Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
You understand that God has commanded you to love the Lord with all your heart. In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we learn that love thinketh no evil. This means that you cannot harbor any thoughts in your mind against God that HE is […]

Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Adam and Eve had been told that they could eat of any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told them that the day that they eat of that tree they […]

Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
As a Christian, God desires that you add knowledge of the ways of God. However, the sin nature of man is such, that it is constantly putting you at war with the things of God. Satan desires […]

Proverbs 6:19 and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The seventh item in the list of seven abominations unto the Lord is one who stirs up strife among those who should be at peace. The word brethren is a broad term; its meaning would safely stretch anywhere between a physical brother all the way to two […]

Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies,
In this passage Solomon reveals to us seven abominations unto the Lord. This section covers the sixth abomination, one who goes around goes around intentionally telling lies to harm the reputation of another. The second item in the list of abominations was a lying tongue whereas this verse […]

Proverbs 6:17 a lying tongue,
In this passage Solomon enumerates seven abominations unto the Lord. The second item in this list is a lying tongue. Jesus told us that HE is the truth. HE also taught us that it is the truth that will set us free.
When you tell a lie, your actions are not pleasing […]

Proverbs 6:17 A proud look,
In this passage, Solomon is going through a list of seven abominations unto the Lord. The first item in this list of abominations is pride. God hates pride in our lives. As Christians, this list of seven items is readily available to us, all we have to do is open up […]

Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Most Christians will tell you that they do not know the voice of God. They read the stories out of the Bible of God speaking to people and they wished that they […]

Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Paul had already spoken to Felix about his innocence. Felix now called Paul back into the judgment hall once again, and Paul […]

Acts 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Paul had just spent seven days with the believers in Tyre. It was […]

Acts 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Paul was traveling to Jerusalem and he made a stop in Tyre. Paul […]

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
These men were trying to add to the gospel of Christ. Nowhere in the gospels does one see Jesus requiring circumcision in order for someone to be saved. […]

Acts 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
How easy is it for you to allow doubt to cloud your judgment? Thomas had heard with his ears that others had seen Jesus alive, but he refused to believe until he personally saw his risen Lord […]

Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples asked HIM whether HE was going to restore the kingdom of Israel. Before Jesus’ death, Jesus taught HIS disciples that the “day and […]

Psalms 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.
God created the entire world. Because of HIS creative power the world belongs to HIM. However, sin entered the world and because of sin, the world has rejected God’s perfect plan. Before the […]

Psalms 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
When you sin, it is because you lack trust in the Lord. You have basically allowed Satan to convince you that either God does not care what you do here on […]

Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I will be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

It is David�s prayer to be in the presence of God. It is David�s desire that when the world sees him, they see the Lord. Is the prayer of David your prayer? Are you living your life pursuing the things of God or are you simply pursuing what seems right in your own eyes. David had a heart after God�s own heart because it was his desire to pursue God.

The Hebrew word that is translated �face� in this verse is also translated as �presence� in Genesis 3:8. In Genesis, you learn of Adam and Eve�s response when they recognized one of the consequences of their sin was nakedness. In Genesis 3:8, you learn that when Adam and Eve heard the voice of God, they hid themselves from HIS presence.

Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

What is the desire of your heart? What is the key to receiving the desire of your heart? The key is humility. The Lord hears the voice of those who are humble before HIM. You know that God gives grace to the humble but HE resists the proud. You know that you are to delight yourself in the Lord and HE will give you the desires of your heart. However, you cannot delight yourself in the Lord because you desire something from HIM. Instead, you must delight yourself before God with a humble heart.

Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Satan�s second attempt to tempt Jesus came with the misuse of scripture. Satan knows that Jesus is the Son of God but that still does not stop him from attempting to cause Jesus to sin. If Jesus had cast HIMSELF down as requested by Satan, there is no doubt that Jesus would not have died. When Jesus was on the cross, HE acknowledged that all HE had to do was say the word and twelve legions of angels would come to HIS aid. Nonetheless, Jesus understood that HIS power was not in doing what was best for HIMSELF, HIS power was given to HIM to draw the world�s attention to the Father.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Paul is preaching on Mars� hill in Athens. He tells his audience the unknown God whom they worship is the God who made the world. Paul tells them that HE made them, that they are HIS offspring and that if it were not for HIM they could not live.

Paul is encouraging his listeners to reject the false gods that they serve and to serve the One true God. He desires that his listeners develop a personal relationship with their Creator. HE longs to see them accept the truth of who God is and worship HIM for that reason. The message he is offering is that they should change their ways because of who they are and who God is.

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

A controversy arouse regarding whether the Gentiles had to be circumcised prior to being saved. While the Pharisees that believed felt that circumcision was necessary, Peter shared his testimony and reached the opposite conclusion. James then arose and used the prophets to demonstrate that circumcision was not necessary. However, James did proclaim that there were four laws of Moses that the Gentiles must abide by. The Gentiles were to abstain from idols, fornication, things that were strangled, and from blood.

