Good morning, beloved ones! May your preparation day be bright with my presence with you, and may you keep the sense of my love and care for you all through the day, for you are never absent from my mind.
The subject for today is "study." As the Scriptures say, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15. While it is true that my Spirit speaks to you through the right, or spirit-sensitive side of the brain, these thoughts and feelings must be connected to the left hemisphere of the brain through words. Thus the Scriptures were written by men who were chosen to be spokesmen for God because they were sensitive to the movings of the Holy Spirit, and were also inspired and gifted to put these inspirations into words.
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy: where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.... For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:19, 21.
This connection with Scripture is vitally imperative, because Satan also endeavors to come into your mind through the right side of your brain and put thoughts and feelings there that he can use to motivate you to think and do things that are inspired by him. If you do not check these things by the inspired word of God, you will surely fall under his temptations and be led astray, and eventually become a captive of his will.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they were captives of Satan's deceptions coming through the right, or emotional, side of the brain. Eve was captured by the devil's flattery and the prospects of rising to a higher level of existence. Adam fell because of his love for Eve, her visible appearance of beauty and winsomeness, and her argument that although she had eaten of the apple, she did not die. Not until they had both partaken of the forbidden fruit did their robes of light and innocence disappear and they realized the awful truth that they had sinned in direct disobedience to the spoken word of God, and followed their own reasoning against his command.
So the journey back into the lost inheritance of mankind must be through the pathway of obedience to the spoken and written words of truth in the Bible, augmented by the Testimonies [the writings of Ellen White], which were also given by inspiration to support and uphold the truths which are written in the Scriptures, and apply them for the last generation. With the study and inspiration and understanding of these truths, everyone can have the knowledge that is necessary to equip my final people to go through the end of time.
But you must not think that because you have once studied the words and teachings of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy that this is sufficient for you to be ready for what is coming upon the world. No, you must constantly be a diligent student for yourselves and not just rely upon the teachings of others. When you are studying my Word under the guidance and inspiration of my Spirit, you will be continually discovering new light, new inspiration, and new gems of truth to apply to your daily life and guide you through each day. And I will be right beside you to open your mind to what I want to teach you for that day. If you do not do this, you will wake up too late and find yourselves to be among the foolish virgins.
All light and truth comes through me. But it is progressive. "The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more until that perfect day." Prov. 4:18, 19. Therefore you cannot lean only upon the studies and teachings of others, because what was light for them in their time of history may not be up to the advancing light that is needed now to shine upon your pathway which will guide you safely through the days ahead. New light must not contradict old light, but make clearer the past light and apply it to your understanding of present truth for this generation. That is why you must not get involved in speculation. Everything must be firmly grounded in the bedrock of eternal truth that has already been revealed.
As you get closer to the end of time, you must be diligent students of the Word, for as you continue to study and ask for wisdom, I will flash new insights for you that others in the past have not seen, because it was not applicable to their time. This is the extra oil that the wise virgins had that the foolish did not. I will give new light to those who seek to understand the truth for their times, and the light that is received will guide you safely all the way to the kingdom.
But beware of false prophets, who, not understanding the advancing light of present truth, go backward into what may have been light for another time, but is no longer light for today. For example, the growing practice of keeping the feast days. Paul accurately says that these rituals bring no one to perfection, which is the goal of the second apartment ministry that I am doing right now. [See Heb. 10:1-25.] But in the same way, many are being deceived to believe that all that is necessary to be a part of those who live to see me come is to accept me as their Savior and live the best lives that they can, and my blood will cover the ignorances and imperfections of their characters. Not so! Through the advancing light shining through my Word, and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, I will finish my work of perfecting the characters of my people.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
When I cease my intercessions in the Most Holy Place, I will pronounce the words, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:11, 12.
So make haste! Be diligent students of the Word, and the Spirit of Prophecy which I have graciously given to guide you to the truth for these final days of earth's history.
Go now to the activities and responsibilities of this preparation day, but keep a quiet heart, grounded firmly in my Word, and my Spirit will have fertile ground to speak to you and guide you successfully through today and every day until I come and take you home. Lovingly, Jesus.