Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

We have a fountain that never runs dry

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

In the world they talk about “their muse” a reference to demons and fallen angels. But the Lord is our supply, your inspiration, your wisdom.

58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

What do you need? Revelation? Wisdom? Knowledge? Help in any way? Intreat the Lord’s favor with your whole heart. If you have shown mercy to others to help them then according to God’s word He will show you mercy to help you.

59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Consider your ways, are there any ways in which you can turn your feet to go towards being a witness of the Lord? I was watching a documentary about Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. Prince Albert told her she played the piano very well but she would do better if she practiced more often. Queen Victoria said she was a queen and was very busy. He said you are too busy to practice the piano but not too busy to play cards? She was playing cards at the time. This is the kind of examination we need to make, consider your ways and is there any opportunity to turn your feet unto the Lord’s testimonies?

60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Very often the Lord is speaking to us, we know He is speaking to us, but we keep delaying our obedience to this word. For example, after the vaccine mandate the Lord was speaking to me to resign. Within 24 hours of the mandate I was beginning the process of resigning my job. Another person I knew waited till the very last moment of the deadline before resigning hoping that somehow they could avoid this. But at least she also obeyed the Lord’s commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

The wicked operate in “bands”. For example, consider gold. In 1970 an ounce of gold cost $40, in 2024 an ounce of gold cost $2,540. Either way it is still the same ounce of gold. It hasn’t increased at all. The increase in price is simply inflation. An ounce of gold in 1970 could buy you a good bespoke suit for a man, in 2024 an ounce of gold can also buy you a good bespoke suit for a man. However, if you sell the ounce of gold you bought in 1970 in 2024 the government will say you have $2,500 capital gain and will tax that. As a result you will now have less than what you need to buy an ounce of gold. This is not “capital gain” it is the bands of the wicked robbing you. But don’t forget the Lord’s word, don’t store up your treasure on earth where thieves break in and steal it. Store your treasure in heaven where it can’t be stolen.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Right now in the US you can consider this midnight. We can still rise to give thanks unto the Lord. I am thankful to Joe Biden, I believe that during his administration more people turned to the Lord and repented. I believe the inflation, immigration and threats of WW3 have been very good for the gospel.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

It is very important to have good companions. We are like coals in the fire. By ourselves we grow cold and the fire goes out. But together the fire can burn bright.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Teach me they statutes means we need to learn all the things we can pray for. We can pray for good companions. We can pray for revelation to see the righteous judgments of the Lord. We can pray for insight into how we can avoid being robbed of our treasure. Once you see that Jesus Christ, the incarnate word is your treasure you don’t need to worry about thieves, what can they do to you?

It is good for me that I have been afflicted

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.

We need to come to this realization. Many people have a root of bitterness because of many things that have happened in their life. If that is your case pray to the Lord that this verse would become your reality that you could look at the things that have happened to you and see that the Lord has dealt well with you.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

Behind the commandments there are judgments. Sometimes I watch these chess masters playing chess and the moves confuse me. Why did they make that move? It is the same with the Lord. Sometimes He tells us something and we think it is a mistake. Remember Ananias? The Lord told him to go share the gospel with Saul of Tarsus and he was thinking the Lord made a mistake. “Lord, he came here to arrest the Christians”. He must have thought the Lord had missed that fact. But many years later we realize that was a Chess grandmaster move. Jesus could see that Paul was a chosen vessel for Him.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Once again consider Saul of Tarsus. Before Ananias went to him the church was afflicted, but after he kept the Lord’s word everyone could see that the Lord had dealt well with His servants. The affliction was just to lure the Pharisees into sending Saul into the Lord’s hands, a scribe who had been converted and could now help the church understand the New Covenant that Jesus had made with us.

68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Saul of Tarsus wasn’t good, he was consenting the murder of Stephen. But it was good for us that Saul was such a sinner, the least of all saints, because it helped the rest of us see how great is the Lord’s redemption and forgiveness to us.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Think of the effort they have taken to make a lie against this one. This is no longer a babe in Christ. This is now someone that has caught the attention of Satan and the evil ones. But we have a promise from God, no weapon formed against us will prosper.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

Your heart is supposed to be all muscle, not fat. Grease is hard at room temperature. Think about that, these ones are fat, they are so rich their heart has turned to grease, and the result is they are cold and hard towards the poor. This should not be the testimony of any believer.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

When I became a teacher I had a degree and 75 post graduate hours in my major. But that was not enough. I still needed to get a Master’s degree in Special Education and even then I still needed to attend a few seminars and take a few exams. But even that was not enough, they then found I didn’t have enough art credits or history credits. So I had to take a few more courses so that I now had over 230 hours of college credit. But then when I had my teaching certificate I was happy, I realized it was like a wall I had had to climb over. Now that I was on the other side of that wall it was giving me job security. In the same way I have been in the Bible for 47 years. That is a big wall, but now I realize that what is easy for me to understand is not so easy for others so I need to speak and share.

