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'Study:' The word means, to give one's attention to acquiring knowledge, to examine attentively, to read or to observe with concentration and purpose.

The Greek word translated 'study' is 'speudazo.' This implies to use diligence and speed. In other words 'be quick' be diligent to present yourself to YaHuWaH an approved student. No one will doubt but that study is important. In every school around the world students of all ages and grades are being encouraged to 'study', to be diligent and eager to present themselves approved. The youth at school or university who ignore the advice to study, later regret their foolishness. If study is so important in secular life, for obtaining a high education and eventually a good job, how much more important must it be when one's very character and eternal life are at stake! Let us examine the process of study by taking this R.O.A.D.

No one can study without reading. Indeed we may say that reading forms a major part of study. But reading for the sake of reading is pointless. We must be selective in our reading, else we will waste valuable time cluttering up our minds with useless data. What should we read? Believers, who are, in fact 'kings and priests of the Most High' (1 Peter 2:5-9) are commanded to read YaHuWaH 's Torah: for it contains divine directions on how to live. Here is specific instructions to a 'king' or potential ruler. Read it carefully, because it may well apply to you.

People read in a variety of ways. Some skip from page to page picking up bits of information as they go. Others read deliberately word by word, line by line, from beginning to end. Still others only read the headlines. Styles vary from person to person; but the style is not the important thing. What matters is how much is being taken in. A young man asked the Savior an important question one day. In typical Jewish fashion the Master answered it with a question of equal importance, the answer to which contained the answer to the first question. Take note:

How readest thou? Not just what, but how? How are you reading YaHuWaH's Torah? Could you not find the answer to your question there? Because it is there! In Matthew 19:17 the Savior plainly answered a similar question by saying: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. In short, if you are prepared to read YaHuWaH 's Torah with humility, it has, believe it or not, all the answers to the spiritual problems of life. YaHuWaH 's Torah points the way to salvation through the Lamb's blood and it teaches us how to live.

I will now aim that question at you. How readest thou? Not just what are you reading, but how? How readest thou? Not what is your method or style; but what is your purpose? In other words, Why do you read? What do you aim to learn by reading?

• Do you read just to accumulate facts, extremely important as they occasionally are, albeit of little value if you lose eternal life.
• Do you read to acquire knowledge or skills which will benefit yourself and others? A very good reason for reading I may add.
• Do you read for pleasure, just to entertain - to please yourself and pass the time. This is acceptable to a degree; but is often overdone: for life is more than frivolous entertainment.
• Or do you read to understand the purpose Elohim has in putting you on earth. Do you read to fit yourself to live eternally with Him?

Compare Psalm 8:2 with Matthew 21:16 about babes and sucklings: would you have seen the connection?

Compare Psalm 118:22 with Matthew 21:42 about the cornerstone: would you have seen the connection?

Compare Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40. Did you know that Jonah's experience was prophetic?

Reading with purpose will always unveil the deep spiritual truths in Scripture which a casual, surface browsing will always miss.

Analysis: to separate into parts, to identify, examine and interpret the meaning of things in order to arrive at an opinion or decision.
When, with YaHuWaH 's help, you analyze what you have read, you will arrive at the real aim of the lesson. You will not just accumulate information. Instead you will recognize that Bible information is in fact detailed instruction on how to live.

• John's interest and concern. He wept - much! He really wanted to know: good for him - and for us!
• YaHuWaH 's search for qualified readers. No man was found worthy to open and read the book.

In other words a search was made and personal holiness was the qualifying credential. Now think of that word 'prevailed.' It means to strive, conquer and to obtain victory. In other words, the privilege to read and understand the little book was not won by YAHUSHUA the Lamb without effort, without a personal battle against Satan. This means that 'spiritual understanding' is invariably linked to personal victory over sin and the attainment of holiness. Bible prophecy confirms this.

Certain recorded 'Old' Testament experiences were types, examples, figures, prophetic illustrations and spiritual blueprints of world-encompassing events scheduled to occur in these last days. When you grasp this fundamental truth, one that is repeated over and over again in the Sermon Notes and other articles published on this website, you will read the 'Old' Testament with a completely different outlook. You will see that those ancient stories do not merely provide good moral instruction; but are 'dramatized prophecies,' 'miniature demonstrations,' 'living predictions' of events in our day!

Examples are:

• The story of Samson. He prefigured the church whose power depends upon its sanctification, obedience and dedication to YaHuWaH. Samson's seven locks, (the Sign of his Sanctification) represent the seven Annual Appointed Sabbaths of YaHuWaH. When Samson lost his seven locks he became powerless. In like manner, when the church was forced by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century A.D. to give up celebrating the seven Annual Appointed Feast days of the Almighty, which are specified in Scripture as the divine Sign of Sanctification, it lost its amazing power. But sanctification is returning. Samson's hair is growing back. True believers all over the world are beginning to keep the Almighty's Appointed Feasts. Yes, sanctification is returning and with it will come real power!
• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Daniel 3) That prophecy is a guarantee of how Torah-keeping believers will in the last days refuse to bow down to the image of the Beast (Revelation 13 and 14). The story in Daniel is a 100% guarantee that no amount of fiery persecution will succeed in wiping out YaHuWaH 's people.
• Behind the Ark. When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of YaHuWaH your Elohim, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. (Joshua 3:3) This prophecy tells of how true believers in the last days will return to the obedience of YaHuWaH 's Ten Commandments, a copy of which is still inside the ark of the testament in heaven.



Revelation 11:19

And the temple of YaHuWaH was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The R.O.A.D. to lasting happiness is only trodden by those who do YaHuWaH 's will. The Greek word 'makarios' means happy. Happy is he/she that readeth, heareth and keepeth those things that are written therein. In other words, keep YaHuWaH 's commandments, live out in your life all that you have learned to be right and true and good. So shall you prosper in all that you undertake. Bible prophecy plainly tells us that the end-time church, the remnant, will be keeping the commandments of YaHuWaH.