2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are eight qualities that Peter calls the great and precious promises. These eight qualities are a gift from God to enable you to be partakers of the divine […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in faith
Timothy is a young man who has the calling of God to preach. Paul is instructing Timothy how to act so as to ensure that his message is not lost on individuals who believe he is too young. Because of Timothy’s age, it would be easy for others to discount him […]

Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
God expects you to be diligent. If you are diligent, HE will reward you. In 2 Peter 1:4-7, we are told about eight precious promises that you can obtain. The eight precious promises are […]

Proverbs 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened: and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
The word straitened in this passage can also be translated as distress. How would you like to live your daily life without distress? How would you like to live your life not stumbling in sin? God has […]

Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Apollos was a man who was given great talents by God. Apollos while not very knowledgeable in all the ways of God, was […]

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 […]

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 […]

Psalms 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
Are you ready for action? There are those who say that they trust God but they are unwilling to act upon their faith. God desires that you not only acknowledge HIM in your life but that you […]

Psalms 102:2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
God will never leave you nor forsake you. Even though you are in the valley of the Shadow of Death, you have nothing to fear because […]

Psalms 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
In this Psalm, Asaph is sees that there are many who are being dealt with unjustly. He asks God to defend the poor and fatherless, to do justice to the afflicted and needy, and to deliver the poor and needy. Asaph understands […]

Psalms 81:10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
In order to receive God’s promise from this verse, you must first fulfill the condition that God lays out for you. It sounds so simple but you must first be […]

Psalms 78:8  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
Where is your heart? Are you totally committed to God? Have you made a commitment to follow God with all your heart?
God did many wonderful works […]

Psalms 77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
There is nothing that requires you to remember all the good things God has done for you. God does not require that you spend four hours each day thinking about all the things HE has done for […]

Psalms 48:13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
How well do you understand the good things that God has done for you? Have you taken the time to consider the things that God has done? Do you recognize the things HE has done to protect […]

Psalms 47:1 O Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
What is the voice of triumph? The voice of triumph can be heard by a soldier after they have defeated an enemy. The voice of triumph is a loud cheer that encourages the winning side and totally demoralizes any […]

Psalms 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Is your glass half empty or half full? What is your perspective on life? In this Psalm, David is talking about the Lord forgetting him and the Lord hiding HIS face. David mentions his enemies are being exalted over him. David understands that his trust is in the Lord and as such, it is to God whom he is seeking to find deliverance from his present distress. In the end, David has not yet seen the deliverance of the Lord, but he still is singing the praises of God.

David ends this Psalm by acknowledging that God has dealt bountifully with him. How can one proclaim that God has dealt bountifully with them when in their current position, they are wondering whether God has forgotten them? How has God dealt bountifully with David when David�s enemies are currently winning the battle? While David personally may be in the valley of the shadow of death, he understands that God writes the last chapter and that while things may be bleak this moment, based upon God�s faithfulness in the past, he can rejoice because God will triumph in the end.

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

You are commanded to think upon those things that are pure. By thinking upon those things that are pure, you are thinking upon the things of God and are adding virtue to your life. The word of God is pure words. This means that if you desire to add virtue to your life, you must take the time to study God�s word. You must fill your mind with God�s word. The more time you spend studying HIS word, the purer your thoughts and the greater the possibility that HE will be able to use you.

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

When Jesus came down out of the mountain after being transfigured, a man came to him with a son who was a lunatic. Jesus healed this man�s son. While Jesus was up in the mountain, this man had brought his son to the disciples and had asked them to heal his son. However, the disciples were unable to heal the son despite the fact that Jesus had previously given them the authority to cast out devils.

Shortly after this miracle, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to heal this man. Jesus replied that they could only heal this man if they had prayed and fasted. The disciples had the power but they did not have the right mindset. Just because Jesus had given them the general authority, they needed to humble themselves and ensure that their life was right before God before they fought the spiritual battle of removing a devil from another man. Until they were mentally ready, God was not going to enable them to do great things for HIM. God needed their mind and heart to be in the right place because if it were not, the disciples would have been more proned to take credit for the miracle rather than giving God the glory that HE is due.

Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Jesus had just feed the 5,000 and HE sent HIS disciples away while he went up into the mountain to pray. Jesus disciples were facing a severe storm in the midst of the sea. Jesus did not leave HIS disciples alone but came out to meet them in their time of need walking on the water. While the disciples initially were troubled at the sight of seeing Jesus, Jesus reassured them as to who HE was.

Peter had just seen Jesus do a great miracle by turning a boy�s lunch into a meal for a multitude. Peter who was a seasoned sailor was in the midst of a storm that was too large for HIM to handle. Peter sees and hears Jesus and all HE can think about is coming to Jesus. Peter did not care that it was impossible to walk on water to meet Jesus. Peter was not concerned about his impossible circumstances. All Peter desired was to draw close to Jesus. Peter asked Jesus to call him and Peter instantly obeyed that calling.

Matthew 14:16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

The disciples understood that the people had a need. They saw that the people were hungry and that it was getting late. The disciples ask Jesus to stop ministering to the multitudes and send them away so that the people could minister to their need for food. However, Jesus had another lesson for the disciples to learn. Rather than see a need and be courteous in allowing the people to meet the need, the disciples learned an important lesson in allowing God to meet a need through them. The disciples did not have much, but what they had God was able to use to meet the needs of others.

