Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

In this passage, we are given a list of things that we should do. This is not a list of things that Christians are naturally going to do. Instead, this is a list that demonstrates the high calling that God has for our lives. In this verse alone, there are three things that we should be applying to our daily life: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, and being earnest in our prayers.

As Christians, we have the hope of God’s promises that HE is one day going to be returning to this world. Rather than complaining about how evil this world has gotten, we need to rejoice that God is in control and thank HIM that one day HE will fulfill what HE has promised.

Abraham had received a promise from God that one day he was going to have a son. Abraham needed to rejoice in that promise thanking God that one day God was going to bring it to pass. Abraham was human just like you and me and after many years of waiting, Abraham lost focus on the fact that God can do the impossible so Abraham chose to try to help God out since God seemed to be incapable of giving HIM that which HE had promised to Abraham. Abraham took his focus off of God and Abraham acted in such a way that has caused great problems for HIS people.

As Christians, we are not promised that our life is going to be calm and go according to our plans. In fact, just the opposite is true. The more you study scripture, the more you will see that God has promised us that we will face tribulation. However, God has promised us that HIS grace will be sufficient for us. God does not give us grace for future problems because HIS grace will always arrive when we need it – i.e. today.

When Paul was in prison, he could have complained about how unjust this was. Here he was in jail for doing the will of God by preaching to the lost. Paul was falsely accused and the next thing he knew, he was sitting in prison. Paul could have started a grip session and told his fellow prisoners that the religious leaders where a bunch of crooks, but he didn’t. Instead, Paul started praising God. Paul had an opportunity to escape but rather than escape, Paul was ready to be used of God to touch the life of a sinner.

As Christians, we often let our prayer life slip. We may be faithful to pray at meals or at church, but do we remember to pray before we make an important decision. As we drive down the road, do we ask God to direct our paths? Do we ask God to bring people into our life that we can counsel in the ways of the Lord?

Elijah was a man just like you and me. However, Elijah saw the Lord work through HIM to do many mighty works. Elijah was earnest in his prayers and HE believed that God heard HIM and that God was going to do what HE said. Because Elijah was earnest in settling the things of God first in his life, God was glorified.

Just because we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, it does not mean that we become a perfect saint. In fact, we still will sin and fall short of the glory of God. Hopefully, when we become saved, we chose to sin less although we never quit will be sinless. We will never be able to live up to God’s high standards for our life in by relying upon our own strength. We must learn to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus and allow HIM to see us through the difficult situations that God has allowed us to face.

Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Are you spiritually diligent? Most of us know someone who is real lazy at work. The individual does the least amount of work possible in order to receive a paycheck. They are experts of talking about all the work that they have done and they are pros in manipulating others to do their work for them. They take off all the possible time that they can take, and will call in sick at a drop of a hat.

You have no problem calling that individual lazy because it is so obvious to you and others that they are not diligent. However, if God were to examine your heart, is HE going to judge that you have been diligent in pursuing your spiritual walk with HIM? Will HE find that you have been quick to avoid doing your daily Bible reading? Will HE find that you quickly forget to pray? Will HE find that you fail to give to the needs of others when HE has financially rewarded you with extra money?

It is easy in your mind to judge between a diligent and a slothful individual. However, you are not willing to look at your spiritual relationship and judge yourself on the same standard. Do you really think that if you looked at your spiritual walk from the eyes of the Lord that you would be able say with a clear conscience that you have been diligent in pursuing your walk with God?”

It is important that we do not allow ourselves to spiritual become slothful. We must be diligent to pursue the things of God. We must be willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary so that we have the time for the things that are spiritual. As we make the things of God a priority in our life, we establish our steps so that God can bless us in ways we never imagined.

If we desire to be all that we can be for the cause of Christ, it starts with us diligently adding faith and patience to our life. We are not going to have the faith of David, or Abraham, or Daniel the first day that we are saved. These men were able to do great things for God because they had seen God be faithful in the smaller things. These men were blessed by God and given much responsibility that flowed from lives that put the things of God first.

Do you want to obtain the promises of God? Do you want to receive the things that God has promised unto you? Then do not allow Satan to tempt you into remaining at status quo. Instead, change your attitude so that God sees that HE is a priority in your life.

Peter had the power to preach to thousands of people not because of his good looks. Instead, Peter was simply obedient to do what God had instructed him to do and in the Lord’s perfect timing, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and God used Peter to do many mighty miracles. It was because Peter was patient with God that Peter was able to be used of God. Peter was used by God even though he had betrayed Jesus three times. This Peter who was so weak in his own strength was now strong when he was relying upon God.

God is not going to make you accept the HIS promises to you if you would simply obey HIM. God is not going to make you be diligent. God is not going to make you add to your faith and add to your patience. The decision that must be made is wholly your own. The choice is yours to make, will you chose to diligently pursue the things of God, or will you simply hold back and try to do those things that bring God the glory that is due HIS .

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:

Do you remember when you were a young child, when you were going to go on some special vacation and how you were so excited that you could not sleep? It did not matter what your parents told you to do, you were wide awake with anticipation.

In the same way that you were anxious about going on that vacation, so also should we be anxious about life in heaven. It is easy to allow our focus to be on the things of this earth, but God desires that our focus be on things above. While we are here on this earth, we must be faithful to HIM and minister unto those whom HE has brought into our life. Our desire to see heaven should be so strong that our patience is tried.

The problem with most believers here today is that we have it too good. We only face minor persecution when we stand up for the things of God. Because we have not been thrown into lion’s dens or into the fire as a result of our faith, we have not seen the power of God rescue us from these extreme circumstances. Because we have not seen the extreme supernatural power of God, we are content with our lot in life.

The greater our trials, the greater God desires to show HIMSELF strong in our life. The more God shows HIMSELF strong in our lives, the greater our desire should be to draw closer to HIM. God has a purpose for our life. If all God desired from us is that we would be saved, then we would find ourselves ruptured the second we believed.

God desires that we be the salt and light unto this world. The light of God shines best through us when the world sees how we respond to trials in our own life. The world understands that difficult things happen to people, but they know you are different when you respond differently.

Paul knew and understood the power of God. Paul desired to go to heaven and spend eternity with the God that HE loved. However, Paul had to be patient and continue to seek the glory of God while here on this earth. Every day Paul hoped it was his last day so that HE could be reunited with his first love. However, every day, Paul had to persevere to serve God so that God would receive the glory and honor for his life.

If we do not feel like we are exercising patience for the things of God, this is probably an indication that our relationship with God is not right. The things of God should be the most important thing to us. Every day we should wake up and ask God to show us how we can serve HIM today.

There are plenty of examples of those who are demonstrating how to put the things of this world first in their life. There are plenty of people who serve the gods of money, fame, and relationships. There are plenty of people who worship actors, sports figures, or politicians. What there is not a lot of is those who put the things of God first in their lives.

Is God first in your life? Hopefully your answer is yes. However, if you really think about it, can you really honestly say that God is first in your life? Does the fruit of your life prove to both God and the world that HE is number one? Our talk talks, but our walk will always talk louder than our talk with ever talk.

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God desires that the church be unified. However, rather than be unified, we find hundreds of denominations. Rather than looking for ways that we are similar, we see where we are different and we focus upon those differences. In this chapter, we learn that God had HIS words written down so that we might share the same hope. Nonetheless, the church today is not uniting around this same hope.

When the nation of Israel was traveling from Egypt to the Promise Land, they all were seeing the exact same miracles. They all saw the stone tablets that gave them the new law. They all saw the ten plagues God used to deliver them from the Egyptians. They all saw the parting of the Red Sea. They all saw God bring water from a rock. Nonetheless, when it came time to enter into the Promise Land, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb were ready to accept the promise of the hope that God had for them, the rest of the nation chose to fill their hearts with doubt and they lost the opportunity to receive the promises of God during their generation.

As you read the book of Acts, you find that the New Testament church was able to work with one accord. This meant that the individual Christians were more concerned about doing what was right in the eyes of God then they were about their own personal egos. These early Christians were not perfect and they did have their disputes. Once there arose a dispute as to whether the Gentiles had to be circumcised. Some had one opinion and others had a contrary opinion. These early church leaders came together understanding the importance of being in one accord and they worked on the problem until they understood what God desired them to do.

Have you ever wondered why the church does not have much influence today? Have you ever wondered why the world seems to care less about the things of God? Have you ever wondered why we do not see miracles like the nation of Israel saw as they left the land of Egypt or were seen by the early Christians during the book of Acts?

One answer is that the church is now divided. Because the church is divided and so many denominations are working against each other, there is not a one accord. Because there is not one accord, the church lacks the focus so that the power of God can properly be demonstrated. Because there is no power, the world is not attracted to God and the world chooses to do that which is right in their own eyes.

