Eagles

Exodus 19:4

“Every one of you has seen what I did to the people of Egypt. You saw how I carried you out of Egypt, as if on eagle's wings. And I brought you here to me.”

Isaiah 40:31

But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again.

    They will rise up as an eagle in the sky;

       they will run and not need rest;

       they will walk and not become tired.

Proverbs 23:5

Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye.

       It can seem to grow wings

       and fly away like an eagle.

Proverbs 30:18-19

There are three things that are too hard for me,

       really four I don't understand:

   the way an eagle flies in the sky,

       the way a snake slides over a rock,

    the way a ship sails on the sea,

       and the way a man and a woman fall in love.

Matthew 24:23-28 (The Great Tribulation)

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.

“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

Signs

Genesis 1:14-16

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night.  These lights will be used for signs, seasons, days, and years.  They will be in the sky to give light to the earth."  And it happened.  So God made the two large lights.  He made the brighter light to rule the day and made the smaller light to rule the night.  He also made the stars.

Isaiah 7:10-17

Then the Lord spoke to Ahaz again, saying, "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God to prove to yourself that these things are true.  It may be a sign from as deep as the place of the dead or as high as the heavens."  But Ahaz said, "I will not ask for a sign or test the Lord."

Then Isaiah said, "Ahaz, descendant of David, listen carefully!  Isn't it bad enough that you wear out the patience of people?  Do you also have to wear out the patience of my God?  The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be pregnant.  She will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel.  He will be eating milk curds and honey when he learns to reject what is evil and to choose what is good.  You are afraid of the kings of Israel and Aram now.  But before the child learns to choose good and reject evil, the lands of Israel and Aram will be empty.  The Lord will bring troubled times to you, your people, and to the people of your father's family.  They will be worse than anything that has happened since Israel separated from Judah.  The Lord will bring the king of Assyria to fight against you.”

Matthew 12:38-42

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want to see you work a miracle as a sign."

Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign.  But no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.   Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights.  In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights.  On the Judgment Day the people from Nineveh will stand up with you people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty.  When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives.  And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here. On the Judgment Day, the Queen of the South will stand up with you people who live today.  She will show that you are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching.  And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 16:1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, wanting to trick him.  So they asked him to show them a miracle from God.

Jesus answered, "At sunset you say we will have good weather, because the sky is red.  And in the morning you say that it will be a rainy day, because the sky is dark and red.  You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean.  In the same way, you see the things that I am doing now, but you don't know their meaning.  Evil and sinful people ask for a miracle as a sign, but they will not be given any sign, except the sign of Jonah."  Then Jesus left them and went away.

John 20:30-31

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:

      “ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

      And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Who God Is...Powerful

Exodus 9:16

But I have let you live for this reason: to show you my power so that my name will be talked about in all the earth.

Job 26:14

And these are only a small part of God's works.

       We only hear a small whisper of him.

       Who could understand God's thundering power?

Psalm 62:11

God has spoken once,

         Twice I have heard this:

         That power belongs to God.

Psalm 66:3

Say to God,

         “How awesome are Your works!

         Through the greatness of Your power

         Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.”

Psalm 68:35

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places.

         The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.

         Blessed be God!

Zechariah 4:6

So he answered and said to me:

      “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

      ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

      Says the Lord of hosts.

Matthew 6:13

…And do not lead us into temptation,

      But deliver us from the evil one.

      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 9:6

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Luke 6:19

And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Luke 24:49

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

John 10:14-18

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

John 19:6b-11

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”  The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me?  Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and then to save non-Jews.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19, 24

The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  It is written in the Scriptures:

    "I will cause the wise to lose their wisdom;

       I will make the wise unable to understand."        — Isaiah 29:14

But Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God to those people God has called—Jews and Greeks.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me.

Ephesians 1:19-20

And you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.

Colossians 1:11

God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-9

This is proof that God is right in his judgment.  He wants you to be counted worthy of his kingdom for which you are suffering.  God will do what is right.  He will give trouble to those who trouble you.  And he will give rest to you who are troubled and to us also when the Lord Jesus appears with burning fire from heaven with his powerful angels.  Then he will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus Christ.  Those people will be punished with a destruction that continues forever.  They will be kept away from the Lord and from his great power.

