Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What does it mean to be called according to God�s purpose? What is God�s purpose for your life? In the next verse, Paul shows us that we are �to be conformed to the image of his Son�. God�s purpose for your life is simple; He did not hide it from you. Instead, God has made His purpose for your life very clear, the decision that you have to make is whether you are going to fulfill that life purpose or whether you are going to continue to live for yourself.

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 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.

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and
what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

What are you going to tell those who are around you? You are supposed to
share with them the message that God has put in your heart. The message
God gives to you is not easily found; it requires that you take the time
to develop a close relationship with God so that you might hear HIS
still small voice. As you draw closer to God and seek HIS� face, God
will give you a message. It is that message that you must share with
those who God brings into your life.

Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Jesus, Peter, James and John just came off the mountain in which Jesus� disciples saw Jesus speaking with Elijah and Moses. A father then came to Jesus asking Jesus to heal his son who had a dumb spirit. This father told Jesus that his son often would cast himself into the fire or into water. Jesus told that father that it was possible for his son to be healed if only he believed. The father replied that he believed but at the same time he acknowledged his lack of faith.

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

God has just told Moses that he is to go and tell Pharaoh to let the nation of Israel go. Moses argues with God about how no one will believe him or hear his voice and God gave Moses two miracles Moses could do; turn the rod into a snake and cause his hand to be leprous. After God gave Moses these two signs, Moses next excuse was that he was not eloquent of speech and as such, he needed an assistant.

God told Moses that HE made the mouth and that Moses was to go and God would teach him what to say. However, Moses was reluctant and he insisted that God give him an assistant. Moses simply did not have the faith to trust that God could use his weakness. God gave Moses Aaron as an assistant. It was Aaron who led the people into worshiping the golden calf. God�s perfect plan was to use Moses� weakness so that God would be glorified and receive all the glory. Moses had received a great calling and while he obeyed, he hampered his ministry because he did not have the faith to trust God to work through his weaknesses.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

In this verse, Paul reminds us that it is not the toiling of the law that makes one innocent before a Holy God, but it is the faith that sets one free. Remember the young ruler came to Jesus and asked HIM what he should do to obtain eternal life. Jesus told the young ruler that he needed to obey the law. The young ruler replied that he had obeyed the commandments from his youth. Jesus then replied that the young ruler needed to sell all that he had and to come follow Jesus. This young ruler may have followed the law, but he left that day a condemned man because he did not have the faith to follow Jesus.

Genesis 22:12 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac upon the altar, when all of a sudden Abraham heard the voice of an angel calling him. Abraham�s ears were prepared to hear the voice of God. Abraham was prepared to hear from God and Abraham did hear from God. If Abraham had been so wrapped up in what he was doing, he could have easily missed God�s message to him.

Abraham understood the importance of always being ready to hear the voice of God. Regardless of where you are at or what you are doing, you need to be ready to hear God. Samuel heard God�s voice while he was in bed, David heard God while fleeing from his enemy, Moses heard God on a mountaintop, Daniel heard God�s voice through a vision, Joseph heard God while in prison, and Elijah heard God through a still small voice. God speaks in many different ways, and regardless of where you are or what you are doing; you need to be prepared to hear God.

Genesis 18:27-28 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Abraham had a personal relationship with the Lord. His relationship was not one-sided, but it was one in which both sides participated. In this passage, we see a conversation between Abraham and the Lord. The Lord took the time to tell Abraham what he was going to do to Sodom. Abraham responded by asking the Lord not to destroy the city if sufficient righteous individuals were found. The Lord agreed.

II Kings 7:17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

When Elisha told the king that in one day God would make food plentiful once again, there was one who was with the king who mocked Elisha and doubted the power of God to bring the thing to pass. By faith, Elisha told the mocker that he would see God�s provision for the city, but then he was going to die before he was allowed to enjoy it.

The next day, the armies of Syria fled from the city of Samaria. The king had appointed the mocker to guard the front gate. However, because of all the people who were trying to leave the city and go plunder the camps of the Syrians, this mocker was trampled to death. The mocker saw God provide food for the people, but he did not enjoy any of it, and instead, he died because of his doubt.

It does not pay to doubt the power of God. Zacharias doubted that God would enable his wife to conceive in her old age and because he doubted, he was not able to speak until the child was born. Moses� sister Miriam doubted God�s calling on her brother and she ended up becoming a leper for a few minutes and living outside the camp of Israel for one week.