72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

This is literal for me. During my lifetime I have had three opportunities to get enormous amounts of gold and silver. In the first two times I chose the law of the Lord’s spoken word over those opportunities, much to the chagrin of other people. The third time my failure with covetousness proved to me I was better off not having it.

A Warning to Ukraine 8-21-24@10:22AM

Babylon You Are Guilty 8-18-24@12:38AM

The Fellowship of His Sufferings

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

We learn more about ourselves and how we are made when we go through suffering and affliction. Without that you would not have a sense of accomplishment. However, to go through sufferings properly it gives us understanding in why the Lord gives us certain commandments.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

There is a comrade fellowship with all that have also gone through those same sufferings. This is why there is such a close bond with those who have all fought together in a war. The wonderful thing about war is there is that common fear among all that they might die. Likewise if you have gone through the fellowship of His sufferings there is that common fear that you would "die". You risked all because you have greater fear of the Lord than you do of all other things.

75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Often you hear Christians praying and everything is about "the enemy" and "Satan". But when you go through this you realize that in truth if was a Faithful God that afflicted you. You see that His judgments are right. By His stripes we are healed. On the one hand He paid the price for us, and His forgiveness is a very powerful medicine. But on the other the fellowship of His sufferings heals us too. We stop complaining, we stop saying "woe is me". We put an end to the pity parties. Suppose we have two Christians, both suffered some terrible, traumatic event. Perhaps it was during a war, perhaps it was domestic abuse, or rape, or someone close to them deceived them, cheated them, betrayed them. One is very bitter. They will "never forgive". The other has long since grown from this. They have forgiven, there is no bitterness, rather there is thankfulness because they know God is faithful and they have been healed. Even more, with what comfort they have been comforted with by God they are now able to comfort others with. They have a ministry. It may not be obvious to others, but they now have a special empathy and care for those who have also suffered the same thing and they can help them to be healed as well. This helps them see how they have been made, how they have been fashioned. Because they are now more than conquerors that horrific event which would destroy most people can't harm them, they can overcome it.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

They have discovered the power of merciful kindness. Nothing is more powerful at healing others and causing others to turn to the Lord. Instead of hate they forgave, and instead of seeking revenge they sought merciful kindness from God. As you have done it will be done unto you, so the more they show merciful kindness to others the more they can pray for merciful kindness to be their comfort according to God's word.

77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

This is how you know who truly delights in the word. Some claim to "delight in the word" but all that comes unto them is self righteousness and condemnation of others. So of course all that comes unto them is condemnation. There is no victory, no overcoming. Rather these are like those complaining of a woman being healed on the sabbath. These are they that get angry when asked if it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

Have you ever met someone who meditates on how to "avenge themselves"? Their was some perceived slight or insult and now that is all they meditate on. No one is denying there are proud, arrogant people who deal perversely with us without a cause. The Bible is clear, they will be put to an open shame. But we don't need to meditate on that, let us meditate on the Lord's precepts. For example smoking flax He will not quench. We are supposed to be a light to the world, some believers it is much more smoke and very little light. But we don't quench them, we encourage them. Some believers when they speak it isn't a beautiful song, but Jesus said "a bruised reed He will not break". We don't reject them, we encourage them. They can still be healed.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

But what is wonderful about suffering is that it separates out the believers, the ones that truly fear the Lord. We are surrounded by those who claim to be Christians but in truth many do not fear the Lord more than they fear losing their job, or the shame of the cross.

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

If you are truly a witness for the Lord you will be attacked, slandered, ridiculed, mocked and insulted. You will not be invited to many events and if you are you will be given the seats in the back, at the end of the table. If you are sound in the Lord's statutes you will know all of this is from His hand. He is saving you from wasting your time at vain events and He is placing you next to those who need to hear words of merciful kindness.

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

When I was teaching in NYC I believed that my students could perform as well as any other students in the city. Yes, I knew they were coming in scoring significantly lower on standardized exams than as much as 75% of the other students in the city. But since my subject was not taught in JHS and since they were not graded on grammar and since Math was a trivial part of the subject I figured the disadvantage they faced at the start of the year could be overcome by me. No one else at the school thought this was a realistic goal, they thought the advantages that wealthier families had could not be overcome. But I had grown up in a wealthy suburb and I knew that the wealthy have far more distractions, so I didn't see that as an issue. So for ten years I hoped in the word. What word? James said that if you lack wisdom ask of God who gives liberally and Paul said that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. I hoped in the fact that the wisdom God would give me would help my students achieve the goal. But every year we fell short and so every year it sent me to my knees again and again.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

My first year the students scored in the bottom 25% of the year end State exam. I was horrified. But the Lord showed me many things to correct. The next year they scored around the 50% range, an improvement, but far below what I was hoping for. Every year we saw incremental improvement. Three years before I left the students scored in the top 6% of the City. The next year I thought we might crack the top 1% but they cancelled the exam due to Covid. Then my last year they also cancelled the exam because the schools had been shuttered and we had been teaching on Zoom.

