Acts 23:29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or bonds.
Paul was disliked by the religious leaders of his day because he did not live his life according to their desires. For so many years, they controlled the hearts and […]
Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Paul was about to be beaten, yet he did not sit around and allow himself to be beaten contrary to the law. Paul asserted […]
Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Paul and Silas were being beaten because Paul healed a woman who had demon spirits in her. Paul and Silas were doing good in the name of Jesus Christ and as a result they […]
Acts 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Paul had recently left the church in Jerusalem where he argued that circumcision was not necessary in order to be saved. […]
Acts 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Cornelius was a devout man; he feared the Lord and he led his household in the fear of the Lord. Cornelius was a generous man who gave to […]
Acts 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Just because you are saved, it does not mean that your life will be free of trials and tribulations. In this passage, God is speaking to Ananias and God tells him that Saul will suffer many things as he […]
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Simon had great understanding, but this understanding did not draw the attention of the people to God, instead, it drew the attention of the […]
Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
The religious leaders recognized that God had performed a mighty miracle through Peter […]
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
If you were looking to purchase a bike, you would not go to a tire store. If you were looking for oysters, you would not go to the mountains. If you were looking for knowledge of the ways of God, you do not […]
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Sin places a heavy burden upon your life; it oppresses you and places upon you a yoke of unrighteousness. God does […]
Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Church was not a chore for David, David looked forward to the opportunity to being closer to God. The house of the Lord was not simply a place to go to complete ones weekly religious obligations; it […]
Psalms 106:37-38 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Today we live in a society that does not think twice about killing the unborn […]
Psalms 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
In this Psalm we see several example of how God controls the earth. The psalmist draws our attention to the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. In addition, we are reminded of how God turned a rock into water. God […]
Psalms 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
David is crying out to God to deliver him from his enemies. David sees how the wicked are attempting to destroy HIM with their words. In verse four of […]
Psalms 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
The Psalmist is speaking about national pride. One naturally feels loyalty to their native country and their native tongue. However, while the inhabitants of Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, and Tyre could […]
Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Are you one with God? Have you taken the time to understand what God’s purpose for your life is? Have you obeyed God’s direction for you?
How many times have you seen people try to separate their spiritual lives from […]
Psalms 68:35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
God does not want you relying upon your own strength. God desires that you learn to rely upon HIM and recognize HIM for what HE […]
Psalms 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
You can say that you trust in the Lord, but does your actions demonstrate that you trust the […]
Psalms 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Have you ever prayed to God and requested that HE show you HIS will for your life? Throughout scripture, God promises to show you the way if you have applied yourself to developing certain godly character in […]
James 4:2 yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
In this passage you see a very important element of prayer, asking. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus told you �Ask, and it shall be given you�. He went on to say in verse 8 �For every one that asketh receiveth�. Christ taught the importance of asking when HE promised you in Matthew 21:22 �And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.�
It is important to ask, but just as important in asking is making sure you are asking for the right thing. James went on to tell you in verse 3 �Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.� Thus it is not only important that you ask but that you ask for the right thing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus analogized our relationship with God to that of a son asking his father for bread. Jesus explained that a father would not give his son a rock when he asked for bread. Jesus then said in Matthew 7:11 �If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Psalms 11:1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
David made a commitment in his heart that regardless what occurred in his heart, he was going to trust in the Lord. David understood that there would be times when things would become difficult and that those around him would encourage him to take matters into his own hands but David made a commitment to God. Regardless what trials occurred in his life, David was going to put his trust in the Lord and not in his own strength.
In verse five of this Psalm, David acknowledges that the Lord brings trials into the life of the righteous. David understood that trials are God�s way of testing HIS children to see who will really trust in HIM and who will rely upon their own strength. When trials come into your life, how will you respond? Have you made a commitment to God that when you seem to face difficult times, your trust will be in God?
