“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 NIV)

Be a good example in speech, conduct and love

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:12 ESV)

Show yourself to be a model of good works

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,” (Titus 2:6-7 ESV)

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 ESV)

Keep your eyes on others who are good examples 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” (Phil. 3:17 ESV)

When they see your good deeds they will glorify God

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Pet. 2:12 ESV)

 Therefore…

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:9 ESV)

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Pet. 2:16 ESV)

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:37 ESV)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7 ESV)

 Lay aside every weight and sin and run with endurance the race set before you

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)

 Do not run aimlessly but exercise self control 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27 ESV)

 The prize you’re racing toward 

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Phil. 2:16 ESV)

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31 ESV)

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. “ (Exo. 14:13 NIV)

Enough said.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

The Holy Spirit was sent to give you love, hope, help and guidance

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7 ESV)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:5 ESV)

The Holy Spirit dwells with you and is in you

“Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Through Him you have access in one Spirit to the Father

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Eph. 2:18 ESV)

Need Holy Spirit power? Ask for it!

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

Therefore…

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11 ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

“But God” is a powerful phrase found repeatedly throughout the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. An interesting, and even an eye-opening exercise, is to look up the phrase “but God” in your Bible’s concordance. It doesn’t matter how big, how impossible the need may be, when it includes ‘but God” in the passage. He then demonstrates His power, sovereignty, and majesty. The ultimate “but God” is Jesus Christ’s defeat of death when He was crucified and laid in the tomb for three days and then, “But God raised him from the dead,” (Acts 13:30)

When you take the time to read the full accounts of the following stories, (this is just a few of them) you should be greatly encouraged! 

“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Gen. 8:1)

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Gen. 50:20)

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.” (Acts 7:9-10)

“But God raised him from the dead,” (Acts 13:30)

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to world standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6)

“For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.” (2 Cor. 7:5-7)

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:4-5)

“Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” (Phil. 2:27)

 Therefore…

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”(2 Tim. 2:19)

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior,” (Acts 5:31)

Exalt: to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality; to elevate.

God highly exalted Jesus

“He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.” (Eph. 4:10)

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9)

“which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” (Eph. 1:20)

“who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” (1 Peter 3:22)

Therefore…

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)

“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)

“saying with a loud voice,“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev. 5:12)

“For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” (Luke 1:20 NLT)

 God has a time for every matter

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Eccles. 3:1 ESV)

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. “ (Eccles. 3:11 ESV)

“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.” (Eccles. 8:6 ESV)

 God is not slow, but patient toward you 

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Therefore…

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7 ESV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

 And finally…

“He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7 ESV)

 “Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7 ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Fresh beginning

Every year on January 1st, we get a chance, so to speak, to start over. But with God, we have a fresh beginning every day, even moment-by-moment, as needed! That’s because if you are “in Christ” (and anyone who has received Christ, is) “the old has gone and the new is here”.   

Do not dwell on the past 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isa. 43:18:19)

Press on ahead

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)

Therefore…

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lam. 3:22-24)

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isa. 40:31)

“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” (Job 8:7)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

 Two purposes

According to the Bible, and described in the passage above, there are two purposes, one is from God and the other is from the devil. 

The devil’s purpose: he is a murderer and the father of lies and his “purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10a)

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” (Eph. 2:2)

Billy Graham said, “Don’t think of Satan as a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and a pitchfork. He is very clever and powerful, and his unchanging purpose is to defeat God’s plans at every turn—including His plans for your life.”

The devil’s purpose will be crushed

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom. 16:20)

“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” (2 Thess. 2:8)

God’s purpose: “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10b)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Eph. 1:5 ESV)

“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (2 Tim. 1:9 ESV)

God’s purpose will succeed 

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Prov. 19:21 ESV)

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:12 ESV)

Therefore…

“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” (James 1:13)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11)

“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16)

And finally…

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” (Eph. 1:11 ESV)

 Quotes:

“As Christ has a Gospel, Satan has a gospel too; the latter being a clever counterfeit of the former. So closely does the gospel of Satan resemble that which it parades, multitudes of the unsaved are deceived by it.” - A.W. Pink

“Satan like a fisher, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish.” - Thomas Adams