If the church desires to be a light set on top of a hill, then a whole lot of people need to be willing to start putting aside their doctrine and start focusing upon their relationship with God and what God is telling them to do. Many times, our doctrine is no different than the rules that the religious leaders were following during the time of Jesus. The religious leaders had become so focused upon their rules that they missed the Messiah. Those who were touched by the Messiah were those who were not tangled up by the doctrine of the religious leaders.

God gave us the Bible so that we might through patience have the same hope. God demonstrated patience so that we might follow HIS example and demonstrate the same patience towards one another. However, rather than follow the example of God, we have chosen to go our own way and put our doctrine ahead of our relationship with God.

Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

When you are in the middle of a difficult time, it is hard to be patient. However, we must remember that God was first patient. God is not asking us to do anything that HE has not first endured HIMSELF. Think about it, what is the longest you have ever waited for something? Whatever it was, it is not nearly as long as God has been patient with those who have violated HIS perfect law.

God created this world and HE made Adam and Eve in HIS own image. God had daily fellowship with Adam and Eve until they sinned and fell short of the glory of God. When Adam and Eve sinned and fell short of the glory of God, HE knew that HE was going to have to send the ultimate sacrifice in order to restore HIS fellowship with mankind again. However, God did not send HIS only begotten Son immediately; instead, HE waited some 4,000 years before HE allowed HIS Son to be the ultimate sacrifice.

We often do things that are very rash. Someone slaps us and we immediately slap them back. Someone calls us a name and we think of a name to call them back. However, when we sin against God, HE does not immediately seek justice and return our evil with punishment. God is slow to judgment and quick in mercy. Just think how long God gave the world to repent while Noah built the ark? How many times did God forgive the nation of Israel after they demonstrated a complete lack of faith?

One of the precious promises that God has in store for us is the gift of patience. Most of us do not see patience as a gift, but that is because we are not looking at it from God’s point of view. Patience is a gift to those who desire to live by God’s higher standards. Just because you do not understand the value of the gift, does not mean that it is not worth obtaining. Think about it, just because you did not understand the value of salvation, it does not mean that it was not a valuable gift from God.

There were many times when Christ Jesus demonstrated patience. First when Jesus was 12, HIS parents found HIM in the temple and HE went home with them even though HE desired to be about HIS father’s business. For the next 18 years, Jesus faithful put the needs of HIS family first and did not look to be about HIS Father’s business. However, when the time of patience was complete, Jesus faithful served HIS Father doing HIS Father’s business.

Even at the end of Jesus’ life here on this earth, Jesus put aside HIS will in order to do the will of HIS Father. Jesus would have rather avoided the trial of the cross and being separated from the Father. Nonetheless, Jesus did the will of the Father and HE patiently endured the pain of the cross and the time that HE was separated from HIS Father.

What is your trial that you are facing today? Did you know that God is faithful to see you through your trial? God has given you the strength to endure each day. You do not have to accept the gift of Jesus Christ. You do not have to be patience when trials come your way. God is not going to make you do something that you do not want to do. Nonetheless, if you will yield your will and follow the example of Jesus Christ, God will turn your patience into something wonderful.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Why is it that God took the time to have the scriptures recorded for us? We have the Bible so that we might learn what God has done through others in the past. By studying how God has responded to others in the past, it gives us hope for how God will respond to us in the future.

Reading the story of the trial of Job should give us hope that God can turn even the worst situation around for HIS glory. Reading the story of Abraham having to wait 25 years for the birth of his son Isaac should give us hope when we are waiting on God’s perfect timing in our own life. Reading the story of Joseph and how he was betrayed and lied about gives us hope that God really does work all things together for HIS good for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purposes.

It is easy to hear verses out of the scripture and become dejected because they seem like they are impossible to fulfill. However, God did not just give us a bunch of dos and don’ts, he also gave us real live examples of those who demonstrated many of the principles on how we are supposed to live our lives. When we learn a principle out of the Bible, we will often find an example in the scriptures of someone who demonstrated that principle for HIS glory.

Our hope does not come from our own strength. Our hope does not come from our own talents and abilities. Our hope does not come from how good of a person we might be. No, our hope comes from our patience that we develop as we wait upon God. As we grow in our relationship with God, we learn just who God is and what HE has in store for us.

It was because of the writings of the scriptures that the Jews had hope that the Messiah would one day come again. It is because of the writings of the scriptures that we have hope of the second coming of the Messiah. If it were not for the scriptures the Jews would not have known what to look for. In the time of Christ there were many interpretations of who the Messiah would be and thus many Jews missed out on the fact that the promised Messiah was already in their presence.

Just as there were Jews who were so wrapped up in their religion that they failed to miss the signs of the time, so also there are Christians today who are so wrapped up in their doctrine that they fail to maintain a proper relationship with Christ. God desires our obedience more so than our sacrifices. God is not looking for how many rules you can set up for yourself so that you might be the most spiritual. God desires that you learn to maintain a right relationship with HIM and allow HIM to guide us every step of the way.

If you do not have hope that God is going to be fulfilling HIS promises for your life, then there are two possible problems. One problem is that you are not spending enough time with God that you are missing out on hearing HIS voice. The second problem is that you have heard HIS voice but because you are not spending regular time in the scriptures, you do not have the hope that God will be fulfilling HIS promises in your life.

You need to spend regular time studying the Bible. Do not just memorize verses but look for the stories of those great men and women who fulfilled the principles of scriptures and experience the blessings that come with those who obey God.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Are you ashamed that you have chosen to be a follower of Christ? Do you feel like you have to make excuses as to why you must be in Church on Sunday morning? Do you feel like you have to make excuses as to why you do not go drinking with the boys on the weekend? Are you ashamed that the power of God is not in you so that when others look at you, they know that there is a living God?

In this chapter, we learn that we are to glory in our trials because when we understand that God uses our trials to work patience in us. We are instructed that it is our patience that proves to us that God is real, and it is that experience that gives us the faith that we need to be not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Did you ever wonder how the early Christians could stand in the coliseum and sing the praises of God as the lions destroyed them? Did you ever wonder how Peter had the boldness to ask to be crucified upside-down? Did you ever wonder how the Christians were able to withstand such cruel torture without wavering in their faith?

The answer is that they had experienced the power of God in their life and they could not imagine living without that power. They had seen God prove HIMSELF time after time and rather than doubt the power of God, they trusted HIM. They understood that they were living for something that was far greater than anything this world had to offer them.

Scriptures are full of examples of those who saw God work in their life and as such, they trusted HIM with all of their heart. Joshua and Caleb were two men who saw the miracles of God and they trusted HIM that HE was going to do as HE promised. However, while Joshua and Caleb believed, the rest of the nation of Israel chose to ignore what God had done in the past and instead focus upon the present and as such, they did not have the faith to enter the Promise Land.

What was the difference between Joshua and Caleb and the rest of the nation of Israel? Joshua and Caleb were not looking for what God could give them next, instead, they were looking how they could be used of God. If your focus is upon what God owes you, you will never be able to thank God for the trials HE allows to enter into your life. However, when your focus turns to being used of God each day, you will soon learn to give thanks for your trials and as you experience God’s blessing upon your life, you will have the faith to not be ashamed of your relationship with Christ.

What is the most important thing to you; your relationship with those who are in this world, or your relationship with the One who created this world? If you desire to not be ashamed of your relationship with God, then you need to start changing your focus from being self-centered to being focused upon the things of God. If you desire to have the confidence in knowing that you have the power of God in your life, then you need to start praising God for your trials.

The power of God comes when you learn to accept your trials as a gift from God. The power of God fills your life when you are able to share testimonies of how things became very difficult in your life and you watched as God provided, protected, and directed you. As long as you are self-centered and treating God as Santa Clause, you will never have complete confidence in HIM.

Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

In the previous verse, we are told that we are to glory in tribulation because we know that our tribulation worketh patience in us. In this passage we are taught that from our patience, we gain experience, and from our experience, we receive hope.

What is hope? Hope is what Abraham had all those years he was waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise. Hope is what the nation of Israel had as they wondered around in the wilderness waiting to enter the Promise Land. Hope is what the Israelites had as they waited for their Messiah. Hope is what we have as we wait for the second coming of the King of Kings.

Have you ever heard the saying, good things come to those who wait? As you study the scriptures, you will learn that there are many occasions where God promises someone something and that person has to wait a long time to see the fulfillment of that promise. Those who trusted in the Lord and faithfully waited learned how faithful God was and one day, they saw the fulfillment of the promise.

How would Abraham have the faith to sacrifice his son if he did not first have the experience of knowing who God was? Abraham had been tested by God and as a result of all that testing, Abraham knew that he needed to obey first and ask questions later. Abraham had experienced the faithfulness in God and as such, he had a confidence that few of us will ever understand.

Abraham had to wait 25 years to see the fulfillment of God’s promise in giving him a son. Those 25 years, Abraham learned patience and gained valuable experiencing learning to trust in God. Yes Abraham did make mistakes, but none of us are perfect. Abraham’s relationship with God grew and on multiple occasions God repeated the promise thus proving to Abraham that God does not lie.

