THE HEART OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY---- THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD #1

THIS IS A VERY LARGE BIBLE TOPIC; BUT THE BIBLE IS A VERY LARGE BOOK 

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  AMOR  OF  GOD!

MOST  CHRISTIANS  KNOW  VERY  WELL  THAT  CHRISTIAN  LIFE  IS  NOT  ALWAYS  SMOOTH,  AND  AS  WE  SAY  “A  WALK  IN  THE  PARK”  ON  A  WARM  SUNNY  DAY.

CERTAINLY  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  MAKES  IT  VERY  CLEAR  THERE  IS  A  SPIRITUAL  ENEMY [WHO  HAS  UNTOLD  HELPERS]  WHO  IS  CALLED  SATAN  THE  DEVIL,  AND  HIS  HELPERS  CALLED  DEMONS.

THE  APOSTLE  PETER  TELLS  US  THIS  DEVIL  IS  WALKING  ABOUT  SEEKING  WHOM  HE  MAY  DEVOUR,  AND  WE  ARE  TO  RESIST  STEADFASTLY  IN  THE  FAITH [1 PETER 5: 8-9].

DOES  GOD  GIVE  US  THE  IMPLEMENTS  IN  THIS  SPIRITUAL  WAR,  TO  WIN  AGAINST  SUCH  A  POWERFUL  ENEMY?  

YES  INDEED  SO!  

OUR  FATHER  IN  HEAVEN  HAS  REVEALED  THROUGH  THE  APOSTLE  PAUL,  WHAT  ARMOR  AND  WEAPONS  WE  NEED  TO  FIGHT  THIS  FOE,  AND  KEEP  HIM  AT  BAY,  TO  WIN  THIS  BATTLE  AGAINST  HIM.

“FINALLY  MY  BRETHREN,  BE  STORNG  IN  THE  LORD,  AND  IN  THE  POWER  OF  HIS  MIGHT. PUT  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD,  THAT  YOU  MAY  BE  ABLE  TO  STAND  AGAINST  THE  WILES  OF  THE  DEVIL.

FOR  WE  WRESTLE  NOT  AGAINST  FLESH  AND  BLOOD  BUT  AGAINST …. RULERS  OF  THE  DARKNESS  OF  THIS  WORLD,  AGAINST  SPIRITUAL  WICKEDNESS  [WICKED  SPIRITS— MARGIN]  IN  HEAVENLY  PLACES [PRINCE  OF  THE  AIR - CHAP. 2:2].

WHEREFORE  TAKE  UNTO  YOU  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD,  THAT  YOU  MAY  BE  ABLE  TO WITHSTAND  IN  THE  EVIL  DAY,  AND  HAVING  DONE  ALL  TO  STAND” [EPHESIANS 6: 10-13].

PAUL  THEN  GOES  ON  TO  TELL  US  WHAT  ARMOR  AND  WEAPONS  TO  PUT  ON.

“STAND  THEREFORE,  HAVING  YOUR  LOINS  GIRT  ABOUT  WITH  TRUTH!” [VERSE 14].

OUR  LOINS  CONTAIN  IMPORTANT  PARTS  OF  OUR  BODY—— KIDNEYS,  SPLEAN,  LIVER,  BOWELS,  BLADDER—— WELL  EVERYTHING  FROM  THE  HEART  DOWN  TO  OUR  HIPS.  THINGS  IF  NOT  FUNCTIONING  CORRECTLY  WILL  KILL  US  EITHER  SLOWLY  OR  REASONABLY  FAST.

THIS  PART  OF  OUR  BODY  PAUL  SAID  NEEDS  TO  BE  PROTECTED  BY  TRUTH!

AS  PILATE  SAID  TO  JESUS—— “WHAT  IS  TRUTH?”

JESUS  SUCCINCTLY  SAID,  “THY [GOD  THE  FATHER]  WORD  IS  TRUTH” [JOHN 17:17].

SO  THE  CHRISTIAN  BIBLE,  FROM  GENESIS  TO  REVELATION  IS  TRUTH!

AS  PAUL  WAS  INSPIRED  TO  SAY,  “ALL  SCRIPTURE  IS  GIVEN  BY  INSPIRATION  OF  GOD,  AND  IS  PROFITABLE  FOR  DOCTRINE,  FOR  REPROOF,  FOR  CORRECTION,  FOR  INSTRUCTION  IN  RIGHTEOUSNESS” [2 TIMOTHY 3:16].

THE  WORD  “TRUTH”  APPEARS  ABOUT  230  TIMES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE!

SO  THE  STUDY  OF  THIS  VERY  IMPORTANT  WORD  IS  NOT  SMALL— LET’S  TAKE  TIME  AND  STUDY  IT!

TRUTH— IMPORTANT  VERSES  FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE

Ex. 34:6. And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Deut. 32:4. All his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psa. 31:5. Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Psa. 33:4. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Psa. 40:10. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psa. 51:6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.

Psa. 57:3 God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Psa. 85:10. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psa. 86:15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psa. 89:14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Psa. 96:13. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Psa. 98:3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.

Psa. 100:5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psa. 108:4. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

Prov. 12:19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Prov. 16:13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Isa. 25:1. O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isa, 59:14. Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15. Yea, truth faileth.

Isa. 65:16. That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth.

Jer. 5:3. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth.

Dan. 4:37. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment.

Dan. 10:21. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth.

Mic. 750. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and welt among us, (and we beheld bis glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 8:31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: 17. The Spirit of truth.

John 16:13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.

John 17:17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth, 19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

John 18:37. Pilate therefore said unto him. Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? 

Rom. 25. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

TRUTH  IS  A  PART  OF  GOD  JUST  AS  HOLINESS  IS.  GOD  IS  TRUTH;  HIS  WORD  IS  TRUTH.

ALL  THAT  WILL  BE  A  CHILD  OF  THE  HEAVENLY  FATHER,  MUST  LOVE  AND  DESIRE  AND  SEARCH  FOR  TRUTH;  THEY  MUST  SEARCH  THE  SCRIPTURES  FOR  TRUTH;  THEY  MUST  FIND  ALL  THE  VERSES  ON  ANY  SUBJECT  IN  THE  BIBLE  AND  SO  WILL  FIND  THE  TRUTH.

JESUS  SAID  WHEN  THE  SPIRIT  CAME [ON  THAT  PENTECOST  DAY  OF  ACTS  2];  IT  WOULD  GUIDE  HIS  FOLLOWERS  INTO  ALL  TRUTH.

WE  DO  NOT  FIND  ALL  THE  TRUTHS  OF  GOD  AT  ONE  TIME;  WE  MUST  ALWAYS  LET  THE  SPIRIT  GUIDE  US  INTO  ALL  TRUTH,  AS  GOD  THE  FATHER  DIRECTS.

TRUTH  IS  A  WEAPON  OF  PROTECTION  FROM  THE  LIES,  THE  DECEITS,  THE  ERRORS,  THE  FALSE  TEACHINGS  OF  SATAN  THE  DEVIL.

TRUTH  INDEED  DOES  SET  US  FREE!

THE  TRUTH  OF  GOD:

IS  ONE  OF  HIS  ATTRIBUTES—DEUT. 32:4; ISA. 65:16;

HE  KEEPS  FOREVER—PSA. 146:6

IS  ABUNDANT—EX. 34:6

IS  INVIOLABLE—NUM. 23:19; TIT. 1:2

IS  ENDURING  TO  ALL  GENERATIONS—PSA. 100:5

EXHIBITED  IN  HIS  WAYS—REV. 15:3

WORKS—PSA. 33:4; 111:7;  DAN. 4:37

JUDICIAL  STATUTES—PSA. 19:9

WORD—PSA. 119:160; JOHN 17:17

FULFILLMENT  OF  HIS  PROMISES  IN  CHRIST—2 COR.1:20

FULFILLMENT  OF  HIS  COVENANT—MIC. 7:20

DEALINGS  WITH  SAINTS—PSA. 57:3

PUNISHMENT  OF  THE  WICKED—REV. 16:7

IS  A  SHIELD  AND  BUCKLER  TO  SAINTS—PSA. 91:4

WE  SHOULD  CONFIDE  IN—PSA. 31:5;  TIT. 1:2

PLEAD  IN  PRAYER—PSA. 89:49

PRAY  FOR  ITS  MANIFESTATION  TO  OURSELVES—2 CHR. 6:17

PRAY  FOR  ITS  EXHIBITION  TO  OTHERS—2 SAM. 2:6

MAKE  KNOWN  TO  OTHERS—ISA. 38:19

MAGNIFY—PSA. 71:22; 138:2

IS  DENIED  BY  THE  DEVIL—GEN. 3:4,5

DENIED  BY  THE  SELF-RIGHTEOUS—1 JOHN 1:10

DENIED  BY  UNBELIEVERS—1 JOHN 5:10

……

TRUTH— MORE:

THE  FRUIT  OF  THE  SPIRIT IS  IN  TRUTH—EPH. 5:9

MINISTERS  SHOULD  SPEAK  IN  TRUTH—2 COR. 12:6;  GAL. 4:16;  

THEY  SHOULD  TEACH  IN  TRUTH—1 TIM. 2:7

THEY  SHOULD  APPROVE  THEMSELVES  BY  TRUTH—2 COR. 6: 7, 8

MAGISTRATES  SHOULD  BE  MEN  OF  TRUTH—EX. 18:21

KINGS  ARE  PRESERVED  BY  TRUTH—PROV. 20:28

THEY  WHO  SPEAK  TRUTH  SHOW  FORTH  RIGHTEOUSNESS—PROV. 12:17

THEY  ARE  THE  DELIGHT  OF  GOD—PROV. 12:22

SAINTS  SHOULD  WORSHIP  GOD  IN  TRUTH—JOHN  4:24  WITH  PSA. 145:18

SAINTS  SHOULD  SERVE  GOD  IN  TRUTH—1 SAM. 12:24

THEY  SHOULD  WALK  IN  TRUTH—1 KINGS 2:4; 2 KINGS 20:3

KEEP  RELIGIOUS  FEASTS  WITH  TRUTH—1 COR. 5:8

ESTEEM  AS  INESTIMABLE—PROV. 13:6

SPEAK  TO  ONE  ANOTHER  IN  TRUTH—ZECH8:16; EPH. 4:25

EXECUTE  JUDGMENT  WITH  TRUTH—ZECH. 8:16

MEDITATE  UPON—PHIL. 4:8

BIND  ABOUT  THE  NECK—PROV. 3:3

WRITE  UPON  THE  TABLES  OF  THE  HEART—PROV. 3:3

THE  WICKED  DESTITUTE  OF  TRUTH—HOS. 4:1

THEY  SPEAK  NOT  THE  TRUTH—JER. 9:5

THEY  UPHOLD  NOT  TRUTH—ISA. 59:14,15

THEY  PLEAD  NOT  FOR  TRUTH—ISA. 59:4

THEY  ARE  NOT  VALIANT  FOR  TRUTH—JER. 9:3

THEY  ARE  PUNISHED  FOR  WANT  OF  TRUTH—JER. 9: 5, 9; HOS. 4:1, 3

TRUTH  IS  ACCORDING  TO  GODLINESS—TIT. 1:1

IS  SANCTIFYING—JOHN 17:17,19

IS PURIFYING—1 PETER 1:22

IS  PART  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  ARMOR—EPH. 6:14

REVEALED  ABUNDANTLY  TO  SAINTS—JER. 33:6

ABIDES  CONTINUALLY  WITH  THE  SAINTS—2 JOHN 2

SHOULD  BE  ACKNOWLEDGED---2 THES. 2: 12, 13;  1 TIM. 4:3

SHOULD  BE  OBYED—ROM. 2:8;  GAL. 3:1

SHOULD  BE  LOVED—2 THES. 2:10

SHOULD  BE  MANIFESTED—2 COR. 4:2

SHOULD  BE  RIGHTLY  DIVIDED—2 TIM. 2:15

THE  WICKED  TURN  AWAY  FROM  TRUTH—2 TIM. 4:4

THE  WICKED  RESIST—2 TIM. 3:8

THE  WICKED  ARE  DESTITUTE  OF  TRUTH—1 TIM. 6:5

THE  DEVIL  IS  DEVOID  OF  TRUTH—JOHN 8:44

THE  CHURCH  IS  THE  PILLAR  AND  GROUND  OF  TRUTH—1 TIM. 3:15

……

DO  YOU  SEE  HOW  MUCH  THE  BIBLE  GIVES  ON  THE  DOCTRINE  OF  TRUTH?

AND  IN  PASSING  THE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  IN  PSA. 119:172.  THE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  WICKED  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  IN  PSA. 119:53.

MY  FIRST  ENCOUNTER  WITH  “TRUTH”

I  GREW  UP  IN  A  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND  SCHOOL [FIRST  HALF  HOUR  OF  THE  DAY  WAS  IN  THE  BIBLE];  AND  A  LOCAL  CHURCH  WHERE  I  ATTENDED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  FAITHFULLY  ALL  MY  LIFE  FROM  AGE  7  TO  18; LEAVING  FOR  CANADA  WHEN  I  WAS  18.

I  WAS  LISTENING  TO  ANY  AND  ALL  RELIGIOUS  RADIO  BROADCASTS  AFTER  COMING  TO  CANADA;  THEY  WERE  MAINLY  AT  THAT  TIME  DURING  1961/62  IN  THE  EVENING  TIME.

I  SENT  FOR  A  MAGAZINE  FROM  ONE  OF  THESE  CHURCH  BROADCASTS.

THE  VERY  FIRST  ARTICLE  I  OPENED  UP  TO  WAS  ENTITLED  “WILL  YOU  GET  TO  HEAVEN?”

I  SCAN  READ  IT;  I  WAS  DISGUSTED  THAT  THE  WRITER  WAS  TELLING  ME  I  DO  NOT  GO  TO  HEAVEN  AT  DEATH;  NOR  WAS  HEAVEN  WHERE  GOD  IS  NOW,  PROMISED  AS  OUR  ETERNAL  ABODE.

I  WAS  ANGRY,  THREW   IT  DOWN;  GOT  MY  COWBOY  HAT  AND  WENT  OFF  TO  THE  RANCH  I  WORKED  AT  IN  MY  SPARE  TIME.

I  HAD  NO  CAR,  I  WAS  SITTING  ON  THE  BUS,  STILL  ANGRY  ABOUT  WHAT  I  HAD  READ;  I  THOUGHT  TO  MYSELF,  “I  MEAN  EVERYONE  KNOWS  IF  YOU  ARE  A  CHRISTIAN  YOU  GO  TO  HEAVEN  AT  DEATH.”

A  STILL  SMALL  VOICE  CAME  TO  ME  SAYING, “YOU  ONLY  SKIMMED  THAT  ARTICLE;  YOU  DID  NOT  SIT  DOWN  AND  LOOK  AT  THE  SCRIPTURES  PRESENTED;  WHAT  IF  IT  IS  CORRECT?  YOU  WILL  HAVE  THROW  TRUTH  OUT  THE  WINDOW  AND  BACK  IN  THE  FACE  OF  GOD.”

I  HAD  DEVELOPED  ENOUGH  LOVE  AND  RESPECT  OVER  MY  YEARS  FROM  7  TO  18,  TO  REALIZE  I  WAS  BEING  CHALLENGED  TO  SHOW  IF  I  HAD  A  LOVE  FOR  TRUTH.

I  SAID  TO  MYSELF….. WOW  I  REMEMBER  ALL  THIS  LIKE  IT  WAS  YESTERDAY…. I  WILL  COME  HOME  TONIGHT  AND  SIT  DOWN  AND  OPEN  MY  BIBLE  TO  ALL  SCRIPTURES  GIVEN  IN  THIS  ARTICLE.

AND  THAT  WAS  EXACTLY  WHAT  I  DID!

I  SPENT  A  NUMBER  OF  HOURS  GOING  THROUGH  WHAT  WAS  GIVEN  TO  ME  IN  THAT  ARTICLE.

IT  WAS  LIKE  A  HUGE  DOOR  HAD  OPENED  AND  POURING  IN  WAS  ALL  THIS  LIGHT  OF  TRUTH——  AFTER  SEEING  THIS  LIGHT  OF  TRUTH,  I  JUMPED  UP  AND  CRIED  OUT  “PRAISE  TO  GOD; O  THANK  YOU  LORD  FOR  A  TRUTH  I  NEVER  HAD.”

I  DISCOVERED  VERSES  I’D  NEVER  SEEN  BEFORE;  I  HAD  NEVER  SEARCHED  THE  SCRIPTURES  TO  FIND  ALL  VERSES  ON  THIS  TOPIC  OF  THE  BIBLE.

GOD  HAD  GIVEN  ME  A  NUMBER  OF  TRUTHS  OVER  THOSE  YEARS  FROM  7  TO  18,  IN  READING  THE  BIBLE,  BUT  I  HAD  JUST  FALLEN  IN  LINE  WITH  CHRISTIANITY  I  COULD  SEE  ALL  AROUND  ME,  NEVER  QUESTIONING  CERTAIN  TEACHINGS  AND  CUSTOMS  AND  PRACTICES.

NOW  GOD  WAS  WANTING  TO  SHOW  ME  MORE  TRUTHS  OF  HIS  WORD.

I  HAD  PASSED  THE   TEST,  TO  LOVE  TRUTH,  TO  WANT  IT,  TO  BE  WILLING  TO  BE  CORRECTED,  WILLING  TO  BE  GUIDED  INTO  MORE  TRUTH——

AND  WOW  WAS  THAT  A  START  TO  REALLY  OPENING  MY  EYES  AND  MIND,  TO  MORE  AND  MORE  AND  MORE  WONDERFUL  TRUTHS  OF  THE  ETERNAL  FATHER  IN  HEAVEN.

TO  WITHSTAND  THE  POISONED  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED  ONE,  YOU  MUST  HAVE  YOUR  LOINS  GIRT  ABOUT  WITH  TRUTH!

YOU  MUST  AS  PAUL  SAID,  STUDY  TO  SHOW  YOURSELF  APPROVED  OF  GOD,  A  WORKMAN  THAT  NEEDS  NOT  BE  ASHAMED,  CORRECTLY  DIVIDING [PUTTING  TOGETHER  LIKE  A  JIG-SAW  PUZZLE]  THE  WORD  OF  GOD.

LOVING  THE  TRUTH,  CRYING  OUT  FOR  IT;  SETTING  YOUR  MIND  TO  FIND  THE  TRUTHS  OF  SCRIPTURE….. AH  THAT  IS  THE  MIND-SET  GOD  IS  LOOKING  FOR,  AND  THEN  HE  WILL  START  TO  GIVE  HIS  TRUTHS  TO  YOU——  ONE  AT  A  TIME,  MAYBE  MORE  THAN  ONE  AT  A  TIME.  HE  WILL  GIVE  THEM  TO  YOU  AS  YOU  CAN  HANDLE  THEM.

