“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (Psalm 96:3 ESV)

Walk humbly with God

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Bring salvation

“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”  (Acts 13:47 ESV)

Make disciples

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matt. 28:19-20)

Let your light shine

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

Therefore…

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (1 Chron. 16:24 ESV)

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)

A deposit has been made to your account!

Recently my wife, Susan, called our bank to make sure enough funds had been deposited in our account to cover the bills she planned to pay. Once she was assured the money was there, she sat down and confidently wrote out the checks. In the same way you don’t have to worry about inadequacy when approaching God, because a more than adequate deposit was applied to your account by Jesus. You can approach God’s throne of grace with total confidence and “receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)

We may approach boldly with confidence

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” (Eph. 3:12 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”(Heb. 10:19-24 NIV)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for every good work

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV)

God’s Word lights your path

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

God’s Word hidden in your heart

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

Therefore…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

Words are important

The old saying, “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me” is not true! Words do hurt and can do much damage. I have spoken words in haste or in anger and then immediately wished I could take them back, but could not! The damage had already been done! Speaking words in haste is like squeezing toothpaste from a tube; it comes out fast and easy, but you will never be able to get it back into the tube.The Bible has a lot to say about words.

Rash words are like sword thrusts

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12:18 ESV)

Death and life is in the power of the tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Prov. 18:21 ESV)

A soft answer turns away wrath

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1 ESV)

Gracious words are like sweetness to the soul

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Prov. 16:24 ESV)

Therefore…

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29 ESV)

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

It’s always been easy for me

I’m a “type A” person. Therefore, after I became a Christian it was easy for me to share my faith with others. I was excited about knowing Jesus and I spoke about Him to everyone I came in contact with. This was not the case with my wife, Susan. She is a very private “type B” person. Therefore, she found it very challenging to share her faith with others. But, it wasn’t impossible. One day, for instance, she found herself seated across the table from another lady exactly like her, another “type B” person. As they sat and visited, the topic somehow drifted to knowing God, and Susan found herself sharing her faith to a very receptive listener. Susan discovered that the main thing about being successful in sharing Jesus with others is to first, be willing, (she was) and secondly, to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. (1 Peter 3:15). Susan had learned the Bible verses about how to know and receive Christ personally, so she was prepared to share when asked. Someone once explained it this way: “Sharing one’s faith is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find some bread.”

Make the most of every opportunity

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” (Col. 4:5 NLT)

For such a time as this

“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

Be ready in season or out of season

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2 ESV)

Therefore…

“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” (2 Tim. 2:2 NIV)

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

I was a worrier

When I was young I worried about everything. Someone asked my older brother, David, if he ever worried about anything. He said, “No! If I’m ever concerned about anything, I just tell my little brother, Mike, and he will worry about it for me.” Over the years my worrying got worse and turned into debilitating anxiety attacks. The answer for this problem came after I Received Christ and discovered what He said about worry.

“Do not be anxious about your life”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matt. 6:24-25 ESV)

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow”

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:33-34 ESV)

Thank God in all circumstances

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

God’s strength will enable you

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

Give your anxieties to God

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12: 2)

Set your mind on things of the Spirit

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5-6 ESV)

You are what you think about

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”(Prov. 23:7 NASB)

Take every thought captive to obey Christ

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7 ESV)

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV)

Power, strength or ability

The Greek word for power is  dunamis and is used 120 times in the New Testament and refers to power, strength or ability. It is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo and dynamic.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The power to heal

“On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.” (Luke 5:17)

We can do immeasurably more according to His power at work within us

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)

We have power, love and self discipline

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Tim. 1:7)

We have this power in Jesus

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4:7)

His Devine power has given us everything we need

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

Therefore…

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”(Col. 1:11 ESV)

“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” (Eph. 3:16 ESV)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)

Jesus: Name above all names

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Phil. 2:9-11 ESV)

Jesus: full of grace and truth

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV)

Jesus: the only way to the Father

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

Therefore…

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:39 ESV)

“I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” (Psalm 138:2 ESV)