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

You are holding to the Lord's word like having smoke in a bottle. It seems so ephemeral, as though everything could simply vanish in an instant. But that is a beautiful training in prayer and in faith.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

You might think that the principal appreciated the work we did, but the truth was she was unaware, even saying the science department was the worst department in the school. It wasn't until I showed her the data graphed out that the Science department was far and away the best performing department in the school, there were a couple of classes from other teachers that did pretty good by comparison, but no other department came close. But even so no one appreciates the work you do until you leave. That is when reality slaps them in the face. Imagine going from the top 6% back down to the bottom 25%. That is far worse because now you know it is possible to be in the top 6% and now you can't blame the students, it is obvious that it is the teacher. In the same way we do not worry about being appreciated by anyone other than the Lord. We do all unto the Lord and when He takes us home that is when the world will see the Lord execute judgment on those that persecute us. Do you realize what the best way to execute judgment is? Let the world see what happens to the world without those they were persecuting.

85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

This also happened. Prior to teaching in Brooklyn I was in Long Island for a year. They put me as a proctor for a statewide exam in January. I was in a room with one other proctor and one woman observing us. We had two students. I had never seen this kind of excessive supervision on an exam before. But that was because they were digging a pit for me. The one proctor was feeding the answers to the one student he was "proctoring". He would say "I can see why you chose that answer but have you considered..." Then the kid would know that answer was wrong so he would change it. Then he would say I can see why you would think that but..." So the kid would change it again and this time he would say "OK, let's go on to the next question". That is cheating, everyone knows it, but they needed to know if I would go along with this or not. I didn't. So they manufactured a reason to fire me. They had a time stamp on a camera showing that I left a tutorial about twenty minutes before the time was up and yet put in for the full time. I knew I hadn't and since I had been tutoring a kid on the computer I asked to see the time stamp on the computer. They refused. But they did give me the disk showing the video from the cameras and with that I was able to see the women's basketball team leaving after their game. Their game ended after my tutorial was supposed to end so that was proof I hadn't left early, but they didn't care. They could not risk me blowing the whistle on the school which was cheating and the cheating was so widespread the kids simply assumed they would be fed answers during exams. Also they had to damage my credibility so if I did blow the whistle I would be painted as a disgruntled employee who was fired for cause.

86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

I knew it was wrong, the Lord knew it was wrong and so He helped me and despite being fired during a recession with a hiring freeze I was able to immediately get a job in Brooklyn at one of the poorest performing schools. They had been closed due to the crime and reorganized. This is where the Lord wanted me. He wanted to show me that school in Long Island with the phony results. But He didn't want me to stay there. If you see that you don't get bitter, you thank the Lord.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

This is how the enemy operates, threaten you with being fully consumed. It seemed I could not afford to lose this job and if I did I would never be able to get another job. That is just the threat of the enemy trying to consume you and the Lord wants to know if you will forsake His precepts or not. So the enemy is simply a servant of the Lord. That doesn't mean the cheaters can claim they were doing what the Lord wanted. No, the Lord knows the hearts of men, He knew what they were doing and He wanted me to go there and see it before going to Brooklyn. The name Brooklyn means "broken land". This is where we minister. Our ministry is a small stream in a broken land, and interestingly Brooklyn is also close to the derivation for "small stream".

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

This is the key lesson we need to learn. What is the one gift that God could give you that would be the absolute best gift? I wondered that for a long time until I read this verse in James which says "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I thought that is what I want. I want to be able to pray and have those prayers avail much.

Jesus is the Way

89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Jesus is the incarnated word. Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

We have had major extinction events on the Earth and yet it abideth. If you are afraid that God doesn't know what He is doing meditate on His creation.

91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

In other words all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to purpose. But with us we get to choose who we will serve.

92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

It used to be I thought this Psalm was very repetitive. Delight in the law, delight in the precepts, delight in the statutes, etc. But isn't nice that spending time in the word of God does so much good? It is simple. It reminds me of something Gandhi wrote. He said if you have this ailment, fast. If you have this other ailment, fast. It seemed like whatever the problem was the solution was always the same with him, fast. Well in Psalm 119 whatever the problem is the solution is always the same, delight in the word of God.

93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Commit the word to memory. I memorized the book of Philippians and it revolutionized my Christian life. Others have similar testimonies how they memorized books of the Bible or Bible verses and it revolutionized their walk with the Lord.