TRUTH  IS  ONE  OF  THE  WEAPONS  WE  MUST  HAVE  TO  WITHSTAND  THE  DEVILS  LIES  AND  DECEPTIONS;  TO  WIN  THE  CHRISTIAN  FIGHT  AGAINST  THE  WICKED  SPIRITS  OUT  TO  KILL  US.

WITH  TRUTH  WRAPPED  AROUND  OUR  LOINS,  WE  PROTECT  ONE  PART  OF  OUR  BODY  FROM  THE  DEADLY  ARROWS  SATAN  THROWS  AT  US.

……………….. 

PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #2

THE  NEXT  PIECE  OF  ARMOR  WE  ARE  TO  PUT  ON,  AS  GIVEN  BY  THE  APOSTLE  PAUL,  IS  “THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.” [EPH. 6: 14]

ONE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  FOUND  IN  PSA. 119:172——  THE  COMMANDMENTS  OF  GOD!

THIS  SHOULD  MAKE  COMMON  SENSE;  AS  WE  THINK  OF  GOD  AND  WHAT  IS  “RIGHT”  AS  OPPOSED  TO  WHAT  IS  “WRONG”  WE  SHOULD  SEE  THAT  WHAT  GOD  SAYS  IS  RIGHT  IS  HIS  COMMANDMENTS  OR  LAWS  THAT  HE  SETS  DOWN  TO  DISTINGUISH  RIGHT  FROM  WRONG.

WHEN  ORVILLE  NAVE  SET  OUT  TO  WRITE  HIS  BOOK  CALLED  “NAVE’S  TOPICAL  BIBLE”  AND  HE  CAME  TO  STUDYING  “RIGHTEOUSNESS”  HE  KNEW  THE  SUBJECT  WOULD  ENCOMPASS  MORE  THAN  JUST  THE  VERSES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  THAT  GIVE  THE  WORD  “RIGHTEOUSNESS”— IT  WOULD  HAVE  TO  INCLUDE  OTHER  VERSES  THAT  EXPAND  ON  THE  RIGHT  AS  OPPOSED  TO  THE  WRONG.

SO  ONCE  MORE  THIS  IS  A  HUGE  TOPIC  OF  THE  BIBLE,  WHICH  IF  STUDIED  FULLY  COULD  TAKE  MANY  DAYS [OF  5  OR  6  HOURS  A  DAY]  TO  COMPLETE.

I  WILL  NOT  DO  THAT  HERE,  BUT  WILL  GIVE  YOU  HOW  ORVILLE  VINE  LAID  IT  OUT,  AND  YOU  OR  YOUR  STUDY  GROUP  COULD  TAKE  IT  FURTHER  IF  YOU  DESIRE.

IT  IS  INDEED  A  HUGE  TOPIC;  ARE  YOU  READY?  TAKE  YOUR  TIME,  BE  INSTRUCTED  BY  THE  LORD——

RIGHTEOUSNESS  DESCRIBED  AND  IMPLIED:

33:16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

1 Sam. 13:14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Ezra 10:3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God.

Psa. 1:1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

Psa. 4:3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.

Psa. 15:1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.

Psa. 24:3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psa. 37:26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.  30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psa. 64:10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psa. 112:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion and righteous. 5. A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Psa. 119:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Prov. 2:9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall  keep thee: 12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things.

Prov. 4:18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Prov. 13:5. A righteous man hateth lying.

Prov. 25:26. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Isa. 33:15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16. He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Isa. 51:1. Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord.

Isa. 60:21. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Isa. 62:12. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken.

Isa. 63:8. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

Jer. 31:12. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord. 33. After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not oprpressed any; but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

Matt. 5:3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matt. 7:16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18.. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock : 25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matt. 12:50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matt. 1353. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

Luke 6:45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good …. for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Luke 18:16. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.   Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14,15.

John 3:21. He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 8:31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 39. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 42. If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; 47. He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 10:4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his Voice. 5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 47. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 8:36. The eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37. And Philip said. If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Rom. 6:1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall he also in, the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your member as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; Whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom. 8:5, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom. 15:14. 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.

Rom. 16:19. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

1 Cor. 1: 20. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

1 Cor. 2:12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Cor. 6:9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a, new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Eph. 2:1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made ms sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eph. 3:17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph. 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27. Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Eph. 5:8. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Phil. 2:15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

Phil. 3:3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law [Paul was a Pharisee in upbringing; believing that doing the Old Covenant was salvation - Keith Hunt], but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Phil. 4:8. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Col. 1:9. For this cause we also, since the  day we heard it,  do not cease  to

pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Tim. 2:19. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Pet. 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Pet. 4:1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Pet. 1:1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14. I have written, unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that, hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. 7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 9. Whosoever is born begotten] of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin habitually as a way of life], because he is born [begotten] of God. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 18. My little children, let us not love in word [only], neither in tongue [only]; but in deed and in truth. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one an other: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born begotten] of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 5:1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born [begotten] of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 John 9. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

PROMISES TO, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED: 

Gen. 15:1. After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Ex. 23:22. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Lev. 26:5: And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 10. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

Deut. 28:1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 9. The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; arid they shall he afraid of thee, 11. And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land, in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

Deut. 33:27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Sam. 2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints.

Chr. 16:9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Ezra 852. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

Job 5:11. To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. 12. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. 15. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 17. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 25. Thou shaft know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. 27. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Job 8:4. If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6. If thou inert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

Job 11:15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. 17. And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Job 22:21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

Job 36:7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9. Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Psa. 4:3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Psa. 5:12. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psa. 15:2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psa. 25:10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psa. 34:15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

27. Depart from evil and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psa. 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psa. 58:11. So that a man shall say. Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Psai 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 them that walk uprightly.

Psa. 85:9. Surely his salvation is nigh those that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psa. 97:10. He preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Psa. 112:6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

Psa. 125. 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Psa. 128:1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 

Psa. 145:18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 

Prov. 1:33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Prov. 221. The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Prov. 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. 2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Prov. 10:3. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Prov. 15:29. The Lord is far from the wicked [those who practice wickedness]: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Prov. 21:21. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Isa. 26:8. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isa. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea. I will help thee;  yea,  I  will  uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 13. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Isa. 54:14. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn, This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.   v. 1-16.

Isa. 56:2. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying. The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant. 5. Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Isa. 57:1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

Isa. 58:8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. 9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say. Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not opposed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. 19. Yet say ye, Why? Doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Dan. 12:1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Mai. 3:16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that Serveth him not.

Mai. 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Matt. 5: 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matt. 13:43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Matt. 25:21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Luke 19:16-21. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous.into life eternal.

Mark 3:35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

27. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 3:17. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; Matt. 3:12.

John 5:24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 9:31. Now we know that God heareth not sinners [those who will not  repent  of  sin]: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

John 10:27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me. is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

14: 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you, for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and, I in you. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Acts 10:4. And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 31. And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Rom. 2:7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Rom. 5:9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 17. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Rom. 6:22. Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

2 Cor. 7:1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Gal. 6:8. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Eph. 6:8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

1 Thess. 2:12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Thess. 3:12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Thess. 1:5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

Tim. 4:8. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

2 Tim. 4:8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Tit. 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Heb. 4:9. There remaineth therefore a rest [Greek - sabbath  keeping] to the people of God. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 6:10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 16. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

James 1:25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth there in, he being not a forgetful hearer, but. a doer, of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas. 2:5. Hearken, my beloved, brethren. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas. 4:8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

1 Pet. 1:2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3. Blessed, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Pet. 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Pet. 3:9. Not rendering evil, for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that, ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open Unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

2 Pet. 1:4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[WE  SEE  ALL  THIS  EXPLAINED  IN  MY  SERMON  STUDIES  CALLED  “ENDURING  TO  THE  END”  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  OF  MY  WEBSITE - Keith Hunt]

1 John 1:7. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 25. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 28. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Rev. 2:7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.   27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28. And I will give him the morning star.

Rev. 3:4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerasalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev. 11:12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev. 14:1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts; and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev. 16:15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev. 20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and Which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev. 22:4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.

UNITY OF, WITH CHRIST: 

John 6:56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. vs. 51-57.

John 14:20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

John 15:1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8. Herein,is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.   10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; 26. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Rom. 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead be cause of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

1 Cor. 6:13. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body. 14. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Cor. 13:5. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Gal. 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Col. 2:6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

1 John 2:6. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 24. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. 28. Little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth [as a way of life] not: 24. He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

John 9. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Rev. 19:7. The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

RIGHTEOUSNESS.— FRUITS OF: 

Deut. 6:25. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

Josh. 22:31. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

Psa. 1:3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psa. 15:1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psa. 24:3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psa. 101:3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person [thing].

Psa. 106:3, Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Psa. 112:4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5. A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion, 6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.

Prov. 2:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness of the wicked; 15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16. To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flat-tereth with her words; 17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

Prov, 10:2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Prov. 11:5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: 6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: 18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall he a sure reward. 19. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Prov. 12:28. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.   Prov. 10:16.

Prov. 13:6. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Prov. 14:34. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Prov. 21:3. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Prov. 29:7. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Isa, 28:17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Isa.32:l 6. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field, 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Isa. 33:15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16. He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

Isa. 55:12. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isa. 58:6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. 9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isa. 62:1. For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

Ezek. 33:15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Dan.12:3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Hos. 10:12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Mai. 3:3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Mai. 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

Matt. 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 12:35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mark 3:33. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34. And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Matt. 12:50.

Luke 3:10. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11. He answereth and saith unto them. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13. And he said unto them. Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Luke 8:15. That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

John 3:21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

John 8:47. He that is of God heareth God's words: 49. Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

John 13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 14:21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.

John 15:4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Acts 9:36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

Acts 11:29. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas 

and Saul.

Rom. 6:19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity: even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Rom. 7:4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death, 6. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Rom. 8:4. That the righteousness of the law might he fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom. 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom. 15:1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3. For even Christ pleased not himself: but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1 Cor. 4:19. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Cor. 13:1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am. become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4. Charity suffereth longs and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, endureth all things. 8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things: 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Cor. 7:10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Cor. 9:10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

2 Cor. 10:5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2 Cor. 13:5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye he reprobates?

Gal. 4:6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Gal. 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Eph. 1:13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph. 5:9. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Phil. 1:11. Being; filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 27, Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God., 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Phil. 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Phil 3:12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:11. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Col. 1:12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Col. 3:3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetous-ness, which is idolatry. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew; circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Thess. 1:3. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 9. They themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned, to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Thess. 1:3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4. So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.

1 Tim. 2:9. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not [only] with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Tim. 5:9. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10. Well reported of for  good works;  if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

2 Tim. 2:22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Tim. 4:6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, hut unto all them also that love his appearing.

Tit. 2:2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Tit. 3:14. And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Philem. 5. Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6. That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you m Christ Jesus.

Jas. 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Jas. 2:14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And One of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say. Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Jas. 3:11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation [conduct] his works with meekness of wisdom. 14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1 Pet. 3:1. Likewise, ye wives, he in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives. 2. While they behold your chaste conversation [conduct] coupled with fear. 3. Whose adorning let it not be [only] that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4. But let it he the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. 6. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7. likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, he courteous. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye.

1 Pet. 4:2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Pet. 1:5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither he barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.   

[ALL  THIS  IS  COVERED  IN  MY  SERMON  STUDY  CALLED  “ENDURING  TO  THE  END”  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  OF  MY  WEBSITE - Keith Hunt]

1 John 2:3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 24. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 29. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born [begotten] of him.

1 John 3:5. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth habitually as a way of life - Keith Hunt] not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7. He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born [begotten] of God. 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18. My little children, let us not love in word [only], neither in tongue [only]; but in deed and in truth. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born [begotten] of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19. We love him, because he first loved us. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 5:1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born [begotten] of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4. For whatsoever is born [begotten] of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 18. We. know that whosoever is born [begotten] of God sinneth [as a way of life] not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

2 John 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

3 John 11. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Rev. 22. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

……………………………………..

WELL  DONE  IF  YOU  HAVE  GONE  THROUGH  ALL  OF  THESE  BIBLE  VERSES.

YES  WHAT  ORVILLE  VINE  DID  WAS  VERY  THOROUGH;  MANY  VERSES  BROUGHT  IN  TO  THE  OVERALL  SUBJECT  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IT  IS  ALL  A  PART  OF  DOING  WHAT  JESUS  REPEATED  [FROM  THE  ADMONITION  IN  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT]  IN  THE  GOSPELS—— MAN  SHALL  NOT  LIVE  BY  BREAD  ALONE,  BUT  BY  EVERY  WORD  THAT  PROCEEDS  FROM  THE  MOUTH  OF  GOD [MATT. 4:4].

THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  COVERS  THE  LUNGS  AND  HEART.  THE  HEART  BECOMING  KNOWN  AS  THE  SEAT  OF  OUR  ATTITUDE  OF  MIND;  HENCE  SUCH  PHRASES  AS  “HE  WAS  SKILLED  IN  TALENT  AND  HAD  A  WONDERFUL  KIND  AND  HUMBLE  HEART.”

YES  TO  FIGHT  AND  WIN  AGAINST  THE  DEVIL  WE  CERTAINLY  NEED  TO  PUT  ON  THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS!

DOING  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  NOT  “WORKING  AT  IT”  IN  SOME  METHODICAL  WAY  LIKE  CARRYING  AROUND  PAPER  AND  PEN,  MARKING  DOWN  ALL  THE  “GOOD”  THINGS  YOU  DO,  NOTING  ALL  “THE  COMMANDMENTS”  OF  GOD  YOU  PERFORM;  THAT  WOULD  TRULY  BE  PHARISAICAL AND  TRYING  TO  EARN  SALVATION  BY  WORKS.  THE  WAY  TO  DO  THE  RIGHTEOUSNESS  OF  GOD  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  BY  PAUL  IN  GALATIANS 2:20—— CHRIST  LIVES  IN  US  VIA  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT.  YES  WE  DO  READ  THE  BIBLE  TO  DO  AS  JESUS  SAID,  NOT  LIVE  BY  BREAD  ALONE  BUT  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD.  WE  YEILD  TO  THE  CHRIST  IN  US,  TO  DO  AND  LIVE  AS  HE  LIVED  WHEN  ON  EARTH  AS  A  HUMAN;  BUT  WE  ARE  SAVED  BY  GRACE,  NOT  BY  AMASSING  MORE  “GOOD  POINTS”  THAN  “BAD  POINTS”—— OUR  MIND-SET  IS  SET  IN  THE  MODE  OF  LIVING  BY  THE  FAITH  OF  CHRIST  IN  US——YES  BACK  TO  GALATIANS 2:20.

AS  WE  PUT  ON  THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  THE  HEART  IS  PROTECTED  FROM  THE  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED  ONE.  GOD  CAN  THEN  SAY  AS  HE  DID  ABOUT  DAVID,  “HE/SHE  IS  A  PERSON  AFTER  MY  VERY  OWN  HEART.”

……………………………………

PAUL  GIVES  THE  THIRD  PIECE  OF  ARMOR  WE  NEED  TO  WITHSTAND  THE  ONSLAUGHTS  OF  OUR  ADVERSARY  THE  DEVIL.

“AND  YOUR  FEET  SHOD  WITH  THE  PREPARATION  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE” [EPH. 6: 15]

SATAN  WOULD  LOVE  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  CHILDREN  IN  THE  MODE  OF  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACE.

PAUL  ONE  TIME  HAD  TO  CORRECT  THE  CHURCH  AT  CORINTH  BECAUSE  OF  ALL  THE  DIVISIONS,  AND  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACE—— THEY  WERE  DIVIDING  UP  INTO  “CLICK”  OF  GROUPS  OPPOSING  EACH  OTHER  AS  THEY  HAD  THEIR  FAVORITE  MINISTERS— 1 COR. 1:11-14.

AND  THERE  WERE  OTHER  CONTENTIONS  AMONG  THEM  AS  PAUL  BRINGS  OUT  IN  CHAPTER  14.

THERE  WAS  THE  WRONG  WAY  THEY  WERE  OBSERVING  THE  CHRISTIAN  PASSOVER  AS  CHAPTER  11  SHOWS.

AS  WE  READ  THROUGH  THE  EPISTLES  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT,  WE  SEE  THAT  AT  TIMES  IT  LOOKED  LIKE  THERE  WAS  NOT  MUCH  “PEACE”  IN  SOME  OF  THE  CHURCHES  OF  GOD.

THE  GOSPEL  IS  ABOUT  PEACE;  BEING  RECONCILED  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER  THROUGH  JESUS  THE  CHRIST.  SALVATION  IS  ABOUT  PEACE,  INDIVIDUAL  PEACE.

THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD  IS  ABOUT  AN  AGE  OF  PEACE  TO  COME  ON  EARTH.

OUR  FEET  SHOD  WITH  THE  PREPARATION  OF  PEACE  MEANS,  WE  WALK  IN  PEACE  AS  WE  MOVE  IN  THE  SOCIETY  AROUND  US;  IT  MEANS  WE  ARE  NOT  UP-TIGHT,  EDGEY,  MORE  THAN   READY  TO  ARGUE;  IT  MEANS  WE  ARE  NOT  PUSHY,  OR  LIKE  A  BULL  IN  A  CHINA  SHOP.  OUR  MIND  SHOULD  BE  RELAXED;  WE  SHOULD  EXHBIT  BASIC  CALM,  CONTENTMENT,  HAVING  A  HAPPY  DISPOSITION.

HOW  SATAN  LOVES  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  CHILDREN  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACEFUL  PEOPLE;  HE  RUBS  HIS  HANDS  WITH  JOY  IF  CHRISTIANS  ARE  ALWAYS  EDGEY,  READY  TO  BLOW  THEIR  TOP  AMONG  THEMSELVES  OR  AT  PEOPLE  IN  THE  WORLD.  THE  DEVIL  LOVES  TO  WORK  WITH  PEOPLE  WHO  ARE  QUICK  AND  HOT  TEMPERED;  HE  LOVES  TO  ADD  COALS  TO  THE  FIRE  ON  THOSE  CHRISTIANS  WHO  ARE  STRESSED  OUT  AND  FRAYED  AT  THE  EDGES  AS  WE  SAY.   I  MEAN  HE  GLOATS  WHEN  CHRISTIANS  ARE  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACEFUL  PEOPLE.

IT’S  JUST  NOT  POSSIBLE  TO  BE  AN  EFFECTIVE  CHRISTIAN  AMONG  THE  UNCONVERTED  WORLD,  IF  YOU  DO  NOT  WALK  WITH  PEACE,  WHILE  TRYING  TO  PROCLAIM  THE  CHRISTIAN  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE—- THE  TWO  ARE  NOT  COMPATIBLE,  THEY  SIMPLY  ARE  CONTRARY  TO  EACH  OTHER.

YOU  CANNOT  BE  UN-PEACEFUL  WHILE  TRYING  TO  BRING  THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE  TO  THE  WORLD.