What promise has God made to you that HE has not fulfilled? Whatever these promises are, you need to understand that God does not lie. You must learn to give thanks to God. By learning to glorify God during your trials, your attitude towards God will change. When God eventually gives you the desire of your heart, you will not be in a position where you feel like God owes you anything, instead, you will be in a position where you understand how God had your best interest at heart all along.

Turn your eyes unto the Lord. Stop feeling sorry for yourself regarding all the things you think you deserve but you have not yet received. God has not yet written the last chapter in your life. Satan would love for you to give up and stop trusting in God. However, that is the last thing you need to do. The most important thing that you can do is learn to thank God during your trials of patience. You must understand that God has not given you a trial that you are unable to bear. While it may seem hard, God is still in control and HE is creating in you a testimony that will reach the lives of those around you.

Your trial of patience has a greater good in your own life. The sooner you recognize that God is working in you, the easier it will be for you to experience all that HE has for you. It is freeing to understand that the things that you thought were bad were really HIS creation to bring out the best in you. Your relationship with God will grow as you spend more time drawing closer to God and allowing your relationship with HIM to become all that HE desires.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

When was the last time you had a really bad day and the first thing out of your mouth was singing the praises of God? If you did sing the praises of God, were you doing so out of the abundance of a joyful heart? Most likely, the last thing that you wanted to come out of your mouth was praises to God.

The world sees trouble and they swear. God desires that we see trouble and we rejoice because we know that God is using these difficult times in us to create something better. We see patience as a bad thing where God desires us to see patience as a gift and something worthy of our attention.

God desires that we have a different perspective on life then those who are of this world. Remember, to those who are of the world, they are bound to hell and as such, this earth will be the best thing they will ever have. To those who believe, the things of this world are as garbage compared to things promised to us in heaven. No matter how severe our trial, it will be short compared to the eternity we will spend with God.

Paul understood the concept of giving glory to God during his tribulations. Paul did not just write these words but he also demonstrated them in his own life. When Paul was falsely beaten and thrown into prison, he could have pouted and been sorry for himself. Instead, Paul was bold in singing the praises of God. Because Paul had the right attitude, God soon used him in the prison to touch the life of the prison guard and his family. Would Paul have been ready to be a blessing to the prison guard if he was more concerned about feeling sorry for himself?

A weight lifter does not become stronger simply by looking at pictures of strong men. A weight lifter becomes stronger by diligently training and pushing his body beyond what he thinks is possible. It is through these trials that he sees the benefit that he so desires.

The same is true in our spiritual life. This passage tells us that we should glory in our tribulation because we understand that this tribulation gives us more patience. It is because we do not understand the value of patience that we fail to rejoice when God is working in us to give us more patience. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. In II Peter, it is one of eight precious promises given to us by God. Patience is a gift, but we often see it as a curse.

If you desire to be used of God, you must first learn to rejoice in your tribulations. It does not matter what God allows to happen in your life, you need to be quick to give God the glory that is due HIS name. Whether you are blessed with millions of dollars or you are in desperate need of a dollar to buy your next meal, you should rejoice because God has a plan for your life. Every day, God is bringing people into your life to allow you to minister unto them. If you are so focused upon yourself and your needs, you will quickly lose sight of what is really important.

The next time you feel that your patience is being tried, stop and thank God that HE has not given you the desires of your heart when you wanted them. Start developing an attitude of praise in your life so that you are looking for how God can use you in your current situation rather than looking for what God owes you. Once you change your attitude, you will be ready to be used of HIM in a whole new exciting way.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

It is real easy to think more highly of yourself than you ought. It does not take very much effort for your mind to think about how important you are. However, you can do nothing apart from the gift of God. It is by God’s grace that you even have the ability to take another breath. It is God that has given you the talent to do the things that you do.

When David saw Goliath, he understood that it was not his strength that was going to destroy the giant. Instead, David had seen how God had worked in his life in the past and David understood that by the grace of God he could defeat the giant. The problem is, that even though David understood that it was God through him that enabled him to defeat Goliath, the people started to sing the praises of David over the praises of Saul. Satan knows how easy it is for us to take our eyes off of God working in us to get us to the point where we start seeking the praises of man.

Pride has a way of catching up to you and causing you to lose focus of who God is and what HE has done for you in your life. Every day we need to die to self and to learn to have an attitude of gratefulness to God so that we can see the victory over our pride. As long as we are looking for what is best in our own eyes, we will fail to exercise the grace that God has for us. However, when we lay aside our pride, God is able to be glorified.

God does not make everyone the same. HE opens some doors for some people and HE opens other doors for others. When Stephen was first called into the ministry, he was called to take care of the widows. However, because Stephen remained faithful to God, we soon see that God used him in a mighty way to preach a powerful sermon.

God does not call all of us to be missionaries to Africa. God does not call all of us to be wealthy and to give thousands of dollars to various Christian ministries. You must understand that God has a special calling for your life. If you remain focused upon HIM and what HE desires you to do, then you can give God the glory for what HE does through you. However, if you are so self-focused that you fail to see God working in your life, then you will soon see pride destroy your ability to be all that God desires you to be.

You have heard that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. God has given you certain talents to use for HIM in the furtherance of HIS kingdom. You must learn to cry out to God for HIS strength so that you can have victory over the pride that Satan wants to use to destroy you. By adding temperance to your life, you can focus upon what God is doing through you and understand that HE is the one who should receive the glory.

Are you going to allow Satan to distract you from the perfect will of God for your life? If you are focused upon yourself, it will not take too long before you start thinking more highly of yourself then you ought. However, by the grace of God you can keep your focus upon the things of God and watch HIM do even bigger and better things through your life.

As long as you think more highly of yourself then you ought, you will fail to see God’s bigger picture for your life. By changing your focus to praise God for what HE has done, you can have victory over your mind so that God can use you in a greater way.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Do you live in this world but not of this world? What does it mean to not be conformed to this world? We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Because of our sin nature, we naturally desire to follow the things of this world. Because of our sin nature, we naturally do that which is right in our own eyes. Because of our sin nature, we naturally do not do those things that are pleasing to God.

Our salvation is more than a fire insurance policy that we obtain to ensure that we do not spend eternity in hell. Contrary to the common belief that you can be saved and continue to pursue the things of this world, in this passage we are told that there needs to be a transformation and a renewing of our mind. We can no longer be serving ourselves and what we think is best. Instead, we need to focus upon the things of God so that the fruit of our life is that which is good, acceptable, and a part of the perfect will of God.

Have you ever asked what the will of God was for your life? Have you been so confused about all the choices that were around you that you did not know what God wanted you to do? This verse tells you that if you want to know what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is, then you need to go through a transforming process of changing your thinking.

As long as you are pursuing that which is best in your own mind, you will not fully understand the perfect will of God. After Naaman was healed, he came to Elisha to give him great gifts. Elisha had been transformed and had experienced the renewing of his mind and he understood that he was not to take anything form Naaman.

Gehazi who was Elisha’s faithful servant saw the riches that Elisha passed up and as soon as Naaman left, he took off after Naaman and was able to tell a story so that he could obtain some of the possessions of Naaman. Gehazi did not see the bigger perfect will of God and he ended up receiving the leprosy of Naaman because he pursued riches rather than allow God to receive the glory.

It can be very easy to take a wrong step like Gehazi did because we become focused upon the things of this world. However, if we are willing to accept the changes that God would like to make to our thinking, this will open up new avenues in our lives as we pursue the perfect will of God. How great would it be to understand the perfect will of God for your life? It is obtainable if you will simply allow God to transform your thinking.

The word transformed in this passage is the same word that is used in the gospel when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain with Peter, James, and John. Scripture reveals to us that there was a time of praying and fasting that occurred while HE was on this mountain. If Jesus would spend time fasting and praying so that HIS mind was right and HE knew the perfect will of God, why should we not also spend ample time fasting and praying for God’s direction in our lives?

The things of this world will always try to chock our time so that we do not have the time to pray and fast as we should, however, we need to add temperance to our lives so that we can remain focused. By spending the time with God that HE requires of us, we can overcome the struggles of this world and be strong to do that which is right in the eyes of God.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

What are you doing with your body? Are you doing what you want when you want, or are you disciplining yourself so that God receives the glory? The wages of sin is death. God has a higher standard for your life. You have a choice to make, either you live for yourself or you live for God.

If you were going on your first date, you probably would take a lot of time to make sure that your appearance was just right. You would take a shower, put on some of your nicest cloths for the occasion, and you would do whatever else was necessary so that your first impression was memorable.

In this passage, we are instructed to examine our lives and see if we are presenting our best unto God. In the same way one would not show up on their first date looking like a complete slob, so also we must understand that our lives are a sacrifice unto God. How we live our lives is just one of the elements of what our sacrifice unto God will look like. If we chose to abuse our bodies with drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or sex, we are not presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice that is acceptable to God.