94 I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.

This will bring you to the full assurance of salvation. First you need full assurance that you are the Lord's, He purchased you with His blood.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

Why do the wicked "wait" why not just attack? The wicked need you to walk off the path of righteousness. As long as you are on that path they can't touch you. In order to stay on that path you need a bright light and the word of God is that light.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

I realized this when I first got saved. I was trying to find something to give my life to but I realized whatever it was, it was limited. I thought about being a hockey goalie. I was thirteen at the time and if I gave myself to this I probably could have been a very good goalie, perhaps playing in the NHL. But I realized even if that were so what happens when you are 35? Is that it? But since being saved I have discovered walking in the word is exceedingly broad. There are those who have travelled the word extensively, but even so, there is no end in sight and they might be in their eighties.

The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in the word

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

It takes years to get to this point. At first you must set your mind on the Spirit, but eventually your mind will be set on the Spirit.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

It can be truly amazing to have been called a fool your whole life and then it gets revealed that you are wiser than all the talking heads and so called experts.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

This is where the public school has gone wrong and is incurably sick. They have censored the Bible from the school. It is the one book that would solve all the problems with the school and they forbid it.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

There are a lot of things that the Bible says that you don't understand. But if you will just do it in simple obedience you will then understand. You don't have to understand the precepts, simply do them. For example, in the Old Testament you were not allowed to take a census, but if you did it was one silver coin per person, and that would be how you took count. Those coins would then be sent to the King. What they didn't know is that silver kills germs. In an agricultural society there are many "childhood" diseases that can kill you as an adult if you were never exposed to them. If you travel around the country going in and out of every house you will get sick, and you will be passing that sickness on to all the various people in the country. When David did not keep this precept the country experienced a plague.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Every evil way? Maybe you have refrained from fornication and night clubs, and drunken parties. But that is not "every" evil way. When I first got saved I realized my record albums were idolatrous so I burned them. I put the whole stack of about a hundred albums into a metal barrel, poured gasoline on them and burned them. I realized they were an evil way so I couldn't give them to someone else or sell them. Since then I have learned that these record labels are involved in witchcraft and put spells on every album and seek for them to be demon possessed. The same is true with Hollywood movies. So, if you have been faithful to refrain your feet from every evil way do you have any record albums in your house? How about movies?

102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

Do you want the Lord to teach you? How many want some famous teacher to teach them or mentor them. There is no one better than Jesus, but if you are going to ask Him to teach you, then you have to do what He says. Let's start with "I have refrained my feet from every evil way".

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

The words are not sweet when you are refusing to do what the Lord asks. If tragedy befalls you because you refused to listen to the Lord then those words will be very bitter indeed. If you want them to be sweet as honey to your mouth I recommend doing what He says.

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

This is how we get understanding. People don't want to do something until they understand, but here we are told if you will do the precepts you will get understanding.

Let me give you an example. I was once the captain of a softball team from our church. We had about twenty people, we divided in half and picked sides. On my team we had a six year old kid who didn't know anything about how to play and did not understand the game. I made him the pitcher. He thought the goal of being a pitcher is to throw the ball over the plate. His first two pitches were perfect. He was teeing the ball up for these guys to all smash it. So I called a timeout and went to the mound. I told him out of five pitches only two are supposed to be any good, those first two were perfect so these next three better be unhittable. He did exactly as I said after that. There was all kind of cries from the other team to get a better pitcher, he was terrified I would pull him, but I just said he was doing great keep it up. I let him know the only person he needs to worry about is me and I was not going to pull him as long as he did what I said. Soon he was striking out thirty year old men and we were winning the game. But he hadn't been able to get a hit the whole game and was miserable. So I asked him if he wanted my help, he said yes. So I told him I wanted him to watch the first two pitches to go over the plate, don't swing at them, can you do that? He said he could, that would be easy. By this time the other team had put the other six year old kid as their pitcher, which was this kids friend. Pitch 1 -- I say "good eye, good eye". He gives me this glance that said "what is that supposed to boost my ego?" Pitch 2 -- I say "good eye, good eye" -- this time he is desperate and with his expression he was saying "now what do I do?" I got angry threw the ball back to the pitcher and said "Hey, throw him something he can swing at, what is wrong with you anyway?" The kid was almost in tears "I'm trying" but the kid I was helping he understood, I had just given him the green light to swing and this would be his pitch. He did what I asked without understanding, but now he understood, he got a hit, got on base and shortly crossed home plate putting another run on the board for us.

A Lamp unto my feet

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

If you have ever hiked in the woods it is no big deal during the day, but at night it is very difficult, near impossible.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

The reason he is repeating this is you will be tempted, Satan will do everything he can to get you to break that oath. Do not blame Satan, he can't do anything unless God allows it, so let's examine why God allows it.

