Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak. Peter and John had filled their heart with the things of God and as a result, they could not stop talking about the good news. Christ was such an important […]

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
In this passage we receive two commandments from Christ that are designed to assist us in our daily walk […]

Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Have you ever thought that you said too much? You know that time where you made matters worse because of what you said. It would have been better to say nothing at all then to say what you were […]

Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Are you happy? When people ask you about your day, do you immediately tell them all the good things that occurred in your life or do you waste your time discouraging them with all the bad things […]

Proverbs 25:6-7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
God resists the proud […]

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther was faced with a difficult […]

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther had just heard through a […]

Matthew 10:37-38 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Jesus came to this earth to set an example for you. HE commands that HE must be number one in your life. You cannot love your father or your mother more than HIM. You cannot love your son or your daughter more than HIM. If you desire to be worthy in the eyes of the Lord, you must love the Lord with all your heart, and then you must be willing to lay aside your own burdens and your own cares in order to take up HIS perfect will for your life and follow HIM.

Proverbs 31:26a She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

The fifth benefit Solomon would receive in marrying a virtuous woman would be that his wife would demonstrate wisdom. Solomon once wrote that �He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.� (Prov. 13:20). By choosing a virtuous woman as a wife, Solomon would not be marrying a woman who would encourage him to do wrong but would encourage him to do what is right.

While Solomon was taught that he was to marry a virtuous woman, Solomon allowed himself to marry many strange women and �when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.� (I Kings 11:4). Solomon may have been the wisest man who ever lived, but he departed from the instruction of his mother which greatly diminished his ability to finish the race that God had set before him.

Acts 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas and been chosen by God to be missionaries to the Gentiles. However, upon completion of their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas ended up waiting in Antioch for a long period of time before God enabled them to go on another journey. During this wait, God used them on a quick trip to Jerusalem were the question was raised whether the Gentiles had to be circumcised before they could be saved. However, just because Paul and Barnabas were in a holding pattern and they were not actively traveling around the world preaching the gospel, this did not mean that they were not seeking ways that they might live their lives for the Lord.

Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me, neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Esther understood that the Jews were about to be destroyed. Esther did not know what to do since the king had not bidden her to come into him for a period of time. Mordecai, Esther�s uncle, asked her �whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?� Esther�s response was to commit to going before the king even though it may mean her life, but she requested that Mordecai gather all the Jews together and that they humble themselves by fasting.

Acts 27:43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

Paul was a prisoner on a boat bound for Rome. Paul foretold that the ship was going to be destroyed and that everyone on board would be saved. Nonetheless, when the shipwreck occurred near land, the soldiers desired to kill all the prisoners lest any of them escaped. The soldiers would rather kill all the prisoners then risk that one of them escape and they all be killed for allow a prisoner to escape. Nonetheless, God had placed Julius in authority. God controls the hearts of kings and God ensured that Paul had obtained the favor of Julius.

Hebrews 11:34b escaped the edge of the sword,

Faith is understanding that God has a higher purpose for your life and living your life for that purpose regardless of the fact that it appears you are about to die. David escaped the sword of Saul on several occasions. The Jews escaped the edge of the sword because of Esther�s faith. Elijah escaped the sword of Jezebel. Joseph�s brothers were going to kill him and he escaped death to be sold as a slave.

The Bible is full of examples of individuals who escaped death because they needed to do more for God. Even the New Testament is full of examples of individuals who escaped death. Peter was led by an angel out of prison. Herod had just killed James and was planning on doing the same with Peter. While Peter did end of being killed later, it was not God�s timing and he escaped the sword on this occasion.

Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh�s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Moses had a choice. Because Pharaoh�s daughter adopted him, he had an inheritance of a king. He would live an opulent lifestyle. However, by birth, we was of the seed of Abraham, and by faith, he chose the more difficult life of serving the Lord.

Just as Moses made a choice in whom he would serve, so too must you make a choice. You were born a citizen of the world and are entitled to live a life of sin. However, HE who created you has a higher calling and desires that you take HIS name and choose to serve HIM rather then enjoy sin for a season. It is by faith that you choose to serve HIM.