YES  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  DOES  TEACH  THERE  IS  A  RIGHTEOUS  ANGER,  BUT  THAT  IS  ONLY  NOW  AND  AGAIN,  AND  ONLY  WHEN  TRULY  WARRANTED,  WHICH  TAKES  GOOD  WISDOM  AND  JUDGEMENT; BY  AND  LARGE  CHRISTIANS  ARE  PEOPLE  OF  PEACE.

THE  WORD  OF  GOD  HAS  MUCH  TO  SAY  ABOUT  PEACE!

FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE:

PEACE

Prov. 17:1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Prov. 20:3. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Eccl. 4:6. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Isa. 2:4. He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation hall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Isa. 45:7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

[GOD  CAN  SAY  THIS  BECAUSE  HE  IS  MASTER  OF  ALL  THINGS  IN  THE  UNIVERSE;  THE  ETERNAL  GOD  ALLOWS  EVIL  FOR  NOW,  HE  COULD  STEP  IN  AND STOP  ALL  EVIL,  BUT  HE  DOES  NOT,  HENCE  HE  CAN  SAY  WHAT  HE  DOES  SAY  ABOUT  HIMSELF  FROM  THAT  POINT  AS  THE  SUPREME  ONE  IN  THE  UNIVERSE - Keith Hunt]

Jer. 29:7. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Hos. 2:18. In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Zech. 8:19. Love the truth and peace.

Matt. 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matt. 10:21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but hethatendureth to the end shall be saved. 34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

[IN  OUR  SPIRITUAL  WALK  SOME  MAY  NOT  LIKE  US;  THE  WAYS  OF  THE  TRUE  CHRISTIAN  CAN  BE  LOOKED  UPON  AS  CRAZY  AND  STRANGE  AND  DAFT - Keith Hunt]

Mark 9:50. Have peace one with another.

Acts 7:26. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another 1 27. But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 29. Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

Rom. 12:18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Rom. 14:19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

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

Cor. 13:11. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.

Eph. 4:3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

1 Thess. 5:13. Be at peace among yourselves.

Tim. 2:2. That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Tim. 2:22. Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Heb. 12:14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Jas. 3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1 Pet. 3:10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

SPIRITUAL: 

Job 22:21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

Job 34:29. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?

Psa. 1:1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat Of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa. 4:8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psa. 17:15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psa. 25:12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease.

Psa. 29:11. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Psa. 37:4. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 11. The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psa. 73:25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psa. 85:8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints.

Psa. 119:165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psa. 125:1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Prov.3:17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet,  vs. 13-18.

Isa. 9:6. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa. 11:6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the falling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 

Isa. 26:3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Isa. 27:5. Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

Isa. 28:12. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing.

Isa. 32:2, A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempests; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 17. The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Isa. 48:18. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Isa. 53:5. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa. 54:1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord, 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed: but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord ; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isa. 55:2. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 12. Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isa. 57:1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 19. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him, that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

Jer. 33:6. Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Ezek. 34:25. And I will make with them a covenant of peace.

Mai. 2:5. My covenant was with him of life and peace.

Luke 1:79. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 2:14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

John 20:19. Then the same day at evening, . . . came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Acts 10:36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Rom. 2:10. Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 8:6. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom. 10:15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that, preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Rom. 14:17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 33. Now the God of peace be with you all.

Gal. 1:3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4; Philem. 3; Rev. 1:4.

Gal. 5:22. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….

Eph. 2:14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Phil. 4:7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Col. 1:20. And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Col. 3:15. And let the peace of God ride in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.    

2 Thess. 3:16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.

THOSE  ARE  SOME  OF  THE  MAIN  VERSES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  CONCERNING  PEACE.

THE  WORD  “PEACE”  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  CAN  BE  FOUND  ABOUT  426  TIMES.

EXAMPLES  OF  PEACE

Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is the presence of God.

Author Unknown (God's Presence, Difficulty)

God. . . "works always in tranquility." Fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism and wobble, and every kind of hurry and worry—these, even on the highest levels, are signs of the self-made and self-acting soul; the spiritual parvenu. The saints are never like that. They share the quiet and noble qualities of the great family to which they belong.

Evelyn Underhill (Self-reliance, Stress)

When I was a teenager, our family took cross-country car trips each summer. To keep the peace, we each took a turn choosing a cassette to play in the car tape deck. No one was allowed to complain or comment about another's choice.

My mother liked to listen to hymns. I chose contemporary Christian music. My younger brother preferred rock. And Dad? He always thought the best thing was a 90-minute tape that was still blank!

Sharon Fleming (Respect, Silence)

Someone Once Said...

There was in him an inner calm hard to explain.—an unnamed officer, describing British General William George Shedden Dobbie.

The peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep in the praying, trusting soul to be reached by any external disturbances.

—A. T. Pierson

Do you know what it is, when you are tossed on the waves, to go down into the depths of Godhead, there rejoicing that not a wave of trouble ruffles your spirit, but that you are serenely at home with God your own Almighty Father?

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Here I am at sixty five, still seeking for peace.

—H. G. Wells

A wife called the doctor one morning, saying, "Doctor, come quick! It's my husband!"

"What's the matter?" he calmly replied.

"Well, he got up this morning and took his vitamin pill. Then he took his appetite suppressant, his anti-depressant, and his tranquilizer. He also took an antihistamine and some Benzedrine. Then he lit a cigarette, and there was this explosion!"

The Rock

A ship was wrecked in a furious storm and the only survivor was a little boy who was swept by the waves onto a rock. He sat there all night long until, the next morning, he was spotted and rescued.

"Did you tremble while you were on the rock during the night?" someone later asked him.

"Yes," said the boy. "I trembled all night—but the rock didn't."

The Good War

In his oral history of World War II, The Good War, author/historian Studs Terkel related the experience of David Milton who was an eighteen-year-old merchant seaman aboard ship in 1942. Milton told of one time when his ship was transporting Sherman tanks across to Europe. In the middle of the Atlantic, these tanks broke loose in a big storm. They were Sherman tanks, twenty, thirty tons. As the ship would roll, these tanks would just slide through the hole and bang up against the bulkhead. Then they'd roll the other way, just shaking the ship apart. So we pulled out of the convoy. We headed into the sea, while the deck seaman went down below to secure those tanks. They were riding them like cowboys, trying to hook cables through. Finally, they got the tanks lashed down.

The great danger to Milton's ship came, not from the storm on the outside, but by the disturbance on the inside. We can handle the stresses without only when we are battened down within.

Master, the Tempest Is Raging

President James A. Garfield had been in office only four months when he was shot in a train station in Washington, D.C., enroute to a class reunion. For weeks as he hovered between life and death, the worried nation discovered an old hymn titled, "Master, the Tempest is Raging." It was sung from coast to coast, over and over, and it gave comfort to America.

The hymn had been written by a woman at the end of her rope. Mary Ann Baker's family had been devastated by a certain disease. Her father and mother had died from it, she herself was bedridden, then her beloved brother fell ill. Hoping to find a cure, he left Chicago and traveled to a warmer climate. For weeks, the telegrams flew back and forth between brother and sister, until the last telegram came, telling her of his death.

"I have always tried to believe on Christ," she said, "and give the Master a consecrated life, but this is more than I can bear. What have I done to deserve this? God does not care for me or mine."

But gradually, the Lord brought relief and understanding into Mary Ann's heart, and she acquiesced to His will. A great peace filled her soul, one she could hardly describe. Shortly afterward, in 1874, a friend, H. R. Palmer, asked Mary Ann to write a song to go along with a Sunday school lesson from Mark 4:37-39, about Christ calming the sea.

Mary Ann hesitated at first, for she was farniliar with the superb fourteenth-century hymn on this text, the words of which were still popular in her day:

Fierce was the wild billow, Dark was the night; Oars labored heavily, Foam glimmered white.

Trembled the mariners, Peril was nigh; Then saith the God of God, "Peace! It is I!"

But she very much wanted an opportunity to express the inner peace that God had given her. She had learned that sometimes God stills the frightened disciple even more than He stills the raging elements. And so out of her own experience and from her study of Mark 4 came the words which, a few years later, comforted a nation:

Master, the tempest is raging, 

The billows are tossing high;

The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness, 

No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish? 

How canst thou lie asleep,

When each moment so madly is threat'ning, 

A grave in the angry deep?

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will: 

Peace, be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea 

Or demons or men or whatever it be,

No waters can swallow the ship where lies 

The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will: 

Peace, be still; peace, be still.

Peacemakers

One of the indelible images from the Vietnam War is the photograph of a nine-year-old girl named Phan Thi Kim Phuc. During a battle between North and South Vietnamese troops, an American commander ordered South Vietnamese aircraft to drop napalm bombs on her tiny village. Two of her brothers were killed, and she was burned badly. Wearing no clothes, she fled up the road toward the cameraman. Because of the pain her arms are held out sideways, and her mouth is open in a cry of agony.

According to Elaine Sciolino in the New York Times, Ms. Kim Phuc suffered third-degree burns over 50 percent of her body, but she lived. She endured fourteen months of painful rehabilitation and scores of skin grafts. "It was so painful to have her wounds washed and dressed that she lost consciousness whenever she was touched."

Since then she has married, emigrated to Canada, and become a Christian who hopes someday to attend Bible college. Her burned skin lost sweat and oil glands, and she is still in much pain. Scars stretch up her arms to her chest and back. But despite her past and present suffering, in 1996 she accepted an invitation from several Vietnam veterans groups to join in Veterans Day ceremonies held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where she laid a wreath arid spoke words of forgiveness.

"I have suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain," she told the audience of several thousand people, who greeted her with two standing ovations. "Sometimes I could not breathe. But God saved my life and gave me faith and hope. Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I would tell him, 'We cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace.'"

Those who suffer the most can be the greatest peacemakers.

Forgiveness, Mercy, Suffering Matt. 5:9; 18:21-35; Acts 7:54-60

………………………………………….

BLESSED  ARE  THE  PEACE-MAKERS,  FOR  THEY  SHALL  BE  CALLED  THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD—— Matthew 5:9

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #4

“ABOVE  ALL,  TAKING  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH,  WHEREWITH  YOU  SHALL  BE  ABLE  TO  QUENCH  ALL  THE  FIERY  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED” [EPH. 6:16].

THE  SUBJECT  OF  “FAITH”  IS  ALSO  A  HUGE  BIBLICAL  STUDY.

FAITH  =  TRUST

TRUST  =  FAITH

I  WILL  HIT  SOME  OF  THE  HIGHLIGHTS;  FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE:

FAITH

Psa. 5:11. Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them.

Psa. 7:1. O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

Psa. 9:9. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psa. 18:30. He is a buckler [shield]  to all those that trust in him.

Psa. 34:8. O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 22. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate,   vs. 1-8; Psa. 2:12.

Psa. 64:10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him.

Psa. 78:7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  vs. 5-7.

Psa. 84:5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psa. 118:8. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9. It is btter to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Psa. 125:1. They that trust in the Lord shall he as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Prov. 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own under' standing.

Prov. 14-26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Prov. 29:25. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Prov. 30:5. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Isa. 26:3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isa. 57:13. He that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

Jer. 17:7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green.

Nah. 1:7. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Matt. 922. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her he said. Daughter; be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matt. 2121. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye, have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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

|Luke 7:50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 8:48. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace. 49. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him. Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying. Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Luke 18:8. When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

[IT  IS  SO  IMPORTANT  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  FAITH  IN  YOU (SEE  GAL. 2:20)  THAT  IN  A  DEEPENING  ATHEISTIC  AND  SECULAR  WESTERN  WORLD,  TRUE  FAITH  TO  LIVE  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD,  IS  HARDER  AND  HARDER  TO  FIND - Keith Hunt]

John 11:25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Acts 13:48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 26:18. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom. 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.

[WE  HAVE  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISES  OF  GOD;  AND  THEN  WE  RECEIVE  FAITH——GAL.2:20  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 4:1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory: but not before God. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10. How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncirciuncision. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he hud yet being un-circumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15. Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations.) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth [makes alive] the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken. So shall thy seed be. 19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

[YES  WE  EXERCISE  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISES  OF  GOD;  KNOWING  AMASSING  “WORKS”  DOES  NOT  SAVE  US;  BUT  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISE  OF  GOD  THAT  A  SAVIOR  WOULD  COME  TO  TAKE  OUR  SINS  UPON  HIMSELF,  WHO  DID  NO  SIN;  THAT  WE  MIGHT  BE  JUSTIFIED (MADE  SINLESS-  RIGHTEOUS)  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 10: 8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1 Cor. 2:5. Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Cor. 1:24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Gal. 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying. In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it he but a man's covenant, yet if it he confirmed, no man disannulled, or addeth thereto. 16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not. And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19. Wherefore then serveth the law [the old covenant]? It was added [to magnify sin] because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [custodian to bring us to the real schoolmaster] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster [custodian]. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

[THE  GOSPEL,  GOOD  NEWS  WAS  ALWAYS  KNOW  BY  GOD’S  PEOPLE;  TO  BE  FORGIVEN,  CLEANSED  OF  SIN,  WAS  GOING  TO  BE  THROUGH  THE  ONE  SEED  OF  ABRAHAM - THE  MESSIAH  GOD,  THE  IMMANUEL (GOD  WITH  US),  GOD  IN  THE  FLESH;  WHO  WOULD  COME  AND  NOT  SIN,  TAKE  THE  SINS  OF  ALL  MANKIND  ON  HIMSELF  IN  HIS  DEATH  OF  SHEDDING  HIS  BLOOD  ON  THE  CROSS  OF  CALVARY.  THROUGH  FAITH  IN  THAT  PROMISE  WE  ARE  MADE  RIGHTEOUS - JUSTIFIED  TO  THE  FATHER.  WE  EXERCISE  FAITH  AND  WE  HAVE  FAITH  IN  US  TO  LIVE  THE  VICTORIOUS  CHRISTIAN  LIFE - GAL. 2:20  -  Keith Hunt]

Gal. 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Eph. 2:8. By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Eph. 6:16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Col. 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God. who hath raised him from the dead.

Thess. 5:8. Putting on the breastplate of faith and love.

1 Tim. 1:19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.

1 Tim. 4:10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Tim. 6:11. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith ... 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

Tim. 4:7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Heb. 10:38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who drawback unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Heb. 11:1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2. For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a re warder of them that diligently Seek him.

Heb. 13:5. He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6. So that we may boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Jas. 2:1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment. 3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him. Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool. 4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. 9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also. Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12. So speak ye, and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works! can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know,0 vain man, that faith without works is dead ? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body with out the spirit [breath, wind] is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I Pet. 1:5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 7. The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 John 5:4. Whatsoever is born [begotten] of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

IT  TAKES  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  TO  LIVE  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE;  TO  LIVE  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD  DOES  INDEED  TAKE  FAITH.  THE  EVILS  OF  THE  WORLD,  THE  DECEPTIONS  OF  THE  DEVIL,  ARE  CONTINUALLY  OUT  THERE.  WE  MUST  TRUST  IN  GOD,  HAVE  FAITH  IN  GOD,  TO  FIGHT  THE  GOOD  FIGHT,  TO  FACE  ALL  THAT  CAN  BE  THROWN  AT  US,  THAT  CAN  KILL  US  SPIRITUALLY,  TAKES  FAITH.  HAVING  CHRIST  IN  US  GIVES  US  CHRIST’S  FAITH [GAL. 2:20].  SO  HAVING  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  WE  DEFEND  OURSELVES  FROM  ALL  THE  DARTS,  THE  ARROWS,  OF  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS  THAT  CAN  BE  USED  AGAINST  US;  WE  MARCH  FORWARD  INTO  BATTLE  WITH  THAT  HUGE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  BEFORE  US.

Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.

Abraham Heschel (Certainty, Difficulty)

Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance      

Rubem Ajves (Hope, Future)

I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would  come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not   seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Now faith cometh by hearing the Word of God." I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith.  

I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has  been growing ever since.

D. L. Moody (Bible, Study)

Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.

Augustine (Vision, Belief)

William Plummer and Bonnie Bell wrote in People magazine:

The Northwestern University Wildcats shocked the world of college football in 1995 by making it to the Rose Bowl Tournament. The man behind the team's turnaround was coach Gary Barnett. . . . [Barnett] was determined to prove that kids at the Big Ten's smallest and most academically demanding school could play football. He ordered a Tournament of Roses flag for the football building and kept a silk rose on his desk to remind everyone where they were headed.

"At the first meeting," says kicker Sam Valenzisi, "he told us we needed belief without evidence. He asked, 'Do you know what that is? That's faith.'"

Sherman L. Burford (Achievement, Belief)

Ben Patterson, in Waiting, writes: In 1988, three friends and I climbed Mount Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. Our base camp was less than 2,000 feet from the peak, but the climb to the top and back was to take the better part of a day, due in large part to the difficulty of the glacier we had to cross to get to the top. The morning of the climb we started out chattering and cracking jokes.

As the hours passed, the two more experienced mountaineers opened up a wide gap between me and my less-experienced companion. Being competitive by nature, I began to look for shortcuts to beat them to the top. I thought I saw one to the right of an outcropping of rock—so I went, deaf to the protests of my companion.

Perhaps it was the effect of the high altitude, but the significance of the two experienced climbers not choosing this path did not register in my consciousness. It should have, for thirty minutes later I was trapped in a cul-de-sac of rock atop the Lyell Glacier, looking down several hundred feet of a sheer slope of ice, pitched at about a forty-five degree angle. ... I was only about ten feet from the safety of a rock, but one little slip and I wouldn't stop sliding until I landed in the valley floor some fifty miles away! It was nearly noon, and the warm sun had the glacier glistening with slippery ice. I was stuck, and I was scared.

It took an hour for my experienced climbing friends to find me. Standing on the rock I wanted to reach, one of them leaned out and used an ice ax to chip two little footsteps in the glacier. Then he gave me the following instructions: "Ben, you must step out from where you are and put your foot where the first foothold is. When your foot touches it, without a moment's hesitation swing your other foot across and land it on the next step. When you do that, reach out and I will take your hand and pull you to safety."

That sounded real good to me. It was the next thing he said that made me more frightened than ever. "But listen carefully: As you step across, do not lean into the mountain! If anything, lean out a bit. Otherwise, your feet may fly out from under you, and you will start sliding down."

I don't like precipices. When I am on the edge of a cliff, my instincts are to lie down and hug the mountain, to become one with it, not to lean away from it! But that was what my good friend was telling me to do. For a moment, based solely on what I believed to be the good will and good sense of my friend, I decided to say no to what I felt, to stifle my impulse to cling to the security of the mountain, to lean out, step out, and traverse the ice to safety. It took less than two seconds to find out if my faith was well-founded.

To save us, God often tells us to do things that are the opposite of our natural inclination. Is God loving and faithful? Can we trust him?

He is. We can.

The mighty Niagara River plummets some 180 feet at the American and Horseshoe Falls. Before the falls, there are violent, turbulent rapids. Farther upstream, however, where the river's current flows more gently, boats are able to navigate. Just before the Welland River empties into the Niagara, a pedestrian walkway spans the river. Posted on this bridge’s pylons is a warning sign for all boaters: “do you have an anchor?” followed by, “do you know how to use it?”

Faith, like an anchor, is something we need to have and use to avoid spiritual cataclysm.

Paul Adams (Crisis, Preparation)

We were driving through Pennsylvania Dutch Country with my daughter and her seven-year-old son. We passed an Amish horse and buggy, and my grandson's curiosity was stirred.

"Why do they use horses instead of automobiles?" My daughter explained that the Amish didn't believe in automobiles.

After a few moments, he asked: "But can't they see them?"

Harold F. Bermel (Belief, Trust)

Faith is the Samsonian lock of the Christian; cut it off, and you may put out his eyes— and he can do nothing.

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Not a great faith we need, but faith in a great God.

—Hudson Taylor

Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.

— Anonymous

Biblical Definitions of Faith

Believing there will be a fulfillment of those things that are told us by the Lord—Luke 1:45

Beheving that it will be just as was told us—Acts 27:25

Not wavering at the promise of God, but being fully convinced that what He has promised He is able to perform—Romans 4:20-21

Judging Him faithful who has promised—Hebrews 11:11

The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen—Hebrews 11:1

An Old Story

One of our oldest sermon illustrations still provides a powerful illustration of the personal nature of faith. A far-famed tightrope walker came to Niagara Falls and stretched his rope across the thunderous currents from Canada to the United States. Before the breathless multitudes, he walked, then ran, across the falls. He did the same blindfolded, with drums rolling. Then, still blindfolded, he pushed a wheelbarrow across the falls.

The crowds went wild, and the aerialist shouted to them, "Who believes I can push a man in this wheelbarrow across these falls?"

A gentleman in the front waved his hands, shouting, "I do! I believe!"

"Then," said the walker, "come and get in the wheelbarrow."

To no surprise, the man's intellectual assent failed to translate into personal belief.

Anyone Else?

A man slipped and fell off a cliff while hiking on a mountaintop. Luckily he was able to grab a branch on his way down. Holding on for dear life, he looked down only to see a rock valley some fifteen hundred feet below. When he looked up it was twenty feet to the cliff where he had fallen.

Panicked, he yelled, "Help! Help! Is anybody there? Help!"

A booming voice spoke up. "I am here, and I will save you if you believe in me."

"I believe! I believe!" yelled back the man.

"If you believe me, let go of the branch and then I will save you."

The young man, hearing what the voice said, looked down again. Seeing the rock valley below, he quickly looked back up and shouted, "Is there anybody else up there!"

Someone Once Said ...

Faithfulness to principle is only proved by faithfulness in detail.

—Frances Ridley Havergal

My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, but faithful.

—Mother Teresa, to Senator Mark Hatfield who, while touring her work in Calcutta, asked, "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?"

Old Faithful

Old Faithful is not the largest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, nor does it reach the greatest height. But it is by far the most popular one. Why? It is regular and dependable, hence its name, "Old Faithful."

Kenneth Blanchard and Robert Lorber, Putting the One Minute Manager to Work (New York: Berkley Books, 1985), 

FAITHFULNESS   A Poem by John Oxenham

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!—

He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!—

He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is

Not yours alone, but His

Who set you there.

Vance Havner on Faithfulness

God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. God's Word speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord, faithful ministers. And all points up that day when He will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone one can sing or preach, but all can be faithful.

The Influence of a Very Average Life

Keep Kicking

Two frogs fell into a tub of cream. The one looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, "It is hopeless." So he resigned himself to death, relaxed, and sank to the bottom. The other one determined to keep swimming as long as he could. "Something might happen," he said. And it did. He churned the cream into solid butter and jumped out.

Frances Ridley Havergal, Kept for the Master's Use (Philadelphia: The Rogers Company, n.d.)

THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  IS  ONLY  GOOD  IF  YOU  PICK  IT  UP  AND  USE  IT,  LEFT  ON  THE  GROUND  IT  IS  USELESS - Keith Hunt

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #4b

FAITH  continued

ENJOINED: 

Ex. 14:13. Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day.

Deut. 20:1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of  Egypt. Num. 21:34. Deut. 1:21-31.

Deut. 31:8. The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed,   vs. 6-8.

Josh. 1:9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. vs. 5-9.

2 Chr. 15:7. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chr. 16:9. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

2 Chr. 20:20. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

2 Chr. 32:7. Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. 8. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.

Neh. 4:14. Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible.

Psa: 4:5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psa. 27:14. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.

Psa. 31:19. How great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psa. 37:3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. 39. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40. The Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them; because they trust in him.

Psa. 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psa. 62:8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

Psa. 115:9. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. 11. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield, 

Prov. 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Ptov. 16:3. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Isa. 26:4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Isa. 35:3. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 13. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isa. 43:1. Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2. When thou passest through the waters, I will he with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 5. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 10. That ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he.

Hab. 2:3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, . . . though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4. The just shall live by his faith.

Zeph. 3:16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zech. 8:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.

[ARE  YOU  STUDYING  WHAT  THE  PROPHETS  TELL  YOU?  ALL  THE  PROPHETIC  BOOKS  OF  THE  BIBLE  I  HAVE  EXPOUNDED  FOR  YOU  ON  THIS  WEBSITE.  IT  IS  TIME  NOW  TO  STUDY  THESE  WORDS;  TIME  NOW  TO  REALLY  STUDY  THE  DEEP  THINGS  OF  GOD’S  WORD  WHILE  IT  IS  DAY;  THE  NIGHT  COMES  WHEN  NO  MAN  WILL  WORK  IN  THE  FREEDOM  WE  HAVE;  ONLY  THEN  WILL  GOD  HAVE  TWO  WITNESSES  IN  JERUSALEM  TO  DECLARE  THE  WORD  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  TO  THIS  EARTH.  

IT  IS  WRITTEN  IN  THE  PROPHETS,  “BEHOLD  THE  DAYS  COME,  SAYS  THE  LORD  GOD,  THAT  I  WILL  SEND  A  FAMINE  IN  THE  LAND,  NOT  A  FAMINE  OF  BREAD,  NOR  A  THIRST  FOR  WATER;  BUT  OF  HEARING  THE  WORDS  OF  THE  LORD.  AND  THEY  SHALL  WANDER  FROM  SEA  TO  SEA,  AND  FROM  THE  NORTH  EVEN  TO  THE  EAST;  THEY  SHALL  RUN  TO  AND  FRO  TO  SEEK  THE  WORD  OF  THE  LORD,  AND  SHALL  NOT  FIND  IT” (AMOS 8: 11, 12).

NOW  IS  THE  TIME  OF  FREEDOM  AND  OPENNESS  TO  STUDY  FROM  THIS  WEBSITE;  INDEED  THE  TIME  WILL  COME  WHEN  IT  WILL  BE  HERE  NO  MORE;  NOW  IS  THE  TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD  WHILE  HE  MAY  BE  FOUND  -  Keith Hunt]

Matt. 6:25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your clothes, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature. 28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall I we be clothed? 32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33. But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.    Luke 12:22-32.

Matt. 17:18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto vou. Mark 11:23,24.

Mark 1:15. Repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 11:22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God.

Luke 12:32. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

[THE  GREEK  HERE  FOR  “LITTLE”  IS  A  DOUBLE  DIMINUTIVE —— LITTLE  LITTLE,  OR  VERY  LITTLE  -  Keith Hunt]

FAITH  IN CHRIST: 

Matt. 7:24. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Luke 6:46-49.

Matt. 83. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13. As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.

Matt. 9:22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. 29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matt. 11:6. Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 28. Come  all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matt. 14:27. Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. John 6:20.

Matt. 15:28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

Matt. 17:7. Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Mark 9:23. Jesus said unto him. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 7:9. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 8:50. When Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.   Mark 5:36.

Luke 17:6. If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree. Be thou plucked lip by the root, and bo thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Luke 18:42. Jesus said unto him. Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 15. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Sort of God. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.   John 6:47.

John 5:24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:29. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 35. He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 45. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 7:38. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 11:25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [shall not die forever]. 

John 12:36. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. 44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me [only], but on him that sent me. 46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 13:7. What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 20. He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 11. Or else believe me for the very works sake. 12. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 16:27. For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God! 33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

John 18:37. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

John 20:27. And be not faithless, but believing. 29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 10:43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 15:9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 20:21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts. 26:18, That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom. 3:22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [atoning sacrifice] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

[YOU  CAN  NOT  AMASS  DEEDS  OF  LAW  KEEPING  TO  JUSTIFY  YOURSELF  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER;  IT  CAN  ONLY  COME  BY  FAITH  IN  CHRIST  JESUS  AS  YOUR  SACRIFICIAL  SAVIOR  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 9:33. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom. 10:4. For Christ is the end [the goal]  of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 9. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Gal. 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.

Gal. 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Receive ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

Gal. 5:6. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Eph. 1:12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph. 3:12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

Eph. 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Phil. 3:9. Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Col. 2:7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.

Tim. 1:16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Tim. 1:13. In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Tim. 3:15. From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Heb. 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 10:22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Heb. 12:2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Heb. 13:7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow.

1 Pet. 1:8. In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Pet. 2:6. Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:  Isa. 28:16.

Pet. 1:1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:23. This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: ... 13. Unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14. This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

Rev. 3:18, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, ... 20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

GOD’S  WORD  ENCOURAGES  US,  EXHORTS  US,  IMPLORES  US,  TO  HAVE  FAITH  IN  HIM  AND  ALL  THAT  HE  HAS  PROMISED.

FAITH  COVERS  SO  MANY  ASPECTS  OF  SALVATION  AND  WALKING  IN  THE  TRUTHS  OF  GOD.

THE  WORDS  “FAITH”  AND  “FAITHFUL”  ARE  FOUND  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  ABOUT 350  TIMES.

FAITH

In the October 1993 issue of Life magazine, a photo by Scott Threlkeld shows three teenage boys who have jumped from a thirty-foot-high cypress branch toward a dark Louisiana pond. Threlkeld evidently climbed the tree and shot from above the shirtless, soaring Huck Finns, for we look down on the boys and the pond.

There's something inspiring, even spiritual, about this picture.

The lanky boy on the right shows the least confidence, jumping feet first, knees bent and legs spread, ungainly arms flapping like a drunken stork about to make a crash landing.

The middle boy dives head first, arms spread stiffly straight and perpendicular, like the wings of a Piper Cub airplane. His head is slightly ducked and to the right, as if he were approaching the runway against a side wind. He is in a hurry to reach the water.

The third boy also dives head first but he isn't hurrying toward the tunnel-dark pond. He is floating. His head is up. His body is in a relaxed arch, both knees slightly bent, legs slightly apart. His arms are nonchalantly straight, hanging from his shoulders in an upside-down V. Poised and self-assured, as playful as an acrobat on the flying trapeze, he knows exactly where he is and, it appears, waits until the last moment to lift his arms, duck his head, and slip into the water.

No matter their kinesthetic sense or style, each of these three boys did a challenging thing: He took a scary leap.

Granted, high dives into country backwaters aren't always wise, but sometimes to follow God we must take a similar leap of faith. When we do, we will find that the kingdom of God is in the pond.

Fear, Ministry, Obedience, Risk, Service Matt. 14:22-33; Heb. 11:8-10

An illustration of the balance between faith and works lies hidden within any tree. Leaves use up nutrients in the process of photosynthesis. As the leaves consume nutrients in the sap, a suction is formed, which draws more sap from the roots. Without the sap, the leaves and branches would die. But the continual flow of this sap comes only as it is used up by the work of the leaf.

Likewise, through faith we draw life from Christ. But a continual supply of fresh spiritual nutrients depends on our willingness to "consume" the old supply through our acts of obedience, through our works.

Good Works, Power

In April 1988 the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver. He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes. On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went berserk. The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without his parachute. It wasn't until he reached for the absent ripcord that he realized he was freefalling without a parachute.

Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun. But tragically, he had acted with thoughtless haste and deadly foolishness. Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on. Faith in anything but an all-sufficient God can be just as tragic spiritually. Only with faith in Jesus Christ dare we step into the dangerous excitement of life.

Self-Reliance, Preparation

The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.

Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.

Spiritual Perception, vision

This piece was heard on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on November 2,1988:

In 1958, America's first commercial jet air service began with the flight of the Boeing 707. A month after that first flight, a traveler on a piston-engine, propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. The passenger happened to be a Boeing engineer. The traveler asked the engineer about the new jet aircraft, whereupon the engineer began speaking at length about the extensive testing Boeing had done on the jet engine before bringing it into commercial service. He recounted Boeing's experience with engines, from the B-17 to the B-52.

When his traveling companion asked him if he himself had yet flown on the new 707 jet airliner, the engineer replied, "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile."

Even enthusiastic talking about our faith doesn't mean much if we aren't also willing to put our lives where our mouth is.

Trust, Testimony

Dormer Atwood, in Reformed Review, writes:

During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as soon as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow.

Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!"

The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!"

The boy jumped, because he trusted his father.

The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.

Father God, God's Knowledge

Imagine a family of mice who lived all their lives in a large piano. To them in their piano-world came the music of the instrument, filling all the dark spaces with sound and harmony. At first the mice were impressed by it. They drew comfort and wonder from the thought that there was Someone who made the music—though invisible to them—above, yet close to them. They loved to think of the Great Player whom they could not see.

Then one day a daring mouse climbed up part of the piano and returned very thoughtful. He had found out how music was made. Wires were the secret; tightly stretched wires of graduated lengths that trembled and vibrated. They must revise all their old beliefs: none but the most conservative could any longer believe in the Unseen Player.

Later, another explorer carried the explanation further. Hammers were now the secret, numbers of hammers dancing and leaping on the wires. This was a more complicated theory, but it all went to show that they lived in a purely mechanical and mathematical world. The Unseen Player came to be thought of as a myth.

But the pianist continued to play.

Doubt, God's Sovereignty

Author Marshall Shelley, who suffered the deaths of two of his children, writes in Leadership:

Even as a child, I loved to read, and I quickly learned that I would most likely be confused during the opening chapters of a novel. New characters were introduced. Disparate, seemingly random events took place. Subplots were complicated and didn't seem to make any sense in relation to the main plot.

But I learned to keep reading. Why? Because you know that the author, if he or she is good, will weave them all together by the end of the book. Eventually, each element will be meaningful.

At times, such faith has to be a conscious choice.

Even when I can't explain why a chromosomal abnormality develops in my son, which prevents him from living on earth more than two minutes....

Even when I can't fathom why our daughter has to endure two years of severe and profound retardation and continual seizures....

I choose to trust that before the book closes, the Author will make things clear.

Confusion, Death, Mourning, Trials, Trust Prov. 3:5-6; Mark 4:35-41; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11

In 1972 NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, its primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to Earth about Jupiter's magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at this time no probe had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy Pioneer 10 before it could reach its target.

But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Pioneer 10 was then hurled by Jupiter's immense gravity at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At 1 billion miles from the sun Pioneer 10 passed Saturn, then swept past Uranus at some 2 billion miles, Neptune at nearly 3 billion miles, Pluto at almost 4 billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than 6 billion miles from the sun. (Not bad for a device that was designed to have a useful life of only three years.)

And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 was still beaming back radio signals that scientists on Earth could decipher. "Perhaps most remarkable," writes Jaroff, "those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and take more than nine hours to reach Earth."

Even a faint message can travel a long way. Similarly, even prayers with small faith can reach the heart of God, whose great strength can work the impossible.

Expectations, Mustard Seed, Perseverance, Persistence, Prayer,

Weakness Matt. 17:20-21; Luke 17:5-6

In Christianity Today, Philip Yancey writes:

I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of Japanese and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption.

My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached one minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the windows to see the big, wet event.

I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy—not even those who had finished their chores—looked out the huge windows. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them.

Few things are more quickly taken for granted than God's faithfulness. But few things are more important. God's faithfulness deserves our untiring praise and wonder.

Familiarity, Thanksgiving, Wonder, Worship Ps. 145; Luke 17:11-19; Heb. 10:23

Brent Philip Waters in The Christian Ministry writes:

A favorite nursery rhyme is the familiar tale of an egg that takes an unfortunate tumble:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, 

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. 

All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put 

Humpty together again.

According to those who know about such things, this piece of wisdom is a relic thousands of years old. Versions have appeared in eight European languages.

In its primitive stages, however, Humpty Dumpty was a riddle. It asked the question: what, when broken, can never be repaired, not even by strong or wise individuals? As any child knows, an egg. Regardless of how hard we try, a broken egg can never be put back together again. We simply have to learn to live with the mess.

Your faith ought to get you in trouble at times. If everybody thinks you are nuts, you may be. It's OK if some think you are. You're probably in trouble if no one thinks you are.

—Author unknown

If I Had Only Known You Lord,

I crawled

across the barrenness to You

with my empty cup uncertain in asking

any small drop of refreshment. 

If only I had known You better 

I'd have come Running With a bucket. 

—Nancy Spiegelberg and Dorothy Purdy, Fanfare: A Celebration of Belief

Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.

—Jaroslav Pelikan, The Vindication of Tradition

Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, just dying for a drink of water. He stumbled upon an old shack—a ramshackled, windowless, roofless, weatherbeaten old shack. He looked about this place and found a little shade from the heat of the desert sun. As he glanced around he saw a pump about fifteen feet away—an old, rusty water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle, and began to pump up and down, up and down. Nothing came out.

Disappointed, he staggered back. He noticed off to the side an old jug. He looked at it, wiped away the dirt and dust, and read a message that said, "You have to prime the pump with all the water in this jug, my friend. P.S. Be sure you fill the jug again before you leave."

He popped the cork out of the jug and sure enough, it was almost full of water! Suddenly, he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water, he could live. Ah, but if he poured all the water in the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield fresh, cool water from down deep in the well, all the water he wanted.

He studied the possibility of both options. What should he do, pour it into the old pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water or drink what was in the old jug and ignore its message? Should he waste all the water on the hopes of those flimsy instructions written, no telling how long ago?

Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump, squeak, squeak, squeak. Still nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents.

Then he filled the jug for the next traveler. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works. You have to give it all away before you can get anything back."

—Charles R. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity

Faith is engaging in the deepest joy of heaven, knowing His unfathomable love for me as I walk through the thorny desolate now.

—Pamela Reeve, Faith Is

During Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's eight years in Russian camps, his parents died and his wife divorced him. Upon his release from prison he was dying of a cancer that was growing in him so rapidly that he could feel the difference in a span of twelve hours. It was at that point that he abandoned himself to God, so beautifully illustrated in three lines of the incredible prayer that came in that dark hour: "Oh God, how easy it is for me to believe in You. You created a path for me through despair.... O God, You have used me, and where You cannot use me, You have appointed others. Thank You."

—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Faith is speaking truth in love even at the cost of position of relationship.

—Pamela Reeve, Faith Is

END  OF  THE  FIRST  HALF—— TO BE  CONTINUED

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  AMOR  OF  GOD!

MOST  CHRISTIANS  KNOW  VERY  WELL  THAT  CHRISTIAN  LIFE  IS  NOT  ALWAYS  SMOOTH,  AND  AS  WE  SAY  “A  WALK  IN  THE  PARK”  ON  A  WARM  SUNNY  DAY.

CERTAINLY  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  MAKES  IT  VERY  CLEAR  THERE  IS  A  SPIRITUAL  ENEMY [WHO  HAS  UNTOLD  HELPERS]  WHO  IS  CALLED  SATAN  THE  DEVIL,  AND  HIS  HELPERS  CALLED  DEMONS.

THE  APOSTLE  PETER  TELLS  US  THIS  DEVIL  IS  WALKING  ABOUT  SEEKING  WHOM  HE  MAY  DEVOUR,  AND  WE  ARE  TO  RESIST  STEADFASTLY  IN  THE  FAITH [1 PETER 5: 8-9].

DOES  GOD  GIVE  US  THE  IMPLEMENTS  IN  THIS  SPIRITUAL  WAR,  TO  WIN  AGAINST  SUCH  A  POWERFUL  ENEMY?  

YES  INDEED  SO!  

OUR  FATHER  IN  HEAVEN  HAS  REVEALED  THROUGH  THE  APOSTLE  PAUL,  WHAT  ARMOR  AND  WEAPONS  WE  NEED  TO  FIGHT  THIS  FOE,  AND  KEEP  HIM  AT  BAY,  TO  WIN  THIS  BATTLE  AGAINST  HIM.

“FINALLY  MY  BRETHREN,  BE  STORNG  IN  THE  LORD,  AND  IN  THE  POWER  OF  HIS  MIGHT. PUT  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD,  THAT  YOU  MAY  BE  ABLE  TO  STAND  AGAINST  THE  WILES  OF  THE  DEVIL.

FOR  WE  WRESTLE  NOT  AGAINST  FLESH  AND  BLOOD  BUT  AGAINST …. RULERS  OF  THE  DARKNESS  OF  THIS  WORLD,  AGAINST  SPIRITUAL  WICKEDNESS  [WICKED  SPIRITS— MARGIN]  IN  HEAVENLY  PLACES [PRINCE  OF  THE  AIR - CHAP. 2:2].

WHEREFORE  TAKE  UNTO  YOU  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD,  THAT  YOU  MAY  BE  ABLE  TO WITHSTAND  IN  THE  EVIL  DAY,  AND  HAVING  DONE  ALL  TO  STAND” [EPHESIANS 6: 10-13].

PAUL  THEN  GOES  ON  TO  TELL  US  WHAT  ARMOR  AND  WEAPONS  TO  PUT  ON.

“STAND  THEREFORE,  HAVING  YOUR  LOINS  GIRT  ABOUT  WITH  TRUTH!” [VERSE 14].

OUR  LOINS  CONTAIN  IMPORTANT  PARTS  OF  OUR  BODY—— KIDNEYS,  SPLEAN,  LIVER,  BOWELS,  BLADDER—— WELL  EVERYTHING  FROM  THE  HEART  DOWN  TO  OUR  HIPS.  THINGS  IF  NOT  FUNCTIONING  CORRECTLY  WILL  KILL  US  EITHER  SLOWLY  OR  REASONABLY  FAST.

THIS  PART  OF  OUR  BODY  PAUL  SAID  NEEDS  TO  BE  PROTECTED  BY  TRUTH!

AS  PILATE  SAID  TO  JESUS—— “WHAT  IS  TRUTH?”

JESUS  SUCCINCTLY  SAID,  “THY [GOD  THE  FATHER]  WORD  IS  TRUTH” [JOHN 17:17].

SO  THE  CHRISTIAN  BIBLE,  FROM  GENESIS  TO  REVELATION  IS  TRUTH!

AS  PAUL  WAS  INSPIRED  TO  SAY,  “ALL  SCRIPTURE  IS  GIVEN  BY  INSPIRATION  OF  GOD,  AND  IS  PROFITABLE  FOR  DOCTRINE,  FOR  REPROOF,  FOR  CORRECTION,  FOR  INSTRUCTION  IN  RIGHTEOUSNESS” [2 TIMOTHY 3:16].

THE  WORD  “TRUTH”  APPEARS  ABOUT  230  TIMES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE!

SO  THE  STUDY  OF  THIS  VERY  IMPORTANT  WORD  IS  NOT  SMALL— LET’S  TAKE  TIME  AND  STUDY  IT!

TRUTH— IMPORTANT  VERSES  FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE

Ex. 34:6. And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Deut. 32:4. All his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psa. 31:5. Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Psa. 33:4. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Psa. 40:10. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psa. 51:6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.

Psa. 57:3 God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Psa. 85:10. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psa. 86:15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psa. 89:14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Psa. 96:13. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Psa. 98:3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.

Psa. 100:5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psa. 108:4. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

Prov. 12:19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Prov. 16:13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Isa. 25:1. O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isa, 59:14. Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15. Yea, truth faileth.

Isa. 65:16. That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth.

Jer. 5:3. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth.

Dan. 4:37. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment.

Dan. 10:21. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth.

Mic. 750. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and welt among us, (and we beheld bis glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 8:31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: 17. The Spirit of truth.

John 16:13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.

John 17:17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth, 19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

John 18:37. Pilate therefore said unto him. Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? 

Rom. 25. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

TRUTH  IS  A  PART  OF  GOD  JUST  AS  HOLINESS  IS.  GOD  IS  TRUTH;  HIS  WORD  IS  TRUTH.

ALL  THAT  WILL  BE  A  CHILD  OF  THE  HEAVENLY  FATHER,  MUST  LOVE  AND  DESIRE  AND  SEARCH  FOR  TRUTH;  THEY  MUST  SEARCH  THE  SCRIPTURES  FOR  TRUTH;  THEY  MUST  FIND  ALL  THE  VERSES  ON  ANY  SUBJECT  IN  THE  BIBLE  AND  SO  WILL  FIND  THE  TRUTH.

JESUS  SAID  WHEN  THE  SPIRIT  CAME [ON  THAT  PENTECOST  DAY  OF  ACTS  2];  IT  WOULD  GUIDE  HIS  FOLLOWERS  INTO  ALL  TRUTH.

WE  DO  NOT  FIND  ALL  THE  TRUTHS  OF  GOD  AT  ONE  TIME;  WE  MUST  ALWAYS  LET  THE  SPIRIT  GUIDE  US  INTO  ALL  TRUTH,  AS  GOD  THE  FATHER  DIRECTS.

TRUTH  IS  A  WEAPON  OF  PROTECTION  FROM  THE  LIES,  THE  DECEITS,  THE  ERRORS,  THE  FALSE  TEACHINGS  OF  SATAN  THE  DEVIL.

TRUTH  INDEED  DOES  SET  US  FREE!

THE  TRUTH  OF  GOD:

IS  ONE  OF  HIS  ATTRIBUTES—DEUT. 32:4; ISA. 65:16;

HE  KEEPS  FOREVER—PSA. 146:6

IS  ABUNDANT—EX. 34:6

IS  INVIOLABLE—NUM. 23:19; TIT. 1:2

IS  ENDURING  TO  ALL  GENERATIONS—PSA. 100:5

EXHIBITED  IN  HIS  WAYS—REV. 15:3

WORKS—PSA. 33:4; 111:7;  DAN. 4:37

JUDICIAL  STATUTES—PSA. 19:9

WORD—PSA. 119:160; JOHN 17:17

FULFILLMENT  OF  HIS  PROMISES  IN  CHRIST—2 COR.1:20

FULFILLMENT  OF  HIS  COVENANT—MIC. 7:20

DEALINGS  WITH  SAINTS—PSA. 57:3

PUNISHMENT  OF  THE  WICKED—REV. 16:7

IS  A  SHIELD  AND  BUCKLER  TO  SAINTS—PSA. 91:4

WE  SHOULD  CONFIDE  IN—PSA. 31:5;  TIT. 1:2

PLEAD  IN  PRAYER—PSA. 89:49

PRAY  FOR  ITS  MANIFESTATION  TO  OURSELVES—2 CHR. 6:17

PRAY  FOR  ITS  EXHIBITION  TO  OTHERS—2 SAM. 2:6

MAKE  KNOWN  TO  OTHERS—ISA. 38:19

MAGNIFY—PSA. 71:22; 138:2

IS  DENIED  BY  THE  DEVIL—GEN. 3:4,5

DENIED  BY  THE  SELF-RIGHTEOUS—1 JOHN 1:10

DENIED  BY  UNBELIEVERS—1 JOHN 5:10

……

TRUTH— MORE:

THE  FRUIT  OF  THE  SPIRIT IS  IN  TRUTH—EPH. 5:9

MINISTERS  SHOULD  SPEAK  IN  TRUTH—2 COR. 12:6;  GAL. 4:16;  

THEY  SHOULD  TEACH  IN  TRUTH—1 TIM. 2:7

THEY  SHOULD  APPROVE  THEMSELVES  BY  TRUTH—2 COR. 6: 7, 8

MAGISTRATES  SHOULD  BE  MEN  OF  TRUTH—EX. 18:21

KINGS  ARE  PRESERVED  BY  TRUTH—PROV. 20:28

THEY  WHO  SPEAK  TRUTH  SHOW  FORTH  RIGHTEOUSNESS—PROV. 12:17

THEY  ARE  THE  DELIGHT  OF  GOD—PROV. 12:22

SAINTS  SHOULD  WORSHIP  GOD  IN  TRUTH—JOHN  4:24  WITH  PSA. 145:18

SAINTS  SHOULD  SERVE  GOD  IN  TRUTH—1 SAM. 12:24

THEY  SHOULD  WALK  IN  TRUTH—1 KINGS 2:4; 2 KINGS 20:3

KEEP  RELIGIOUS  FEASTS  WITH  TRUTH—1 COR. 5:8

ESTEEM  AS  INESTIMABLE—PROV. 13:6

SPEAK  TO  ONE  ANOTHER  IN  TRUTH—ZECH8:16; EPH. 4:25

EXECUTE  JUDGMENT  WITH  TRUTH—ZECH. 8:16

MEDITATE  UPON—PHIL. 4:8

BIND  ABOUT  THE  NECK—PROV. 3:3

WRITE  UPON  THE  TABLES  OF  THE  HEART—PROV. 3:3

THE  WICKED  DESTITUTE  OF  TRUTH—HOS. 4:1

THEY  SPEAK  NOT  THE  TRUTH—JER. 9:5

THEY  UPHOLD  NOT  TRUTH—ISA. 59:14,15

THEY  PLEAD  NOT  FOR  TRUTH—ISA. 59:4

THEY  ARE  NOT  VALIANT  FOR  TRUTH—JER. 9:3

THEY  ARE  PUNISHED  FOR  WANT  OF  TRUTH—JER. 9: 5, 9; HOS. 4:1, 3

TRUTH  IS  ACCORDING  TO  GODLINESS—TIT. 1:1

IS  SANCTIFYING—JOHN 17:17,19

IS PURIFYING—1 PETER 1:22

IS  PART  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  ARMOR—EPH. 6:14

REVEALED  ABUNDANTLY  TO  SAINTS—JER. 33:6

ABIDES  CONTINUALLY  WITH  THE  SAINTS—2 JOHN 2

SHOULD  BE  ACKNOWLEDGED---2 THES. 2: 12, 13;  1 TIM. 4:3

SHOULD  BE  OBYED—ROM. 2:8;  GAL. 3:1

SHOULD  BE  LOVED—2 THES. 2:10

SHOULD  BE  MANIFESTED—2 COR. 4:2

SHOULD  BE  RIGHTLY  DIVIDED—2 TIM. 2:15

THE  WICKED  TURN  AWAY  FROM  TRUTH—2 TIM. 4:4

THE  WICKED  RESIST—2 TIM. 3:8

THE  WICKED  ARE  DESTITUTE  OF  TRUTH—1 TIM. 6:5

THE  DEVIL  IS  DEVOID  OF  TRUTH—JOHN 8:44

THE  CHURCH  IS  THE  PILLAR  AND  GROUND  OF  TRUTH—1 TIM. 3:15

……

DO  YOU  SEE  HOW  MUCH  THE  BIBLE  GIVES  ON  THE  DOCTRINE  OF  TRUTH?

AND  IN  PASSING  THE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  IN  PSA. 119:172.  THE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  WICKED  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  IN  PSA. 119:53.

MY  FIRST  ENCOUNTER  WITH  “TRUTH”

I  GREW  UP  IN  A  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND  SCHOOL [FIRST  HALF  HOUR  OF  THE  DAY  WAS  IN  THE  BIBLE];  AND  A  LOCAL  CHURCH  WHERE  I  ATTENDED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  FAITHFULLY  ALL  MY  LIFE  FROM  AGE  7  TO  18; LEAVING  FOR  CANADA  WHEN  I  WAS  18.

I  WAS  LISTENING  TO  ANY  AND  ALL  RELIGIOUS  RADIO  BROADCASTS  AFTER  COMING  TO  CANADA;  THEY  WERE  MAINLY  AT  THAT  TIME  DURING  1961/62  IN  THE  EVENING  TIME.

I  SENT  FOR  A  MAGAZINE  FROM  ONE  OF  THESE  CHURCH  BROADCASTS.

THE  VERY  FIRST  ARTICLE  I  OPENED  UP  TO  WAS  ENTITLED  “WILL  YOU  GET  TO  HEAVEN?”

I  SCAN  READ  IT;  I  WAS  DISGUSTED  THAT  THE  WRITER  WAS  TELLING  ME  I  DO  NOT  GO  TO  HEAVEN  AT  DEATH;  NOR  WAS  HEAVEN  WHERE  GOD  IS  NOW,  PROMISED  AS  OUR  ETERNAL  ABODE.

I  WAS  ANGRY,  THREW   IT  DOWN;  GOT  MY  COWBOY  HAT  AND  WENT  OFF  TO  THE  RANCH  I  WORKED  AT  IN  MY  SPARE  TIME.

I  HAD  NO  CAR,  I  WAS  SITTING  ON  THE  BUS,  STILL  ANGRY  ABOUT  WHAT  I  HAD  READ;  I  THOUGHT  TO  MYSELF,  “I  MEAN  EVERYONE  KNOWS  IF  YOU  ARE  A  CHRISTIAN  YOU  GO  TO  HEAVEN  AT  DEATH.”

A  STILL  SMALL  VOICE  CAME  TO  ME  SAYING, “YOU  ONLY  SKIMMED  THAT  ARTICLE;  YOU  DID  NOT  SIT  DOWN  AND  LOOK  AT  THE  SCRIPTURES  PRESENTED;  WHAT  IF  IT  IS  CORRECT?  YOU  WILL  HAVE  THROW  TRUTH  OUT  THE  WINDOW  AND  BACK  IN  THE  FACE  OF  GOD.”

I  HAD  DEVELOPED  ENOUGH  LOVE  AND  RESPECT  OVER  MY  YEARS  FROM  7  TO  18,  TO  REALIZE  I  WAS  BEING  CHALLENGED  TO  SHOW  IF  I  HAD  A  LOVE  FOR  TRUTH.

I  SAID  TO  MYSELF….. WOW  I  REMEMBER  ALL  THIS  LIKE  IT  WAS  YESTERDAY…. I  WILL  COME  HOME  TONIGHT  AND  SIT  DOWN  AND  OPEN  MY  BIBLE  TO  ALL  SCRIPTURES  GIVEN  IN  THIS  ARTICLE.

AND  THAT  WAS  EXACTLY  WHAT  I  DID!

I  SPENT  A  NUMBER  OF  HOURS  GOING  THROUGH  WHAT  WAS  GIVEN  TO  ME  IN  THAT  ARTICLE.

IT  WAS  LIKE  A  HUGE  DOOR  HAD  OPENED  AND  POURING  IN  WAS  ALL  THIS  LIGHT  OF  TRUTH——  AFTER  SEEING  THIS  LIGHT  OF  TRUTH,  I  JUMPED  UP  AND  CRIED  OUT  “PRAISE  TO  GOD; O  THANK  YOU  LORD  FOR  A  TRUTH  I  NEVER  HAD.”

I  DISCOVERED  VERSES  I’D  NEVER  SEEN  BEFORE;  I  HAD  NEVER  SEARCHED  THE  SCRIPTURES  TO  FIND  ALL  VERSES  ON  THIS  TOPIC  OF  THE  BIBLE.

GOD  HAD  GIVEN  ME  A  NUMBER  OF  TRUTHS  OVER  THOSE  YEARS  FROM  7  TO  18,  IN  READING  THE  BIBLE,  BUT  I  HAD  JUST  FALLEN  IN  LINE  WITH  CHRISTIANITY  I  COULD  SEE  ALL  AROUND  ME,  NEVER  QUESTIONING  CERTAIN  TEACHINGS  AND  CUSTOMS  AND  PRACTICES.

NOW  GOD  WAS  WANTING  TO  SHOW  ME  MORE  TRUTHS  OF  HIS  WORD.

I  HAD  PASSED  THE   TEST,  TO  LOVE  TRUTH,  TO  WANT  IT,  TO  BE  WILLING  TO  BE  CORRECTED,  WILLING  TO  BE  GUIDED  INTO  MORE  TRUTH——

AND  WOW  WAS  THAT  A  START  TO  REALLY  OPENING  MY  EYES  AND  MIND,  TO  MORE  AND  MORE  AND  MORE  WONDERFUL  TRUTHS  OF  THE  ETERNAL  FATHER  IN  HEAVEN.

TO  WITHSTAND  THE  POISONED  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED  ONE,  YOU  MUST  HAVE  YOUR  LOINS  GIRT  ABOUT  WITH  TRUTH!

YOU  MUST  AS  PAUL  SAID,  STUDY  TO  SHOW  YOURSELF  APPROVED  OF  GOD,  A  WORKMAN  THAT  NEEDS  NOT  BE  ASHAMED,  CORRECTLY  DIVIDING [PUTTING  TOGETHER  LIKE  A  JIG-SAW  PUZZLE]  THE  WORD  OF  GOD.

LOVING  THE  TRUTH,  CRYING  OUT  FOR  IT;  SETTING  YOUR  MIND  TO  FIND  THE  TRUTHS  OF  SCRIPTURE….. AH  THAT  IS  THE  MIND-SET  GOD  IS  LOOKING  FOR,  AND  THEN  HE  WILL  START  TO  GIVE  HIS  TRUTHS  TO  YOU——  ONE  AT  A  TIME,  MAYBE  MORE  THAN  ONE  AT  A  TIME.  HE  WILL  GIVE  THEM  TO  YOU  AS  YOU  CAN  HANDLE  THEM.

TRUTH  IS  ONE  OF  THE  WEAPONS  WE  MUST  HAVE  TO  WITHSTAND  THE  DEVILS  LIES  AND  DECEPTIONS;  TO  WIN  THE  CHRISTIAN  FIGHT  AGAINST  THE  WICKED  SPIRITS  OUT  TO  KILL  US.