107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

This is where the glory is. Think of the story of the Cinderella man. He was afflicted very much. He broke his hand but had to keep fighting to put food on the table and so they soon banned him from fighting. This was during the great depression and they were on the brink of losing his kids. His hand had time to mend but watching his family starve and get sick was far worse than anything that ever happened in the ring. So something happened where they were desperate to find a fighter at the last moment. He took the job and even though he hadn't trained he was happy to be in the ring and the punches didn't bother him because he would rather fight that opponent than the wolves at his door of famine and plague. He wins every fight and becomes heavyweight champion of the world. Take everything as from the Lord with thanksgiving. Unlike other athletes who made money and then lost it he had a very different attitude. He bought a modest house and he invested in construction equipment similar to what he worked with when he couldn't fight.

108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.

Our speaking, our praising, our thanksgiving is a freewill offering to God. He allows us to be the ones who get to go into the ring, that is the fun part. But we in turn appreciate and thank Him for all He has done and that will help others to see the path that leads to life.

109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

It is a tight wire. Going into the ring with other heavyweight fighters is a risk. The guy he beat to win the Championship had killed a few fighters in the ring. So you can't get careless, you can't be foolish. If you hold tightly to the law, to the training that the Lord has given you then you can succeed. But if you make a mistake, if your foot slips, well then, your soul is in your hand and you may just drop it.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

Once again this is where the glory is. You can be sure that other fighter has a plan on how to defeat you. Mike Tyson famously said "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the nose". The Lord knows their plans, He will give you precepts to keep. Just do what he says like that six year old boy, even if you don't know about the snares it will be as though you do.

111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

We have libraries filled with testimonies like these. You should collect them as your heritage. In Ephesians 1 Paul said " In whom also we have obtained an inheritance". The expression is very interesting because it can be translated that we have obtained an inheritance or that we have become an inheritance. Think about Ruth, when she married Boaz she obtained an inheritance. But she also became our inheritance, our heritage. This is what our testimonies do, they become the inheritance of the saints. You have a rich inheritance, treat these testimonies as your personal treasures and pray that your testimony could also become a treasure.

This reminds me of Sardonyx, one of the twelve precious stones in the New Jerusalem. The stone is composed of two stones, Sard and Onyx together like a sandwich. Often it will be one layer of brown or black and one layer of white. This stone comes right after Emerald which is considered the most precious of all precious stones. So when I first saw it I laughed. This is a precious stone? How can this stone stand next to an emerald? But then I realized that was my experience. When I first came into the church another brother also came in. He was in medical school and as an undergraduate he had played on Notre Dames football team when they were national champions. He was the emerald and I was the sardonyx. So then I got really interested, now it was personal, Lord, how can this stone stand next to an emerald? Well you have probably heard of Cameos, and Intaglio is just like that. They are both carved out of Sardonyx. So I found a picture of this intaglio, the sculptor had carved through the top layer of brown and made a border like the frame of a picture. Then in the white layer he made the king sitting on the throne in his court surrounded by members of the court. Then in the black layer at the back he carved some sinister characters in the shadows. It was a masterpiece. I realize the Holy Spirit is the sculptor and He can make us stand.

112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Watchman Nee said that martyrs become martyrs long before they are martyred. This is the attitude you must have. If I am left behind after the rapture my plan is to become even more bold to preach the gospel. I have inclined my heart to perform the Lord's statutes even unto the end.

Jesus is the Truth

113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Vain means empty and truth means reality. Little by little as you spend time in the word you will come to realize everything else is vain thoughts. On this Christian forum I had shared about AI and how it was the beast system rising. A response I got was that I was being anxious. I said I am not anxious, I see the day of the Lord drawing near and I am rejoicing for that. They assumed I was saying we need to try and stop it from happening. I said that would be foolish, God said it would come in His word, you can't stop it or you will simply be fighting against God. Apart from the word of God everything is just a vain thought.

114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

I post about twenty posts a day on a Christian forum and half of those posts are about the rapture, a very controversial topic. However, I don't have all the issues everyone else has with bitter fighting on the internet because I hide behind the word of God as my shield. Do you see, I put up the word of God and then say a few words while crouched down below it. Anyone wants to take a shot at me they have to try and go through my shield, no one even tries. 380,000 people have visited my blog with hardly any attacks.

115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Stop trying to get along. Make it clear you will keep the commandments of God and that will keep away the pests like bug repellant.

116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Now I do get a lot of attacks on the half of my posts that are engaging in the discussions, but the Lord upholds me according to His word and I get stronger, like the verse "iron sharpens iron". But in the midst of all these attacks always keep your hope in view. You don't want to be ashamed because you lost your temper or said something you shouldn't have. "Deliver me from temptations".
It seems I am always tempted to say something I shouldn't.

117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

When we go into the ring we need to be girt about with truth. It will hold us up. In the end everyone respects the truth, though for some it will be the very end.