II Corinthians 11:2-3 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

You are the espoused bride of Christ. Christ is returning to this earth to claim you and to take you to the home that HE has prepared for you in heaven. Just as an earthly husband desires his bride to be a chaste or pure virgin, so to, it is Christ�s desire that you save yourself for HIM by not allowing yourself to dwell upon impure thoughts.

God created a perfect world and gave Adam and Eve complete dominion over the earth. However, there was only one rule and that was that they could not eat of the tree of good and evil. Satan came to Eve and caused her to think more highly of herself then she ought. Eve allowed Satan to put impure thoughts in her mind that then caused her to sin and violate God�s perfect law.

Purity is not just skin deep. Purity starts in the mind. Christ told you �That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment� Matthew 5:22. HE also told you �That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.� Matthew 5:28. In order for you to practice virtue, you must learn to guard your mind early and prevent impure thoughts from entering your mind. If you allow impure thoughts to control your mind, you are setting yourself up to follow Eve�s example by allowing yourself to fall into sin.

Christ is the perfect bridegroom and HE desires that you HIS bride remain pure while you wait. Virtue requires that you dwell upon pure thoughts. The gospel of Christ is simple. Throughout the ages, mankind has attempted to corrupt the gospel so as to raise their status among man. By pride they have attempted to mislead many creating a gospel according to works so as to diminish the gift that Christ made upon the cross. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving HIS life for HIS bride. HE is asking HIS bride to remain faithful to HIM and wait for HIM by being virtuous.

Christ is courting you. HE is coming one day soon to take you to heaven. It is your duty to add to your faith virtue which means that you are to save yourself for the Bridegroom by dwelling upon pure thoughts. It is not easy keeping your mind pure living in an impure world. Adam and Eve could not refrain from impure thoughts and they lived in a perfect world. You cannot on your own accord keep impure thoughts out of your mind. However, by the power of the blood, you have the strength to overcome the wicked one. Just because Satan desires to tempt you with impure thoughts, it does not mean that you must yield to that temptation. Instead, demonstrate virtue by learning to not dwell upon impure thoughts. Preserve yourself for the Bridegroom.

No one said it would be easy to add to your faith virtue. Nonetheless, virtue requires that purity be in your mind and in your heart. Do not dwell upon things that are impure. Do not allow yourself to be corrupted into believing anything but the simplicity of the gospel. Keep yourself pure by not dwelling upon things that would not be pleasing unto Christ your Savior. Save yourself for Christ as HE is coming soon for you.

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Do not be surprised when you see individuals backslide from the faith. While you should not be surprised, you should definitely be grieved that someone who had the faith is seduced into departing from the faith. It is one thing for an individual who has not had the truth never to accept it; it is another thing all together for someone who had the truth to now depart from it.

Satan does not give up simply because you became a Christian. Satan understands that you once belonged to him because of your sin and he will do everything in his power to bring you back into his fold. Satan understands that one day he will be destroyed because of his sin. It is his goal to take as many with him as he possibly can. Satan has nothing to lose. Just because you are now a child of the King, in his mind, it does not make you off limits for him to destroy your effectiveness for God and cause you to depart from the faith. Instead, the closer your relationship with God, the more he desires to destroy you.

Satan is not to be trifled with; he is a powerful opponent. Satan understands that he is eventually going to be a loser. However, Satan is just like a cornered mountain lion. The mountain lion is not going to sit down and be captured. The mountain lion is going to be captured while it fights. The mountain lion is going to look for an opportunity to attack. Satan knows what is going to happen, Satan�s sin has made it so that he can never have eternal life in heaven. Satan understands his punishment and his whole purpose is to now cause as much grief to God as he can.

You understand that nothing is sacred with the enemies of God. Just because you are a child of God, it does not mean that you are free from temptations and trials. Satan is going to try to cause you to forsake your faith. Satan desires to cause you to lose sight of the power of God. Satan knows that God created you and that he gain possessions of the souls of men by causing Adam and Eve to sin in the garden. Satan knows that God purchased you back with the life of HIS Only Son. Satan feels that if he has taken you from God once, that it does not hurt to try to take you away again.

You must be vigilant to keep your faith. Paul warns Timothy in this passage that some will depart from the faith. You must learn to be like Job who endured great testing and was able to say, naked came I into the world and naked shall I return. Job refused to curse God and he refused to deny his trust in God. While you may not personally suffer like Job suffered, Satan is still going to put you through the trials in an attempt to cause you to fall short of the glory of God.

Paul has warned you that some will turn from the faith. You have studied God�s word and you understand that Satan is going to lose in the end. Now it is time for you to strengthen your faith so that when the storms of life blow, you will be in a position that you will not quickly be seduced. Do not be seduced by false doctrines. Do not be seduced by lies. Do not be seduced by creating higher standards then those that God demands. You have the truth. Give thanks to God that you have the truth and that through HIM you are more then capable of overcoming the attacks of Satan.

I Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Starting in I Timothy 2:9, Paul is instructing women how they are to abide in the church. Paul instructs women to be modest, to learn in silence, and then not to teach or usurp authority over man. To explain this last instruction, Paul details how it was Eve who first transgressed in the Garden of Eden. The first half of this verse is relating back to verse 14 that is referring to one woman, Eve. Because of Eve�s sin, it became necessary for a Savior. God sent that Savior not through man, but through a woman. If Eve had never had children, there never would have been a Savior.

Paul had been talking about one woman, Eve, when he mentioned that woman was saved by childbearing. However, once he is finished with his explanation as to why women are not to usurp authority over the man, then he transitions back into a general commandment to all women. Paul then instructs women to live in faith, charity and holiness with sobriety.

This final general commandment is no different then what he had instructed all Christians in various passages. The commandment to Christians is that they are to live their life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This is no different for the women. Paul probably finishes this discussion with the general commandment so as to ensure that there is no confusion that the specific instruction does not violate the general commandment. In fact, the specific instruction is designed to enable women to better understand how they are to fulfill the general commandment.

Paul understood that it was important to give instruction to both the men and the women as to what was proper conduct for them during the worship of God. Paul took his teaching and went back to the basic foundation that Christians whether they are male or female have a duty to live in faith, love, purity with self control. However, because these terms are sometimes construed so broadly, Paul gave specific examples at how a woman can live her life pleasing to the Lord and still abide by these principles. This entire passage is similar to Jesus� teaching on adultery. Jesus took the general commandment of one not committing adultery and further explained that principle by stating that if one lusted in their heart, they were guilty of adultery.

You have a duty to live your life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This sometimes means that you are required to do things out of deference for others. Yes, you may feel qualified to do something, but in order to live your life pleasing to God, you must defer to others. A Christian needs to understand that they are not living their lives for themselves, but they are living their life for the glory of God.

Living by faith is understanding God�s will for your life and living it. Sometimes you will have to do things that seem contrary to society today and even the belief of other Christians. However, you live by a higher standard. You must live your life by God�s standards, not by man�s standards. Just because others are doing it, it does not make their actions right in the eyes of God. You must be careful to live your life for God, live your life with self-control, putting God�s will first.

I Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul attributes your ability to love and your ability to demonstrate your faith to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ, it would be harder to demonstrate our love and our faith. The reason it would not be impossible is because God gave to us in the book of Hebrews, several individuals who demonstrated their faith prior to Jesus� life here on this earth.

God gave HIS only Son so that you might have faith and live your life for HIS purposes. God demonstrated ultimate love by sending Jesus to die for you. Jesus demonstrated ultimate love by laying down HIS life for your sin. Jesus died so that you might live your life full of faith and love. This is what is expected of you since the death of Jesus Christ.

God�s grace is abundant. In the next verse, Paul tells you that he was chief among sinners but that Christ forgave him and still used him. Your sins are a hindrance for you to live your life for God. Satan loves to remind you of your sins so that you become reluctant to demonstrate for faith and love to God. However, this is why Jesus came, so that you might have freedom from the bondage of Satan if you simply confess your sins before God and allow HIM to forgive you of all unrighteousness.

God desires that you live a blameless life just like HIS� Son. However, God knows that because of the sin of Adam and Eve, it is impossible for you to never sin; this is why God created a way that you can have freedom over Satan. Jesus demonstrated HIS faith and HIS love for us; now it is your obligation to God to demonstrate your appreciation for HIS grace by living your life according to HIS purposes.

God has given you the tools that you need to exercise your faith and to demonstrate your love. The question for you today is whether you are obeying HIS voice and doing HIS will. Are you living your life full of faith in such a matter that God is glorified by your actions? You have an obligation to live your life for HIM. God has given you so much, and yet all HE requires of you is to do HIS will for your life. If you had a loving boss who paid you a salary in six figures that asked you to do something simple during your normal working hours, you would not question HIS authority but would do as he requested. So to, God has given so much to you, you should be listening to HIS voice and be looking for opportunities to do HIS will.

God�s grace is sufficient for your life. Why don�t you demonstrate your love for the Lord by spending time with HIM in the Bible, in prayer, and in serving HIM? A young couple in love will demonstrate their love one for another by spending time with each other and by seeking out opportunities to please their partner. So to, you must demonstrate your love to God by spending time with HIS so that you know HIS will and can obey it.

God does not ask too much of you. Satan is going to do everything in his power to ensure that you do not do the will of God. You need to take the time to ensure that you understand God�s purpose for your life and that you live your life according to that purpose. God has done too much for you for you to just do what you want when you want. God�s grace is abundant; now use your second change for the glory of God.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

We do not know much about Enoch. However, what we do know about him is this � he never died. Enoch and Elijah were the only people ever to live and not die. Enoch was not translated because he lived a good life. Enoch was not translated because he was a good example to his fellow man. Enoch was translated because of his faith that he had in God. Enoch had such a close walk with the Lord that this relationship pleased God.