If you had the opportunity to meet some famous person, you probably would take a long time to make sure that you made a good impression. You would want this person to like you and you would hope for an extended visit. You would be afraid that this famous person would not give you the time of day if you were not wearing the proper cloths or your body was emitting a strange odor.

Do you serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Do you exercise temperance in your life so as to live your life in a way that is holy and acceptable unto God? When you chose to live like the world, your life is not holy and you are not presenting your life in a way that is acceptable to God. If you desire to live your life in a manner that is pleasing to God, you must learn to follow the perfect will of God for your life. No longer can you live to your own personal standards but you must live to the standards that God has for you so that your life can properly reflect the love of God.

Sampson was given great strength by God. However, Sampson did not keep that body holy as God had commanded him. Sampson was seen to eat honey that came from the carcass of a lion. Sampson was seen sleeping with prostitutes. Sampson did not care to keep his body holy and eventually he found himself in a compromising situation that resulted in his losing his sight and his strength. Nonetheless, God demonstrated mercy on Sampson and HE gave Sampson one more great victory before his death.

What choices are you making? Every day you have a decision to make, are you going to live for yourself or are you going to live for God. When you live for yourself, you will do things that are not presenting your body as a living sacrifice unto God. The lusts of the flesh are great. Nonetheless, greater is HE that is in you then he that is of this world. You do not have to yield to temptation. You can overcome. By the grace of God, you can overcome the temptations that this world throws your way. By the grace of God you can present your body as a living sacrifice.

Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

We are instructed to diligently add temperance to our faith, virtue, and knowledge. In this passage, Paul is admonishing us how we are to live our lives if we are not going to make provision for our fleshly desires. The things of this world can be a great temptation, but the things of God must remain a primary concern.

We often wonder why temptation seems so strong in our life. Why is it that Satan appears to have such a stronghold in our life? It is because we are more concerned about the things of this earth than we are about the things of God. If we desire to live a dynamic life, a life that has the strength to overcome the temptations of this world, then we must start by putting Christ first.

How many Christians have you come across who proclaim to be a Christian yet they do not demonstrate self-control in some aspect of their life. How much more powerful could their life be if they only learned to rely upon the strength of Christ for every aspect of their life? Satan loves to get you to segregate your life so that you remain in control over certain aspects of your life.

David was king of Israel and it was the time of the year that kings go out to battle. However, David did not lead his troops in battle but instead put himself in a position where he was able to see Bath-sheba bathing on her housetop. David made provision for his flesh by first not being where he was supposed to be, second by looking, third by inquiring, and fourth by requesting that Bath-sheba be brought unto him.

At any step of the way, David could have stopped the process which led to him committing adultery with Bath-sheba. However, each small compromise that David took eventually led to him disobeying the commands of God and suffering the consequences of his actions.

We need to follow the example of Joseph who did not make provision for his flesh. He was given the opportunity to sin, but instead of yielding to the temptation, Joseph fled. Joseph fled and suffered the consequences for something he did not do, but Joseph was faithful to God and God used him.

Daniel is another man who could have made a soft compromise. Daniel was a long way from home so who would care whether or not he ate the food of the king. Nonetheless, Daniel chose to do that which was right in the eyes of God. It was because Daniel understood who God was and that he would be accountable to God that Daniel did not sin by eating unclean food.

If you desire to obey God by adding self-control to your life, you must start by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must dare to be a Daniel, you must follow the example of Joseph; you must understand that God is watching you and that you will be accountable to HIM for every word, thought, and action.

If you start living your life for God, God will give you the strength to overcome the lusts of the flesh. It does not matter what your addiction is, putting Christ as the center of your life will be the tool that you should use to overcome the temptations of this world. Through God, you can do the impossible including overcoming you addiction.

Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

How could a preacher preach unless he first took the time to add knowledge of God’s ways to his life? Until he added knowledge, he would not be qualified to preach and no listener would benefit from his ramblings. This passage shows us that we need to first fill our lives with God’s knowledge before we are in a position that we can admonish one another.

The word “admonish” means to teach, to warn, to reprove, to counsel against wrong practices, to advice, and to direct. We all find ourselves in a position from time to time where we are able to counsel a friend regarding a difficult decision that they must make. If you did not have any knowledge of the ways of God, what would qualify you to help your friend better understand the way God has for them. The reason your friend even needs your advice is because it is so easy for one’s vision to become clouded by one’s problems. In order to overcome the natural blindness one has to problems in their lives, they need the advice of their friends who can help them see the bigger picture.

You would think it foolish for a teacher to try to teach college math if they never even graduated from the eighth grade. Any individual who even attempted to apply for such a teaching position would quickly find their application thrown away because they were simply not qualified.

The same should be found true in our lives. No one should accept our advice and counsel until we have first proven our knowledge of the ways of God. We first need to take the time to add knowledge to our faith and virtue so that when God brings people into our lives, we will have the ability to properly minister to them. One of the reasons why you may not have a vast ministry of serving God is because you have not first taken the time to understand the ways of God so that God can use you to minister to others.

Take the time to study God’s word and you will quickly find that God starts bringing people into your life. You will probably also be surprised to see that God will bring people with problems that actually correspond with the areas that you have been studying. God knows the hearts of man, thus HE knows our problems before we even recognize that we have a problem. God desires to use people to minister to others and thus HE will direct people who recognize that they need help to those Christians who are best able to help.

The more time you spend drawing closer to God and understanding HIS ways, the more opportunities you will find to counsel others. The less time you spend learning the ways of God, the less opportunities you will have to minister. Why would God want to send a person in need to an individual who is not qualified to help?

Are you ready to be used of God? Have you spent enough time in the Bible that you are ready to direct people to a more perfect knowledge of God? If you spend all your time studying actors and athletes, you will not be in a position to help people solve the problems that really matter for eternity.

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

It does not matter if you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for the next 1,000 years to study the ways of God; you will never learn all there is to know about God. There is so much to learn about God that you can never learn enough. We are instructed to add knowledge to our virtue, and you will never reach a point where you cannot add any additional knowledge regarding the ways of God.

To many Christians are more concerned about adding to their secular wisdom that they do not have the time to think about spiritual things. However, the better you understand God, Christianity, and the Bible, the closer your relationship with God will be. The closer your relationship with God, the easier it will be for you to understand and accept why God allows certain trials into your life. If all you did were fill your mind with worldly wisdom, when you faced spiritual trials, you would be confounded trying to figure out the purposes of God.

As you study the apostle Paul’s life and teachings, you will quickly understand that he had a great grasp of the spiritual truths of God. Paul truly understood the principles of the Christian faith. However, just because he had great knowledge, it does not mean that he did not face spiritual trials. Instead, because of knowledge, he was able to give thanks always because he understood that God had a purpose for everything.

At the end of a school year, a student must take a test to confirm that they have a solid grasp of the material that was taught over the last year. Just because you have added knowledge to your life, does not mean that you are able to avoid the trials, it just means that you will pass God’s test and be able to start new level of knowledge. It is as you overcome the trials that God brings into your life that you are able to move to the next level of knowledge and thus continue to add more knowledge to your virtue.

You will never have to worry about obtaining to much knowledge of God. There is not a certain amount of God that you can know. Instead, it is like a bottomless pit, the more you learn about God, the more you know that there is even more that you can learn.

We need to learn to develop the attitude of Jacob when it comes to our pursuit of our knowledge of the ways of God. Jacob refused to stop wrestling until he received a blessing. He was willing to be injured because he knew the value of a blessing and he wanted that blessing. In the same manner, we need to come before God and insist that HE reveal HIMSELF to us. We need to set aside the necessary time and commit to continue to seek HIS face until HE reveals HIMSELF to us in a new and exciting way. If Christians were to learn to desire to know God more, then their lives would change and they would be able to be the salt and light unto the world.

Do not worry about ever obtaining too much knowledge of God or of Christianity as long as you have first established the proper foundation of faith and virtue. If all you have is knowledge, it will puff you up. If you have the proper foundation, then the more you learn of God, the closer your relationship with God will be.

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

Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. It is important to understand that God is in control and that HE has a plan. If you see good things occur to evil men, “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.” (Proverbs 24:18-19). When you see good things happen to wicked men, you need to understand that they will be punished for eternity. Furthermore, even though it appears they are prospering, you do not know what is going on in their soul and they could be very miserable.

It is not your job to judge others. Instead, it is your job to trust God and walk according to HIS purposes for your life. If you learn to trust God, then regardless of what is going on around you, you can have a cheerful attitude as you see how God turns the lemons in your life into lemonade. It is not always easy to trust God when it seems like your world is caving in around you. It is not always easy to be thankful to God when bad things occur in your life. Nonetheless, you must learn to thank God for HIS goodness. You must learn to trust HIM that HE has your best interest in mind when HE has allowed bad things to occur to you.