WITH  TRUTH  WRAPPED  AROUND  OUR  LOINS,  WE  PROTECT  ONE  PART  OF  OUR  BODY  FROM  THE  DEADLY  ARROWS  SATAN  THROWS  AT  US.

……………….. 

PUTTING  ON  THE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #2

THE  NEXT  PIECE  OF  ARMOR  WE  ARE  TO  PUT  ON,  AS  GIVEN  BY  THE  APOSTLE  PAUL,  IS  “THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.” [EPH. 6: 14]

ONE  BIBLE  DEFINITION  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  FOUND  IN  PSA. 119:172——  THE  COMMANDMENTS  OF  GOD!

THIS  SHOULD  MAKE  COMMON  SENSE;  AS  WE  THINK  OF  GOD  AND  WHAT  IS  “RIGHT”  AS  OPPOSED  TO  WHAT  IS  “WRONG”  WE  SHOULD  SEE  THAT  WHAT  GOD  SAYS  IS  RIGHT  IS  HIS  COMMANDMENTS  OR  LAWS  THAT  HE  SETS  DOWN  TO  DISTINGUISH  RIGHT  FROM  WRONG.

WHEN  ORVILLE  NAVE  SET  OUT  TO  WRITE  HIS  BOOK  CALLED  “NAVE’S  TOPICAL  BIBLE”  AND  HE  CAME  TO  STUDYING  “RIGHTEOUSNESS”  HE  KNEW  THE  SUBJECT  WOULD  ENCOMPASS  MORE  THAN  JUST  THE  VERSES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  THAT  GIVE  THE  WORD  “RIGHTEOUSNESS”— IT  WOULD  HAVE  TO  INCLUDE  OTHER  VERSES  THAT  EXPAND  ON  THE  RIGHT  AS  OPPOSED  TO  THE  WRONG.

SO  ONCE  MORE  THIS  IS  A  HUGE  TOPIC  OF  THE  BIBLE,  WHICH  IF  STUDIED  FULLY  COULD  TAKE  MANY  DAYS [OF  5  OR  6  HOURS  A  DAY]  TO  COMPLETE.

I  WILL  NOT  DO  THAT  HERE,  BUT  WILL  GIVE  YOU  HOW  ORVILLE  VINE  LAID  IT  OUT,  AND  YOU  OR  YOUR  STUDY  GROUP  COULD  TAKE  IT  FURTHER  IF  YOU  DESIRE.

IT  IS  INDEED  A  HUGE  TOPIC;  ARE  YOU  READY?  TAKE  YOUR  TIME,  BE  INSTRUCTED  BY  THE  LORD——

RIGHTEOUSNESS  DESCRIBED  AND  IMPLIED:

33:16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

1 Sam. 13:14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Ezra 10:3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God.

Psa. 1:1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

Psa. 4:3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.

Psa. 15:1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.

Psa. 24:3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psa. 37:26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.  30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psa. 64:10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psa. 112:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion and righteous. 5. A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Psa. 119:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Prov. 2:9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall  keep thee: 12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things.

Prov. 4:18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Prov. 13:5. A righteous man hateth lying.

Prov. 25:26. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Isa. 33:15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16. He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Isa. 51:1. Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord.

Isa. 60:21. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Isa. 62:12. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken.

Isa. 63:8. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

Jer. 31:12. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord. 33. After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not oprpressed any; but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

Matt. 5:3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matt. 7:16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18.. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock : 25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matt. 12:50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matt. 1353. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

Luke 6:45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good …. for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Luke 18:16. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.   Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14,15.

John 3:21. He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 8:31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 39. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 42. If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; 47. He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 10:4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his Voice. 5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 47. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 8:36. The eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37. And Philip said. If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Rom. 6:1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall he also in, the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your member as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; Whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom. 8:5, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom. 15:14. 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.

Rom. 16:19. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

1 Cor. 1: 20. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

1 Cor. 2:12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Cor. 6:9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a, new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Eph. 2:1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made ms sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eph. 3:17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph. 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27. Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Eph. 5:8. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Phil. 2:15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

Phil. 3:3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law [Paul was a Pharisee in upbringing; believing that doing the Old Covenant was salvation - Keith Hunt], but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Phil. 4:8. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Col. 1:9. For this cause we also, since the  day we heard it,  do not cease  to

pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Tim. 2:19. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Pet. 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Pet. 4:1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Pet. 1:1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14. I have written, unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that, hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. 7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 9. Whosoever is born begotten] of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin habitually as a way of life], because he is born [begotten] of God. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 18. My little children, let us not love in word [only], neither in tongue [only]; but in deed and in truth. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one an other: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born begotten] of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 5:1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born [begotten] of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 John 9. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

PROMISES TO, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED: 

Gen. 15:1. After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Ex. 23:22. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Lev. 26:5: And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 10. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

Deut. 28:1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 9. The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; arid they shall he afraid of thee, 11. And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land, in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

Deut. 33:27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Sam. 2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints.

Chr. 16:9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Ezra 852. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

Job 5:11. To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. 12. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. 15. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 17. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 25. Thou shaft know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. 27. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Job 8:4. If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6. If thou inert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

Job 11:15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. 17. And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Job 22:21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

Job 36:7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9. Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Psa. 4:3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Psa. 5:12. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psa. 15:2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psa. 25:10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psa. 34:15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

27. Depart from evil and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psa. 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psa. 58:11. So that a man shall say. Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Psai 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 them that walk uprightly.

Psa. 85:9. Surely his salvation is nigh those that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psa. 97:10. He preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Psa. 112:6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

Psa. 125. 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Psa. 128:1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 

Psa. 145:18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 

Prov. 1:33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Prov. 221. The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Prov. 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. 2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Prov. 10:3. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Prov. 15:29. The Lord is far from the wicked [those who practice wickedness]: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Prov. 21:21. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Isa. 26:8. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isa. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea. I will help thee;  yea,  I  will  uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 13. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Isa. 54:14. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn, This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.   v. 1-16.

Isa. 56:2. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying. The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant. 5. Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Isa. 57:1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

Isa. 58:8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. 9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say. Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not opposed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. 19. Yet say ye, Why? Doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Dan. 12:1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Mai. 3:16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that Serveth him not.

Mai. 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Matt. 5: 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matt. 13:43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Matt. 25:21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Luke 19:16-21. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous.into life eternal.

Mark 3:35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

27. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 3:17. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; Matt. 3:12.

John 5:24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 9:31. Now we know that God heareth not sinners [those who will not  repent  of  sin]: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

John 10:27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me. is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

14: 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you, for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and, I in you. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Acts 10:4. And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 31. And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Rom. 2:7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Rom. 5:9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 17. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Rom. 6:22. Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

2 Cor. 7:1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Gal. 6:8. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Eph. 6:8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

1 Thess. 2:12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Thess. 3:12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Thess. 1:5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

Tim. 4:8. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

2 Tim. 4:8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Tit. 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Heb. 4:9. There remaineth therefore a rest [Greek - sabbath  keeping] to the people of God. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 6:10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 16. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

James 1:25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth there in, he being not a forgetful hearer, but. a doer, of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas. 2:5. Hearken, my beloved, brethren. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas. 4:8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

1 Pet. 1:2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3. Blessed, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Pet. 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Pet. 3:9. Not rendering evil, for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that, ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open Unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

2 Pet. 1:4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[WE  SEE  ALL  THIS  EXPLAINED  IN  MY  SERMON  STUDIES  CALLED  “ENDURING  TO  THE  END”  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  OF  MY  WEBSITE - Keith Hunt]

1 John 1:7. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 25. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 28. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Rev. 2:7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.   27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28. And I will give him the morning star.

Rev. 3:4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerasalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev. 11:12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev. 14:1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts; and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev. 16:15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev. 20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and Which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev. 22:4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.

UNITY OF, WITH CHRIST: 

John 6:56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. vs. 51-57.

John 14:20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

John 15:1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8. Herein,is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.   10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; 26. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Rom. 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead be cause of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

1 Cor. 6:13. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body. 14. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Cor. 13:5. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Gal. 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Col. 2:6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

1 John 2:6. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 24. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. 28. Little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth [as a way of life] not: 24. He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

John 9. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Rev. 19:7. The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

RIGHTEOUSNESS.— FRUITS OF: 

Deut. 6:25. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

Josh. 22:31. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

Psa. 1:3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psa. 15:1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psa. 24:3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psa. 101:3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person [thing].

Psa. 106:3, Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Psa. 112:4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5. A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion, 6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.

Prov. 2:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness of the wicked; 15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16. To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flat-tereth with her words; 17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

Prov, 10:2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Prov. 11:5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: 6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: 18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall he a sure reward. 19. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Prov. 12:28. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.   Prov. 10:16.

Prov. 13:6. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Prov. 14:34. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Prov. 21:3. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Prov. 29:7. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Isa, 28:17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Isa.32:l 6. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field, 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Isa. 33:15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16. He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

Isa. 55:12. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isa. 58:6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. 9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isa. 62:1. For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Ezek. 18:5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

Ezek. 33:15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Dan.12:3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Hos. 10:12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Mai. 3:3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Mai. 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

Matt. 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 12:35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mark 3:33. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34. And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Matt. 12:50.

Luke 3:10. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11. He answereth and saith unto them. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13. And he said unto them. Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Luke 8:15. That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

John 3:21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

John 8:47. He that is of God heareth God's words: 49. Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

John 13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 14:21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.

John 15:4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Acts 9:36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

Acts 11:29. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas 

and Saul.

Rom. 6:19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity: even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Rom. 7:4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death, 6. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Rom. 8:4. That the righteousness of the law might he fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom. 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom. 15:1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3. For even Christ pleased not himself: but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1 Cor. 4:19. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Cor. 13:1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am. become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4. Charity suffereth longs and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, endureth all things. 8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things: 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Cor. 7:10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Cor. 9:10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

2 Cor. 10:5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2 Cor. 13:5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye he reprobates?

Gal. 4:6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Gal. 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Eph. 1:13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph. 5:9. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Phil. 1:11. Being; filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 27, Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God., 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Phil. 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Phil 3:12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:11. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Col. 1:12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Col. 3:3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetous-ness, which is idolatry. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew; circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Thess. 1:3. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 9. They themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned, to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Thess. 1:3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4. So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.

1 Tim. 2:9. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not [only] with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Tim. 5:9. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10. Well reported of for  good works;  if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

2 Tim. 2:22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Tim. 4:6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, hut unto all them also that love his appearing.

Tit. 2:2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Tit. 3:14. And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Philem. 5. Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6. That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you m Christ Jesus.

Jas. 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Jas. 2:14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And One of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say. Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Jas. 3:11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation [conduct] his works with meekness of wisdom. 14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1 Pet. 3:1. Likewise, ye wives, he in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives. 2. While they behold your chaste conversation [conduct] coupled with fear. 3. Whose adorning let it not be [only] that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4. But let it he the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. 6. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7. likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, he courteous. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye.

1 Pet. 4:2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Pet. 1:5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither he barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.   

[ALL  THIS  IS  COVERED  IN  MY  SERMON  STUDY  CALLED  “ENDURING  TO  THE  END”  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  OF  MY  WEBSITE - Keith Hunt]

1 John 2:3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 24. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 29. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born [begotten] of him.

1 John 3:5. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth habitually as a way of life - Keith Hunt] not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7. He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born [begotten] of God. 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18. My little children, let us not love in word [only], neither in tongue [only]; but in deed and in truth. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born [begotten] of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19. We love him, because he first loved us. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 5:1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born [begotten] of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4. For whatsoever is born [begotten] of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 18. We. know that whosoever is born [begotten] of God sinneth [as a way of life] not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

2 John 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

3 John 11. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Rev. 22. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

……………………………………..

WELL  DONE  IF  YOU  HAVE  GONE  THROUGH  ALL  OF  THESE  BIBLE  VERSES.

YES  WHAT  ORVILLE  VINE  DID  WAS  VERY  THOROUGH;  MANY  VERSES  BROUGHT  IN  TO  THE  OVERALL  SUBJECT  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IT  IS  ALL  A  PART  OF  DOING  WHAT  JESUS  REPEATED  [FROM  THE  ADMONITION  IN  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT]  IN  THE  GOSPELS—— MAN  SHALL  NOT  LIVE  BY  BREAD  ALONE,  BUT  BY  EVERY  WORD  THAT  PROCEEDS  FROM  THE  MOUTH  OF  GOD [MATT. 4:4].

THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  COVERS  THE  LUNGS  AND  HEART.  THE  HEART  BECOMING  KNOWN  AS  THE  SEAT  OF  OUR  ATTITUDE  OF  MIND;  HENCE  SUCH  PHRASES  AS  “HE  WAS  SKILLED  IN  TALENT  AND  HAD  A  WONDERFUL  KIND  AND  HUMBLE  HEART.”

YES  TO  FIGHT  AND  WIN  AGAINST  THE  DEVIL  WE  CERTAINLY  NEED  TO  PUT  ON  THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS!

DOING  RIGHTEOUSNESS  IS  NOT  “WORKING  AT  IT”  IN  SOME  METHODICAL  WAY  LIKE  CARRYING  AROUND  PAPER  AND  PEN,  MARKING  DOWN  ALL  THE  “GOOD”  THINGS  YOU  DO,  NOTING  ALL  “THE  COMMANDMENTS”  OF  GOD  YOU  PERFORM;  THAT  WOULD  TRULY  BE  PHARISAICAL AND  TRYING  TO  EARN  SALVATION  BY  WORKS.  THE  WAY  TO  DO  THE  RIGHTEOUSNESS  OF  GOD  IS  GIVEN  TO  US  BY  PAUL  IN  GALATIANS 2:20—— CHRIST  LIVES  IN  US  VIA  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT.  YES  WE  DO  READ  THE  BIBLE  TO  DO  AS  JESUS  SAID,  NOT  LIVE  BY  BREAD  ALONE  BUT  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD.  WE  YEILD  TO  THE  CHRIST  IN  US,  TO  DO  AND  LIVE  AS  HE  LIVED  WHEN  ON  EARTH  AS  A  HUMAN;  BUT  WE  ARE  SAVED  BY  GRACE,  NOT  BY  AMASSING  MORE  “GOOD  POINTS”  THAN  “BAD  POINTS”—— OUR  MIND-SET  IS  SET  IN  THE  MODE  OF  LIVING  BY  THE  FAITH  OF  CHRIST  IN  US——YES  BACK  TO  GALATIANS 2:20.

AS  WE  PUT  ON  THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  THE  HEART  IS  PROTECTED  FROM  THE  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED  ONE.  GOD  CAN  THEN  SAY  AS  HE  DID  ABOUT  DAVID,  “HE/SHE  IS  A  PERSON  AFTER  MY  VERY  OWN  HEART.”

……………………………………

PAUL  GIVES  THE  THIRD  PIECE  OF  ARMOR  WE  NEED  TO  WITHSTAND  THE  ONSLAUGHTS  OF  OUR  ADVERSARY  THE  DEVIL.

“AND  YOUR  FEET  SHOD  WITH  THE  PREPARATION  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE” [EPH. 6: 15]

SATAN  WOULD  LOVE  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  CHILDREN  IN  THE  MODE  OF  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACE.

PAUL  ONE  TIME  HAD  TO  CORRECT  THE  CHURCH  AT  CORINTH  BECAUSE  OF  ALL  THE  DIVISIONS,  AND  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACE—— THEY  WERE  DIVIDING  UP  INTO  “CLICK”  OF  GROUPS  OPPOSING  EACH  OTHER  AS  THEY  HAD  THEIR  FAVORITE  MINISTERS— 1 COR. 1:11-14.

AND  THERE  WERE  OTHER  CONTENTIONS  AMONG  THEM  AS  PAUL  BRINGS  OUT  IN  CHAPTER  14.

THERE  WAS  THE  WRONG  WAY  THEY  WERE  OBSERVING  THE  CHRISTIAN  PASSOVER  AS  CHAPTER  11  SHOWS.

AS  WE  READ  THROUGH  THE  EPISTLES  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT,  WE  SEE  THAT  AT  TIMES  IT  LOOKED  LIKE  THERE  WAS  NOT  MUCH  “PEACE”  IN  SOME  OF  THE  CHURCHES  OF  GOD.

THE  GOSPEL  IS  ABOUT  PEACE;  BEING  RECONCILED  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER  THROUGH  JESUS  THE  CHRIST.  SALVATION  IS  ABOUT  PEACE,  INDIVIDUAL  PEACE.

THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD  IS  ABOUT  AN  AGE  OF  PEACE  TO  COME  ON  EARTH.

OUR  FEET  SHOD  WITH  THE  PREPARATION  OF  PEACE  MEANS,  WE  WALK  IN  PEACE  AS  WE  MOVE  IN  THE  SOCIETY  AROUND  US;  IT  MEANS  WE  ARE  NOT  UP-TIGHT,  EDGEY,  MORE  THAN   READY  TO  ARGUE;  IT  MEANS  WE  ARE  NOT  PUSHY,  OR  LIKE  A  BULL  IN  A  CHINA  SHOP.  OUR  MIND  SHOULD  BE  RELAXED;  WE  SHOULD  EXHBIT  BASIC  CALM,  CONTENTMENT,  HAVING  A  HAPPY  DISPOSITION.

HOW  SATAN  LOVES  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  CHILDREN  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACEFUL  PEOPLE;  HE  RUBS  HIS  HANDS  WITH  JOY  IF  CHRISTIANS  ARE  ALWAYS  EDGEY,  READY  TO  BLOW  THEIR  TOP  AMONG  THEMSELVES  OR  AT  PEOPLE  IN  THE  WORLD.  THE  DEVIL  LOVES  TO  WORK  WITH  PEOPLE  WHO  ARE  QUICK  AND  HOT  TEMPERED;  HE  LOVES  TO  ADD  COALS  TO  THE  FIRE  ON  THOSE  CHRISTIANS  WHO  ARE  STRESSED  OUT  AND  FRAYED  AT  THE  EDGES  AS  WE  SAY.   I  MEAN  HE  GLOATS  WHEN  CHRISTIANS  ARE  ANYTHING  BUT  PEACEFUL  PEOPLE.

IT’S  JUST  NOT  POSSIBLE  TO  BE  AN  EFFECTIVE  CHRISTIAN  AMONG  THE  UNCONVERTED  WORLD,  IF  YOU  DO  NOT  WALK  WITH  PEACE,  WHILE  TRYING  TO  PROCLAIM  THE  CHRISTIAN  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE—- THE  TWO  ARE  NOT  COMPATIBLE,  THEY  SIMPLY  ARE  CONTRARY  TO  EACH  OTHER.

YOU  CANNOT  BE  UN-PEACEFUL  WHILE  TRYING  TO  BRING  THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE  TO  THE  WORLD.

YES  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  DOES  TEACH  THERE  IS  A  RIGHTEOUS  ANGER,  BUT  THAT  IS  ONLY  NOW  AND  AGAIN,  AND  ONLY  WHEN  TRULY  WARRANTED,  WHICH  TAKES  GOOD  WISDOM  AND  JUDGEMENT; BY  AND  LARGE  CHRISTIANS  ARE  PEOPLE  OF  PEACE.

