Genesis 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph has just revealed himself to his brothers. He has explained how there is going to be five more years of famine. Joseph twice has told his brothers that God sent him to Egypt in order to save many people’s lives. In this passage, Joseph is once again reminding his brothers that it is God who has directed his path and given him the blessings of position and prestige.

God had protected, provided, and directed Joseph. Joseph saw the hand of the Lord in his life and he was quick to direct his brother’s attention to God for what God had done in his life. It was God who sent Joseph to Egypt and it was God who placed Joseph in a position of influence with Pharaoh. It was nothing that Joseph did or his brothers did that resulted in the position and prestige that Joseph now found himself in.

As you go about your daily life, you have the option to take credit for what you have done or to give God the glory for what HE is doing through you. If you are giving God the glory, this means that your life is a testimony to HIM of what God can do through those who trust in HIM. If you are faithful in sharing with others the power of God, God can use you and HE has incentive to continue to bless you so that the world can hear that there is a living God.

Even when things were difficult for Job, Job refused to curse God. Job understood that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Job understood that he came into this world with nothing and that he would leave the world with nothing. The things of this world were only things in his hands for a limited period of time to use to bring glory to God.

Joseph understood the importance of giving God the glory. Joseph was diligent to work both during the times of plenty and the times of great difficulty. It did not matter if he was in prison or if he was second in command over all of Egypt, Joseph gave God the glory. Because of the faithfulness of Joseph, God made sure that Joseph was in a position of great influence so that the people who heard the testimony of Joseph would know that God was real and powerful.

God has a purpose for your life, do you see it. When was the last time you looked back on your life and saw how God put everything together in a perfect way that you never would have imagined? Have you ever wondered why God allowed something to happen to you only to see several years later how your prior experience worked beautifully into his perfect plan for your life? Were you quick to give glory to God?

You are not God and you do not know what HE has in store for your life. Learn to be like Joseph and Job and give glory to God in both the good and difficult times. It takes temperance to restrain yourself from complaining when things are difficult. You must exercise self-control over your mind and not allow Satan to tempt you with thoughts of blaming God for your difficult situation.

Joseph gave glory to God not only privately but more importantly in public. Joseph did not allow others to inflate his ego but instead, spoke in such a way that God received the glory that he was due. It is not easy to follow the example of Joseph but it is not impossible. God is able to give you the grace necessary so that you do not sin against HIM in your mind or with your mouth. The battle of the mind is great but through Christ you can overcome.

Genesis 41:52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Joseph had experienced 13 years as a slave and as a prisoner. God now chose to bless Joseph by making him second in command over all of Egypt. Through Pharaoh, God provided Joseph with a wife and now he has received his second son. Joseph recognizes that not only has God blessed him to the point that he is forgetting all his sorrow, but that God has blessed him to the point that he is fruitful and multiplying.

Imagine that you are a farmer and you have spent many years planting seed but only receiving small crops with little production. As a farmer, you would be seriously considering giving up as you see no profit in your profession. This is the condition that we find Joseph in, he had spent many years toiling where he did not feel he was producing much fruit.

Now imagine the farmer when all of a sudden, his crops start producing a hundred fold. Not only will the time of blessing quickly cause the farmer to forget about the trouble years, but also the farmer will start making plans for expansion while the crops are good. This is the condition that Joseph was enjoying, God had given him a family and allowed him to have children.

The blessings of God are not designed for us to consume upon ourselves. Along with the blessings is the opportunity to expand our borders and to be fruitful and multiply. When you are experiencing the blessing of God, your focus needs to be upon the Lord and what HE desires you to be doing with this blessing that HE has given you. Do not think that the blessing is for your own selfish purposes. Do not think that the blessing is for you to hoard so that you can consume it upon your own fleshly lusts.

People desire to be around successful people. People go to seminars to listen to people who have their lives together, they do not go to seminars to hear from people who are poor and homeless. When God is blessing you, this is the time when people will be ready to listen to you. When God is blessing you, this is the opportunity to be fruitful and share with others how it is God through you that has brought this blessing upon you. People need to know that there is a powerful living God, until they hear about the blessings of God in your life, they are going to assume that you are just lucky or that you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You can develop a great ministry by learning how to precisely communicate exactly how God has blessed you so that you can share it with others.

As long as your focus is upon worldly possessions, you will never bear fruit that is lasting and brings glory to God. You must add temperance to your life so that your focus is upon God and what HE has done for you. As you restrain your mind, God will be able to open doors in your life to enable you to bear much spiritual fruit. Christ taught us that if a tree does not bear fruit, it is good for nothing and should be destroyed. So also our spiritual life must bear fruit so as not to receive the wrath of God.

Joseph received the blessing of God and he acknowledged God for what HE had done. Joseph did not sit back and feel sorry for himself that he was unable to go back to the promise land and be with his father; instead, he was fruitful and had a family right where God had placed him. It does not matter where God has you today, today is a great day to start being fruitful for God.

Genesis 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

The secret of Joseph’s success is the fact that he did not take credit for the talents that God had given him. Joseph understood that it was God who gave him the ability to interpret dreams and Joseph made sure that Pharaoh’s attention was focused upon God.

Joseph had just been given a complement by Pharaoh that he understood Joseph could interpret dreams. Most of us would have naturally responded by saying thank you and that would have been it. However, Joseph understood that he had just been given a complement for something that he could not control. Joseph understood that it was God who had blessed him and that if he took credit for something God did through him, than he would be doing a great injustice.

It is God who gives us time, talents, and treasures. Christ taught us in multiple parables that the kingdom of heaven is like a master who gives money to his servants. The master does return and takes an account of what his servants did with the money that he had entrusted them with. Christ wanted us to understand that the things that God has given to us are not to be hoarded for our own personal purposes. If we hoard the things that God gives to us, God will be very disappointed with us and will punish us for our lack of diligence.

Pharaoh did not have the fear of the Lord in his life. If Joseph had not mentioned God, Pharaoh probably would not have cared. Nonetheless, because of Joseph’s willingness to put God first in his life, Joseph was a testimony for God that day. Joseph was willing to put God first even though God had allowed him to spend the last 13 years as either a prisoner or as a slave. Things had been tough, but this did not stop Joseph from giving God the credit for the talents that God had given unto him.

You have certain talents and abilities that God has given unto you. If you keep taking credit for the things that God has given to you, you are no different than the servant who went and buried the money in the ground. Christ called that servant unwise. Instead, you should desire to be the servant who took five bags of money and turned them into five additional bags of money. We need to learn how to take the talents that God has given to us and use those talents for the maximum glory of God.

If you do not start by giving God the glory anytime someone complements you for a talent that HE has given unto you, you are on the wrong path. If others are not drawn unto God, they will continue to live their life as if there is no God. However, when you are constantly reminding them that you serve a living God and that it is HE who has enabled you, then God can start working in their lives to reveal to them their need for a closer walk with HIM.

The sin nature of man naturally desires to take credit for the things that God should receive the glory for. We must exercise self-control not to take credit for that which belongs to God. By adding temperance to our life, we will restrain ourselves from focusing upon ourselves and instead focusing the attention of others upon the ONE whom deserves the glory.

Joseph was wise and was used by God. If Joseph had not been faithful in giving glory to God, one has to wonder just how much God would have used him. However, we see how God used Joseph and we know that Joseph refused to take the glory for what God was doing through him.

Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

It had been approximately 13 years since Joseph had his dreams regarding the Lord placing him in a position of great leadership. Over the course of these 13 years, Joseph had experienced some great trials. Now the time had come for God to bring to pass the dreams of Joseph’s youth. When the time came for Joseph to be placed in a position of authority, it was not a matter of months or even days, God raised Joseph up into a position of authority in matter of hours.

Too often we associate the blessings of the Lord as a time when we are financially prosperous. In the life of Joseph, God makes perfectly clear to us that God was blessing Joseph as both a slave and a prisoner. Just because Joseph was not financially well off and in a position of great authority, it does not mean that God was not with Joseph.

Throughout scripture we are warned that we are not to be a respecter of persons. This means that we are not to pay greater homage to one individual because of their personal wealth. If you were living during the time of Joseph, would you have paid much attention to Joseph the slave or Joseph the prisoner? The thing was, God was blessing him so if you were measuring your involvement in his life by his pocketbook, you would have missed getting close to a person whom God was with.

God was with Joseph back when he was in the Promise Land. God was with Joseph when he was a slave. God was with Joseph when he was a prisoner. Now God was with Joseph as he was placed in a position of authority. Many people who did not know better would have said that God was only with Joseph when HE raised Joseph out of prison and placed him upon the throne. Many people would say that it was about time that God intervened in the life of such a faithful servant who refused to give away his relationship with God because of bitterness.