You must learn to realize that while it appears to be something bad, in the long run, with God in control, it works out for the best. Think of an eight-year-old girl who wants to go out and play with her friends. However, her mother insists that she stay and practice the piano. The girl tries to argue with her mom that all of her friends do not have to practice the piano and that they are right now all together having fun. Her mom insists that she continue to practice and get better at the piano. From the girl’s perspective, a bad thing has occurred in her life because she wants to be playing with her friends but her mom is insisting that she practice the piano. However, from an impartial by-standards perspective, they can easily see the wisdom of ensuring that the girl gets her practice in every day. Ten years from now when the young lady is accomplished on the piano, she will understand why it was important to go through the drudgery of daily practice.

How many tears were shed when Jesus was crucified on the cross? Jesus’ death on the cross was such a terrible event. Yet nonetheless, it was necessary so that you and I might have fellowship with the Father once again. Because Jesus trusted in God, and HE did not take matters into HIS own hands by refusing to allow evil to happen to HIM, God was able to take the bad and turn it into HIS greater good. Throughout scripture, you will find many stories of bad things occurring to others and how God turned them into good in HIS perfect timing.

Stop looking at what is going on to you today. Instead, start trusting in God. Allow God to be God and trust HIM to work all things for good. As you change your perspective of life and start putting on the mind of Christ, you will be free to hear from God and follow HIS direction for you. By changing your perspective and not worrying about your present, God’s grace will be upon you and you will be able to do great things for HIM. By adding virtue to your faith, God’s grace will be magnified in your life.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This world is trying to conform you so that you look just like the world. The world understands that if you look and act just like the world, then when you try to witness to them, your salt has no flavor and your lamp has no light. The more you look, smell, and feel like the world, the less your life will have any influence over them and the easier it will be for the world to reject the truths that you are trying to represent.

The world understands that when Christians have the same divorce rate as non-Christians then the Christians as a whole will have no right to preach family values in a credible fashion. Why should the world listen to preachers who talk about why a man should not leave his wife when the world could find millions who do the same thing? As long as Christians who purport to follow the laws of God cannot follow the laws of God, why should the world follow the laws of God?

The church has diluted its influence on this world because it has allowed itself to be conformed to this world. Christians have no problem separating their religion from their daily lives. Christians do not fear God and as such, they do not live their daily lives in a way that is pleasing to God. When Christians allow themselves to be conformed to this world, their testimony is diminished because the world cannot distinguish anything different about the believer other than that he goes to church on Sunday.

You need to have a revival in your personal life. What are things that you are doing to conform to this world? Is it really worth it to be conformed to this world? Are the joys of this world really worth displeasing God and having no spiritual influence on this world?

You need to allow God to transform your mind. No longer is it just about you and what you think is best. You need to transform your mind and see what God thinks is best. Do not spend your time thinking what the world would do, but instead when you face a problem, you need to stop and think about what God’s perfect will is.

If you desire to do the perfect will of God, then you must go through a renewing of your mind. You must allow God to transform you so that you no longer look like the world but that when the world looks at you, all they can see is you reflecting the light of God. Your mind controls the brightness of your light. The more pure your mind – the more pure your light. When you allow yourself to be conformed by the things of this world, then the things of this world will dim your spiritual light. God needs to purify your mind so that you might be effective for HIM once again.

When God transforms your mind, HE does not leave an empty vacuum, instead HE gives you something to fill your mind with. God desires that you fill your mind with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and those things that are of a good report. When you fill your mind with these things, you are filling your mind with virtue. Filling your mind with virtue will transform your life but also it will transform your testimony. People will know that you are different and they will know whom to turn to when they face a crisis.

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

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

From the beginning “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27). God did not make the beast of the earth and the cattle after His image, scripture tells us that “God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind”. (Genesis 1:25).

God made man in His image and gave to man dominion over this earth. He placed Adam and Eve into a perfect garden where there every need was taken care of. However, Adam and Eve sinned and they were driven from the garden.

Adam’s sin destroyed the perfect fellowship that Adam and Eve experienced with God. After their sin, Adam and Eve hid in shame, they could no longer have the same fellowship with God that they once had. God had not changed, it was sin that changed mankind.

God’s purpose is for you to have a close relationship with Him just as Adam and Eve had prior to sin. In order to live according to God’s purpose for your life, you must be transformed. No longer can you live your life for yourself. Instead, you must change, you must learn to seek Him; you must learn to draw closer to Him.

Jesus lived a perfect life on this earth, devoid of sin. Jesus took time to communicate with God, and God was well pleased with His Son. Jesus is the example to us of what God’s purpose is for your life. If you can simply learn to make Him the center of your life, you will learn how to fulfill His purpose.

You cannot transform your life away from the temptations of sin but instead you must rely upon God’s gift of Salvation to obtain that which sin has taken away from you. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that you can be transformed and once again enjoy the sweet fellowship with God that God desired back in the garden. Back in the garden, God said that the world was good, but it was Adam and Eve that God desired to have fellowship with, not the beasts and the cattle.

God made you in His image. Just because you have sinned and fallen short of HIS glory it does not mean that HE does not desire to continue to have fellowship with you. Your life must change if you are going to live your life according to His purpose. You cannot simply call yourself a follower; your life will change as a result of His love and His power in your life.

Moses is an excellent example to us of what happens when you are truly transformed by God. Moses went up into the mountain at God’s instruction in order to receive the Ten Commandments a second time. For 40 days God communicated with Moses. Moses did not eat any bread or drink any water; he simply survived by the presence of God. After 40 days Moses came down from the mountain and “Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:30).

Moses took the time to be with God and God transformed his life. Moses could not be in the presence of God for that period of time without being transformed. Because of the change that God had done in Moses’ life, the people required Moses to wear a veil to cover his face.

God’s purpose for your life is that you experience the transforming power of His love so that you can have close fellowship with Him. This is His purpose for your life; the question is whether you will pursue this purpose. It is easier to claim to be a follower of God, but very few ever actively seek God to the point were they have close fellowship with Him.

In addition to understand your life purpose, God also desires that you understand your life calling. While your life purpose is the same as every believer, your life calling is God’s specific plan for your life.

To understand the difference between life purpose and life calling look at the life of Jesus. Jesus came to this earth and demonstrated to you how you can have oneness with the Father. Jesus’ calling was to die for your sins so that you might be free from the bondage of sin. God has not called you to die for man’s sins; God’s calling on your life is different than Christ’s calling. Nonetheless you have the same purpose, to glorify God and to have fellowship with Him.

God called Joseph to be a great leader and to deliver his family from a great famine. God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt while He called Joshua to lead them into the Promise Land. God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites while He called Samson to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

Esther was faced with a difficult situation in her life and it was during her struggle that her uncle Mordecai told her “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Understanding what God’s calling for your life is not always easy. Esther really struggled with what seemed like a very difficult decision. Gideon had lots of doubt about the Lord really directing him to lead Israel to vanquish their enemies.

Nonetheless, as they demonstrated their faith by willingly yielding to God’s will, God provided for them and He protected them from harm.

In Lamentations you see that “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:25-26). God has a calling for your life; He has a burden He desires that you learn to bear. He is ready to show you the way that He would have you to go; the way that you might serve Him so that all the world will see the power of God in your life.

It was in Joseph’s youth that he received his dreams. It was in David’s youth that he was anointed king. It was in Samuel’s youth that he heard the voice of God. It was prior to his conception that Samson was dedicated to the destroying of the Philistines. When Jesus was 12, He understood what His Father’s calling was for His life.

Understanding your calling and living your calling do not always occur at the same time as they did in the life of Gideon and Esther. Sometimes you must learn to quietly wait on the Lord for Him to show Himself strong in your life. If you do not feel you understand God’s calling for your life, you need to take the time to seek His face. You need to separate yourself from the things of this world and allow God to transform your life.

Just because you do not understand your calling, it does not mean that you do not have a calling. Instead, maybe God is waiting for your heart before He shows you His direction. Maybe God desires for you to learn to desire Him before He gives you a great battle in which He can show Himself strong in your life.

You are special in God’s eyes. God has a purpose for your life and He has a calling. Regardless of whether you understand His calling for you, you must take the time to pursue His purpose for your life. You must learn to have a heart after God’s own heart. You must allow God to transform you and to conform you more into His likeness. Are you willing to be transformed? Are you willing to see what God can do through you when He has control over your mind, body and soul?

Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Christ is made manifest to the entire world by your obedience to HIS instructions for your life. By faith you hear God and by faith you will do those things that God desires you to do. When you whole-heartedly follow God’s instruction for your life, HE will lay a burden upon your heart as to where you are to go and what you are to do. As you follow HIS direction, HIS name is lifted up to those whom HE has prepared to draw closer to HIMSELF. Your obedience of faith brings HIM glory.

Have you ever asked God to use you? In order for God to use you, HE needs for you to have a personal relationship with HIM so that you know HIS voice. God is looking for children who will take the time to hear HIS voice so that they can then follow HIM.