118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

This is what you see, you will see that deceit results in falsehood and that will be vanity, nothing but ashes left after the judgment. You know this is where it leads as soon as you see some err from thy statutes. It isn't clear that they are intentionally taking another path. What is clear they err, like those who tolerate sin thinking this is what is meant by "love the brethren".

119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

This is what being sanctified means. You are separated unto God. They will mock and ridicule but then when you see them being put away by God like dross, then you are thankful to the Lord and love His testimonies. I have seen this happen so I know that vengeance belongs to God, He will put away all the wicked like dross. What I want to do before that happens is remove as much dross from my life as I can.

120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Don't listen to fools, you should fear the Lord. God did not spare His own son, you really think He'll spare you? That is foolish.

New Info: Massive Arrests, Massive Arrests 08/22/2024

It is time for thee, Lord to work

121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.

lynch-pin

1. 1.
   a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization.

The Lord says He is going to pull the lynch-pin

It is time for thee, Lord, to work

121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.

We are the Lord's witnesses. It is our job to witness. But the Lord said that if they hated Him they would hate us. So imagine you are a key witness in a big trial of some big mob boss. They will want to kill you if you testify. This is how Satan will feel, so according to our covenant the Lord will not leave us or forsake us.

122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.

The Holy Spirit is surety for us. We have a covenant with God to be the bride of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was given to the church on Pentecost as surety of that covenant. So we are told He is our defense attorney to help us as Satan will attack us. He is the accuser of the brethren.

123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

This all works out to salvation for us because we see what the world would be like without the word of the Lord's righteousness. We see what the world would be like without His salvation. Nothing helps us to appreciate what we have like seeing what it would be like if we didn't have it.

124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

We are being trained to rule and reign. We aren't being raised as arrogant swine, rather we see what it is like to live under tyranny and we pray for mercy so that when we do rule we can be merciful ourselves. This is how the Lord teaches us His statutes.

125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

We are serving the Lord but all of us see through a glass darkly. We don't understand, we don't know the testimonies. This is why there is so much debate over eschatology. I see the seven year period at the end of the age as summer school for those who didn't know the Lord's testimonies. You can't know them without experiencing them. Jesus was scourged, we need to have some experience that can help us know that testimony. He was accused and convicted in a monkey trial, we need experiences to know what that is like. He was put to death like some common criminal, we need to know what that is like. This is the fellowship of His sufferings.

126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.

We have to do our part which is to take up our cross and follow Him. Once we do that, once we also are put to death on the cross then it is time for Him to work with the power of His resurrection to raise us up in glory.

127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

When you walk out of that tomb in the outstanding resurrection then you love the Lord's commandments above fine gold. No one can buy what you have.

128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

All the false ways are ways to avoid going to the cross but pretending you have the glory of the resurrected Christ. It is like wearing the belt of the heavyweight champion of the world without ever actually getting into the ring to earn that belt. You are a phony. You are living a lie. It is horrible. To be the real thing is glorious and wonderful, to be a phony is horrible, a nightmare.

Let not any iniquity have any dominion over me

129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

One of the wonderful things about the word of God is it will break the bonds and the yoke of sin so that nothing can have dominion over you. Your soul keeps the word and the word keeps your soul.

130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

This light delivers us from the kingdom of darkness. The darkness does not comprehend or conquer the light, rather the light dispels the darkness. This is how we get healed, by removing darkness from within us.

131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

The word of God is oxygen to our spirit. Many people get depressed, they feel "they can't breathe". The problem is a lack of spiritual oxygen.

132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Do you feel lonely, unloved? Look upon the word and God will look upon you.

133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Is there anything that has dominion over you? The Lord said "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free". If you feel like you are not free but held in dominion it is a lie. Spend time in the word and you will be freed.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

Sometimes the oppression of man seems very real. Could be a domestic issue, or an issue with your boss or even the law outlawing the gospel or the Bible or prayer. In every case Jesus, the incarnate word of God, can deliver you from this oppression.

135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

We all want to be loved, to be appreciated, to be taught and not to be ignorant. This will happen if you spend time in the word of God.

136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

In the end you will see all the fuss, all the complaints, all the corruption that people are crying about, the fundamental cause for all of it is that they keep not the Law. By Law I mean God's word has certain properties just like the laws of Physics. If you keep the word the law of life will cause you to be filled with life, and if you don't keep it you will be dead. It is that death that causes all the crying and complaining.

Give me understanding and I shall live

137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.

What is the purpose of life? I have heard many suggestions, but whatever the purpose is for your life, know this, one day you must stand before the Lord. He is righteous and upright are His judgments. So then is the life that you are living going to be able to stand before the righteous judge?

138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Any honest person will become very uneasy, what should I do? I have to stand before the Lord at the end of my life, so what should I be doing right now? Well the word that the Lord has commanded is righteous and very faithful. If you follow His word your testimony will be able to stand in that day.