God can do the impossible. Of course that is easier said then believed. However, God has a proven track record that you can closely examine. Examine God�s faithfulness in your life and believe that HE will be faithful in the past. This man who mocked Elisha only needed to remember what God had done through Elisha in the past and believe what Elisha said would come to past. However, because this man chose to not believe the words of Elisha, he saw the fulfillment but died not obtaining the blessing.

Nothing is impossible for God. By faith, Elisha condemned the man who had no faith and the man died. God is your Creator, your Maker and your Provider. You have an obligation to hear HIS words and believe HIM. When God tells you something, no matter how impossible it seems, do not lose faith, do not allow Satan to gain the victory in your mind by convincing you that something is too hard for God.

Remember that Joseph received a vision that he was to become a great leader. However, for the next 13 years, God allowed the circumstances that surrounded Joseph to make it seem impossible that God could ever fulfill the vision. Nonetheless, Joseph did not lose sight that God was in control and Joseph watched as God raised him from prison to the palaces of Pharaoh. There were probably days that Joseph desired to give up, but he believed in God, and God was faithful to complete that which HE promised Joseph.

Take the time to put God hear the voice of God. Upon hearing what God desires to do, give thanks and place your hope fully in HIS promises. Do not lose hope in the word of the Lord because HE is faithful and HE will fulfill HIS promises for your life. Do not allow Satan�s seeds of doubt to grow root in your mind. Instead, always remember that nothing is impossible to a God who spoke the world into existence. God can change the heart of a king HE can change the heart of anyone. Do not doubt God or HIS ability, you will be the one who suffers if you doubt. Have faith in God and HIS promises to you.

II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

This is the only time in the Bible that we see the names of Jannes and Jambres. However, the Old Testament does tell us about these two men although it does not give us their names. If you were learned in Egyptian writings, you would discover that Jannes and Jambres were the magicians of Egypt who thought they could compete against God by duplicating the miracles God was performing through Moses.

Moses had been commanded of God to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh did not believe Moses and so God through Moses performed some miracles so that Pharaoh would understand the power of God. Pharaoh�s magicians while they were not able to always duplicate the miracle, they were able to do enough so that Pharaoh hardened his heart. All of this was a part of God�s plan to punish the Egyptians and release Israel from Egypt. Because of Jannes and Jambres resisting the truth, they caused Pharaoh to harden his heart and result in great destruction to the land and people of Egypt.

How would the story of Moses leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt been different if it had not been for the evil influences of Jannes and Jambres? Just as God can take one man who is totally committed to HIM and use that man to do great things for HIM. So too, Satan loves to take men who are totally committed to him and use them to destroy the influences of God in this earth. Satan used these two men to ensure that the credibility of Moses was not high in the mind of Pharaoh.

God had chosen Moses. Because Moses was dedicated to the service of God, God gave Moses great faith to do many mighty miracles so that others might know that God was with Moses. Just as God had Moses, so Satan had Jannes and Jambres. Satan�s influence on these men was great. Satan knew that he could not out perform the power of God on this earth, however, it did not stop Satan from using these men to attempt to diminish the perception of the power of God.

You may not feel that you have the faith of Moses who performed so many miracles as he was fulfilling God�s will. However, you do serve the same God. The same God that worked through Moses is the same God that can work through you. Remember, Moses was a murderer, yet God still used Moses to do many great things. Nonetheless, even though Moses was pursuing the things of God, Satan was trying to diminish Moses� ministry by using men who rejected God.

Likewise, as you pursue the will of God in your life, Satan is going to throw obstacles in your life to discourage you from pursuing God�s perfect will. God is greater then Satan, and as long as you stay in HIS will, you will have the power to overcome. You need to understand that the greater the plan God has for you, the greater Satan is going to attack. Satan does not desire to see God succeed and he is going to use corrupt men here on this earth to ensure that your pursuit of God�s perfect will is never easy. God desires that you dedicate your life to the pursuit of fulfilling HIS will. God desires to use you in ways that you could never imagine. Satan does not like to see you exercising your faith and will try to stop you. However, greater is HE that is in you then he that is in this world.

I Samuel 3:21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Samuel had heard the Lord and Lord had told him that HE was going to judge Eli�s house in accordance with the previously declared word of God by the man of God. Eli was like a father unto Samuel and as such, Samuel was not eager to tell Eli the word of the Lord. Nonetheless, Eli must have perceived that the message spoken to Samuel was regarding HIM and he thus insisted that Samuel tell him.