However, it is not always easy developing a relationship with God. God knows that if HE is going to use you, HE needs to allow you to develop a testimony in your life that prepares you for the people that HE desires you to touch on HIS behalf. You may often wonder why God is allowing you to go through the trial that you are facing, but you must be patient and understand that God is in control and that the trial you are facing is designed for HIM to manifest HIMSELF to the world through you.

God does not treat you the same as HE treats someone else. One reason for different treatment is that you have a different life calling. The different life calling is designed so that you reach a different group of individuals. God does not use just one individual to let the entire world know of HIS awesome glory. God desires for each of HIS children to hear HIS voice and to obey HIM in faith. As HIS children obey HIM in faith, HE is manifested around the world.

Why did God put you here on this earth? The answer is not so that you can grow rich, have a nice job, nice family and a nice home. God called you as HIS child so that you can be active towards the promoting of HIS glory to those who HE places in your life. It is by faith that you seek to hear HIS voice and do as HE has said. In order to please God, you must seek to do HIS will for your life.

God did not call everyone to be a missionary to the Dark Continent. God may have you reach the children in your church or HE may have you reach the heathen at work. The only way you are going to have an active part in the manifestation of Christ’s name here on this earth is by hearing HIS voice and by faith obeying HIS commandments.

Do not be like Jonah who heard the word of God and ran the opposite direction. Disobeying the voice of God will only bring storms into your life that will cause you trouble. When God makes HIS voice heard unto you, obey, trust in HIM, do as HE has said and you will have peace. Obeying God’s voice could put you in a sticky situation like Daniel faced. However, because of his obedience, God was able to use the life of Daniel to manifest HIS power to not only a king but also an entire nation. God will be manifested through you as you learn to hear and obey HIM through your faith.

Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? Have it to thysef before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Paul had just discussed the fact that different Christians had different beliefs when it came to the Lord’s Day, the eating of flesh and drinking of wine. He commanded the brethren not to do something that would cause another Christian to stumble. While Paul recognized that unclean meat did not necessarily make one unclean, he commanded you to abstain if your behavior caused another to stumble because you must give an account to God for every action you commit.

A Jew believes in worshiping God from Friday night through Saturday night while a Christian believes in worshiping God on Sunday. Paul is not as concerned as to what day you worship as he was concerned that you worship God and that you do it fully unto the Lord. The important thing is that you understand what you believe, and that you do what you do for the glory God so that HE receives the glory for your life.

Thou has faith in God and you have standards and convictions that help make up who you are. Paul recognized that some people had low standards who were not happy because their conscience convicted them of their sin. Paul recognized that those who live up to their standards are happy because they are not being convicted of sin in their heart.

If God has called you to a higher standard, it does not matter what everyone else is doing around you, you will be miserable if you try to live down to the standards of those around you in order to fit in. While you may be accepted of men, your life will be miserable because your conscience will be convicting you that what you are doing is against the high standards God has placed in your life.

If God has not called you to a particular standard that others around you might be living up to, a close examination needs to be done on your part to ensure that there is nothing in scripture that condemns your behavior. If you feel that there is nothing that convicts you, then do not live to the higher standard but also, do not go around bragging since in so doing you might cause another brother to stumble.

It should be your goal to have such a close relationship with God that you are striving to live your life according to the perfect will of God. If you are striving to be perfect in the eyes of God, you will be happy because your conscience will not be convicting you. However, you must understand that as you draw closer to God, God will continue to raise the standards in your life to cause you to put away things that get between you and your relationship with HIM. Things that may have been permissible in the past may no longer be permissible as you draw closer to God.

By faith you are going to live your life for God understanding that it is your duty to live according to your conscience and not the conscience of another. You must carefully follow the commands of God because by faith you obey that which HE has commanded you to do. By faith you live for God but you also demonstrate discretion by ensuring that your life does not cause another to stumble. If you know it is wrong and you do it, you will be condemned by your own conscience and your faith will be weak.

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Just because a brother or sister in Christ is weak in the faith, it does not give you the right to avoid fellowship with that individual. In this verse, Paul commands the church to receive those who are weak in the faith. However, you are not supposed to receive those who are weak for the purpose of honing your debate skills. Remember how Paul taught you in I Corinthians 13 that the most important thing is love.

If you are receiving your weaker brother or sister for the purpose of debating them and showing them the higher calling of God, then your lack of love will probably be evident to them and they will be more likely to reject the truth that you are attempting to share with them. Instead, when you receive a weaker brother and sister, you have an obligation to demonstrate to them your love for them.

Just as Paul commanded the women to win their husbands by their example, so too one of the best ways to encourage another Christian to draw closer to God will be by your example. How can a weaker brother or sister see that they are weak in the faith unless they are around those who are stronger in the faith? By not rejecting those who are weak in the faith, you give them the opportunity to watch your life and see how you live your life for the Lord. By not rejecting those who are weak in the faith, you give them the opportunity to hear your testimony. By not rejecting those who are weak in the faith, you give them the opportunity to see the love of Christ in your life.

You should have a strong desire to grow in the faith. You should desire to have fellowship with those who you know God is using and who have a closer relationship with the Lord. If you stay around those who have a deeper relationship with God then yourself, you are bound to grow as long as you have the attitude that you desire a closer relationship with God. In the same way you should be looking for opportunities to draw closer to God, you must also be looking for opportunities to disciple those around you.

By faith you will obey God’s command and demonstrate that you love the Lord first and that you love your neighbor as yourself. By faith you will look for opportunities to assist your brothers and sisters in Christ who desire to draw closer to God. By faith you will allow your life to be an example of what God can do through an individual who is dedicating their life unto the Lord.

You are never too spiritual that you cannot reach down and help a brother or sister who is weaker in the faith. It is not your job to give a lecture to a weaker Christian in an attempt to tell them that they should do better. Instead, open up your life and take it upon yourself to be an example to others of what God can do through those who fully trust in HIM. You can tell people how to live their lives for God but the most effective testimony is showing others how to live their lives for God.

Do not show partiality but obey the commandment to receive those who are weaker in the faith. Understand that at one time, you were not as spiritually mature as you are today. Grow in the faith and encourage those who God has placed in your life to grow in the faith. Do not be quick to debate for debate sake lest you lose the one who is weaker.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Pride has a way of creeping into your life. The sin nature of man is such that you desire to have others recognize you for the good things that you do. While you may be a humble individual, there will come a time when pride will well up within you and you will actually be proud in your own humility. While you may be active in serving the Lord, the sin nature of man will often cause you to desire the praises of man for your good deeds.

It is important to remember that God is your Creator and that HE is the One who has given you the ability to serve HIM. God is the One who has given you your special talents and HE is the One who should receive the glory for what you do for HIM.

You are just one part of the body of God. No one part is more important then any other part. While the tongue may be a glamorous part of your natural body, do you feel that your tongue is more important then your liver? Some parts of your body do not appear to the naked eye as being very important, but without them, some of your members might not be able to function to the capacity that they are capable of.

Remember that while God gives different people different talents and different gifts, HE has given to all a measure of faith so that they might do what is right and glorify HIM with their lives. It does not matter if you are a preacher or an evangelist; it takes the same measure of faith to hear the voice of God and to obey HIM. No matter what your calling is, you have to first by faith accept the fact that you are a sinner and that you have fallen short of the glory of God and that you need the Savior’s blood to make you whole.

While some Christians might demonstrate greater faith then others because God has given them the gift of faith, this does not mean that they deserve the praises of man. God must receive the glory from their lives because HE is the One that gave them the gift of faith. Instead of seeking the glory of man because you have developed your faith more then another, you should seek the praises of God because HE has enabled you to serve HIM and to draw others to HIM.

When you look at others who have demonstrated great faith, you must remember that God has given you a measure of faith. While you may not ever have the faith that causes you to receive world recognition for years to come, you can always strive to draw closer to God and to seek for HIM to use you in ways that you never imaged. Use the godly example of others to motivate you to do more for God because you understand that God has given you a measure of faith and that with that measure of faith, you are capable of doing the impossible as you hear God and do according to HIS purposes.

Seek the praises of God not the praises of man. Do not take credit for things that God deserves the credit for. Put God first in your life and always remember that HE has given you the gifts that you need in order to do HIS perfect will for your life. God has given you the faith that is necessary to do HIS will. It is up to you to hear HIS voice and develop a relationship with HIM so that you can be all that you can be for HIM.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Do you desire to increase your faith? Have you have read the stories of individuals from the Bible who have demonstrated great faith and wished that God would bless you in a similar manner? Have you read biography of Christians who did great things for God because of their faith and wished that your life would have a similar testimony?

Scripture tells you what you must do in order to live a life of faith. The instructions are actually rather simple. If you desire to have faith, then you must hear God. Once you hear God, all you have to do is trust in HIM and obey that which HE has commanded you to do. When you live your life simply obeying God, you will quickly find God working through you in ways you never expected.

In order to obey God and demonstrate great faith, you must hear God. How do you hear God? You hear God through the word of God. Time spent in the Bible is essential to hearing God so that you can obey HIM and demonstrate great faith. By reading the Bible you can receive general instruction on how you are to live. In addition, you can use the Bible to have God speak to you directly.

Have you ever sat down to read the Bible and specifically asked God to reveal HIS will to you as you read? God can bring alive a verse or passage in your reading that will simply jump off the page at you that seems to answer your question. Because you have heard God speak to you through HIS word, you now have something to fall back on as you wait for the Lord to fulfill HIS promise to you. You have heard the Lord’s voice and like Abraham, you understand that God will fulfill HIS promise and that you must believe that which HE has promised to you.

God’s word to you is not limited to just the Bible. God can also speak to you through HIS still small voice. Understand that most of the heroes of faith in the Bible did not have any of God’s word written down to hear God’s voice through. Most of them had to hear God’s voice and simply obey. In order to hear God’s still small voice, you must put aside the distractions and you must ask and seek to hear HIS voice often through prayer.

When you hear the words of God whether it is through the Bible or through HIS still small voice, you have an obligation to God to obey HIM. If you allow the words of God to come in one ear and out the other, then why should God speak to you again? Why should God answer your prayer for direction when you have demonstrated a lack of faith by not pursuing HIS direction the last time HE spoke to you?

Hearing the words of God is necessary if you desire to live your life by faith. However, just because you have heard God, it does not mean that it will be easy to live by faith. Remember that Abraham had to wait 25 years before he held the promised son in his arms. Abraham had heard God but he had to wait patiently for God to fulfill HIS promise.

What effort are you making to hear the voice of God? Are you taking the time to put aside distractions so that you can hear God’s voice? Upon hearing the words of God for your life, are you believing God’s words and obeying them so that you can live by faith?

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

How many times have you heard someone say that because we live in the age of grace, the law is of no effect? In Matthew 5:17, Jesus told us, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The simple truth is that Jesus never said that the law was over and neither did the Apostle Paul. God no longer requires the sacrifices outlined in the Old Testament. These sacrifices are not necessary because God made the Perfect Sacrifices that made the need for animal sacrifices no longer necessary. The main difference between before Christ and after Christ is that instead of us making a sacrifice to appease our guilty conscience, now one only needs to turn to Jesus Christ and ask HIM to blot out all your sins.

The law of Moses was that thou shalt not kill. Jesus did not make void the law of Moses, but instead HE said that if you hates your brother, it is the same as killing. The law of Moses was that you should not commit adultery. Jesus did not make that law void, but instead stated that if a man even looked at a woman and lusted for her, he committed adultery in his heart. The law of Moses was that you should have no other God’s before the One True God. Jesus did not make void the law of Moses, but instead, HE told you that you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.

Just because the sacrifice changed, it does not mean that the law has changed. Before sin entered into the world, everything was perfect. Because man now does that which is right in their own eyes, God established basic laws of what man must do to be right with God. However, sin has made it impossible for you to completely obey God and as such, God created a sacrifice so that you can still have a relationship with HIM.

God does not desire to not have fellowship with you. Instead, HE yearns for you to have a personal relationship with HIM. However, if you do not obey the law, you depart from the presence of God and you place yourself in a position where you cannot have fellowship with HIM. By faith, you understand that God is your Creator and that HE has not changed and that HE has established a perfect law that you have fallen short of. By faith you accept the law and accept the perfect sacrifice so that you might have a renewed relationship with God your Creator.

One who does not have faith does that which is right in their own eyes. While they may be saying that they believe in a God, their actions do not substantiate the words of their mouth. Instead, their actions demonstrate that they are their own boss and that they can do whatever they want whenever they want. When you choose to live by faith, you demonstrate to the world that there is a higher calling, that there is a God, and that there is a perfect law that one must live by.

By faith you obey God’s commandments so that you can have sweet fellowship with HIM. By faith the law of God is established through you as the world sees you honor the Lord with your actions. Your faith should create a desire in you to do that which is right in the eyes of God. By faith you please God and demonstrate to all the need for the law and the need for a personal relationship with God.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

God created everyone in this world. God created the Americans, Mexicans, Canadians, Asians, Africans, Indians, Europeans, and every other tribe, nation, or people. The same God that created you is the same God that created Karl Marx. While God loves HIS creation and desires to have fellowship with HIS creation, the sin nature of man has prohibited God’s desire. However, God’s gift to mankind opened the door so that all who believe in the Son might have eternal life and renewed communication with God.

Circumcision was a part of God’s covenant with Abraham and the nation of Israel. God had made some pretty powerful promises to the nation of Israel and one of the things HE asked for in return was that the nation circumcise ever male. Abraham’s faith and obedience to God is what established the nation of Israel. It was through the nation of Israel that God sent HIS only Son to live and to die so that you might be free. The Son of God also was circumcised in accordance with God’s covenant with Abraham.

However, while the Son of God was circumcised, HE did not die just for the circumcised but HE died for all of HIS’ Father’s creation. If circumcision was the necessary element in order for Christ’s blood to be effective, then no woman would be able to saved. Christ is all that is needed in order to be saved. If circumcision was a necessary element, then female Jews would have been saved first because their father and husband were circumcised and then by their own faith. Christ is the perfect sacrifice and it is faith in HIM alone that makes you innocent.

It is not your gender, it is not your race, it is not your color, and it is not your ability to obey the commandments of God that will enable you to be innocent in the eyes of God. When God sits on HIS throne and judges who is worthy to spend eternity in heaven who must spend eternity in hell, God is not looking at your nationality, God instead is looking at your faith. God is looking to see if you acknowledged that you were a sinner and that you needed to accept the gift of salvation that only comes by believing in Jesus Christ.

God created all and as such HE is not looking at the color of your skin, instead, HE is looking at the condition of your heart. Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, the gift of Salvation is necessary if you desire restored communication with God. The faith that is necessary to acknowledge your sin and to pursue following God’s will is not partial, but instead was designed for all. Great faith is not limited to the Jews. In fact, the two individuals who Jesus stated that they had great faith were both Gentiles. It is not recorded that Jesus recognized great faith in a single Jew. Great faith is not limited to gender because of the two individuals, one was a man and the other was a woman.

There is nothing that hinders you from walking in faith but yourself. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God has set the rules by which you may be justified by faith. The same faith that makes you innocent in the eyes of God is the same faith that enables you to hear God’s voice and obey. Faith is not a gift for the privileged few who were born a Jew, faith begins with a change of heart by anyone who recognizes their need for restored communication with God.

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

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

This young ruler in thinking that he was obeying the law actually was found guilty of breaking the law because he allowed his money to become his god. Since he was guilty of breaking one of the laws, he is guilty of breaking all of the law. This young ruler may have thought that he was innocent because of his laboring in the law, but this young ruler stood condemned that day because he allowed money to come between him and God.

If this young ruler had obeyed Christ and sold his possessions and followed Jesus, he would have learned to develop a personal relationship with God. The will of God for this young man was to learn to live day by day with God providing for his every need. God does not tell everyone that they are to sell all their goods before they follow HIM, yet this was the will of God for this young ruler. This young ruler had heard the will of God for his life and he rejected it. He demonstrated his lack of faith in God because he was unwilling to turn his life over to God. This man desired to control his own destiny.

Obeying the law did not save the rich young ruler. In fact, while the young ruler thought he could be saved by the law, the law actually condemned him and demonstrated how he needed something else beside the law in order to obtain eternal life. What the man needed to be innocent in the eyes of God was to have the simple faith of following Jesus. This young ruler needed to have a personal relationship with God. He needed to hear the voice of God and learn to live day-by-day following God�s direction. He needed to understand that he was saved not because of what he did, but because of the perfect work that was to be competed by Jesus Christ. The young ruler needed to know the Son so that he could know the Father. It was through the Son that he would receive the desire of his heart.

It is impossible to obey the whole Law of Moses. Moses was given the law and he could not obey the law. David had a heart after God’s own heart and he could not obey the law. Samson was the strongest man and he could not obey the law. Solomon was the wisest man and he could not obey the law. Paul the apostle was trained in the law as a Pharisee and he could not obey the law.

You will not be able to obey the law and be innocent in the eyes of God because if you violate one portion of the law, you are a lawbreaker. Jesus did not break the law and lived a sinless life so that HE might be the perfect sacrifice to restore your relationship with the Father. All God asks of you is that you put HIM first in your life. HE asks you to love HIM with all your heart. HE asks you to develop a personal relationship with HIM. It is through your faith that God will see HIS Son in you and see you justified in HIS eyes.

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

The sin nature of man causes you to desire to live by your own strength. If you look at all other religions, they are all centered on works. They are all centered on what you can do to go to heaven. They give one something to boast about to those who are of the same religion. However, God does not desire that your works save you, but instead, HE has laid forth a plan by which it is your faith that saves you.

Jesus Christ already did the work that is necessary for you to be saved. Jesus came to this earth and lived a life without sin. HE willingly offered HIMSELF as a living sacrifice so that all that believe on HIM shall be saved. Since Jesus already did the work that enables you to be saved, what makes one think that it is by their works that they are saved?

Imagine if you took some widow’s car and spent 10 hours detailing the car. You cleaned the inside and outside of the car until it sparkled. Then after you returned the car to the widow, the neighbor came by, took a dirty towel and spot dried one little portion of the car. That neighbor then starts going all over town bragging how they washed the widow’s car for her. You would probably feel pretty sick to your stomach watching someone else take credit for all your work when in fact they did nothing and may have actually dirtied the car. Not only is the person taking away the praise that is supposed to go to you, but they are lying about their involvement with the cleaning of the car.

When you brag about your works, it is no different then the neighbor bragging about cleaning the car. The work of salvation has already been completed and there is nothing you can do to take away or add to God’s gift of salvation. When you do works in order to clear your conscience or attempt to appease your sins, your works are as filthy rags and have done nothing for you other then give you a false sense of self worth. Your bragging about your works takes credit away from God and can lead many astray as to thinking that they too need to concentrate upon their works so that they might have a good relationship with God. Christ did the work, and HE desires that you only trust in HIM.

You have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Anything you do will not draw you any closer to God. You can go without food for 40 days. You can pray for 10 hours a day. You can attempt to abstain for any wicked thing. You can read your Bible multiple times a year. Yet, in the end, all that is important is that you had the faith to humble yourself and to accept Christ’s perfect work. By accepting HIS work by acknowledging your sin, your faith will enable you to have restored communication with God. Your faith will enable you to live forever in heaven rather then spend eternity in hell.

By faith you understand that the perfect work has already been done and that anything you do is worthless. By faith you will live your life for the glory of God understanding that it is Christ who receives the glory for your changed life. Do not attempt to live by works because by doing so, you take glory away from Christ. Instead, by faith, you are to concentrate upon developing a relationship with God so that HE can bring people into your life that you can minister to and so that HE might receive the glory. Do not boast in what you do, instead, give glory to Christ for what HE has done.

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

God is faithful, what HE has promised will come to pass regardless of your belief or unbelief. A good example of this principle is demonstrated by the life of Noah. Noah was told that God was going to destroy the earth with a flood. Just because no one believed God except for Noah, it does not mean that God was not faithful to fulfill HIS word. The world was full of unbelief but God was faithful and HE fulfilled HIS promise and because Noah believed, he was spared.

Jesus died upon the cross and we are instructed that if we believe on HIM, we shall be saved. How many millions of people have rejected the gift of salvation? Their rejection of Jesus as their personal Savior does not mean that Jesus did not die for all who will accept HIM. God is faithful, and just because some choose to reject the truth of the gospel, it does not mean that the gospel is untrue.

God’s promises are sure. God cannot lie. What God promises, God must fulfill. However, you must always remember that God does not work on your time, but in HIS timing, God will fulfill all of HIS promises. God has promised that HIS Son will return to this earth. It does not matter what others believe, the fact is, God has made a promise and HE will fulfill that promise in due season.

God is not only faithful when it comes to big promises that HE has made to the entire world; God is faithful in the promises that HE has made to you individually. God was faithful to enable Abraham to have a son and to later allow Abraham’s seed to dwell in the land where Abraham sojourned. God was faithful to Joseph in that the Lord fulfilled Joseph’s visions by making him a ruler that everyone bowed down to. Joseph may have waited 13 years to be made a ruler and 22 years to see his brothers to bow down to him, but God was still faithful even though his brothers did not believe.

The Bible is full of stories of God’s faithfulness to fulfill the promises that HE has made to individuals. You can study these stories and see that God does not lie and that HE is faithful and just to finish that which HE has started in you.

What promises has God made to you? Take the time to think of all the things that God has told you. Have you grown discouraged because God has not brought some of HIS promises to you to pass? Remember, God cannot lie, what God has promised, HE will bring to pass. You may have to suffer and go through great trials, but in the long run, it will be worth it all when you see God fulfilling HIS promises in your life. Joseph did not understand why he was in prison and he tried to find a way to be released Yet God kept him in prison so that when God was ready to fulfill the promise, Joseph was right where God needed him in order to fulfill HIS promise in the life of Joseph

You have two choices when it comes to believing the promises of God. You can either believe or you can disbelieve. Remember that Abraham’s believe was counted to him for righteousness. God is faithful, and HE is looking for individuals who will maintain their belief regardless of the trials they face. Will you believe? Will you remain faithful?

Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you , that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

It is the faith in Jesus Christ that units the body of Christ. This faith that binds is what enabled Paul to teach spiritual things to the Christians knowing that they would receive his words and grow thereby. Paul understood that when he taught the Christians, they would be able to hear his words and be established in their faith. This mutual faith enabled Paul and the church at Rome to comfort each other.

You do not have to live very long as a Christian to understand that God allows you to go through trials. When you know that another brother or sister in Christ is going through a trial, because of your mutual faith, you are able to comfort them and to encourage them to continue to please God. You can comfort those who God has placed in your life by sharing your testimony of how God saw you through a similar circumstance and how God was faithful to you to see you through the trial.

Paul not only sought the unsaved to preach to them the gospel of Christ. Paul’s letters were written to the Church where he was trying to impart spiritual doctrine to them so that they might be established in the ways of God. Paul had faced many severe trials and while he probably would have been willing to forgo the trials that he faced, Paul understood that these trials and persecutions that he faced opened up many doors for him.

Paul understood that his trials enabled him to comfort his brothers and sisters in Christ when they were going through hard times. Paul could explain to a Christian how God had taken him through trials and how God had received the glory from his life because he persevered. Paul was able to touch a lot of people on this earth because of his desire to do the things of God and for God to be glorified through him. Nonetheless, because of his ministry, Paul suffered many things which did not diminish his ministry but actually caused his ministry to be more dynamic.

What has your focused been when it comes to working with those who are already saved? Have you sought for opportunities to encourage others to grow closer to the Lord? Have you shared your testimony with them so as to encourage them to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord? When Paul was around the brethren, he would encourage them to grow closer to God and to do that which is right in the eyes of God.

You are not on an island. You are not the only individual in the world who desires to serve the Lord. Elijah felt that he was the only person in Israel that was serving God, but God reminded him that there was seven thousand who had not bowed a knee to Baal. You should be quick to find ways to encourage believers who God places in your life. As you work with others, both of you will increase in faith as you hear the testimonies of God’s faithfulness to those who believe HIM and do as HE has said.

There are so many opportunities for God to use you if only you are willing to be used by God. Be ready always to comfort those who are going through trials. Be ready to impart spiritual teaching to weaker Christians so that their paths may be established.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul had traveled the world and he was able to write to the church in Rome about their reputation. The church at Rome lived their lives for God and God used them in a mighty way. The world knew that the church at Rome lived by faith. The world understood that many miraculous things occurred by members of the church at Rome. The world comprehended that there was something different about the church at Rome.

The church at Rome was not sitting back wondering what God could do for them. Instead, by faith, they were living their lives for the glory of God. Because as a congregation they were living their lives for God, God ensured that the world knew that the church at Rome had great faith.

It was not just one saint from the church at Rome who was doing mighty things for God but it was an entire church. An entire church determined in their heart that they were going to put God first and that they were going hear HIS voice and obey. As a group, this church desired that they not only were going to be Christians, but they determined in their heart that they were going to let their light so shine before men that God would be glorified through them. The Church at Rome lived by faith, and their faith became known throughout the world causing others Christians to understand how they are supposed to live. The church at Rome was an example to all of how God expects an individual and a church collectively to live by faith so that HE receives the glory.

Stop and think of three individuals who demonstrated great faith and became known worldwide because they demonstrated great faith. Now think of three congregations that have become known worldwide because as a congregation they have learned to demonstrate their faith. It is much harder to think of a church that demonstrates great faith then it is to think of individuals.

God was able to use the church at Rome to reach many for HIM because they were willing to put God first. They were willing to be used of God and they were willing to allow themselves to be stretched so that God was glorified through them. The church at Rome was an effective church because collectively they did what was right in the eyes of God. Collectively, they put the things of God above the things of this world.

Is your faith known throughout the entire world? Do Christians look at you and state that you are a man or woman of faith? Have you lived your life in such a way that God can be glorified through you and magnify HIS name through your demonstration of faith? Is the church that you are attending known around the world as a church of faith?

God is looking to spread the good news of the gospel around the world. The good news of the gospel is that God is alive and that there is restored fellowship between God and man. God needs you and God needs the church to have such a close relationship with HIM that HE can do mighty things through you and through the church so that the world can see and talk about the fact that God is alive. If the world sees that God is real, the world will be much more willing to follow your example and strive to live for HIM.