2 Timothy 1:7

God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Hebrews 1:3

The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like.  He holds everything together with his powerful word.  When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.

2 Peter 1:3

Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God.  We have these things because we know him.  Jesus called us by his glory and goodness.

Jude 2:5

He is the only God, the One who saves us.  To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever.  Amen.

Revelation 2:26

"I will give power over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and continues to be obedient to me until the end.”

Revelation 5:13

Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying:

    "To the One who sits on the throne

       and to the Lamb

    be praise and honor and glory and power

       forever and ever."

Give Your Lives to God - Romans 12

So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him.  Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.  Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.  Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.  Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you.  Do not think you are better than you are.  You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you.  Each one of us has a body with many parts, and these parts all have different uses.  In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body.  Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts.  We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us.  The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith.  Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve.  Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach.  Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage.  Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely.  Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads.  Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy.

Your love must be real.  Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.  Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.  Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God's people who need help.  Bring strangers in need into your homes.

Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad.  Live in peace with each other.  Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant.  Do not think how smart you are.

If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.  Try to do what everyone thinks is right.  Do your best to live in peace with everyone.  My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger.  It is written: "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them," says the Lord.  But you should do this:

    "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

       if he is thirsty, give him a drink.

    Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head."            — Proverbs 25:21–22

Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

Faith Continued

1 Corinthians 13:2

I may have the gift of prophecy.  I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains.  But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:13

So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Galatians 2:20

I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me.  I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.

Galatians 3:7

So you should know that the true children of Abraham are those who have faith.

Galatians 3:25

Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under a guardian.

Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 4:5

There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

Ephesians 6:16

And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

We continually recall before God our Father the things you have done because of your faith and the work you have done because of your love.  And we thank him that you continue to be strong because of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:2 (NKJV)

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

1 Timothy 3:8-9

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Titus 1:4

To Titus, my true child in the faith we share:

  Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Hebrews 4:2

The Good News was preached to us just as it was to them.  But the teaching they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not accept it with faith.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.

Hebrews 11:6

Without faith no one can please God.  Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.

James 2:14

My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?

James 2:18

Someone might say, "You have faith, but I have deeds."  Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

James 2:24

So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.

James 5:15

And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person.  And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven.

2 Peter 1:5-7

Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love.

Revelation 13:10

If you are to be a prisoner,

       then you will be a prisoner.

    If you are to be killed with the sword,

       then you will be killed with the sword.

This means that God's holy people must have patience and faith.

Faith

Habakkuk 2:4

The evil nation is very proud of itself;

       it is not living as it should.

       But those who are right with God will live by faith.

Matthew 6:30

God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith!

Matthew 8:5-10

When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help.  The officer said, "Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can't move his body and is in much pain."  Jesus said to the officer, "I will go and heal him."

The officer answered, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house.  You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed.  I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command.  I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes.  I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes.  I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant does it.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.  He said to those who were following him, "I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel.

Mark 4:40

Jesus said to his followers, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Luke 17:5

The apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith!"

Luke 18:8  NKJV

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Acts 26:17-18

“I will keep you safe from your own people and also from the others.  I am sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to the light, away from the power of Satan and to God.  Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.”

Romans 1:17

The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself—that it begins and ends with faith.  As the Scripture says, "But those who are right with God will live by faith."

Romans 3:28

A person is made right with God through faith, not through obeying the law.

Romans 4:5

But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God.  So they must trust in him, who makes even evil people right in his sight.  Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him.

Romans 4:16

So people receive God's promise by having faith.  This happens so the promise can be a free gift.  Then all of Abraham's children can have that promise.  It is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Romans 10:8

This is what the Scripture says: "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart."  That is the teaching of faith that we are telling.

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.

Romans 11:17-21

It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off.  You non-Jewish people are like the branch of a wild olive tree that has been joined to that first tree.  You now share the strength and life of the first tree, the Jews.  So do not brag about those branches that were broken off.  If you brag, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.  You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree."  That is true.  But those branches were broken off because they did not believe, and you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe.  Do not be proud, but be afraid.  If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay if you don't believe.

Romans 12:6-8

We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us.  The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith.  Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve.  Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach.  Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage.  Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely.  Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads.  Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy.