THE  WORD  OF  GOD  HAS  MUCH  TO  SAY  ABOUT  PEACE!

FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE:

PEACE

Prov. 17:1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Prov. 20:3. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Eccl. 4:6. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Isa. 2:4. He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation hall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Isa. 45:7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

[GOD  CAN  SAY  THIS  BECAUSE  HE  IS  MASTER  OF  ALL  THINGS  IN  THE  UNIVERSE;  THE  ETERNAL  GOD  ALLOWS  EVIL  FOR  NOW,  HE  COULD  STEP  IN  AND STOP  ALL  EVIL,  BUT  HE  DOES  NOT,  HENCE  HE  CAN  SAY  WHAT  HE  DOES  SAY  ABOUT  HIMSELF  FROM  THAT  POINT  AS  THE  SUPREME  ONE  IN  THE  UNIVERSE - Keith Hunt]

Jer. 29:7. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Hos. 2:18. In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Zech. 8:19. Love the truth and peace.

Matt. 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matt. 10:21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but hethatendureth to the end shall be saved. 34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

[IN  OUR  SPIRITUAL  WALK  SOME  MAY  NOT  LIKE  US;  THE  WAYS  OF  THE  TRUE  CHRISTIAN  CAN  BE  LOOKED  UPON  AS  CRAZY  AND  STRANGE  AND  DAFT - Keith Hunt]

Mark 9:50. Have peace one with another.

Acts 7:26. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another 1 27. But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 29. Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

Rom. 12:18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Rom. 14:19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

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

Cor. 13:11. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.

Eph. 4:3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

1 Thess. 5:13. Be at peace among yourselves.

Tim. 2:2. That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Tim. 2:22. Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Heb. 12:14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Jas. 3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1 Pet. 3:10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

SPIRITUAL: 

Job 22:21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

Job 34:29. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?

Psa. 1:1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat Of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa. 4:8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psa. 17:15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psa. 25:12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease.

Psa. 29:11. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Psa. 37:4. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 11. The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psa. 73:25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psa. 85:8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints.

Psa. 119:165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psa. 125:1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Prov.3:17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet,  vs. 13-18.

Isa. 9:6. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa. 11:6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the falling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 

Isa. 26:3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Isa. 27:5. Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

Isa. 28:12. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing.

Isa. 32:2, A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempests; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 17. The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Isa. 48:18. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Isa. 53:5. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa. 54:1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord, 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed: but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord ; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isa. 55:2. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 12. Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isa. 57:1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 19. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him, that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

Jer. 33:6. Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Ezek. 34:25. And I will make with them a covenant of peace.

Mai. 2:5. My covenant was with him of life and peace.

Luke 1:79. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 2:14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

John 20:19. Then the same day at evening, . . . came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Acts 10:36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Rom. 2:10. Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 8:6. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom. 10:15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that, preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Rom. 14:17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 33. Now the God of peace be with you all.

Gal. 1:3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4; Philem. 3; Rev. 1:4.

Gal. 5:22. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….

Eph. 2:14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Phil. 4:7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Col. 1:20. And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Col. 3:15. And let the peace of God ride in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.    

2 Thess. 3:16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.

THOSE  ARE  SOME  OF  THE  MAIN  VERSES  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  CONCERNING  PEACE.

THE  WORD  “PEACE”  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  CAN  BE  FOUND  ABOUT  426  TIMES.

EXAMPLES  OF  PEACE

Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is the presence of God.

Author Unknown (God's Presence, Difficulty)

God. . . "works always in tranquility." Fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism and wobble, and every kind of hurry and worry—these, even on the highest levels, are signs of the self-made and self-acting soul; the spiritual parvenu. The saints are never like that. They share the quiet and noble qualities of the great family to which they belong.

Evelyn Underhill (Self-reliance, Stress)

When I was a teenager, our family took cross-country car trips each summer. To keep the peace, we each took a turn choosing a cassette to play in the car tape deck. No one was allowed to complain or comment about another's choice.

My mother liked to listen to hymns. I chose contemporary Christian music. My younger brother preferred rock. And Dad? He always thought the best thing was a 90-minute tape that was still blank!

Sharon Fleming (Respect, Silence)

Someone Once Said...

There was in him an inner calm hard to explain.—an unnamed officer, describing British General William George Shedden Dobbie.

The peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep in the praying, trusting soul to be reached by any external disturbances.

—A. T. Pierson

Do you know what it is, when you are tossed on the waves, to go down into the depths of Godhead, there rejoicing that not a wave of trouble ruffles your spirit, but that you are serenely at home with God your own Almighty Father?

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Here I am at sixty five, still seeking for peace.

—H. G. Wells

A wife called the doctor one morning, saying, "Doctor, come quick! It's my husband!"

"What's the matter?" he calmly replied.

"Well, he got up this morning and took his vitamin pill. Then he took his appetite suppressant, his anti-depressant, and his tranquilizer. He also took an antihistamine and some Benzedrine. Then he lit a cigarette, and there was this explosion!"

The Rock

A ship was wrecked in a furious storm and the only survivor was a little boy who was swept by the waves onto a rock. He sat there all night long until, the next morning, he was spotted and rescued.

"Did you tremble while you were on the rock during the night?" someone later asked him.

"Yes," said the boy. "I trembled all night—but the rock didn't."

The Good War

In his oral history of World War II, The Good War, author/historian Studs Terkel related the experience of David Milton who was an eighteen-year-old merchant seaman aboard ship in 1942. Milton told of one time when his ship was transporting Sherman tanks across to Europe. In the middle of the Atlantic, these tanks broke loose in a big storm. They were Sherman tanks, twenty, thirty tons. As the ship would roll, these tanks would just slide through the hole and bang up against the bulkhead. Then they'd roll the other way, just shaking the ship apart. So we pulled out of the convoy. We headed into the sea, while the deck seaman went down below to secure those tanks. They were riding them like cowboys, trying to hook cables through. Finally, they got the tanks lashed down.

The great danger to Milton's ship came, not from the storm on the outside, but by the disturbance on the inside. We can handle the stresses without only when we are battened down within.

Master, the Tempest Is Raging

President James A. Garfield had been in office only four months when he was shot in a train station in Washington, D.C., enroute to a class reunion. For weeks as he hovered between life and death, the worried nation discovered an old hymn titled, "Master, the Tempest is Raging." It was sung from coast to coast, over and over, and it gave comfort to America.

The hymn had been written by a woman at the end of her rope. Mary Ann Baker's family had been devastated by a certain disease. Her father and mother had died from it, she herself was bedridden, then her beloved brother fell ill. Hoping to find a cure, he left Chicago and traveled to a warmer climate. For weeks, the telegrams flew back and forth between brother and sister, until the last telegram came, telling her of his death.

"I have always tried to believe on Christ," she said, "and give the Master a consecrated life, but this is more than I can bear. What have I done to deserve this? God does not care for me or mine."

But gradually, the Lord brought relief and understanding into Mary Ann's heart, and she acquiesced to His will. A great peace filled her soul, one she could hardly describe. Shortly afterward, in 1874, a friend, H. R. Palmer, asked Mary Ann to write a song to go along with a Sunday school lesson from Mark 4:37-39, about Christ calming the sea.

Mary Ann hesitated at first, for she was farniliar with the superb fourteenth-century hymn on this text, the words of which were still popular in her day:

Fierce was the wild billow, Dark was the night; Oars labored heavily, Foam glimmered white.

Trembled the mariners, Peril was nigh; Then saith the God of God, "Peace! It is I!"

But she very much wanted an opportunity to express the inner peace that God had given her. She had learned that sometimes God stills the frightened disciple even more than He stills the raging elements. And so out of her own experience and from her study of Mark 4 came the words which, a few years later, comforted a nation:

Master, the tempest is raging, 

The billows are tossing high;

The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness, 

No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish? 

How canst thou lie asleep,

When each moment so madly is threat'ning, 

A grave in the angry deep?

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will: 

Peace, be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea 

Or demons or men or whatever it be,

No waters can swallow the ship where lies 

The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will: 

Peace, be still; peace, be still.

Peacemakers

One of the indelible images from the Vietnam War is the photograph of a nine-year-old girl named Phan Thi Kim Phuc. During a battle between North and South Vietnamese troops, an American commander ordered South Vietnamese aircraft to drop napalm bombs on her tiny village. Two of her brothers were killed, and she was burned badly. Wearing no clothes, she fled up the road toward the cameraman. Because of the pain her arms are held out sideways, and her mouth is open in a cry of agony.

According to Elaine Sciolino in the New York Times, Ms. Kim Phuc suffered third-degree burns over 50 percent of her body, but she lived. She endured fourteen months of painful rehabilitation and scores of skin grafts. "It was so painful to have her wounds washed and dressed that she lost consciousness whenever she was touched."

Since then she has married, emigrated to Canada, and become a Christian who hopes someday to attend Bible college. Her burned skin lost sweat and oil glands, and she is still in much pain. Scars stretch up her arms to her chest and back. But despite her past and present suffering, in 1996 she accepted an invitation from several Vietnam veterans groups to join in Veterans Day ceremonies held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where she laid a wreath arid spoke words of forgiveness.

"I have suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain," she told the audience of several thousand people, who greeted her with two standing ovations. "Sometimes I could not breathe. But God saved my life and gave me faith and hope. Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I would tell him, 'We cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace.'"

Those who suffer the most can be the greatest peacemakers.

Forgiveness, Mercy, Suffering Matt. 5:9; 18:21-35; Acts 7:54-60

………………………………………….

BLESSED  ARE  THE  PEACE-MAKERS,  FOR  THEY  SHALL  BE  CALLED  THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD—— Matthew 5:9

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #4

“ABOVE  ALL,  TAKING  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH,  WHEREWITH  YOU  SHALL  BE  ABLE  TO  QUENCH  ALL  THE  FIERY  DARTS  OF  THE  WICKED” [EPH. 6:16].

THE  SUBJECT  OF  “FAITH”  IS  ALSO  A  HUGE  BIBLICAL  STUDY.

FAITH  =  TRUST

TRUST  =  FAITH

I  WILL  HIT  SOME  OF  THE  HIGHLIGHTS;  FROM  THE  KJV  BIBLE:

FAITH

Psa. 5:11. Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them.

Psa. 7:1. O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

Psa. 9:9. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psa. 18:30. He is a buckler [shield]  to all those that trust in him.

Psa. 34:8. O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 22. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate,   vs. 1-8; Psa. 2:12.

Psa. 64:10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him.

Psa. 78:7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  vs. 5-7.

Psa. 84:5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psa. 118:8. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9. It is btter to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Psa. 125:1. They that trust in the Lord shall he as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Prov. 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own under' standing.

Prov. 14-26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Prov. 29:25. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Prov. 30:5. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Isa. 26:3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isa. 57:13. He that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

Jer. 17:7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green.

Nah. 1:7. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Matt. 922. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her he said. Daughter; be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matt. 2121. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye, have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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

|Luke 7:50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 8:48. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace. 49. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him. Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying. Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Luke 18:8. When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

[IT  IS  SO  IMPORTANT  TO  HAVE  GOD’S  FAITH  IN  YOU (SEE  GAL. 2:20)  THAT  IN  A  DEEPENING  ATHEISTIC  AND  SECULAR  WESTERN  WORLD,  TRUE  FAITH  TO  LIVE  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD,  IS  HARDER  AND  HARDER  TO  FIND - Keith Hunt]

John 11:25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Acts 13:48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 26:18. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom. 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.

[WE  HAVE  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISES  OF  GOD;  AND  THEN  WE  RECEIVE  FAITH——GAL.2:20  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 4:1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory: but not before God. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10. How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncirciuncision. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he hud yet being un-circumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15. Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations.) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth [makes alive] the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken. So shall thy seed be. 19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

[YES  WE  EXERCISE  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISES  OF  GOD;  KNOWING  AMASSING  “WORKS”  DOES  NOT  SAVE  US;  BUT  FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISE  OF  GOD  THAT  A  SAVIOR  WOULD  COME  TO  TAKE  OUR  SINS  UPON  HIMSELF,  WHO  DID  NO  SIN;  THAT  WE  MIGHT  BE  JUSTIFIED (MADE  SINLESS-  RIGHTEOUS)  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 10: 8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1 Cor. 2:5. Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Cor. 1:24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Gal. 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying. In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it he but a man's covenant, yet if it he confirmed, no man disannulled, or addeth thereto. 16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not. And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19. Wherefore then serveth the law [the old covenant]? It was added [to magnify sin] because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [custodian to bring us to the real schoolmaster] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster [custodian]. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

[THE  GOSPEL,  GOOD  NEWS  WAS  ALWAYS  KNOW  BY  GOD’S  PEOPLE;  TO  BE  FORGIVEN,  CLEANSED  OF  SIN,  WAS  GOING  TO  BE  THROUGH  THE  ONE  SEED  OF  ABRAHAM - THE  MESSIAH  GOD,  THE  IMMANUEL (GOD  WITH  US),  GOD  IN  THE  FLESH;  WHO  WOULD  COME  AND  NOT  SIN,  TAKE  THE  SINS  OF  ALL  MANKIND  ON  HIMSELF  IN  HIS  DEATH  OF  SHEDDING  HIS  BLOOD  ON  THE  CROSS  OF  CALVARY.  THROUGH  FAITH  IN  THAT  PROMISE  WE  ARE  MADE  RIGHTEOUS - JUSTIFIED  TO  THE  FATHER.  WE  EXERCISE  FAITH  AND  WE  HAVE  FAITH  IN  US  TO  LIVE  THE  VICTORIOUS  CHRISTIAN  LIFE - GAL. 2:20  -  Keith Hunt]

Gal. 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Eph. 2:8. By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Eph. 6:16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Col. 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God. who hath raised him from the dead.

Thess. 5:8. Putting on the breastplate of faith and love.

1 Tim. 1:19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.

1 Tim. 4:10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Tim. 6:11. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith ... 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

Tim. 4:7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Heb. 10:38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who drawback unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Heb. 11:1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2. For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a re warder of them that diligently Seek him.

Heb. 13:5. He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6. So that we may boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Jas. 2:1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment. 3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him. Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool. 4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. 9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also. Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12. So speak ye, and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works! can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know,0 vain man, that faith without works is dead ? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body with out the spirit [breath, wind] is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I Pet. 1:5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 7. The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 John 5:4. Whatsoever is born [begotten] of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

IT  TAKES  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  TO  LIVE  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE;  TO  LIVE  BY  EVERY  WORD  OF  GOD  DOES  INDEED  TAKE  FAITH.  THE  EVILS  OF  THE  WORLD,  THE  DECEPTIONS  OF  THE  DEVIL,  ARE  CONTINUALLY  OUT  THERE.  WE  MUST  TRUST  IN  GOD,  HAVE  FAITH  IN  GOD,  TO  FIGHT  THE  GOOD  FIGHT,  TO  FACE  ALL  THAT  CAN  BE  THROWN  AT  US,  THAT  CAN  KILL  US  SPIRITUALLY,  TAKES  FAITH.  HAVING  CHRIST  IN  US  GIVES  US  CHRIST’S  FAITH [GAL. 2:20].  SO  HAVING  THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  WE  DEFEND  OURSELVES  FROM  ALL  THE  DARTS,  THE  ARROWS,  OF  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS  THAT  CAN  BE  USED  AGAINST  US;  WE  MARCH  FORWARD  INTO  BATTLE  WITH  THAT  HUGE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  BEFORE  US.

Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.

Abraham Heschel (Certainty, Difficulty)

Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance      

Rubem Ajves (Hope, Future)

I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would  come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not   seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Now faith cometh by hearing the Word of God." I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith.  

I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has  been growing ever since.

D. L. Moody (Bible, Study)

Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.

Augustine (Vision, Belief)

William Plummer and Bonnie Bell wrote in People magazine:

The Northwestern University Wildcats shocked the world of college football in 1995 by making it to the Rose Bowl Tournament. The man behind the team's turnaround was coach Gary Barnett. . . . [Barnett] was determined to prove that kids at the Big Ten's smallest and most academically demanding school could play football. He ordered a Tournament of Roses flag for the football building and kept a silk rose on his desk to remind everyone where they were headed.

"At the first meeting," says kicker Sam Valenzisi, "he told us we needed belief without evidence. He asked, 'Do you know what that is? That's faith.'"

Sherman L. Burford (Achievement, Belief)

Ben Patterson, in Waiting, writes: In 1988, three friends and I climbed Mount Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. Our base camp was less than 2,000 feet from the peak, but the climb to the top and back was to take the better part of a day, due in large part to the difficulty of the glacier we had to cross to get to the top. The morning of the climb we started out chattering and cracking jokes.

As the hours passed, the two more experienced mountaineers opened up a wide gap between me and my less-experienced companion. Being competitive by nature, I began to look for shortcuts to beat them to the top. I thought I saw one to the right of an outcropping of rock—so I went, deaf to the protests of my companion.

Perhaps it was the effect of the high altitude, but the significance of the two experienced climbers not choosing this path did not register in my consciousness. It should have, for thirty minutes later I was trapped in a cul-de-sac of rock atop the Lyell Glacier, looking down several hundred feet of a sheer slope of ice, pitched at about a forty-five degree angle. ... I was only about ten feet from the safety of a rock, but one little slip and I wouldn't stop sliding until I landed in the valley floor some fifty miles away! It was nearly noon, and the warm sun had the glacier glistening with slippery ice. I was stuck, and I was scared.

It took an hour for my experienced climbing friends to find me. Standing on the rock I wanted to reach, one of them leaned out and used an ice ax to chip two little footsteps in the glacier. Then he gave me the following instructions: "Ben, you must step out from where you are and put your foot where the first foothold is. When your foot touches it, without a moment's hesitation swing your other foot across and land it on the next step. When you do that, reach out and I will take your hand and pull you to safety."

That sounded real good to me. It was the next thing he said that made me more frightened than ever. "But listen carefully: As you step across, do not lean into the mountain! If anything, lean out a bit. Otherwise, your feet may fly out from under you, and you will start sliding down."

I don't like precipices. When I am on the edge of a cliff, my instincts are to lie down and hug the mountain, to become one with it, not to lean away from it! But that was what my good friend was telling me to do. For a moment, based solely on what I believed to be the good will and good sense of my friend, I decided to say no to what I felt, to stifle my impulse to cling to the security of the mountain, to lean out, step out, and traverse the ice to safety. It took less than two seconds to find out if my faith was well-founded.

To save us, God often tells us to do things that are the opposite of our natural inclination. Is God loving and faithful? Can we trust him?

He is. We can.

The mighty Niagara River plummets some 180 feet at the American and Horseshoe Falls. Before the falls, there are violent, turbulent rapids. Farther upstream, however, where the river's current flows more gently, boats are able to navigate. Just before the Welland River empties into the Niagara, a pedestrian walkway spans the river. Posted on this bridge’s pylons is a warning sign for all boaters: “do you have an anchor?” followed by, “do you know how to use it?”

