Deuteronomy 32:41)
“My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.”(Psalm 57:4)
“but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”(Proverbs 5:4)
“He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood.”(Lamentations 3:15)
“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!”(Lamentations 3:19)
“O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth! ” (Amos 5:7)
“Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood —“(Amos 6:12)
“The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.”(Revelation 8:11)
"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD,"when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”(Amos 8:11)
“For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,”(2 Peter 3:5)
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.”(Proverbs 25:18)
“He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.”(Isaiah 49:2)
“[ Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed ] "And you, O son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it as a barber’s razor and pass it over your head and your beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair.”(Ezekiel 5:2)
"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,”(Ezekiel 21:9)
“So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.”(Ezekiel 21:11)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12)
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”(Revelation 1:16)
“[ To the Church in Pergamum ] "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”(Revelation 2:12)
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”(Revelation 19:15)
“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”(Revelation 3:3)
[ The Lord GOD Will Seek Them Out ] "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”(Ezekiel 34:11)
“How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?”(Psalm 119:84)
“When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.”(Psalm 141:6)
[ Judging Others ] "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;”(Luke 6:37)
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”(John 12:47)
“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”(John 12:48)
“and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me.”(Jeremiah 16:12)
"But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'”(Jeremiah 18:12)
“They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.'"(Jeremiah 23:17)
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”(Matthew 6:24)
“But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”(Acts 8:20)
“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.”(Isaiah 60:12)
“Thus says the LORD:"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 I set watchmen over you, saying,
'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'
But they said, 'We will not pay attention.' 1”(Jeremiah 6:16-17)
“Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.'"(Jeremiah 6:21)
“And you shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.”(Jeremiah 7:28)
“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”(Luke 13:3)
“there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”(Hosea 4:2)
“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."(John 6:27)
“Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.”(Habakkuk 3:5)
“those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him."(Zephaniah 1:6)
A Rebellious Son
A Rebellious Son 18"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."(Deut 21:18-21)
“Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.”(Malachi 2:11)
“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.”(Exodus 29:45)
“[ Further Disobedience and Oppression ] The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve him.”(Judges 10:6)
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words."(Jeremiah 19:14-15)
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”(John 10:16)
“say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand.”(Ezekiel 37:19)
"In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God.”(Jeremiah 50:4)
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;”(Isaiah 65:2)
“All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding.”(Obadiah 1:7)
I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,”(Isaiah 45:5)
The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.”(Jeremiah 2:8)
"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
(Jeremiah 4:22)
“They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD.”(Jeremiah 9:3)
“Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.”(Jeremiah 9:6)
“Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the LORD. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.”(Jeremiah 5:15)
“The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,”(Deuteronomy 28:49)
“He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!”(Isaiah 5:26)
“The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.”(Isaiah 17:13)
“and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.”(Isaiah 66:19)
"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'”(Jeremiah 31:10)
“I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken."”(Joel 3:8)
“He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;”(Micah 4:3)
“Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people is coming from the north country,a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.”(Jeremiah 6:22)
“behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.”(Jeremiah 25:9)
"For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.”(Jeremiah 50:3)
“For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.”(Jeremiah 50:9)
"Behold, a people comes from the north; a mighty nation and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.”(Jeremiah 50:41)
And the word of the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”(Isaiah 28:13)
“envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”(Galatians 5:21)
“the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?”(Jeremiah 5:31)
“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”(Ephesians 5:5)
“do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."(1 Cor 6:9-11)
God is preparing a kingdom of priests. Those who will are willing to follow him.
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”(John 10:4)
“and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:10)
“in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“(Ephesians 2:2)
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”(1 John 5:18)
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”(Galatians 6:8)
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”(Colossians 2:8)
“Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"(John 14:22)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.”(1 John 5:9)
“Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?”(Isaiah 2:22)
“the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.”(Psalm 94:11)
“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.”(Psalm 144:4)
“I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."(Psalm 116:11)
“through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,”(1 Timothy 4:2)
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44)
“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,”(Hebrews 6:17)
“But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.”(Job 32:8)
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”(Titus 1:9)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”(John 4:23)
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."(John 4:24)
“even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”(John 14:17)
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”(John 15:26)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:13)
“[ God’s Sovereign Choice ] I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—“(Romans 9:2)
“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”(1 Corinthians 2:13)
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”(Ephesians 1:13)
“[ Stand Firm ] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”(2 Thessalonians 2:13)
“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”(1 John 4:6)
“[ Testimony Concerning the Son of God ] This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”(1 John 5:6)
“[ Jesus Is Coming ] And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."”(Revelation 22:6)
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”(Psalm 37:4)
“He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”(Psalm 145:19)
“who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4)
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”(James 1:14)
“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”(1 John 2:16)
“Do Not Love the World 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”(1 John 2:15-17)
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”(John 15:6)
“[ The Righteous Shall Live by Faith ] For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."”(Galatians 3:10)
“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”(2 John 1:9)
The Authority of Jesus
“ 28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."(Matthew 7:28-29)
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,”(2 Peter 1:5)
"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”(Haggai 1:4)
“You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.”(Haggai 1:9)
“Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?”(Micah 6:11)
“You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”(Haggai 1:6)
“no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.”(Matthew 10:10)
“He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—“(Mark 6:8)
“And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.”(Luke 9:3)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”(Ecclesiastes 4:9)
“For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”(1 Peter 2:20)
“he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'”(Luke 8:10)
“And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”(Matthew 13:11)
“And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,”(Mark 4:11)
“And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish.”(Exodus 19:21)
“For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matthew 22:14)
“And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:”(Mark 4:2)
Those are few
“But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.”(Matthew 19:11)
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”(Matthew 7:14)
“The Narrow Door 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' ”(Luke 13:22-27)
Where are you? Who are you? What are you doing?
Do they go to Heaven?
“[ I Never Knew You ] "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21)
“On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”(Matthew 7:22)
****
Preparation & Timing It is all about preparation with everything the Job always goes quick and easy when you prepare.
They were virgins and ran out of oil. They had to go back for more but it was too late.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'.'But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”(Matthew 25:11)
*****
DIG DEEP
[ Build Your House on the Rock ] "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."(Luke 6:45-49)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."(Matthew 25:1-12)
God says we must be born again virgins clean from sin."LUST" impure thoughts.
"Pure Heart"
“It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,”(Revelation 14:4)
Born again virgins
Even though they were virgins they still could not get in because they did not prepare for his timing.
He was delayed they all slept.
All of the Apostles feel sleeping too, even Peter.
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”(Mark 14:37)
“And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.”(Mark 14:40)
“And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”(Mark 14:41)
“saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'”(Matthew 20:12)
“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?”(Matthew 26:40)
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”(Mark 14:37)
“And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.”(Revelation 17:12)
We are that last. God saved the Good wine for Last.
"These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last."(Matthew 20:12-16)
We need to get prepared for the last hour.
“saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'”(Matthew 20:12)
“[ Warning Concerning Antichrists ] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”(1 John 2:18)
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
“But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”(1 Thessalonians 5:4)
the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean.”(Leviticus 13:39)
“Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?”(Psalm 94:8)
“Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."(Isaiah 6:10)
“[ Evil and Oppression ] Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;”(Isaiah 59:2)
“You will give them dullness of heart; your curse will be on them.”(Lamentations 3:65)
“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'”(Matthew 13:15)
“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'”(Acts 28:27)
“[ Warning Against Apostasy ] About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”(Hebrews 5:11)
"But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”(Exodus 23:22)
“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”(Luke 21:15)
“for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”(1 Corinthians 16:9)
“but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries”.(Hebrews 10:27)
“[ The LORD Proclaims Judgment ] Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts:"Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.”(Jeremiah 5:14)
“Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”(Jeremiah 23:29)
“Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.”(Ezekiel 20:47)
"I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.”(Daniel 7:11)
“and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,”(Luke 1:69)
“He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!”(Psalm 148:14)
“All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”(Psalm 75:10)
“For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.”(Psalm 89:17)
“My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.”(Psalm 89:24)
“He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.”(Psalm 112:9)
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”(Psalm 18:2)
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”(2 Peter 3:7)
“[ To the Church in Thyatira ] "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”(Revelation 2:18)
“my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.”(2 Samuel 22:3)
“God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.”(Numbers 23:22)
“God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.”(Numbers 24:8)
“A firstborn bull —he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."(Deuteronomy 33:17)
“I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”(Zechariah 9:10)
“And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”(Micah 5:4)
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles,that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"(Acts 13:47)
“But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth,and their words to the ends of the world."(Romans 10:18)
“Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!”(Psalm 22:21)
“This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”(Psalm 69:31)
"Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.”(Judges 5:22)
“This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”(Psalm 69:31)
“their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind.”(Isaiah 5:28)
“At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands,”(Jeremiah 47:3)
“With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.”(Ezekiel 26:11)
“I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.”(Ezekiel 32:13)
“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the LORD,their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”(Micah 4:13)
“For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.”(Zechariah 11:14)
“But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil.”(Psalm 92:10)
“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”(Psalm 55:21)
“if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.”(Deuteronomy 32:41)
“My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.”(Psalm 57:4)
“but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”(Proverbs 5:4)
“He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood.”(Lamentations 3:15)
“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!”(Lamentations 3:19)
“O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth! ” (Amos 5:7)
“Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood —“(Amos 6:12)
“The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.”(Revelation 8:11)
"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD,"when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”(Amos 8:11)
“For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,”(2 Peter 3:5)
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.”(Proverbs 25:18)
“He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.”(Isaiah 49:2)
“[ Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed ] "And you, O son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it as a barber’s razor and pass it over your head and your beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair.”(Ezekiel 5:2)
"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,”(Ezekiel 21:9)
“So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.”(Ezekiel 21:11)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12)
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”(Revelation 1:16)
“[ To the Church in Pergamum ] "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”(Revelation 2:12)
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”(Revelation 19:15)
“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”(Revelation 3:3)