139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

You don't see the word "zeal" too often in the Bible and that is because this word is usually translated as jealousy. But I am reminded of the verse in the gospels that the zeal for the Lord's house consumed the Lord and flipped the money changers tables and said the house of God is supposed to be a house of prayer and you have turned it into a house of merchandise. This was also a key reason why they crucified Jesus. The Lord said you cannot serve God and Mammon and sure enough they chose Mammon and crucified Jesus.

140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Idolatry, covetousness and mammon are not pure, they are deceitful and full of artifice. This is why we have the latin term "let the buyer beware".

141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

The world is filled with the covetousness and they rank people based on money, wealth, status, position, power, etc. If you are separated from the world you will be small and despised. If you are not small and despised there could be a problem with your sanctification. But this convicts them, because the apostasy is turning the church into a house of merchandise claiming it is essential for them to "carry out their ministry" and yet here you are small and despised and you don't need to turn your house into a house of merchandise.

142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

This is what we need, an everlasting righteousness. Something that will go through the fire of God's judgment and come out the other side. We need truth, not a deceitful mumbo jumbo of lies and deception. All of that will burn up and be nothing but ashes.

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

If no pain no gain. If the Christian walk were easy there would be no glory.

144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

And that is the answer that I sought. If you have a testimony that Jesus is in you, the hope of glory then the righteousness of that testimony is everlasting. You don't need to earn a million dollars, you don't need to win a super bowl or be elected president. Simply, have a testimony that Jesus Christ lives in me and for me to live is Christ and to die is gain and then that testimony will be everlasting. If you can understand that then you can receive eternal life.

I cried unto thee

145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

When I read the book of Job I thought "what will it take to get Job to cry unto God?" It seems like the whole book is Job talking to his friends and complaining without turning to the Lord until the very end.

146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

Isn't it amazing how we can go through our whole life and every day we need to be saved? You don't keep the Lord's testimonies on your own, apart from Him you can do nothing.

147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

Fifty years ago I was hitchhiking across England, sleeping under bushes and waking at the dawn. I can still remember it vividly fifty years later. I remember times where I thought I was finished, had absolutely nothing and was hoping in the Lord's word. We need these experiences.

148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

But now I am meditating in the Lord's word every day, without fail. It is the joy and rejoicing of my heart.

149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.

This is my prayer, that the Lord would hear my voice, that He would quicken me according to His righteous judgment. I love the idea that this is a law, the law of life, like the law of gravity.

150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

I feel like those that follow after mischief are on the earth, creeping in the shadows and hiding under rocks. But if I can fill myself with the word, if the Lord can hear my voice, and quicken me according to the law of life, well then, I can soar above the earth, above them that follow after mischief. They are far from thy law, they are far from the law of life, far from those of us soaring in the sky.

151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.

Isn't this great! So many people feel like God is far from them, the Lord is far from them, He doesn't hear their voice. The solution is simple and the problem is obvious. You are not hearing His voice, you are not filled with His word, that is why you are not near the Lord.

152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

It is truly amazing how God has told us the end from the beginning, and how the word of God is so perfect, so amazing in every way. The word of God stands up to the most intense scrutiny for thousands of years.

Consider mine affliction

153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

What a great promise. We have many afflictions. Could be in our family, with our marriage, with our children, with our health, with our job, with many different things. How many ways do we need the Lord to deliver us. We pray for the salvation of family members, the restoration of people, the healing of people. Now our basis to ask the Lord to consider our affliction and deliver us is that we forget not the Law, the word of God. The word of God is the medicine for what ails us and we don't forget that.

154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

According to the word of God we have been given the Holy Spirit to plead our cause and to fill us with life. That is according to the word of God, it is the earnest of our inheritance.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

The wicked pretend to be above those that treasure the Lord's word. They pretend to be free from sin, but in reality salvation is far from them, they live in a lie of their own making, and that is because they don't seek the Lord's statutes. It is intentional, they want to do things on their own and belittle those that pray for deliverance.

156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Tender mercies are awesome, when you experience it that is one of the sweetest experiences in this life. You never forget it. Just like the word of God says, 1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

This reminds me of the mighty men of David, I think one slew 800 men. They were surrounded and many were their enemies yet they stood their ground and fought like champions.

158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

We love the sinners but hate the sin. But what we really need to do is speak the word, the pure word, the unadulterated word, the word of truth and grace, seasoned with salt, but spoken in kindness.

159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.

The Lord loves us, He desires to quicken us. If you love the Lord's precepts then one of them is to confess your sins and have a righteous man (a man whom Christ is his righteousness) to pray for your healing. The precept is that this prayer availeth much.