This was not the only message Samuel heard from the Lord. Once Samuel understood how to hear from God, Samuel did not allow any words to fall to the ground. Samuel pronounced judgment whenever the Lord requested. Because of Samuel�s boldness and thoroughness regarding pronouncing God�s word, it became evident to all of Israel that God was with Samuel.

Would God have continued coming and speaking to Samuel if Samuel had not been willing to pronounce judgment upon the house of Eli? There is a reason why God started with such a difficult message for young Samuel. This was a test by God to see if Samuel was willing to fear the Lord more than man. Samuel passed the test and the Lord expanded his ministry and allowed all Israel to see that the Lord was speaking to Samuel.

God may at times ask you to do a difficult thing. You may not understand why HE has asked you to do what you were asked to do. Nonetheless, you must be like Samuel who was willing to tell the word of the Lord even though it was against someone who had a major impact in his life. You must understand that God can and does tell you to do difficult things. It is not your position to question God it is your position to obey HIM.

Moses was commanded to gather the people and strike the rock. Moses would have looked funny had nothing come out of the rock. Nonetheless, Moses had seen the faithfulness of God and as such, he was willing to follow God�s instruction. When God asks you to do a difficult thing, stop and look back and see how the Lord has been with you and guided you in the past. Remember God�s faithfulness. Having remembered God�s faithfulness; be bold in following God for HE will take you through that which HE has commanded you to do.

God desires to use you and to guide you. However, if you are not faithful to do what HE shows you to do, then HE is less inclined to use you because you are an unstable servant. Samuel was used of God because HE passed God�s test. While all Israel may not have known the difficult task that God had required Samuel to bare, it is clear that the nation knew Samuel was chosen of God and that Samuel was hearing God�s voice.

Others may not know the deep burdens you face. Others may never understand the pressure you face in obeying God. However, God knows and HE is faithful to enable you to complete that which HE has assigned for you to do. As you demonstrate your faithfulness, the Lord will bless you in other ways by bringing you additional opportunities that you never thought possible. God is looking for individuals who have the faith to trust in HIM. Will you be the individual who God uses?

Judges 7:2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Gideon had blown the trumpet and 32,000 men showed up to fight. Gideon was outnumbered with only 32,000 men, but God told him it was too many men. God had Gideon tell the men who were afraid to go home. Gideon obeyed God and he lost 22,000 men. Only 10,000 men trusted God could be with them against insurmountable odds.

All Israel had heard the stories of Moses and Joshua and how God led the nation supernaturally. However, some believed that God could do it again, while others just did not have enough faith to be the one that God used to deliver Israel. They would rather sit on the sidelines and watch God work and enjoy the benefits. These 22,000 men had other priorities that they would rather worry about. What would the Midianites do to their wives and children should God not be with Gideon?

Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

Deboarh had just called Barak to the mount of Ephraim where she judged Israel. Deborah told Barak that God commanded that he take 10,000 men from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun and that he was to go to the river Kishon and Jabin�s army would be delivered into his hands. Barak apparently did not doubt that this was the word of the Lord for him because there is no indication that he felt he needed to receive confirmation from God himself and there is no indication that he looked for a sign to assure himself of the word�s of Deborah. Barak�s response was not one of doubt of the calling; his response was a lack of faith that God would be with him absent Deborah being present.

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 may have been willing to be beaten by the Jews for Christ sake, but he did not allow himself to be beaten by a Roman soldier for no reason at all. If he was beaten and killed by the Jews, he would have been a martyr for Christ and how he died would have been a testimony of the power of God in his life. However, to be beaten out of the view of the people he desired to reach did not serve a purpose. As such, Paul stepped forward and used the tools God had given him in order to avoid suffering that would not further the cause of Christ.

Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

After Paul left Ephesus Apollos arrived. Apollos was an eloquent man who was mighty in scriptures. Scripture tells us he was instructed in the way of the Lord and he was diligent in teaching the things of the Lord. However, Apollos doctrine was shallow in that he only knew the doctrine of John.

Aquila and Priscilla saw this diligent man who had a heart for the things of the Lord and as iron sharpenth iron, they worked with him to assist him in understanding the scriptures more fully. Aquila and Priscilla were not quick to go preach in front of all the people in the synagogue, but they were willing to disciple individuals. They gave instruction to a wise man, and he became wiser: they taught a just man, and he increased in learning.

Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and may taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Philip went down to Samaria and he preached to the people and he performed many miracles. Because of Philip�s demonstration of faith that he had power over unclean spirits and power over those who were sick, Philip�s words were heard and many believed and were baptized.

Philip�s words in conjunction with his faith brought many to God. Christ had given Philip power over the unclean spirits and over healing people. Philip did not waste this power; he obeyed God and used his authority to draw his listeners� attention to God.

Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

What faith these individuals had. They believed that they could be healed if Peter�s shadow would touch their body. These individuals are similar to the woman who reached out and touched the hem of Jesus� robe. Jesus commended her for her faith and told her that her faith healed her. That woman was healed because she believed that Jesus could heal her. These individuals were healed because they believed that Peter�s shadow contained the power of God and that they could and would be healed.

Hebrews 11:34c out of weakness were made strong,

Samson was weak yet he placed his hands around the pillars and asked God to give him the strength to bring down the building. Samson was made strong according to his faith and Samson was used of God. Moses however recognized that he did not have the ability to speak clearly to deliver God�s message to Pharaoh. God told Moses that HE would go with Moses yet Moses demanded that God give him a helper who ended up being Aaron. However, because Moses demanded this helper, Aaron was in a position of leadership to help led the worship of the golden calf. Moses did not have the faith to allow God to make him strong through his weakness and God�s best for the nation was not realized.

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

God recognizes the faith of the nation of Israel for walking on dry ground. You might ask yourself about how much faith did it really take since the Egyptians were about to catch them and would have taken them slaves again. However, God recognizes the faith of the nation of Israel because they allowed HIM to protect, direct, and provide for them. The nation went where God asked them to go and God accounted it to them as faith.

You serve a God who can do the impossible. As you follow the direction of the Lord, you will experience HIS protection. Granted, this does not mean that you are going to be financially blessed. The nation of Israel had been slaves. They were in Egypt because they had followed God. God had protected them while they were in the will of God.

Hebrews 12:28 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The nation of Israel had watch time after as the Lord had brought a plague upon the land of Egypt but had spared them. Now they were being told that if they did not kill the lamb and sprinkle the blood their firstborn would die. By faith they obeyed God and the life of their firstborn was spared.

Imagine being an independent observer to the events in Egypt. You walk up to one of the Israelites this night as they are sprinkling the blood. You ask them why they are doing what they are doing. You receive a reply that if they did not sprinkle the blood their child would die. You then ask how the sprinkling the blood was going to save the firstborn. The Israelites probably could not have told you but they would have said that they were just obeying Moses and that Moses really seems to have a connection with God What Moses says, happens.

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses by faith led the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt. While God was rendering judgment upon Egypt, Pharaoh was angry with Moses. However, Moses endured these troubling times when both the nation of Israel and Pharaoh hated him. The reason Moses was able to endure is that he had seen God in the fiery bush and by faith he had the strength to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt.

It takes faith to endure the trials that are set before you. When you are going through a trial, there are going to be times when it seems like nothing you do is successful. However, it is during these difficult times that one must remember what God has done for them in the past and rejoice that this trial is only for a season and in time it too shall pass. Moses was able to remain steadfast because he had seen the Lord�s direction.

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.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king�s commandment.

In this verse, we are taught the faith of Moses� parents. The verse does not list their names. In fact, the story of Moses� parents faith listed in Exodus does not even list their names. In order to learn that Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses you must examine the genealogies of the tribe of Levi. In studying the genealogy of Levi you learn that Jochebed was the daughter of Levi while Amram was the grandson of Levi. The lesson in this passage is that faith can be demonstrated by anyone who does not allow the fear of man to control their lives.

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

The ultimate test by God was put upon HIS servant Abraham. God promised Abraham a son and Abraham was asked to give the son back to God. God had promised, Abraham believed and God received the glory when the promise was fulfilled with Isaac�s birth. Abraham was required to obey God and give back to God that which God had given.

This was Abraham�s trial; it was a trial of obedience. Unfortunately, this story has been turned around and is being used to teach the doctrine of sacrifice. It is often taught that if you really want something from God, you must first be willing to give it up. The problem with this teaching using this story is it does not carefully examine the entire story.