Romans 14:22

Do you have faith?  Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Trust

Psalm 22:8 (Amplified Bible Translation)

He trusted and rolled himself on the Lord, that He would deliver him. Let Him deliver him, seeing that He delights in him!

Psalm 32:10 (NKJV)

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;

         But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

Psalm 37:3 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

      And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

      And He shall direct your paths.

Matthew 27:43

He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’

Mark 10:24

And the disciples were astonished at His words.  But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

Feel, Think

Psalm 40:17 NKJV

But I am poor and needy;

         Yet the Lord thinks upon me.

         You are my help and my deliverer;

         Do not delay, O my God.

Proverbs 23:7a NKJV

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

John 5:39-40

You carefully study the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. They do in fact tell about me, but you refuse to come to me to have that life.

Romans 12:3

Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you.

1 Corinthians 10:12

If you think you are strong, you should be careful not to fall.

See

Job 19:26 (amidst his trials, Job says:)

Even after my skin has been destroyed,
       in my flesh I will see God.

Matthew 5:8

They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
       for they will see God. 

Matthew 13:10-17  Why Jesus Used Stories to Teach

The followers came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you use stories to teach the people?"

Jesus answered, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets.  Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.  This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.  So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true:
    'You will listen and listen, but you will not understand.
       You will look and look, but you will not learn.
    For the minds of these people have become stubborn.
       They do not hear with their ears,
       and they have closed their eyes.
    Otherwise they might really understand
       what they see with their eyes
       and hear with their ears.
    They might really understand in their minds
       and come back to me and be healed.' — Isaiah 6:9–10
But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears.  I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them.

Revelation 22:4

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

Fasting

Isaiah 58:4-5

On these special days when you fast, you argue and fight
       and hit each other with your fists.
    You cannot do these things as you do now
       and believe your prayers are heard in heaven.

This kind of special day is not what I want.
       This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done.
    I don't want people just to bow their heads like a plant
       and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness.
    This is what you do on your special days when you fast,
       but do you think this is what the Lord wants?

Zechariah 7:5

"Tell the priests and the people in the land: 'For seventy years you fasted and cried in the fifth and seventh months, but that was not really for me.”

Matthew 4:2

Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.   Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.  The devil came to Jesus to tempt him, saying, "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread."  Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'A person lives not on bread alone, but by everything God says.'"

Matthew 6:16

"When you fast, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites.  They make their faces look sad to show people they are fasting.  I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.   So when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.  Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.”

Matthew 9:14

Then the followers of John came to Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast for a certain time, but your followers don't?"  Jesus answered, "The friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.”

Matthew 17:14-21 (again)

When Jesus and his followers came back to the crowd, a man came to Jesus and bowed before him.  The man said, "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much, because he often falls into the fire or into the water.  I brought him to your followers, but they could not cure him."

Jesus answered, "You people have no faith, and your lives are all wrong. How long must I put up with you?  How long must I continue to be patient with you?  Bring the boy here."  Jesus commanded the demon inside the boy.  Then the demon came out, and the boy was healed from that time on.

The followers came to Jesus when he was alone and asked, "Why couldn't we force the demon out?"

Jesus answered, "Because your faith is too small.  I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  All things will be possible for you.  [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.]"

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else:  "A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get!'

"The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven.  But he beat on his chest because he was so sad.  He said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'  I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not.  All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great."

1 Corinthians 7:4-5 (goes with prayer, but applies here also)

The wife does not have full rights over her own body; her husband shares them.  And the husband does not have full rights over his own body; his wife shares them.  Do not refuse to give your bodies to each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can give your time to prayer.  Then come together again so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control.

2 Corinthians 6:5-7 (We will face hardships and persecution, just like Paul &  the Corinthians!)

We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food.  We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power.  We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.

Prayer

Psalm 42:8

The Lord shows his true love every day.
       At night I have a song,
       and I pray to my living God.

Psalm 102:17

He will answer the prayers of the needy;
       he will not reject their prayers.

Proverbs 15:8

The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
       but he likes the prayers of honest people.

Matthew 17:20-21

Jesus answered, "Because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. All things will be possible for you. [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.]"

Romans 12:12

Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God's people.

Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

Everything God made is good, and nothing should be refused if it is accepted with thanks, because it is made holy by what God has said and by prayer.

James 5:15

And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven.

Joy

Verses about being joyful:

Psalm 16:11

You will teach me how to live a holy life.
       Being with you will fill me with joy;
       at your right hand I will find pleasure forever.

Psalm 30:5

His anger lasts only a moment,
       but his kindness lasts for a lifetime.
    Crying may last for a night,
       but joy comes in the morning.

Isaiah 12:3

You will receive your salvation with joy
       as you would draw water from a well.

Isaiah 61:3

and to help the sorrowing people of Jerusalem.
    I will give them a crown to replace their ashes,
       and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow,
       and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness.
    Then they will be called Trees of Goodness,
       trees planted by the Lord to show his greatness.

Isaiah 65:14

My servants will shout for joy
       because of the goodness of their hearts,
    but you evil people will cry,
       because you will be sad.
       You will cry loudly, because your spirits will be broken.

Matthew 25:21

The master answered, 'You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.'

Luke 1:44

When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.

Luke 15:7

In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to change.

Luke 24:41

While they still could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them, "Do you have any food here?"

John 15:11

I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.

John 17:13

"I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world so that these followers can have all of my joy in them.”

Galatians 5:22-23

But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.

1 Thessalonians 2:20

Truly you are our glory and our joy.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

James 1:2

My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.

1 Peter 4:13

But be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory.

Behavior

Romans 12:9-21 (NCV)
Your love must be real.  Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.  Love each other like brothers and sisters.  Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.  Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God's people who need help.  Bring strangers in need into your homes.
Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad.  Live in peace with each other.  Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant.  Do not think how smart you are.
If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.  Try to do what everyone thinks is right.  Do your best to live in peace with everyone.  My friends,  do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger.  It is written: "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them," says the Lord.  But you should do this:
  "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
  if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
  Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head."
Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.



1 Timothy 3:2 NCV
An overseer must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife.  He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach.

Alive

Here are verses related to God being alive and our (new!) life in Him:

Genesis 2:7 NCV

"Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose, and the man became a living person."

Leviticus 17:11 NCV

"This is because the life of the body is in the blood, and I have given you rules for pouring that blood on the altar to remove your sins so you will belong to the Lord. It is the blood that removes the sins, because it is life."

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NKJV

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess."

Deuteronomy 32:39 NCV

"Now you will see that I am the one God!

There is no god but me.

I send life and death;

I can hurt, and I can heal.

No one can escape from me."

Psalm 72:14 NCV

"He will save them from cruel people who try to hurt them,

because their lives are precious to him."

Psalm 119:50 NCV

"When I suffer, this comforts me:

Your promise gives me life."

Proverbs 3:18 NCV

"As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,

and everyone who uses it will be happy."

Proverbs 8:35 NCV

"Those who find me find life,

and the Lord will be pleased with them."

Luke 12:23-24 NCV

"Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.  Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them.  And you are worth much more than birds."

John 1:4 NCV

"In Him there was life, and that life was the light of all people."

John 5:21 NCV

"Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those He wants to."

John 6:63 NCV

"It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh doesn't give life. The words I told you are spirit, and they give life."

John 8:12 NCV

"Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. The person who follows Me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.'"

John 10:15 NCV

"just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep."

John 11:25 NCV

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die.'"

Acts 1:3 NCV

After His death, He showed Himself to them and proved in many ways that He was alive.  The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after He was raised from the dead, and He spoke to them about the kingdom of God."

Romans 6:11 NCV

"In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 15:22 NCV

"In Adam all of us die.  In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again."

Galatians 2:20 NCV

"I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me."

Colossians 3:3 NCV

"Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God."

James 4:14 NCV

"But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away."

1 John 1:2 NCV

"He who gives life was shown to us. We saw him and can give proof about it. And now we announce to you that he has life that continues forever. He was with God the Father and was shown to us."

1 John 2:16  NCV

"These are the ways of the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world."

1 John 5:11 NCV

"This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

Revelations 1:18 NCV

"I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!  And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead."

Revelation 22:17 NCV

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' Let the one who hears this say, 'Come!' Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift."