The Benefits of Obedience # 2

The Benefits of Obedience # 2

Jer 7:21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:”Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat.

:22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.

:23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'

:24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

:25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.

:26 Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

:27 “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Matt 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

:13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
:14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.

Lk 12:46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Ps 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Lk 12:31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

The just shall live by faith. This is not a suggestion, but a command.

Pr 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understand;

:6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Pr 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

:21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;

:22 for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.

:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you.

:26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

:27 Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.

1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Heb 5:9 And having perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Deut 28:1 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Mk 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Hearken means to hear and obey.

Observe means to hedge about, to protect, to guard.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Eph 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Ps 91:2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Deut 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Prov 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The Benefits of Obedience # 1

The Benefits of Obedience # 1

Jer 7:21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat.

:22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.

:23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'

:24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward.

:25 Since the day that your fathers came out of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.

:26 Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

:27 “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.

:28 “So you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their womb,

Verse 23 says: Obey My voice and walk in all the ways that I commanded you that it may be well with you.

Obedience means act of compliance, submission, willingness, complying with a willing submission.

Obey means do, observe, submit, act of compliance to an act, order, demand, command, request.

Forced obedience is not really obedience.

One of the benefits of obedience is He will be your God and you can be His people.

1 Sam 15:22 So Samuel said:”Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

IS 1:10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom: give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorah:

:11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.

:12 “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

:13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

:14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

:15When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

IS 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

Is 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men

Ecc 5:1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

:9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord', and not do the things which I say?

Jn 6:28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Deut 26:16This day the Lord your God commands you to observe these statutes and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

:17 Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice.

:18 Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you that you should keep all His commandments,

:19and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.”

Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Matt 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Ex 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

One version has peculiar treasure. It means private property which is laid up or reserved, select, precious, endeared treasure, exceedingly priced, intends to preserve.

Deut 7:24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

1 Kings 3:14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes, and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Ps 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure.

Zech 3:7 Thus says the Lord of hosts:”If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

1 Jn 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do these things that are pleasing in His sight.

All these things are ours if we obey.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Heb 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Jn 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

Jn 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love,

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so aso by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Heb 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second,

Jn 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

:22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “ Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

2 Jn :6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Deut 28:1 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.  

Do You Still Tremble?

Acts 24:24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

2 Kings 20:17 “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon' nothing shall be left,' says the Lord.

Gen 27:33 Then Issac exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him – and indeed he shall be blessed.”

1 Sam 28: Saul feared the people more than he feared God. He trembled because of the Philistines.

Ps 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Ps 55:1Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

:2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan nosily,

:3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked, for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

:4 My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

:6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

:7 Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

Ezra 10:3 Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

Is 66:5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name's sake, said, 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.' But they shall be ashamed.”

Is 66:2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Dan 10:11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

Dan 6:25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

Hab 3:16 When I heard, my body trembled; my lips quivered at the voice; rottenness entered my bones; and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.

Jer 33:9 Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earthm who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.'

Ps 107:8 Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Jer 5:22 Do you not fear Me? Says the Lord. “Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.

:23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and departed.

:24 They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter in its season, He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Ps 99:1 The Lord reigns; Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!

:2 The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples.

:3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name – He is holy.

Ps 119:120 My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

Job 21:5 Look at me and be astonished; put your hand over your mouth.

:6 Even when I remember I am terrified, and trembling takes hold of my flesh.

Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand:

Is 3:12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.”

Is 32:9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.

:10 In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering will not come.

:11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you complacent ones; strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, and gird sackcloth on your waists.

At ease means naughty, careless, thoughtless, complacent, loose.

Ps 104:31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works.

:32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; he touches the hills, and they smoke.

Ps 114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

:8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters,

1 Cor 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

2 Cor 7:15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

1 Sam 16:4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

Eph 6:5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I recently started back to work full time after 20 years of being a homemaker. I am still trying to get into a system where I have time to post my devotions. Most days time is not my friend. But God is and I know He will help me work it out.

Enjoy your time with family and friends. Be safe be warm .Be thankful for the little things, as well as the big things!  No matter how bad your year has been, and ours has been a doozie, remember that if you are saved, God is on your side.

Telling – Speaking Forth

Acts 5:`17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,

:18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

:19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

:20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Meekness means be gentle, mild with humbleness.

Mark 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Sanctify means saint, holy, separate.

Jn 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 5:38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;

Acts 5:42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Jn 5:39 You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

1 Pet 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jer 1:7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

:8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

:9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Jn 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

Jn 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins,”

Ps 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise You name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name,

:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

Mk 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Lk 4:22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph's son?”

Gracious means good, kind.

Lk 4:32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

Ps 106

Jn 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.
:45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

:47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

:49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

:50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Matt 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Tit 2:1But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.

:11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

:15 Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Confusion! Why?

1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints,

Confusion comes from to many different doctrines (voices).

Phil 3:16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Confusion means perplexed, turmoil, instability, puzzled, wavering.

1 Kings 22:11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.'”

:12 And all the prophets prophesied so saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hand.”

:13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying,” Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

:14 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”

:15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”

:16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

:17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, “These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”

:18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

:19 Then Micaiah said,”Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.

:20 And the Lord said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?” So one in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.

:21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, “I will persuade him.'

:22 The Lord said to him, 'In what way?' So he said,' I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the Lord said, ' You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.'

God will allow lying spirits in ministers because that is what the people want to hear.

God knew the people would heed the other voice.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

Falter means waver, lame stop. Two opinions means mixture, co-mingling.

Acts 19:29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.

:30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

:31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

:32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

:34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Acts 21:34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so.

:11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opeing?

:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gently, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

The Subject of Faith # 8

Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barkak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets,

:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

:34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens,

:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

:36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -

:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth,

:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

:40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

You must mix faith with the word or it is dead. You must USE (apply) the word you hear. You must use faith to use the word.

Bereans searched the scriptures daily. We must do the same to work righteousness as it says in verse 33.

1 Sam 12:1Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

:2 And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

:3 Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

:4 And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand.”

:5 Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand,” And they answered, “He is witness.”

2 Sam 22:20 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He is delighted in me.

:21 “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He recompensed me.

:22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

:23 For all His judgments were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

:24 I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.

:25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.

Samuel did right in God's eyes. David repented quickly, as soon as he sinned.

David chose God's chastisement over man and nature's. He knew God's mercy.

Dan 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O King, I have done no wrong before you.”

Verse 33 says obtained promises. Daniel believed God that the lions wouldn't hurt him and God stopped the mouths of lions.

1 Sam 17:37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

By faith David slew the bear, lion, and Goliath.

Verse 34 says quenched the violence of fire.

The 3 Hebrew children said “Our God will deliver us, and God did.

If you play with fire you will be burned.

Verse 34 says escaped the edge of the sword. Saul tried to kill David. Ahab had Josiaphat wear his armor to let him be killed instead.

Verse 34 also says out of weakness were made strong. All of us were made strong in Christ.

Joel says when weak made strong.

Joshua 1 says be strong and of good courage.

Verse 34 says waxed valiant in fight. 2 Sam 23:18-22 and verse 15 talk about that.

The three who went to bring water were the most valiant.

1 Sam 22:1-2 Without the others he had no one to be over.

1 Kings 17:17-24 widow received her son again

2 Kings 4:24-37 Elisha – the woman kept saying It is well – she wouldn't accept death for her son.

She kept confession in line with what she was believing God for.

Verse 35 says others were tortured.

Jer 20:1-2

Verse 35 also says not accepting deliverance.

Some of the ones being tortured could have chosen to reject Christ.

Verse 36 says some were mocked and imprisoned.

They endured by faith until the end.

Verse 37 says there were stoned. Stephen was stoned for his faith but never rejected Christ.

2 Chron 24:20-21 Zechariah was stoned.

Verse 37 also says sawn in half. Schlors say Isaiah was, but it doesn't say who were.

Also verse 37 says were tempted. All were tempted.

Lk 10:10-15 they heard and didn't believe.