The move from prisoner to ruler was quick and was a move that many of us would love to see in our own lives. Clearly the Lord was with Joseph in this time of great prosperity. We must remember that God did not raise Joseph up to a position of leadership because of his continual pray to be released from prison. We must remember that God did not raise Joseph up to a position of leadership because Joseph deserved something good to happen in his life. We must remember that God did not raise Joseph up to a position of leadership because Joseph was the squeaky wheel that finally received some grease.

The blessing of the Lord became very evident in the life of Joseph because the time had come for Joseph to fulfill the perfect plan of God by leading the nation of Egypt to start holding reserves of grain. It was not something that Joseph did that all of a sudden resulted in this great prosperity, it was simply the timing of God for Joseph to do the next thing in his life. Because Joseph was flexible and dependent upon God, we see that when this transformation took place, it was very sudden.

Joseph was diligent in putting the things of God first in his life and as such, Joseph saw the blessings of God regardless of where God had him. Joseph resisted the temptation to be filling his life with pity parties. God was with Joseph during good and bad times because Joseph exercised temperance in his life to ensure that God was the center of his life.

Genesis 40:23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

All around you are examples of individuals who sacrificially imparted into your life and how did you respond? Are you like the butler who promptly forgot about Joseph? Throughout scripture there are plenty of examples of individuals who did not demonstrate a grateful heart to others who assisted them in their lives.

Once, ten men came to Jesus to be healed of their leprosy. Jesus commanded the men to the priest and show themselves. The men took off and immediately they were healed. Only one of the men came back to thank Jesus for the miracle that HE performed that day.

It is easy to take for granted the work that others do to help us? When was the last time you thanked your mother or your father for all they did in providing for you while you grew up? When was the last time you thanked a coach or a teacher for taking the time to impart their skill into your life? When was the last time you thanked a friend for holding you accountable?

 The butler had a problem and Joseph was willing in the strength of the Lord to assist the butler. Joseph did not ask for much, but the butler, as soon as he was free, he forgot about the man who God had used in his life. We need to be careful that we do not have an ungrateful heart that prohibits us from thanking others for what they have done for us.

Just because we live in a society where everyone is looking out for only themselves and where people are self-centered, this does not give us the right to follow their example. God desires us to take the time to impart into the lives of others with no hope of receiving in return. When we are willing to sacrificially impart unto others, we are ready to see the full impact of just how God can use us.

We must remember that God writes the last chapter. Had the butler immediately remembered Joseph, Joseph would not have been in prison when Pharaoh needed him to interpret the dream. While Joseph may have been upset at the butler for forgetting him, God had a purpose for this forgetful butler and it came to fruition several years later.

As we go about our daily life, we need to be careful to maintain a right attitude towards God and our fellow man. The two great commandments are to love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. In the same way that you love to hear others sing your praises, so also you need to sing the praises of God and to those who God has used to influence your life.

You are not living on this earth for your own selfish desires. You need to open your eyes and learn to see the bigger picture. This means you need to diligently add temperance to your life so that you start focusing your attention upon how you can minister unto others and not how others can minister unto you.

The butler’s time in prison apparently did not change him much or else he would not have forgotten about Joseph so quickly. If the butler had been seeking Pharaoh’s best, he never would have been thrown into prison in the first place. Now that the butler was out, he was back to forgetting about others. Let us not be like the butler and forget about what others have done and instead be like Joseph that even when others forget about us, we are still diligent to put the things of God first and ensure that we maintain a right attitude so that God can bless us.

Genesis 40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

All around you there are people with problems. People have problems that they do not know how to solve. God desires to show HIMSELF strong in these individuals lives and HE is looking for an instrument by which to give direction. If you are willing, God desires to use you to open the eyes of those who are lost. If you are willing, God desires to use you to encourage those who are discouraged. If you are willing, God desires to use you to help the helpless.

The butler and the baker were in prison. One night, they had a dream and they could not figure out what the dream meant. God needed someone to interpret these men’s dream to them and HE happened to have a faithful servant in the prison. God knew that Joseph would help these men in such a way that God would receive the glory.

Joseph did not attempt to attain glory for himself; Joseph was interested in helping others so that God would receive the glory. Joseph did not know what advice he would be giving to these men, but he did know that God would give him the words to say when the time was right. Joseph was willing to listen and allow God to use him to meet the needs of others.

Are you willing to allow God to use you to meet the needs of others? Are you willing to lay aside your own personal agenda so that God might be glorified through you? A diamond when it is properly cut is designed to reflect the light. A diamond is more valuable the better it reflects the light. Until we learn to allow the light of God to properly reflect through our lives, we will never be all that we can be for the glory of God.

It takes temperance to lay aside your own personal agenda so that God can be glorified through you. The temptation is always to do what you must so that you obtain the glory. When you help others, are you doing it for the right reasons? Are you helping others so that God is glorified or are you helping them so that others will see just what a great guy you are?

The sooner you learn to put aside your personal agenda and take up the cause of Christ, the easier it will be on you to be content right where God has placed you. It is natural to think more highly of yourself then you ought. It is natural to help others thinking about what you might obtain for yourself when you help them. However, while it is natural for the sin nature of man to look out for his own interest, it is not the way God desires you to live.

Joseph sought to glorify God in all that he did. Joseph desired that when he helped others, they would know that it is God that is helping them. There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Joseph, but one of the most important lessons we can learn is to put aside our own agenda and start meeting the needs of those around us so that God is glorified. When we start loving our neighbor as ourselves, we position ourselves so that our lives can properly reflect the light of God.

Joseph did not come to the butler and baker and make all sorts of promises of how great he was. Instead, Joseph was willing to listen and quick to remind these men that it was God who they needed to turn their attention upon. Every day you have the opportunity to turn other people’s attention to God, are we faithful in fulfilling this small job? Today God will bring someone into your life, listen to their problem and spend the time drawing their attention to God.

Genesis 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Imagine a maximum security prison where the warden turned control of the prison over to one of the prisoners. How long do you think it would be that someone would try a jailbreak? How long do you think it would be before the warden would lose his job for turning the prison over to a prisoner? The warden probably would not live very long to tell about it and if he did live, he would not have his job for very long.

Regardless of how preposterous it sounds for a warden to turn over the keys to a maximum security prison to a prisoner, this is exactly what happened to Joseph. Joseph was in the king’s prison, this is where the most important prisoners were kept. However, the warden of this prison saw that there was something different about Joseph and because Joseph was properly reflecting the light of God from his life, the warden did not fear losing his job as long as Joseph was running the prison for him.

Imagine that tomorrow, you are at work when all of a sudden, the police walk into your office and arrest you for killing someone. It does not matter how much you plead that they have the wrong person and that you did not do it, they take you and throw you in prison. After a quick trial, the jury finds you guilty based upon the trumped up evidence that was presented against you. You find yourself on death row for a crime that you did not commit, what would your response be that first morning you woke up behind bars?

Do you think you would have had an attitude like Joseph? Do you think you would be able to control your emotions of depression, discouragement, and disbelief? Do you think that you would be able to look to see how you might be able to minister to the guards and to your fellow inmates? Do you think that you could live a life behind bars where the light of God would reflect so brightly in your life that everyone around you knows that God is with you?

Joseph is an amazing story of a man who was so committed to God that he did not allow the trials of this world to distract him from loving the Lord with all his heart and loving his neighbor as himself. Joseph refused to allow himself to focus upon the trials that were surrounding him but instead kept his focus upon God and HIS promises. By focusing upon God and what God had for him that day, Joseph was able to faithfully serve God.

Joseph was human; surely he desired to allow himself to be discouraged for all the unfair treatment that he was receiving. However, Joseph diligently added temperance to his life and he refused to allow the trials of this world to take his focus off of God and what God’s purpose was for his life that day.

Satan knows our weakness and he desires to take your focus off of God so that you will not properly reflect the light of God. If Satan can get your focus onto your problems, you will not have a proper attitude that brings glory to God.

It is not easy to reflect the light of God after unjust things have occurred in your life. However, if you want to maximize your influence on this world for the kingdom of God, you must exercise self-control and allow the trials that you face roll off of you just like water rolls off of a ducks back. By the grace of God, nothing is impossible.

Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome. We are told that for two years, he dwelt in his own house under the supervision of a guard. However, Paul did not waste the time that he waited for judgment from Caesar. Paul redeemed the time knowing that he was accountable to God for everything that he did, regardless of whether he was a free man or a slave.

Just because Paul was a prisoner, this did not excuse him of his duty to God to preach the gospel to those who needed to hear the gospel. Paul could have felt sorry for himself that he was not free to go where he wanted when he wanted. However, Paul had learned to give thanks for anything God brought into his life. Because Paul had a proper mental attitude, he was more productive for God.

Too often we spend our time complaining about everything that is going wrong in our life. However, rather than be upset about the circumstances of your life, you need to change your mindset. Rather than be discontent and grumble, you need to understand that God has a purpose for your circumstances and that you owe a duty to God to be productive no matter where God places you.