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

The scribes and Pharisees had seen Jesus� miracles, they had heard HIS� teaching and they had seen HIS� sinless life. The scribes and Pharisees understood the scriptures and of all people, they should have been the ones to recognize that Jesus was their Messiah. When the wise men came to Herod and asked him where the king of the Jews was to be born, the scribes and the priests told him in Bethlehem. Yet regardless of all their knowledge and observations, they still were not convinced that Jesus was the One.

Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

During Jesus� ministry on earth, HE only commended two individuals for their great faith. Jesus told many individuals that it was their faith that made them well, but only two were set out as examples to us as individuals with great faith. Jesus commended the centurion in this passage as being great in faith and he was not even an Israelite. You might naturally think that if Jesus was going to commend two individuals for their great faith that they would be of the seed of Abraham.

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

The things of this world love to draw your attention away from God. It is so easy to lose track of the things of God and to allow your problems to become your main focus. However, Jesus commanded you during the Sermon on the Mount that you were not to allow worry to abide in you. Instead, your focus was to be upon your relationship with God. Jesus reminded you how God is faithful and that by worrying you are taking your attention off of God.

Proverbs 31:31a Give her of the fruit of her hands;

Solomon was instructed to seek a virtuous woman to be his wife. His mother showed him the things he should be looking for in order to recognize the virtuous woman. His mother informed him of the benefits of having a virtuous woman. Now his mother admonishes Solomon that he is not to prevent his virtuous wife from receiving glory for the inward character that she has developed in her life.

The virtuous woman is going to have an impact not only in her home, but also in the community. While Solomon benefited by being married to a virtuous woman, his mother instructed him to permit his wife to have impact in the community. Solomon was to allow her to enjoy the fruit that was a result of her godly character.

Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Paul had been entrusted to a centurion named Julius who was charged with taking him to Italy. Along the way, Paul had warned Julius that they should not proceed any further on their trip because of the weather. However, Julius listened to the master of the ship rather then Paul and now the ship was caught in a great storm.

During the storm, an angel of God appeared unto Paul and told Paul that God�s will had not changed and that Paul would still preach in Rome. The angel also informed Paul that not one life would be lost on the ship although the ship itself would be wrecked.

Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Paul had just been falsely accused of doing something he had not done. The Jews in Jerusalem rioted and now Paul was sitting in prison wondering what was going to happen next. Paul naturally was a little discouraged so when Lord spoke with him, HE started out by telling Paul to take comfort.

Paul had understood the will of the Lord to be that he was to preach the gospel in Jerusalem. Paul was the type of individual no matter what occurred in his life, he was going to continue to fight until the Lord told him to stop. Paul was ready to die in Jerusalem should that be necessary. Paul was looking for every opportunity to share with anyone whether they would listen or not the truth of the gospel.

Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

John Mark had been traveling with Paul and Barnabas on their last missionary journey. During this trip, John decided that he was going to return to Jerusalem and thus left Paul and Barnabas to finish the work. God had evidently called John to follow Paul and Barnabas but John did not finish the journey with them.

In Hebrews 12:1, scripture states, �Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us�. This verse is preceded by many examples of individuals who had to demonstrate faith during their lifetime. Paul felt that John Mark had quit the race that was set before him. John did not finish the missionary journey and thus demonstrated his lack of faith.

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul were serving the Lord in Antioch. They were obeying the great commission to go out and preach the gospel. As they were obeying God, God spoke to these five men that HE had a special purpose for Barnabas and Saul. These men were not necessarily looking for direction from God, but specific direction came as they were busy serving God and keeping a right relationship with HIM. Because they were seeking to do God�s will, God�s will was revealed to them.

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Saul saw how the teaching of the disciples was destroying the traditions of the Jews. Saul was filled with himself and he decided to do something about it. Saul had been trained in the law of Moses. He did not want to see his power and the power of the priests destroyed because these disciples were teaching a different doctrine.

Because of Saul�s training, he thought he was doing the will of God by destroying those who where harming the traditions of the Jews. Saul was well educated but his knowledge was only superficial because he was more concerned about the power he derived from his knowledge rather than how close of a relationship he could have with God. Saul knew the truth since he was there when Steven preached the sermon using only the Old Testament scriptures. However, Saul rejected the truth of Stephen�s words.

Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Hoy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Stephen had just preached a message that convicted the high priest and the counsel. The men who just heard his message where gnashing their teeth in such a way that signified that Stephen was in big trouble. Stephen did not respond to these men, but instead he looked to God. Stephen looked to heaven and God gave him a glimpse of heaven.

Stephen had filled his life with faith and virtue and as such, he understood that his security was not here on this earth. Stephen understood his life was in danger. Stephen had great faith; he had performed many mighty works of faith for God. Stephen had studied the scripture and he understood that if God desired to save him, there was nothing these men could do to him. Instead of reacting to his situation here on earth, Stephen looked to God to see what God�s will was for him in this situation. God showed Stephen heaven which helped Stephen prepare his heart to die in such a way that helped convict those who watched his death.