160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Some claim that there are no more miracles, but that is baloney, the righteous judgments endure forever. The word of God is true, it is reality, from the very beginning to the very end.

Reduced Suitcase Nukes 08/23/2024

Have no respect of persons

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

I am a series 7 and series 63 stock broker. When the 2008 mortgage meltdown occurred it was very clear that the banks had violated their fiduciary responsibility and that was criminal. The plan was very horrible. You give NINJA mortgages (no income no job) and for five years the people scrape together all their money to pay the mortgage in hopes of climbing out of poverty. Then after five years a balloon mortgage kicks in and the amount they owe each month doubles, say from $2,000 to $4,000. The people can't afford it, default on the loan, and the bank seizes the property. The bank was paid 120k over five years and now they keep the money and the house which they can sell again. This is the kind of thing that rich people do to become rich, to become princes. James rebukes anyone who would respect a rich person over a poor person saying don't you know these are the same ones that persecute you without a cause? We need to be those that stand in awe of the word of God and not of men.

162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

A "gold digger" rejoices when she finds a boyfriend who is "wealthy". The real treasure is in the word of God. Pray that God opens your eyes, because that simple little book in just about every home contains great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

"Too big to fail". Do you know what they were saying? The criminal violation during the mortgage meltdown was brazen, it was out in plain sight and it was obvious. So how could they be "too big to fail" meaning too big to prosecute? It was because these banks knew a secret about the US government that would have caused the US government to collapse. They blackmailed the government, you prosecute us, we'll expose your involvement with 9/11. This is why I hate and abhor lying of all these corrupt "princes". Love the law, Jesus is the incarnated word of God, love Him.

164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

I praise God for everything that I see taking place on earth today. We were told two thousand years about this, we were warned, the Lord told us the end from the very beginning. This shows how great He is, how clear His vision is, how great His wisdom is. He didn't just see AI, and WW3 and the theft of everything the people have by the government gangsters. No, He also gave us the way of salvation. He showed us the path that leads to life and He blazed the trail for us.

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Recently people are offended over everything and have no peace. Not me. I am not offended by Biden or Harris, on the contrary I find they are very good for the gospel. People see what is happening in the world, they see who is leading the US and they realize there is no salvation in any other name but Jesus Christ the Lord of all. Others are offended by Trump and Vance, they don't offend me. Samson used the jawbone of an ass so Jesus Christ the strong man, the incarnated word, has told us that He can use the jawbone of an ass. Do not think that Samson will use the jawbone of an ass to bring salvation, nope, he only uses it as a weapon to kill Philistines. Those who are most upset with Samson were the Philistines. So I am not offended by posts that ridicule, and slander Trump. Instead I say "Thank you Lord for showing me who the Philistines are".

166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

This also reveals mens hearts. They'll tell you they are Christians, they'll tell you what they think you want to hear. But listen to the salvation they are hoping for, is it the Lord? Ignore what they say and focus on what they have done, is it the Lord's commandments?

167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

This is the best, there are times we get to truly see what is within a person. For example when Trump was shot, put on his knees praying and then rises fist in the air saying to the crowd to fight, fight, fight. That tells you what is within him. Likewise, when Biden wins the primary even though we all knew he had dementia and then they pull him off the ticket and install Kamala Harris who didn't win a single vote, all while telling us "we must save our democracy". That tells you all you need to know about them as well. The testimonies I love are about faith, hope and love. Testimonies of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, living in others and being expressed through them.

168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

This is the big reveal, those that truly know the Lord and belong to Him walk in the light knowing that all they do is seen by the Lord. If you ever get around someone who says things like "no one will ever know" then you need to escape as soon as possible. Pray for the Lord's deliverance.

The Prayer of a righteous man availeth much

169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

To me this is the greatest gift anyone could ask for, that your prayers would come near before the Lord. To really have power in prayer you need to understand God's will according to HIs word. When you pray "Lord, you said" that is a powerful, effective prayer of a righteous man. Jesus is the righteous man, turn His words into prayers. He is the incarnate word of God, turn the Bible into prayers.

170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

We need prayers of deliverance that are based on the word. Deliverance does not mean avoiding the cross of Christ, it does not mean you do not need to go outside the camp in disgrace. No deliverance means rising from the grave in glory.

171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

Resurrection from the dead is God's statute. Eternal life is God's statute. A kingdom built on righteousness is God's statute.

172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Being a witness of the Lord is God's statute. Feeding the saints is God's statute. Warning sinners of the coming judgment is God's statute.

173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

We are held by His own hands and nothing can take us out of His hands is also one of God's statutes.

174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

A glorious salvation is also one of His statutes.

175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

God's judgments in this age are correction, they adjust us and help us. In the next age they could destroy you if you ignored them in this age. That we would be to the praise of His glory is also one of God's statutes.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Jesus is the good shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, that also is one of His statutes.