Joseph had every right in the eyes of man to be bitter at God for allowing him to be a slave and then a prisoner. However, Joseph did not have a negative attitude and instead, Joseph chose to have a positive attitude and to serve those who God put into his life. Because Joseph had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself in, God was able to raise him to a level of great influence.

You do not always know why God has placed certain circumstances in your life. While you do not have control over many trials that you face, you are accountable to God for your response. Paul is an excellent example of one who chose to respond positively to the trials that he faced. Because of his positive attitude, God blessed him with many opportunities to further fulfill his life calling.

Paul understood that God had called him to Rome to preach the gospel. Paul was diligent in following the direction of God. When Paul was first told that he would preach in Rome, he probably did not have any idea that God was going to do this by sending him as a prisoner. Yet nonetheless, this did not stop Paul from preaching once he was in Rome.

What trials do you face that you never anticipated? Are you bitter towards God or have you learned to be content in whatever circumstances you find yourself in? When you take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God, you learn how to put the things of God first in your life. You realize that there is more to your life than your personal happiness. Instead, your focus will be turned towards God and how you can serve HIM where you are today.

You must take the time to learn more about the things of God. The more you understand who God is, the easier it will be for you to live content with where God has placed you today. As you diligently apply yourself to adding knowledge to your life, you will better understand how God is able to use your difficult circumstances for HIS glory. Trust in the Lord and allow HIM to use you regardless of the trials that you face.

Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Paul was a prisoner aboard a ship bound for Italy. That ship ended up being caught in a huge storm and the ship was destroyed. Paul and the other passengers found themselves upon the island of Melita. Paul was serving his fellow prisoners and the guards by finding wood to help keep the fire going. As he was throwing the wood upon the fire, a viper reacting to the heat latched onto the arm of Paul. Paul simply shook the snake into the fire.

Paul, you were just bitten by a poisonous snake, why did you not make more of a scene? It is simply my fellow Christian; God had told me I was going to Rome to preach there, why should I be afraid for my life since I had already seen God spare my life so many different ways on this trip? My being bit by a snake was a test to see if I would trust in God and God ended up using this viper to open up some doors for me to minister upon the island of Melita.

You see, to the people on the island, I was simply another prisoner. Why should they listen to me? However, once they saw the miracle that I was able to survive the viper, God was able to use that to enable me to spread the gospel in such a remote place.

Trials will often come up in your life that you allow to distract you from the purposes of God. You need to learn to be more like Paul and simply brush trials aside and not give them much of a thought. How discouraging is it for Satan if he brings a huge trial into your life but because you know the will of God and you trust God so much, you are able to simply brush aside the trial as if it were nothing.

How you respond to trials in your life is up to you? You can react and throw a fit or you can step over the obstacle and continue along your way. Have you ever observed a computer game where the character is moving towards his objective when all of a sudden an object comes along the bottom of the screen and takes out the main character? The first time it happened, the character died, however, the more the person played the game, the more adapt he became at jumping over the obstacle, or even better yet, using that obstacle to help him complete the level and earn more points. In a way, we should treat our trials like the character in the video game treats obstacles in his life, we need to treat them as if they are nothing but a minor hindrance towards our purpose.

In order to overcome trials like Paul was able to do with the snake, it means you need to spend plenty of time drawing closer to God and seeking HIS perfect will for your life. As you add knowledge of the ways of God to your life, your confidence in hearing the still small voice of God will grow and you will be more sure of what your purpose in life becomes. Satan is going to try to trip you up and get you to lose focus of the plan God has for you. Instead of treating the trial as a major obstacle, you need to understand where this obstacle comes from and simply allow God to take care of you.

The more a person plays a video game, the more knowledgeable he becomes of the obstacles that come his way. The more time you spend studying the word of God, the more knowledgeable you become of your enemy the devil and the more equipped you become at overcoming the trials of life. You must spend the time adding to your knowledge of the ways of God. The more time you spend with God, the easier it will be for you to do the right thing and simply not allow the trial to trip you up and cause you to stumble.

Acts 28:26-27 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome and many of the Jewish leaders came to his house and permitted him to share the truth of what he believed. These leaders where naturally against him because of the things that they had heard indicated to them that the things Paul was going to share was a false religion. Nonetheless, they were willing to hear what Paul had to share and they set a time by which they could hear his argument.

Paul understood that he had an audience that was prejudiced against him. Nonetheless, he was wise in that he used the Law of Moses and the prophets to explain the truth of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, even though Paul used sources that would be understood by his listeners, not all of them were willing to accept the truth. Those who disagreed with Paul left and Paul reminded those who remained with him that the prophet Isaiah had once prophesied that there would be those who hear but do not understand. These individuals would allow the hardness of their heart to prevent them from being convicted of the truth.

All around you there are individuals who can hear the truth but will not accept it. It will not matter how persuasive you are, they have allowed their hearts to harden. Because of the hardness of their hearts, they will hear the truth, but the truth will not set them free. You must understand that while you have a duty to share the truth of God’s word with others, it is not in your hands whether or not they will positively respond.

Paul was wise in that he restrained from sharing these controversial words until the dissenters had left. Upon sharing the words of Isaiah, Paul then told those who remained that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles and that the Gentiles would hear it. After these words, the Jews that remained left Paul�s presence and they reasoning among themselves.

God desires that you be willing to step out and share the truth with those around you. Do not be afraid that your audience might reject you. Instead, it is your duty to obey God and to teach others the truth that God has given to you. Take the time to ensure that your motives are right before God. Do not allow yourself to be thinking more highly of yourself then you ought. Remember, it is God who has put you in the position that you are in and that it is God who ultimately is responsible for the results that you receive. Rather then be proud of your accomplishments for God, you should diligently seek HIS face to see how you might be more effective for God.

The Jewish leaders were religious yet many of them were not willing to set their minds upon that which is true and honest. They were religious but they were not willing to allow the conviction of God to change their thoughts, feelings and actions. Paul also was religious, but because he had added virtue to his life, he was willing to allow God to take him wherever so that God might be glorified through his life. Religion is not the important thing; the important thing is where your heart and mind are.

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome. However, rather than being locked up with all the other prisoners, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself in his own house with his own private soldier. Because Paul had his own house, Paul was able to minister more freely then he would have been able to do had he been in prison.

Once Paul reached Rome, one of the first things he did was he called for the Jews. The Jews acknowledged that the Jews in Jerusalem had not sent any message to them regarding Paul. While the Jews had not heard anything about Paul, they had heard about those who preached Jesus and they acknowledged that everything they heard was not good. Nonetheless, they were willing to give Paul audience and as such, they set a day were many of the Jewish leaders came into Paul’s house to hear Paul teach.

Paul may have been the captive, yet he was able to captivate the Jews with his speech for an entire day. From the morning until the evening, Paul spoke to the Jews about Jesus using only the sources that the Jews held as authoritative. Paul did not use his life changing experience on the road to Damascus as a reason why the Jews should believe Jesus is the Messiah. Paul used both the law of Moses and the prophets to show the Jews that Jesus was the One that they were looking for.

Paul understood the scriptures so well that for an entire day, he was able to use them to captivate the Jews in Rome. As a result of Paul’s teaching, some of the Jews believed. Paul demonstrated the importance of understanding your audience. Paul was as wise as a serpent yet as harmless as a dove.

Paul had set his mind on converting the Jews and as such, he ensured that he was prepared with the right message that enabled him to speak all day without losing his audience. Paul did not go into this meeting simply saying whatever felt right; Paul was calculated in his approach so as to ensure that the maximum harvest for the Lord would be received. Paul knew his audience and thus prepared his message accordingly.

When you add virtue to your life, your perspective in life changes. No longer are you concerned about yourself, but instead you are seeking the will of God. Virtue changes your desires. No longer do the desires of the world consume you. Instead, the desire to do the will of God becomes your ultimate gain. Rather then spending your time seeing how you might obtain more things for yourself, you will spend your time seeing how God might open a door so you can do HIS will.

Paul was well prepared for this meeting with the Jews. He had prepared his heart, his mind and his message so that God could use him to reach many. Paul was not in charge of the result; Paul was only responsible for preparing himself so that God could use him. You too need to follow the example of Paul and live your life in such a way that regardless of your circumstances, God can use you to do many mighty things for HIM.

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.

It did not matter to Paul that he had been in prison for the last two years, Paul still believed God. Paul had seen God’s faithfulness over his life and God had now spoken to him twice that he was to preach in Rome. Paul could see that the circumstances were not favorable for him to ever reach Rome, but Paul understood that God was greater then any circumstance. Even during the midst of the storm while in chains, God saw fit to remind Paul that HE was still with him.

God does not lie. What God promises, that HE must fulfill. It does not matter how thick the chains nor how strong the storm appears to be, God is still greater. God has the power to stop a storm immediately just as he has the power to cause chains to fall off. Paul had seen God bring an earthquake in order to release him from his chains once before, thus Paul understood God’s power to fulfill HIS promises in HIS timing.

God has demonstrated HIS’ faithfulness to you in the past so as to create a testimony in your life to give you the strength to see HIM do even greater things in the future. As you see God do the impossible through you, your faith in HIM should grow so that you can say to others with assurance that God will fulfill that which HE has promised. In order to increase your faith, the trials of your life must become bigger. You must be willing to see God do greater things through you then HE has done through you in the past.

Just because you have seen God work mightily through you in the past, it does not mean that you will have the right mindset to see God work even greater miracles in the future. The disciples of Jesus had seen Jesus perform many miracles yet they still had little faith when it came to them perishing in the storm. God desires that you do not allow the storms to distract you from believing that HE is able to do that which HE had promised you to do through you. God wants you to change your mindset so as to be thinking of the things of God and not allow your focus to be distracted by the storms. If you keep your focus upon God rather then the storms, you can have the faith to see the next miracle.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for when you do not have the physical evidence that it can occur. When you add virtue to your faith, it allows you to have your focus upon the things of God rather then the storms that surround you. Paul was in an impossible situation, but because HE believed God and trusted God, Paul kept his focus upon the promises of God rather then the storm that was about to destroy him. Follow Paul’s example and focus your attention upon God’s promises not the storm.

Acts 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Felix was not concerned with justice; he was concerned about maintaining peace. Felix understood that the Jews despised Paul. Even though Felix believed that Paul was innocent, he did not let him go until Paul paid him a bribe. When Felix saw that Paul was not going to pay the bribe, he did not change his ways but instead decided that Paul was going to remain locked up because this would mean that the Jews would like him and it would mean that there would be peace. Evidently Felix did not want too many riots that could cause his superiors to take his authority away.

For two years Paul remained a prisoner for something that he did not do. His judge did not believe him guilty but rather then being acquitted and released, God permitted Paul to sit in prison and be falsely accused for two years. Paul had followed God’s promptings by going to Jerusalem and preaching the gospel. Paul understood that God was not going to take him to Rome. Nonetheless, Paul could not obey God and go to Rome because God was permitting Paul to sit in prison instead.

Paul understood what God desired him to do but God did not permit him to do HIS perfect will. For two years Paul had to wait on God trying to figure out what God was doing. Paul knew he was innocent, but why was God allowing him to sit in prison when God could have been using him all over the world preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

God understood that Paul was the type of person that once he understood God’s will, he would plow straight ahead and do it. While God had shown Paul HIS perfect will; it was not God’s perfect timing. As such, God allowed Paul to go through the trial of sitting in prison until God was ready to release him to go do his perfect will.

Paul’s experience was much like Joseph’s prison experience. Joseph had been falsely accused and no matter what efforts Joseph made to be released from prison, he stayed in prison until God brought him out to fulfill HIS perfect will.

Life is not always fair. God may speak to you and show you HIS will for your life. However, you may experience a situation like Joseph and Paul who had to then go through a trial of great suffering while they waited for God to open the doors. When you find yourself prevented from doing God’s will, do not allow your thoughts to run to the injustice of the whole situation. Instead, remember to keep your mind upon the things of God. You must continue to keep God first in your mind so that you will maintain a proper attitude and so that you do not sin and violate God’s perfect will.

Paul could have left his prison at any time by paying the bribe. Yes it would not have been proper, but then he would have been free to fulfill God’s will by going to Rome. Paul did not allow himself to do evil so that he could do good. While the spiritual prison walls that surround you may seem impenetrable, God knows your situation and HE knows the perfect timing when HE will release you so that you can do HIS will in HIS timing. Add virtue to your life so that you can maintain the right relationship with God while you are in the spiritual prison.

Acts 24:26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

Felix had heard the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evidently, Felix believed Paul’s story over the story given to him by Ananias and Tertullus. However, Felix was corrupt, he desired that Paul purchase his freedom by bribing him with money. Felix may have heard how Paul lived by a different standard, but that still did not stop him from attempting to receive from Paul a bribe in exchange for his release.

What Felix did not understand is that Paul was accountable to God for his actions. Paul had added virtue to his life and as such, while he probably figured out that with a bribe he would be able to obtain a release, if he paid a bribe, he would destroy his testimony. Paul understood that even thinking about paying a bribe to Felix violated at least four things he had told the church that they were supposed to think upon. Taking a bribe would not be true, it would not be honest, it would not be just and it would not be pure.

Even if Paul could have raised the money to pay a bribe, Paul was not one who was about to bribe an official. Furthermore, God had told Paul that he would some day preach in Rome. By paying a bribe and traveling to preach in Rome, Paul would have been taking matters into his own hand and he would be attempting to do God’s work in his own timing. In order to maintain a clear conscience before God, Paul could never pay a bribe and he understood that it was his obligation to God to wait for HIS perfect timing.

While Paul may have added virtue to his life, Felix did not care about doing that which is right in the eyes of God. Felix had heard the truth but still he was more concerned about what he could put in his pocket then he was about doing the right thing. Felix believed he should release Paul but he was not wiling that truth or justice prevail as long as he could personally benefit from this situation.

You have an obligation before God to do the right thing. You will be tempted sometime in your life to put your own personal finances before doing the right thing. If you have added virtue to your life, then you will abstain from putting your personal finances ahead of doing the right thing. It will be more important to you to keep a clear conscience before God then enabling yourself to do what you want when you want.

Virtue will change your perspective. Rather then focusing on yourself and what is best for you today, Virtue will enable you to see the bigger picture and understand that God is in control. Rather then take matters into your own hand and possibly destroy your testimony and your relationship with God, you must remember to do that which is right in the eyes of God. You cannot afford to allow yourself to destroy your clear conscience and you cannot afford to allow evil thoughts to permeate your mind.

Felix knew what was right but because he did not have the fear of the Lord, he was willing to keep Paul in prison longer because he hoped to receive monetary gain in exchange for doing the right thing. When you have virtue in your life, you will chose to do the right thing not for what you personally can benefit from it but will do the right thing so as to please God.

Philippians 1:24-25 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Paul may have been in prison in Rome but he knew that his usefulness for God was not over. Paul understood that God still had more work for him to do and as such, Paul could tell the church at Philippi that his chains of bondage was not leading to his immediate death. The reason Paul understood that God had more use for him here on this earth is for the furtherance of the Philippi’s church’s delight in the faith.

The church in Philippi had a delight in their faith that Paul understood God was going to take even deeper. Paul understood that this was part of his purpose in life and because he had this purpose, he was confidence that his death was not immanent.

It is important that your faith is not just a dry faith that you obtained as a “fire insurance” policy. Instead, your faith is to be an active part of your life giving you great delight. You must be cheerful about the faith that you have and proud of it displaying it for all to see.

You do not go into a person’s house or office and see framed on their wall their fire insurance policy. People instead keep that folded away in a file cabinet. However, you can go into someone’s office and see it plastered with framed certificates of different degrees that they have obtained. They are proud of what they have obtained and as such, they frame the piece of paper that symbolizes their achievement. They take great joy and delight in their achievement and as such, they ensure that everyone knows who they are and what they have accomplished.

If your faith is not real and important to you, you will treat it like an insurance policy and hide it away until you feel like you need it. However, if your faith is an active part of your life, then you will be proud of your faith and take great joy that you believe in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. You will be proud to demonstrate to everyone who comes into your house that you have trusted your life to God.

How would you classify your joy in your faith? Do you treat it like an insurance policy or like a diploma? People are required to have an insurance policy; they are not required to have a diploma. Many second or third generation Christians are simply believers because their parents and grandparents went to Church. They do not have a close relationship with God because they see their faith more as a requirement for life then as something that was optional that they should treasure and hold in high esteem.

The church in Philippi is an example unto us of a church that did not take their faith for granted but took great delight in their faith. However, Paul understood that it was actually possible for the church to have even more joy in their faith. You need to be a fanatic for the cause of Christ. A fanatic is an extreme fan. Just like people go to extreme measures to demonstrate their delight in their sports team, so too you can go to extreme measures to demonstrate to the world that your faith in Christ is number one in your life. It does not matter what level your delight in your faith is at today, there is always more you can do to demonstrate to God and the world that your faith is your priority.

Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul had joy even though he was in prison because he had received a report that the church in Colosse was steadfast in their faith. The church not only trusted God during the good times, but when the storms arose, they proved the steadfastness of their faith. Like a lighthouse on a rock in the midst of a storm, their light shone brightly. They did not waiver because they had a solid foundation that they did not forsake.

The church in Colosse could have professed their faith in words only. However, this church was different in that they actually lived their faith on a daily basis. The citizens of Colosse could see that there was something different from the Christians in their community. The Christians lived a different life; the Christians had a faith that far surpassed the faith that non-Christians had in their false gods.

Because the church of Colosse was firmly established in the faith and lived their faith as both individuals and collectively as a church; Paul heard of their faith and commended them for it. Paul had seen many churches and he does not comment on the steadfastness of other churches faith as he does the church in Colosse. Paul desired that the church of Colosse not only continue in their faith, but that the other churches would learn from the Colosse church that their faith could be deeper then what they currently had.

A house built upon a solid foundation and a mobile home built upon a temporary foundation are sitting next to each other. A tornado comes through the area and does great damage. The house has suffered some damage, but over all, it was built upon a solid foundation and it will remain in tack for many years to come. However, the mobile home was ripped from its temporary foundation and was smashed to pieces by the storm. Nothing was left standing to remind anyone what use to be.

You have a choice that you can make. You can establish your faith by living it on a daily basis or you can simply profess your faith with words only and no substance. If you desire that your life be worth living for the King of kings and Lord of lords, then you need to daily make a conscience decision to serve HIM and fulfill HIS will for your life. You cannot only demonstrate your faith on Sunday morning. Instead, your faith must be an active part of your everyday life. Every decision that you make needs to be with the understanding that you are God’s child and that HE expects you to live your life differently then the children of the world.

Just because you call yourself a Christian, it does not mean that you are established in the faith. Paul did not commend everyone for being steadfast in their faith. Your faith needs to have a solid foundation if you desire to overcome the temptations and trials of the evil one. A solid foundation will enable you to weather the storms of life and prepare you to be used mightily by God. God desires to use those who desire to be used and have properly planted themselves so that they can be used of HIM. Have you made the effort to firmly establish yourself in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you know how to defend your faith by those who mock God? Be steadfast in the faith so that your faith will see you through during the storms of life.

Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love ye have to all the saints,

Paul was in prison in Rome, a long ways away from the church in Colosse. Paul longed to hear good news from the churches he had ministered to. When Paul would hear a report, he would thank God for the things that the church was doing right. In addition, he let the church know that he had heard good things about them. Paul had heard of both the love and faith demonstrated by the church in Colosse. Paul was probably like a proud papa whose wife just had another baby. Paul was excited about this church that was demonstrating their faith yet not forgetting to love their brethren.

While Paul had several important teachings that he needed to remind the church in Colosse about, he understood the importance of reminding them of some of the areas that they were doing right. If all Paul did was harp on new areas without reinforcing the areas that the church was doing right, the church would have a tendency to start focusing on the new teaching and possibly forget the old doctrine which they were currently living.

Paul was a wise man in that before he gave instruction to the church, he illustrated some areas where he felt the church was excelling. Paul understood the importance of giving praise and encouraging believers to do that which is right. Paul may have had limited paper on which to write a letter to the church, yet he knew that he needed to encourage the church first thing in those areas that they were doing that which is right.

Paul took the time to praise the church in Colosse. He could only praise the church in Colosse because he had taken the time to find out what they were doing that was pleasing to the Lord. The thing is, bad news tends to travel a whole lot faster than good news. It takes effort on the part of an individual to learn good news. When the report came back from Colosse, most likely it contained all the areas that the church was failing which are some of the areas addressed by Paul in this letter. However, Paul probably did not allow the bad report to stand on its own but instead cross-examined the messenger trying to obtain the good news of what the church was doing correctly.

It is always easier to report bad news then it is good news. We must remember to ask appropriate questions so that we learn the whole story. People need to be praised for doing right. They cannot be criticized all the time. God made us in HIS own image and throughout the scripture, God informs us of the importance of singing HIS praises.

Man needs encouragement to continue doing that which is right. When you hear or see someone who is faithful in doing those things that God has commanded them to do, you need to take the time to let them know how their faithfulness encourages you. Let them know how their faithfulness motivates you to do that which is right.

When fellow Christians demonstrate their faith in Jesus, when they demonstrate their love for the brethren, this is a praiseworthy act that must be commended. You need to understand the importance of giving praise to encourage those who are doing right to continue to do right. Paul did not just go around exhorting people to live a life pleasing to the Lord but he also let them know those areas where they were pleasing the Lord.

Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Paul salutation to the church of Ephesus reminds us of what is important in the church today. Paul started out by giving them a simple blessing of peace. Paul knew that even though things could be in turmoil, God’s peace could still exist even in the midst of the storm. It is critical that the brethren remember the peace of God in their life and that they do not become distracted by all the storms that surround them.

Paul may have been in prison, but he understood that he was where the Lord wanted him to be. As such, he was able to maintain a peace that probably confounded the Romans. Paul was able to give this blessing to the church of Ephesus because he knew it was possible to dwell in the peace of God regardless of the circumstances.

Paul then blessed the church by asking God to show the church HIS love while increasing their faith. Paul did not desire that they have just faith or just love, but he desired that God bless them both love and an increase of faith. Paul understood the misuse of faith if the church did not have agape love one for another to accompany their faith. However, at the same time, if all the church had was love with no faith there would be very little fruit that the church would produce.

Paul knew that love was important especially since Jesus said that the most important commandment is to love God with all your heart and the second most important commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. However, in order to truly demonstrate agape love to God, one must first make a commitment of faith since you are saved by faith.

It is important to understand God’s balance for life. God does not desire that we focus too much on any one thing but instead learn to focus on the qualities that HE desires for us. Imagine a house where the mother only required that the living room be cleaned. Everyone could walk into the living room and see it immaculately kept. They could shower all sorts of praise on the family for keeping the house so clean. However, if they were to step into the kitchen and see pots and pans stacked to the ceiling all dirty and walk into the bathroom and smell the stench as a result of lack of attention, all the praise rendered for the clean living room would be quickly retracted.

So too in your spiritual life must you learn to demonstrate both love and faith. Concentrating on one despite the other will result in a spectacle that will not cause unbelievers to be drawn to the truth. Your life is to be a light that draws the world to God. However, when you spend all your time on one element, you will lose sight of all the other things God desires for you to do and your light will dim.

Faith is an important element of your daily life. Nonetheless, while you are learning the faith that God has for you, remember to not forsake the other principles God has for you to learn. Ensure that you are well balanced so that the world is not at first amazed at your faith and then becomes discouraged because they see your shortcomings in other areas.

Ephesians 3:11-12 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Your faith creates in you a boldness to do that which is right in the sight of God. Some people like Paul and Peter were already naturally bold. Individuals like this had no qualms about stepping forth and doing whatever they thought was best. However, without their faith in Jesus, their boldness resulted in trouble. Not everyone has the natural boldness of Paul and Peter. However, all of us will receive boldness from God when we know what the will of God is and we pursue it for our lives.

Paul understood that the will of God was for him to preach in Rome. Paul then with boldness went to Rome as a prisoner surviving a storm, a shipwreck and a snake. Nothing could deter Paul from fulfilling the purpose of God for his life. This natural boldness is available to you if you will but commit your ways unto the Lord and follow God’s purpose for your life.

When you understand your relationship with God, you understand that by faith, you have access to God and the ability to ascertain HIS will. The will of God for your life is not something that is going to take an archeology team 100 years to discover. God is not up their intentionally hiding HIS will from you to drive you crazy. However, HE does desire that you learn to come unto HIM and seek HIS face in order to discover HIS will for you. It is your faith in understanding the things that Jesus taught you prior to HIS ascension that enables you to have access to God to determine HIS’ will for your life.

God may not always tell you HIS perfect will for your life immediately. Sometimes you will need to be persistent before God in order to learn what HE would have you to do. You should understand that when you know the will of God, you are able to face life’s trials with much more confidence then you would be able to do should you not fully understand God’s will.

When you have taken the time to learn the will of God, God’s boldness should naturally flow through you as you pursue HIS purpose for your life. Satan will try to throw many trials and temptations at you, but it is your confidence in understanding HIS will that will enable you to overcome the wicked one.

It is by your faith that you have the ability to understand and fulfill the will of God. You do not hear God in the same way you can hear your best friend. However, while your best friend may only speak to you when you are in the position to hear their voice, God can speak to you no matter where you are, what you are doing. God can speak to your spirit, and your soul. Your faith in God is what permits you to hear God speaking to you.

Commit your ways unto the Lord. Be willing to spend the time that is necessary to ascertain HIS will. When you have learned God�s will, proceed with boldness to pursue it. Trials may come, but God’s will shall be done. Do not let Satan receive the upper hand in your life by allowing him to discourage you from fulfilling God’s purpose. The boldness and confidence God gives you is to assist you in overcoming the wicked one. Your faith in God is the tool that you need to hear God and to obey HIS purposes.

Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

The book of Acts ends with Paul being a prisoner for two-years. During this period, Paul had great freedom in that rather then sharing a room at the local prison where one soldier watches many prisoners; Paul was permitted to rent his own house where his companions could stay with him. Paul was given his own solider that watched over him in his own house. Because Paul had his own rented house, he was able to minister unto the Christians at Rome since they were able to come unto him while he was in prison.

God did not give us much detail about the final years of Paul’s life. Instead, HE allowed the book of Acts to be ended with Paul being faithful during two years of imprisonment in Rome. God desired to show us a man who was facing huge obstacles who still did the will of God. The last impression that we have of Paul is not his conversion by bright lights, nor is it of him arguing in the temple converting many. The last impression that God gave us of Paul was a man in prison being blessed by God to still have an active ministry. God did not forsake Paul because he was in prison. God continued to use Paul by bringing people to him and by allowing Paul to write many letters that we read today.

You may live your entire life and never be put in prison for the gospel of Christ. Nonetheless, you are going to face trials. God desires you to look at the life of Paul and realize that HE can use you regardless of the obstacles. God is looking for you to finish the race that is set before you. Just as Paul finished his life strong, so too must you remain faithful to God and watch how HE opens the doors so that you can serve HIM. It was God who permitted Paul to rent his own house. Paul took advantage of God�s blessing and lived his life so that God would receive the glory.

God had shut the door in Paul’s life of him going where he wanted when he wanted. However, God opened a door of him being able to minister to others out of his own home. When God shut one door in Paul’s life, he opened another door. Rather then morning the closed door, Paul went through the new door and diligently served the Lord.

During your life, you will see the Lord close many doors. When the Lord closes a door, HE does not leave you in the hallway. The Lord will open up a door for you to enter. It might not be clear what door HE desires you to enter. It is during these times that you need to spend time in prayer asking, seeking, and knocking. God will make HIS way clear unto you. When the Lord opens the door, do not hesitate and look back at the closed door but instead, serve the Lord where HE has now placed you.

The Bible does not promise that the Christian life is easy. Instead, God allows challenges to be placed in your life so that the world can see God’s strength through your life as you face each new opportunity. As you live your life, God will open doors that seem impossible. It is your duty to exercise your faith and make the most out of the opportunity that God gives unto you. Thank God for the place that HE has you. Do not keep looking back at what might have been. God knows what is best and it is your job to exercise your faith by doing all that you can where the Lord places you today.

Acts 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Within three days after he arrived in Rome, he called for the leaders of the Jews and asked them to come speak with him. It was then arranged for the Jews to come back on an appointed day to hear the teaching of Paul. They had heard of the sect taught by Paul but it was their belief that it was not well spoken of. Nonetheless, they were willing to give Paul an audience.

Paul may have been a prisoner and was constrained in where he could go but this did not stop him from sending messengers out to bring audiences to him. Paul may be in Rome, but he still desired to preach the gospel to the Jews. He was not going to let the fact that he was a prisoner stop him from preaching the gospel.

Paul could not make anyone listen. He could not go to where they were and persistently speak until they gave him an audience. Paul by faith had to rely upon God prompting an audience to desire to listen to his words. Paul was faithful and he did his part to share the gospel of Jesus in his house. The Lord did bring some increase in that some who heard, believed. Just because some did not believe, it does not mean that Paul was a failure. Because Paul was willing to preach, God received some increase.

Paul tells of one time where he planted the seeds of the gospel and Apollos watered yet the Lord received the increase. Paul understood that results were not in his hands, he simply had a duty to God to plant those seeds and if someone believed as a result, then the Lord received the increase. If someone believed later on, then the Lord received the increase. Paul understood that it was not a numbers game where he was trying to win as many for the Lord as possible in order to receive a higher ranking in heaven. Paul simply desired to be faithful and allow the Lord to determine the receptiveness of the audiences.

It is your duty to God to be faithful to do what HE asks of you. Do not allow your circumstances to constrain you. Instead, when you are constrained by your circumstances, seek the Lord to enable you to find ways to overcome the obstacles that you face. Results are not your objective, instead, your objective must be to fulfill the Master’s wishes and allow HIM to reward your obedience with much fruit. Even if you do not see the fruit of your labor, it does not mean you are a failure. God is the one who ultimately receives the credit for the increase; it is your job to be the vessel that HE uses. If HE chooses to use someone else to reap the increase, then praise the Lord that you had a small part in the harvest.

Look for opportunities to serve the Lord. Look for ways that God could use you above and beyond what HE is doing at this time. Instead of looking at your surroundings as obstacles that prevent you from doing all you can, look at them as opportunities for God to demonstrate HIS power through you regardless of your circumstances. Demonstrate your faith by finding creative ways to allow God to use you. Stop worrying about the results, instead focus your attention on doing your part so that God can receive the increase. God desires to use you to further his kingdom. The question remains whether you will be faithful and be used of God even if you are not in the position to receive all the glory. Duty is yours – results are the Lords.

Acts 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appi forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

God knew what Paul needed in order to be encouraged. This had not been the easiest trip he had ever taken. Paul was not free to go where he wanted when he wanted even though he had more freedoms on this trip then other prisoners had. Paul is about to reach Rome, and God saw fit to bring to him Christians from great distances who came just to see Paul. The brethren from Appi forum came approximately 90 miles just to see Paul. 90-mile is about a three to four day journey on foot. This would be similar to driving clear across the country. Paul was encouraged because these brethren had traveled a long way and he thanked God for his goodness.

Paul was doing the will of God. He was going to go preach at Rome as God had commanded him not once but twice. Paul had seen the Lord work many miracles to confirm to him that Rome was the direction God had for him. Yet, even though Paul knew where he was going and that he was in the will of God, Paul needed some further encouragement from God. Paul needed something more to happen so that he knew that in doing the will of God and that he would be useful for the Lord in Rome.

God knows your heart. HE knows what you need and when you need it. The Lord is able to bring things across your paths to help you and to confirm to you that you are in HIS will. God brought the brethren from long distances for the purpose of giving Paul the courage to face Rome. Paul had faced a lot, but he had one more challenge that God needed him to face. Satan was probably constantly attacking Paul and while Paul apparently had not yielded to the temptation, he had grown weary by the constant attack. As such, God brought the brethren and Paul was able to face the next day.

You are the servant of God. You are called to do HIS will here on this earth. Satan hates that you desire to please God and as such, Satan tries to bring circumstances into your life to discourage you. Every good thing is from above. God allows good things to occur in your life to encourage you to continue serving HIM.

It does not matter how discouraging the situations in your life are. Remember that when you are in the will of God, God is in control and HE will encourage you when you need it most. You know that a sparrow cannot fall without God knowing it, so too, nothing cannot happen to you without God’s knowledge.

By faith you must continue to do the will of God. It may have been months since the last encouraging sign that you have seen from God that you are doing HIS will. Nonetheless, continue in the way and wait on HIM. As you demonstrate your faith by continuing in the path that HE has given to you, HE will bring you encouragement and HE will continue to make your paths clear.

God is able to do the impossible. God did a great thing to encourage Paul to go to Rome and preach. So too will God encourage your faith and give you the things you need in order to do HIS will. Remain faithful and do HIS will.

Acts 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

Paul was a prisoner bound and on his way to Rome. However, as they were traveling through Puteoli, he came across some Christians. The Christians were so glad to see Paul that they invited everyone to stay with them for seven days.

Julius who was in charge of Paul appears not to be in a big hurry to get him to Rome. Paul has proven himself and rather then Paul being the prisoner going where Julius desires, it almost appears that Julius has allowed himself to be constrained by Paul’s scheduled. Paul was permitted to tarry with the Puteoli Christians for seven days and to minister unto them while being ministered to by them.

Paul had been preaching the gospel of Christ for many years. Paul was now a prisoner being taken to Rome. However, just because Paul was a prisoner, God continued to open doors so that Paul was able to minister to others. God enabled Paul to meet Christians when they passed through Puteoli. God further caused the brethren in Puteoli to issue an invitation that they tarry a week. God worked on the heart of Julius to allow HIM to give Paul the time to visit with the Puteoli Christians.

When you are in the center of God’s will, amazing doors will open for you that you never thought possible. Throughout this whole trip to Rome, Paul had many miracles occur that would cause even the most casual observer to see that God was with Paul and that God desired to use Paul. Paul had many opportunities to minister from the time he was imprisoned in Jerusalem all the way until his death two years after his arrival in Rome. God constantly open the doors for him so that he was not treated like a normal prisoner.

At some time during your life, there will be a time when you feel imprisoned by the circumstances around you. No matter what the imprisoning situation is, you must understand that it does not bind you so as to prevent you from fulfilling God’s will for your life. Instead, the obstacles that seem to bind you are designed to demonstrate to you that God is bigger than anything that constrains you here on earth.

You must be constantly looking for ways to minister to those around you. It does not matter how many limitations you are facing, you must do the most with the situation that you find yourself in. Joseph was a prisoner, yet by faith, he rose to the top and was used of God. John Bunyan was imprisoned for many years, but he used this time to write many books that are still an encouragement to Christians today.

God has a purpose for you no matter how constrained you feel your circumstances are. You must learn to live by faith and seek for opportunities for God to use you in the difficult situation that you find yourself in. Rather then feel sorry for yourself, look for ways that God can use you. Change your attitude and realize that God is in control over your situation and that HE has a purpose. As you learn to seek HIM during your difficult times, you will see the Lord working and one day when you look back, you will wonder why you ever felt depressed about your imprisoning situation because God was with you the whole time. God is with you, HE has promised never to leave you. Trust in HIM.

Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Paul was aboard a ship bound for Rome. However, a winter storm had arisen that was controlling the ships direction. The sailors could not control the ship and everyone feared that they were about to die. For fourteen days, Paul had not eaten anything. God had told Paul that he was going to preach in Rome and it appeared that a huge storm was going to curtail God’s direction. However, God sent an angel to Paul in the midst of the storm and assured Paul that that God has not changed HIS mind and that everyone would be saved.

For fourteen days, Paul had gone without food. One could safely assume that Paul had done some pretty serious praying about what God was doing with this storm. God did not answer Paul on the first day, but instead waited two weeks before HE sent an angel to comfort and direct Paul. Even though Paul was a prisoner, he took command of the ship due to his previous prophecy that the ship should not sail. People were now listening to Paul because it was proven to them that he did have communication with God.

Paul did not hear from God because he had fasted for fourteen days. No one on the ship had eaten anything for fourteen days and no one else had seen an angel of the Lord. God does not work by a magic formula. If you do something, then God will do something for you. God sent an angel to Paul because Paul had a personal relationship with God. While everyone on ship may have been fasting, Paul’s relationship with God was such that Paul’s fasting along with his prayers drew him closer to God. Paul was the only one who received direction from the Lord.

You need to establish a relationship with God prior to the storm. Storms will arise in your life. If you have not taken the time to establish your spiritual foundation prior to the storm, what makes you think if you cry out for help in the time of trouble that you will be saved? God does not bring trials into your life to drive you closer to HIM. Trials are used of God to reveal to everyone where your foundation is and how strong it is. Everyone on board the ship went through the same trial. The storm revealed to everyone that it was the prisoner Paul who had established his life upon a permanent foundation.

When everything is going great, you need to seek the Lord. Your relationship with God should not be like your conversations with 911. God does not want you to know how to reach HIM only when you need help. Instead, your relationship with God should be like your conversations with your best friend. You know how to reach them any time of day or night. You speak with them about everything that is going on in your life.

It takes time and effort to establish a close relationship with God. Do not wait until a crisis to establish a relationship. By faith, you understand that trials will come and that your relationship with God will be the only thing that will see you through the trial. Because you understand that trials are coming your direction, now is the time to exercise your faith and begin to establish a relationship with God so that when your trials come, you will be in a position that you can receive direction, protection and comfort from God. If you desire to be proven faithful like Joseph, Daniel and Paul, then do not wait, establish your relationship with God today.

Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Paul was a prisoner being taken to Rome by a centurion named Julius. Paul warned Julius that if he sailed from the port of Lasea that there would be much damage not only to the ship but also to those who were on the ship. However, because the master of the ship felt it was safe to make the trip, Julius listened to the master rather then the cautions of Paul.

Paul as a prisoner did not have the ability to exit the ship. Paul simply could make his appeal to Julius and leave it in Julius’ hands whether he listened to Paul’s cautions. Paul was hesitant to board this ship because he perceived danger. Because Paul’s appeal was not headed, Paul was forced to board a boat bounded for disaster. Paul did not have a choice once his authority decided the course they were going to take. Paul had to quietly submit to the will of Julius since the Lord was the one who put Julius over Paul.

It is important to understand that it is after Paul reaches Rome that Paul writes the book of Ephesians and Colossians. In both books, Paul admonishes servants to obey their masters, for children to obey their parents and for wives to submit to their husbands. Paul was in a position to write these words with authority because he just came out of a situation where he was required to submit to an order that would risk his own life. Paul made his appeal and when that failed, Paul by faith simply had to trust that God would take care of him and bring him to Rome.

It is never easy being in a position of submission, especially when you have concerns about the consequences of the action. Nevertheless, scripture is clear that one is to submit to their authority. It takes great faith to submit to an unwise command. Nonetheless, before Paul gave us the words to submit, he himself had to risk his own life in submitting to the authority of Julius. God showed Paul that HE was capable of seeing him through the troubling situation. God could have caused Julius to head the warning of Paul, but God did not, and Paul simply had to submit.

Everyone at some time in their life will be required to submit to an order that they do not feel is safe. It is at these times that you must be willing to turn your problem over to God and ask HIM to take care of you. You may not agree with the direction of your authority, but you must follow your authority or else you will be in violation of your greater authority, God. God told you that you are to obey those in authority over you.

It takes great faith to trust God to take care of the situation you are in when you are required to submit to authority that is leading you to destruction. Nonetheless, you are actually in the best situation when you can be in the place where you are simply under authority of both God and man and you have to watch and pray how God is going to protect you. It does not matter how sure you are that trouble in imminent, you must learn to exercise your faith by making a wise appeal and then simply submitting to your God appointed authorities. If you are ever in a position of authority and someone under you gives a caution, do not be like Julius but instead, stop and pray to ensure that you are following God�s will. Ensure that God is not speaking to you through those who are submitting to you.

Acts 27:3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

Paul was put into the care of Julius and it was Julius’ obligation to see that Paul made it to Rome. However, Paul had gained the favor of Julius and Julius permitted Paul to go off on his own and visit his friends. Remember that during this time, if a prisoner escaped, the prison guard was killed. Julius believed that Paul was a man of integrity and would return at the appointed time. Julius put his own life on the line and permitted Paul to leave his watchful care.

God performed two miracles in the life of Paul. The first miracle was that of all the guards that could have been appointed, God ensure that Paul received a man who respected Paul. The second miracle was that Julius’ respect was deep enough that he was willing to risk his own life on Paul’s word.

Paul had for several years been in prison. However, while he was not treated like every other prisoner in that he was given much freedom to allow people to come and visit him, it appears that this is the first time that Paul is permitted to go where he wants without the watchful eye of his guard. Julius had evidently seen or heard that Paul was a model prisoner. In addition, while they were traveling, Paul had probably shared his testimony as to how God called him to Rome and as such, Julius probably gave Paul greater freedoms having heard Paul’s testimony of his calling to preach in Rome.

Paul desired to be in Rome. Unlike most people who like to avoid conflict and trials, Paul was looking forward to fulfilling God’s direction in his life. Paul’s enthusiasm and excitement to be in Rome gave the guard the peace that Paul would return.

The Christians in Sidon received a great blessing by having Paul for a short period of time. Paul also received a blessing in that they refreshed him. Paul probably did some preaching while he was with them. While we may not know what Paul said while he was in Sidon, God had some reason why he caused the heart of Julius to give Paul unrestrained liberty while they were in Sidon and God’s will was fulfilled.

Just because you are a Christian, it does not mean that you have earned the trust of the world. Paul had earned the trust of Julius and Julius rewarded Paul with additional liberties. There will be times in your life where you will be under the authority of another. The question is, do they trust you completely. Does your authority treat you like Potiphar, the prison guard and Pharaoh treated Joseph. By faith, you will live your life in such a way that others understand that you are called to a higher standard.

The world has a standard that they must live by. However, you must demonstrate your faith by living in the fear of God. As you demonstrate that you fear God, God will be able to use you in ways that you may never have imagined. God will open doors to give you greater responsibilities because those around you see that you are called to a higher standard. Your faithfulness to God opens doors for additional ministries. Your faithfulness to God permits others to give you greater freedoms. You must put God first and learn to serve HIM and then the Lord will open doors for you because of your faith.

Acts 24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

Paul was transferred to the custody of Felix. After the Jews and Paul had both made their case, Felix stated that he desired to hear one more side, the side of the chief captain. However, in the mean time Felix allowed Paul to have some freedom. It is apparent that Felix would have been willing to let Paul go if Paul or his friends simply paid him some bribe money. For over two years, Paul was left in chains because he refused to pay a bribe. However, for those two years, while he was a prisoner, he did have great freedom.

Paul could have become bitter that he was locked in chains while the chief Jews were free. He was an innocent man who was bound in chains. Felix knew he was innocent, but Felix did not have the fear of God in his life and as such, he desired to please man more than God. However, even though Felix feared man more then God, God controlled the heart of Felix and caused Felix to give Paul great freedom. While Paul did not have the freedom to go where he wanted when he wanted, he did have the freedom to minister and be ministered unto. Paul was able to have a ministry in prison.

God could have had Felix release Paul. God was in control over the heart of Felix and God allowed Felix to leave Paul in prison. God allowed Paul to suffer many things for the cause of Christ so that Paul could better minister unto the Christians for many centuries. Paul’s perseverance during time of suffering is a result of his faith in God and his ability to trust that God knew what HE was doing. Paul accepted what God was doing in his life and he continued to seek ways that he could serve the Lord wherever the Lord put him.

A five-year-old will never think that it is fair that his older sister who is ten is permitted to stay up until nine when he has to go to bed at eight. He will not think it fair that his older sister is given additional privileges. However, with these greater privileges there comes a greater responsibility. The five-year-old is not ready, nor willing to take on the greater responsibilities that come with the greater privileges.

Paul was greatly used of God because Paul was willing to suffer many things for the cause of Christ. One could look at Paul’s life and desire to be used as mightily for God. However, would you be willing to suffer as Paul suffered? Are you willing to be falsely accused? Are you willing to be beaten? Are you willing to be imprisoned? You are very much like the five-year-old who desires the privileges without the responsibilities.

God does not dump a huge responsibility upon you at once. God is good, and as such, HE understands how to grow HIS children one step at a time to be used mightily of HIM. God will grow your ministry as you prove your faithfulness in enduring the challenges that are placed in front of you. God tells us that the rains descend upon the just and the unjust. However, if you are not deeply planted, the rains will wash you out. If you are properly planted, the rains will cause you to be replenished and grow. Your faith will enable you to understand that God is in control and that HE is directing your life. Do not balk at what God is doing as it will result in God not using you to your full ability. Trust in the Lord and wait patiently on HIM. HE will direct your path. Allow God to have HIS perfect way with you, believe on HIM, have faith that HE will be glorified through you.

Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

The Philippi jailer went from almost killing himself and residing in hell for eternity to dieing to self and living for God in a matter of minutes. The Philippi jailer saw the open prison doors and he knew this meant that the prisoners escaped and that he would be killed. The Philippi jailer was prepared to take his own life so as not to face hearing he had failed. He simply felt his failures made his life not worth living.

However, out of the darkness a voice called to him and told him not to kill himself because no one had escaped. It was the voice of Paul who had seen God use an earthquake to release him from his chains and release the prison doors. God did not send the earthquake so that Paul could escape, God sent the earthquake to open the eyes of the Philippi jailer so that the jailer and his family might believe in God and be saved.

God had to put the Philippi jailer in the position where life was not worth living in order to give him life. God not only gave the jailer eternal life, but God blessed the faith of the Philippi jailer and caused his whole family to accept God as their personal savior. As a result, the whole family was now in a position to work together to learn and grow in God. The jailer saw the power of God in the ability to open prison doors, but more importantly he saw what God could do through men who were dedicated to HIM. The jailer knew that Paul had something that he needed and he did not waste anytime in obtaining it.

You cannot live for God until you are ready to die to the world. This world can never give you lasting happiness and contentment. In fact the world teaches you that you must always obtain more and even the wealthiest of individuals never have enough. If you try to live your life for yourself, the world will disappoint you. You need to learn to live your life for God. You need to encourage those around you to find HIS purpose for their life and encourage them to do it. As you live for God, you will experience the peace that passeth all understanding.

Your faith is what enables you to focus your attention upon the things of God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the ability to look at the circumstances around you and being able to see how the Lord is leading and directing you. By faith you will hear God�s words as you seek HIS face. As you obey and trust in HIM, you will see HIS mighty hand upon the circumstances around you as HE confirms that you are in HIS will.

The Philippi jailer was not blessed with riches; the Philippi jailer was blessed with seeing his whole family at the same time dedicate their lives to the Lord. God will bless you as you seek HIM. Your blessings will not always be monetary. God can bless you in so many ways if you will only take the time to count those blessings. The Philippi jailer saw the work of God and he was instantly ready to serve God. Maybe God desires to do something miraculous in your life so that someone else might have faith. Be prepared to be used of God. Be ready to encourage others in the faith. Do not be quick to try to find an escape from your trial but instead be looking for ways to minister to others in your present situation.

Acts 16:23, 25 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: … And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Paul and Silas were persecuted for doing that which is right in the eyes of God. They were beaten because they cast a demon out of a young lady. They were thrown into prison because they preached the gospel of Christ. God allowed evil to happen to them while they were doing HIS will. One would naturally think that Paul and Silas reaction would be one of rebellion. Nonetheless, Paul and Silas prayed so loud that the prisoners heard them pray. Paul and Silas let their voices be heard in song at midnight.

Paul and Silas understood that God works all things together for good to them that are called according to his purpose. They understood that naked came they into the world and naked shall they return. They understood that God brings the rain on both the just and the unjust. They understood that while they were the ones who were bound in chains and suffered the beatings, it was the Lord Jesus Christ who was being rejected and that rejection was simply being shown through their persecution.

Because of the faith that Paul and Silas had in God and that HE was still taking care of them, they were able to remain faithful to their Creator and pray and sing songs during a difficult time of their life. They realized that God allowed this suffering to create a testimony in their lives so that they could more effectively work with others.

No one wakes up in the morning wondering how many ways he or she can suffer for the cause of Christ. No one makes it the desire of his or her heart to be persecuted for Christ’s sake. However, when these opportunities come, Paul and Silas have demonstrated the attitude that we must have. They have shown us how we are to have faith in God during the dark times of our lives so that God will be glorified through us.

Your trials are opportunities for you to demonstrate to those around you that there is something different about you. Everyone in the world at one time or another will have something unfair happen. How you respond to these unfair situations will be closely observed by those who do not have faith. When they see you praising God and not having any grudges against HIM, they begin to wonder what you have that they do not have. They understand that your response is not natural.

Your trials are opportunities to share the gospel with those around you. God may have a miraculous escape to your trial and HE desires that the world see HIS mighty hand in your life. Whatever the reason why God allowed you to go through this trial, you can be sure that God has a purpose for it and that HE simply desires that you acknowledge HIM.

Are you wiling to be faithful regardless of the trial? God is looking for those who will remain in the faith through both prosperity and persecution. HE desires to have children who will remain faithful to HIM and will use their time, talents and treasures for the glory of God. You must learn to praise God in good times and praise HIM during times of evil. You must learn to pray without ceasing regardless of what God is allowing to happen around you.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Herod had just killed James the brother of John and he was going to kill Peter also. The situation was impossible so the church did the only thing it could do, pray. The night before Peter was supposed to be killed, God sent his angle which enabled Peter to escape through four quaternion of soldiers. After Peter had escaped he went to John’s house but he was required to stay outside for a period of time because the young lady who heard his voice was so glad to hear he was alive that she forgot to let him in and because no one else believed the young lady that Peter was actually alive.

Everyone was so sure that Peter was going to die that they were not prepared for God to answer their prayers. Yes, they knew that there was nothing else that they could do, so they did the only thing they could do, pray. Even Peter thought he was seeing a vision while he was escaping from prison. This is the same Peter who had raised the dead, cast out spirits, and had made the lame to walk. For some reason, Peter was so prepared to die that he had lost sight of God�s ability to preserve his life.

There are going to be times in your life where the situation seems impossible. At these times, things may look bleak and there appears to be no way of escape. Peter’s fellow believers were at such a crossroad. It is a fair inference that the church along with Peter had prayed that God would spare the life of James. However, James was killed and then Peter was taken. The believers had lost hope that Peter would be spared. However, this did not stop them from turning to the One who could hear them and help them.

Although they did not have the faith to pray in confidence that Peter would live, they did pray without ceasing that God would deliver Peter. They were prepared for the bad news that Peter was killed, but they were not going to stop praying until they heard the news.

No matter how impossible the situation seems to be, remember that God can still do the impossible. It does not matter that you do not have enough faith to believe God desires to work a miracle on your behalf; you still have the obligation to turn the problem over to the ONE who can solve your problem. You may be right and God does not desire to answer your prayer. However, there could be the possibility that God might desire to do the impossible in your life so that you will a wonderful testimony. As such, use your limited faith and fall on your knees and present your petition in prayer without ceasing.

God desires that you demonstrate your faith in the impossible situations with fervent prayer that does not stop. However, we should not limit our communication to God to times when we are facing an impossible situation. Paul told us that we were always to be before God praying without ceasing.

How is your prayer life? Have you allowed Satan to talk you out of praying because of the impossibility of your situation? Demonstrate your faith in God by simply trusting HIM and obeying HIM by casting all your cares upon HIM. If you cannot think of what to say, then simply sing the praises of God. However, if God does unexpectedly answer your prayers, do not be like the believers who were slow to accept God’s answer.