Proverbs 31:25a Strength and honor are her clothing;
The third benefit that Solomon would receive by marrying a virtuous woman would be that she has a strong mind. In addition to the strong mind, her inward character will produce an outward appearance that Solomon would find beautiful. The virtuous woman has demonstrated that she is a woman of high character and there are blessings attached to those who do that which is right in the eyes of God.
Because the virtuous woman took the time to pursue inward character, God has developed in her a hidden strength that will give her a maturity that will enable her to help others. The virtuous woman has experienced much, and this experience will help her when it comes time to �teach the young women�. It was traditional during this time of history that the young ladies did not receive a formal education; nonetheless, her experiences gave her wisdom and a mental strength. The most important thing was not a formal education but instead was a heart that was dedicated to doing that which is right. Because of her right attitude God has ensured that she was not lacking mentally.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Paul was presenting his case before Felix. Felix had first allowed Ananias along with his spokesman Tertullus to first bring the charges against Paul. It was now Paul�s turn to respond to these charges and to make explanation for his behavior. Paul explained to Felix that he was not speaking to anyone when some Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and they started the riot. Paul also claimed that the Jews could not prove all the charges that they brought against him. Next, Paul told Felix how he strived to live his life so as to maintain a good conscience before God and man. Finally, Paul took advantage of the opportunity and explained how his beliefs actually conformed to the law of the Jews.
Acts 20:24 But none of those things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul was heading to Jerusalem according to the direction of God. Paul was quick to acknowledge that he did not know what would happen to him while he was in Jerusalem. Paul understood that because of all the work he had done with the Gentiles that when he reached Jerusalem, there probably would be great turmoil and he might die. Paul had seen how the Jews reacted to him when he worked with the Gentiles in a Gentile nation.
Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
During the first year of the reign of Darius, Daniel came before God in prayer. This was not a simple little prayer. Daniel came before God abstaining from food and humbling himself. Daniel was praying for his nation. Daniel acknowledged his people�s sin and he pleaded for God�s mercies upon HIS people. While Daniel was praying, the angel Gabriel appeared. Gabriel informed Daniel that he was greatly loved of the Lord. Gabriel then gave Daniel the prophecy regarding the 70 weeks.
Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Darius was king over Babylon and he had been tricked into passing a law that stated that no one could ask a petition any man or god for 30 days. The people were only allowed to petition the king. Daniel violated the law and as a result, he was condemned to die in a den of lions. Darius was not a Jew and did not believe in the God of the Jews. Yet, Darius had seen God�s hand upon the life of Daniel and understood that the God Daniel served was alive and could save Daniel from the den of lions.
Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Daniel was one of the three presidents placed by Darius over the entire kingdom of Babylon. The other two presidents and the 120 princes under the presidents were jealous of Daniel. Daniel had an excellent spirit that caused the king to set him over the whole realm. These other 122 men were so hungry for power, they were looking for ways to cause Daniel to do something wrong to cause Darius to lose favor in Daniel. Nonetheless, they could not find anything that Daniel did wrong.
Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image that was approximately 90 feet tall. He ordered that upon the sound of the music playing, everyone was to bow down to the golden image. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to bow down to the image as they were ordered. The king was going to give Daniel�s three friends a second chance at bowing down to his golden image. However, when Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah told the king that they were not going to bow down to a false god the second chance was taken away. The king commanded that the fiery furnace be made seven times hotter.
Daniel 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He called his magicians, astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans and requested that they tell him the meaning of his dream. Nebuchadnezzar refused to tell the dream because he had forgotten it. All the men who the king had asked to tell him the dream insisted that if the king told them his dream, then they would be able to interpret the dream. Because these men could not tell him his dream, he made a decree to kill all the wise men. Daniel and his three friends were included in this group.
II Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
Asa had an army of five hundred and eighty thousand men. However, he was going against Zerah of Ethiopia who had one million men and three hundred chariots. Before Asa went to battle he cried out to God and asked God to deliver him from the larger army. God heard Asa�s prayer and he went before Asa and destroyed the Ethiopians.