Faith, like an anchor, is something we need to have and use to avoid spiritual cataclysm.

Paul Adams (Crisis, Preparation)

We were driving through Pennsylvania Dutch Country with my daughter and her seven-year-old son. We passed an Amish horse and buggy, and my grandson's curiosity was stirred.

"Why do they use horses instead of automobiles?" My daughter explained that the Amish didn't believe in automobiles.

After a few moments, he asked: "But can't they see them?"

Harold F. Bermel (Belief, Trust)

Faith is the Samsonian lock of the Christian; cut it off, and you may put out his eyes— and he can do nothing.

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Not a great faith we need, but faith in a great God.

—Hudson Taylor

Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.

— Anonymous

Biblical Definitions of Faith

Believing there will be a fulfillment of those things that are told us by the Lord—Luke 1:45

Beheving that it will be just as was told us—Acts 27:25

Not wavering at the promise of God, but being fully convinced that what He has promised He is able to perform—Romans 4:20-21

Judging Him faithful who has promised—Hebrews 11:11

The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen—Hebrews 11:1

An Old Story

One of our oldest sermon illustrations still provides a powerful illustration of the personal nature of faith. A far-famed tightrope walker came to Niagara Falls and stretched his rope across the thunderous currents from Canada to the United States. Before the breathless multitudes, he walked, then ran, across the falls. He did the same blindfolded, with drums rolling. Then, still blindfolded, he pushed a wheelbarrow across the falls.

The crowds went wild, and the aerialist shouted to them, "Who believes I can push a man in this wheelbarrow across these falls?"

A gentleman in the front waved his hands, shouting, "I do! I believe!"

"Then," said the walker, "come and get in the wheelbarrow."

To no surprise, the man's intellectual assent failed to translate into personal belief.

Anyone Else?

A man slipped and fell off a cliff while hiking on a mountaintop. Luckily he was able to grab a branch on his way down. Holding on for dear life, he looked down only to see a rock valley some fifteen hundred feet below. When he looked up it was twenty feet to the cliff where he had fallen.

Panicked, he yelled, "Help! Help! Is anybody there? Help!"

A booming voice spoke up. "I am here, and I will save you if you believe in me."

"I believe! I believe!" yelled back the man.

"If you believe me, let go of the branch and then I will save you."

The young man, hearing what the voice said, looked down again. Seeing the rock valley below, he quickly looked back up and shouted, "Is there anybody else up there!"

Someone Once Said ...

Faithfulness to principle is only proved by faithfulness in detail.

—Frances Ridley Havergal

My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, but faithful.

—Mother Teresa, to Senator Mark Hatfield who, while touring her work in Calcutta, asked, "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?"

Old Faithful

Old Faithful is not the largest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, nor does it reach the greatest height. But it is by far the most popular one. Why? It is regular and dependable, hence its name, "Old Faithful."

Kenneth Blanchard and Robert Lorber, Putting the One Minute Manager to Work (New York: Berkley Books, 1985), 

FAITHFULNESS   A Poem by John Oxenham

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!—

He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!—

He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is

Not yours alone, but His

Who set you there.

Vance Havner on Faithfulness

God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. God's Word speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord, faithful ministers. And all points up that day when He will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone one can sing or preach, but all can be faithful.

The Influence of a Very Average Life

Keep Kicking

Two frogs fell into a tub of cream. The one looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, "It is hopeless." So he resigned himself to death, relaxed, and sank to the bottom. The other one determined to keep swimming as long as he could. "Something might happen," he said. And it did. He churned the cream into solid butter and jumped out.

Frances Ridley Havergal, Kept for the Master's Use (Philadelphia: The Rogers Company, n.d.)

THE  SHIELD  OF  FAITH  IS  ONLY  GOOD  IF  YOU  PICK  IT  UP  AND  USE  IT,  LEFT  ON  THE  GROUND  IT  IS  USELESS - Keith Hunt

PUTTING  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  #4b

FAITH  continued

ENJOINED: 

Ex. 14:13. Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day.

Deut. 20:1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of  Egypt. Num. 21:34. Deut. 1:21-31.

Deut. 31:8. The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed,   vs. 6-8.

Josh. 1:9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. vs. 5-9.

2 Chr. 15:7. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chr. 16:9. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

2 Chr. 20:20. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

2 Chr. 32:7. Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. 8. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.

Neh. 4:14. Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible.

Psa: 4:5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psa. 27:14. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.

Psa. 31:19. How great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psa. 37:3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. 39. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40. The Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them; because they trust in him.

Psa. 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psa. 62:8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

Psa. 115:9. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. 11. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield, 

Prov. 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Ptov. 16:3. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Isa. 26:4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Isa. 35:3. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 13. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isa. 43:1. Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2. When thou passest through the waters, I will he with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 5. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 10. That ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he.

Hab. 2:3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, . . . though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4. The just shall live by his faith.

Zeph. 3:16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zech. 8:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.

[ARE  YOU  STUDYING  WHAT  THE  PROPHETS  TELL  YOU?  ALL  THE  PROPHETIC  BOOKS  OF  THE  BIBLE  I  HAVE  EXPOUNDED  FOR  YOU  ON  THIS  WEBSITE.  IT  IS  TIME  NOW  TO  STUDY  THESE  WORDS;  TIME  NOW  TO  REALLY  STUDY  THE  DEEP  THINGS  OF  GOD’S  WORD  WHILE  IT  IS  DAY;  THE  NIGHT  COMES  WHEN  NO  MAN  WILL  WORK  IN  THE  FREEDOM  WE  HAVE;  ONLY  THEN  WILL  GOD  HAVE  TWO  WITNESSES  IN  JERUSALEM  TO  DECLARE  THE  WORD  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  TO  THIS  EARTH.  

IT  IS  WRITTEN  IN  THE  PROPHETS,  “BEHOLD  THE  DAYS  COME,  SAYS  THE  LORD  GOD,  THAT  I  WILL  SEND  A  FAMINE  IN  THE  LAND,  NOT  A  FAMINE  OF  BREAD,  NOR  A  THIRST  FOR  WATER;  BUT  OF  HEARING  THE  WORDS  OF  THE  LORD.  AND  THEY  SHALL  WANDER  FROM  SEA  TO  SEA,  AND  FROM  THE  NORTH  EVEN  TO  THE  EAST;  THEY  SHALL  RUN  TO  AND  FRO  TO  SEEK  THE  WORD  OF  THE  LORD,  AND  SHALL  NOT  FIND  IT” (AMOS 8: 11, 12).

NOW  IS  THE  TIME  OF  FREEDOM  AND  OPENNESS  TO  STUDY  FROM  THIS  WEBSITE;  INDEED  THE  TIME  WILL  COME  WHEN  IT  WILL  BE  HERE  NO  MORE;  NOW  IS  THE  TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD  WHILE  HE  MAY  BE  FOUND  -  Keith Hunt]

Matt. 6:25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your clothes, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature. 28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall I we be clothed? 32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33. But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.    Luke 12:22-32.

Matt. 17:18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto vou. Mark 11:23,24.

Mark 1:15. Repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 11:22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God.

Luke 12:32. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

[THE  GREEK  HERE  FOR  “LITTLE”  IS  A  DOUBLE  DIMINUTIVE —— LITTLE  LITTLE,  OR  VERY  LITTLE  -  Keith Hunt]

FAITH  IN CHRIST: 

Matt. 7:24. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Luke 6:46-49.

Matt. 83. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13. As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.

Matt. 9:22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. 29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matt. 11:6. Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 28. Come  all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matt. 14:27. Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. John 6:20.

Matt. 15:28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

Matt. 17:7. Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Mark 9:23. Jesus said unto him. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 7:9. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 8:50. When Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.   Mark 5:36.

Luke 17:6. If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree. Be thou plucked lip by the root, and bo thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Luke 18:42. Jesus said unto him. Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 15. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Sort of God. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.   John 6:47.

John 5:24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:29. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 35. He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 45. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 7:38. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 11:25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [shall not die forever]. 

John 12:36. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. 44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me [only], but on him that sent me. 46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 13:7. What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 20. He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 11. Or else believe me for the very works sake. 12. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 16:27. For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God! 33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

John 18:37. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

John 20:27. And be not faithless, but believing. 29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 10:43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 15:9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 20:21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts. 26:18, That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom. 3:22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [atoning sacrifice] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

[YOU  CAN  NOT  AMASS  DEEDS  OF  LAW  KEEPING  TO  JUSTIFY  YOURSELF  TO  GOD  THE  FATHER;  IT  CAN  ONLY  COME  BY  FAITH  IN  CHRIST  JESUS  AS  YOUR  SACRIFICIAL  SAVIOR  -  Keith Hunt]

Rom. 9:33. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom. 10:4. For Christ is the end [the goal]  of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 9. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Gal. 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.

Gal. 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Receive ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

Gal. 5:6. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Eph. 1:12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph. 3:12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

Eph. 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Phil. 3:9. Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Col. 2:7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.

Tim. 1:16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Tim. 1:13. In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Tim. 3:15. From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Heb. 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 10:22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Heb. 12:2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Heb. 13:7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow.

1 Pet. 1:8. In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Pet. 2:6. Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:  Isa. 28:16.

Pet. 1:1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:23. This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: ... 13. Unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14. This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

Rev. 3:18, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, ... 20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

GOD’S  WORD  ENCOURAGES  US,  EXHORTS  US,  IMPLORES  US,  TO  HAVE  FAITH  IN  HIM  AND  ALL  THAT  HE  HAS  PROMISED.

FAITH  COVERS  SO  MANY  ASPECTS  OF  SALVATION  AND  WALKING  IN  THE  TRUTHS  OF  GOD.

THE  WORDS  “FAITH”  AND  “FAITHFUL”  ARE  FOUND  IN  THE  KJV  BIBLE  ABOUT 350  TIMES.

FAITH

In the October 1993 issue of Life magazine, a photo by Scott Threlkeld shows three teenage boys who have jumped from a thirty-foot-high cypress branch toward a dark Louisiana pond. Threlkeld evidently climbed the tree and shot from above the shirtless, soaring Huck Finns, for we look down on the boys and the pond.

There's something inspiring, even spiritual, about this picture.

The lanky boy on the right shows the least confidence, jumping feet first, knees bent and legs spread, ungainly arms flapping like a drunken stork about to make a crash landing.

The middle boy dives head first, arms spread stiffly straight and perpendicular, like the wings of a Piper Cub airplane. His head is slightly ducked and to the right, as if he were approaching the runway against a side wind. He is in a hurry to reach the water.

The third boy also dives head first but he isn't hurrying toward the tunnel-dark pond. He is floating. His head is up. His body is in a relaxed arch, both knees slightly bent, legs slightly apart. His arms are nonchalantly straight, hanging from his shoulders in an upside-down V. Poised and self-assured, as playful as an acrobat on the flying trapeze, he knows exactly where he is and, it appears, waits until the last moment to lift his arms, duck his head, and slip into the water.

No matter their kinesthetic sense or style, each of these three boys did a challenging thing: He took a scary leap.

Granted, high dives into country backwaters aren't always wise, but sometimes to follow God we must take a similar leap of faith. When we do, we will find that the kingdom of God is in the pond.

Fear, Ministry, Obedience, Risk, Service Matt. 14:22-33; Heb. 11:8-10

An illustration of the balance between faith and works lies hidden within any tree. Leaves use up nutrients in the process of photosynthesis. As the leaves consume nutrients in the sap, a suction is formed, which draws more sap from the roots. Without the sap, the leaves and branches would die. But the continual flow of this sap comes only as it is used up by the work of the leaf.

Likewise, through faith we draw life from Christ. But a continual supply of fresh spiritual nutrients depends on our willingness to "consume" the old supply through our acts of obedience, through our works.

Good Works, Power

In April 1988 the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver. He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes. On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went berserk. The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without his parachute. It wasn't until he reached for the absent ripcord that he realized he was freefalling without a parachute.

Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun. But tragically, he had acted with thoughtless haste and deadly foolishness. Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on. Faith in anything but an all-sufficient God can be just as tragic spiritually. Only with faith in Jesus Christ dare we step into the dangerous excitement of life.

Self-Reliance, Preparation

The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.

Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.

Spiritual Perception, vision

This piece was heard on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on November 2,1988:

In 1958, America's first commercial jet air service began with the flight of the Boeing 707. A month after that first flight, a traveler on a piston-engine, propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. The passenger happened to be a Boeing engineer. The traveler asked the engineer about the new jet aircraft, whereupon the engineer began speaking at length about the extensive testing Boeing had done on the jet engine before bringing it into commercial service. He recounted Boeing's experience with engines, from the B-17 to the B-52.

When his traveling companion asked him if he himself had yet flown on the new 707 jet airliner, the engineer replied, "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile."

Even enthusiastic talking about our faith doesn't mean much if we aren't also willing to put our lives where our mouth is.

Trust, Testimony

Dormer Atwood, in Reformed Review, writes:

During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as soon as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow.

Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!"

The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!"

The boy jumped, because he trusted his father.

The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.

Father God, God's Knowledge

Imagine a family of mice who lived all their lives in a large piano. To them in their piano-world came the music of the instrument, filling all the dark spaces with sound and harmony. At first the mice were impressed by it. They drew comfort and wonder from the thought that there was Someone who made the music—though invisible to them—above, yet close to them. They loved to think of the Great Player whom they could not see.

Then one day a daring mouse climbed up part of the piano and returned very thoughtful. He had found out how music was made. Wires were the secret; tightly stretched wires of graduated lengths that trembled and vibrated. They must revise all their old beliefs: none but the most conservative could any longer believe in the Unseen Player.

Later, another explorer carried the explanation further. Hammers were now the secret, numbers of hammers dancing and leaping on the wires. This was a more complicated theory, but it all went to show that they lived in a purely mechanical and mathematical world. The Unseen Player came to be thought of as a myth.

But the pianist continued to play.

Doubt, God's Sovereignty

Author Marshall Shelley, who suffered the deaths of two of his children, writes in Leadership:

Even as a child, I loved to read, and I quickly learned that I would most likely be confused during the opening chapters of a novel. New characters were introduced. Disparate, seemingly random events took place. Subplots were complicated and didn't seem to make any sense in relation to the main plot.

But I learned to keep reading. Why? Because you know that the author, if he or she is good, will weave them all together by the end of the book. Eventually, each element will be meaningful.

At times, such faith has to be a conscious choice.

Even when I can't explain why a chromosomal abnormality develops in my son, which prevents him from living on earth more than two minutes....

Even when I can't fathom why our daughter has to endure two years of severe and profound retardation and continual seizures....

I choose to trust that before the book closes, the Author will make things clear.

Confusion, Death, Mourning, Trials, Trust Prov. 3:5-6; Mark 4:35-41; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11

In 1972 NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, its primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to Earth about Jupiter's magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at this time no probe had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy Pioneer 10 before it could reach its target.

But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Pioneer 10 was then hurled by Jupiter's immense gravity at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At 1 billion miles from the sun Pioneer 10 passed Saturn, then swept past Uranus at some 2 billion miles, Neptune at nearly 3 billion miles, Pluto at almost 4 billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than 6 billion miles from the sun. (Not bad for a device that was designed to have a useful life of only three years.)

And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 was still beaming back radio signals that scientists on Earth could decipher. "Perhaps most remarkable," writes Jaroff, "those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and take more than nine hours to reach Earth."

Even a faint message can travel a long way. Similarly, even prayers with small faith can reach the heart of God, whose great strength can work the impossible.

Expectations, Mustard Seed, Perseverance, Persistence, Prayer,

Weakness Matt. 17:20-21; Luke 17:5-6

In Christianity Today, Philip Yancey writes:

I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of Japanese and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption.

My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached one minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the windows to see the big, wet event.

I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy—not even those who had finished their chores—looked out the huge windows. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them.

Few things are more quickly taken for granted than God's faithfulness. But few things are more important. God's faithfulness deserves our untiring praise and wonder.

Familiarity, Thanksgiving, Wonder, Worship Ps. 145; Luke 17:11-19; Heb. 10:23

Brent Philip Waters in The Christian Ministry writes:

A favorite nursery rhyme is the familiar tale of an egg that takes an unfortunate tumble:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, 

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. 

All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put 

Humpty together again.

According to those who know about such things, this piece of wisdom is a relic thousands of years old. Versions have appeared in eight European languages.

In its primitive stages, however, Humpty Dumpty was a riddle. It asked the question: what, when broken, can never be repaired, not even by strong or wise individuals? As any child knows, an egg. Regardless of how hard we try, a broken egg can never be put back together again. We simply have to learn to live with the mess.

Your faith ought to get you in trouble at times. If everybody thinks you are nuts, you may be. It's OK if some think you are. You're probably in trouble if no one thinks you are.

—Author unknown

If I Had Only Known You Lord,

I crawled

across the barrenness to You

with my empty cup uncertain in asking

any small drop of refreshment. 

If only I had known You better 

I'd have come Running With a bucket. 

—Nancy Spiegelberg and Dorothy Purdy, Fanfare: A Celebration of Belief

Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.

—Jaroslav Pelikan, The Vindication of Tradition

Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, just dying for a drink of water. He stumbled upon an old shack—a ramshackled, windowless, roofless, weatherbeaten old shack. He looked about this place and found a little shade from the heat of the desert sun. As he glanced around he saw a pump about fifteen feet away—an old, rusty water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle, and began to pump up and down, up and down. Nothing came out.

Disappointed, he staggered back. He noticed off to the side an old jug. He looked at it, wiped away the dirt and dust, and read a message that said, "You have to prime the pump with all the water in this jug, my friend. P.S. Be sure you fill the jug again before you leave."

He popped the cork out of the jug and sure enough, it was almost full of water! Suddenly, he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water, he could live. Ah, but if he poured all the water in the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield fresh, cool water from down deep in the well, all the water he wanted.

He studied the possibility of both options. What should he do, pour it into the old pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water or drink what was in the old jug and ignore its message? Should he waste all the water on the hopes of those flimsy instructions written, no telling how long ago?

Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump, squeak, squeak, squeak. Still nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents.

Then he filled the jug for the next traveler. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works. You have to give it all away before you can get anything back."

—Charles R. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity

Faith is engaging in the deepest joy of heaven, knowing His unfathomable love for me as I walk through the thorny desolate now.

—Pamela Reeve, Faith Is

During Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's eight years in Russian camps, his parents died and his wife divorced him. Upon his release from prison he was dying of a cancer that was growing in him so rapidly that he could feel the difference in a span of twelve hours. It was at that point that he abandoned himself to God, so beautifully illustrated in three lines of the incredible prayer that came in that dark hour: "Oh God, how easy it is for me to believe in You. You created a path for me through despair.... O God, You have used me, and where You cannot use me, You have appointed others. Thank You."

—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Faith is speaking truth in love even at the cost of position of relationship.

—Pamela Reeve, Faith Is

END  OF  THE  FIRST  HALF—— TO BE  CONTINUED