Promises To Those Who Approach God (GWT)

We Will Find God                                                  Deuteronomy 4:29 & 2 Chronicles 15:2

Deuteronomy 4:29  But if you look for the Lord your God when you are among those nations, you will find him whenever you search for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
2 Chronicles 15:2   Azariah went to Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

God Will Listen To Us                                                                 2 Kings 13:4
2 Kings 13:4   Then Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord heard him because he saw how the Aramean king was oppressing Israel.

God Will Forgive Us                                                           2 Chronicles 7:14
2 Chronicles 7:14   However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
and heal their country.

God Will Make A Covenant With Us                                      Isaiah 55:3
Isaiah 55:3  Open your ears, and come to me!  Listen so that you may live! I will make an everlasting promise to you—the blessings I promised to David. 

God Will Bless Us                                                                    Psalms 65:4
Psalms 65:4   Blessed is the person you choose and invite to live with you in your courtyards.
We will be filled with good food from your house, from your holy temple.

We Can Have Confidence Before God                 Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16 & I John 5:14
Ephesians 3:12   We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ.
Hebrews 4:16    So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.

I John 5:14   We are confident that God listens to us if we ask for anything that has his approval.

What Does Meditation Accomplish? (GWT)

It Gives Us a Sense of Peace                                          Philippians 4:6-9
Philippians 4:6-9
6  Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
7  Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
8   Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.
9  Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.

It Develops a Close Relationship With God                    Psalms 63:6-8
Psalms 63:6-8
6  As I lie on my bed, I remember you.  Through the long hours of the night, I think about you.
7  You have been my help.  In the shadow of your wings, I sing joyfully. 
8  My soul clings to you.  Your right hand supports me.

It Prepares Us for Important Decisions                           Luke 6:12-13
Luke 6:12-13
12  At that time Jesus went to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God.
13  When it was day, he called his disciples. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles.

It Gives Us Strength for Christian Living                         Psalms 1:2-3 and 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Psalms 1:2-3
2  Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night.
3  He is like a tree planted beside streams—a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither.  He succeeds in everything he does.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7  especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited. 
8  I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me.
9  But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me.

It Gives Us Direction for Life                                          Acts 22:17-21
Acts 22:17-21
17  “After that, I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the temple courtyard, I fell into a trance
18  and saw the Lord. He told me, ‘Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’
19  “I said, ‘Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you.
20  When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.’
21  “But the Lord told me, ‘Go! I’ll send you on a mission. You’ll go far away to people who aren’t Jewish.’”

On What Are We To Meditate? (GWT)

On God                                             Psalms 63:6
Psalms 63:6  As I lie on my bed, I remember you.  Through the long hours of the night, I think about you.

On God's Law                                   Psalms 1:2 and Psalms 119:15, 48, 97
Psalms 1:2  Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night. 
Psalms 119:15   I want to reflect on your guiding principles and study your ways.
48   I lift my hands in prayer because of your commandments, which I love.  I will reflect on your laws.
97   Oh, how I love your teachings!  They are in my thoughts all day long.

On God's Promises                             Psalms 119:148
Psalms 119:148   My eyes are wide-open throughout the nighttime hours to reflect on your word.

On God's Unfailing Love                      Psalms 48:9
Psalms 48:9  Inside your temple we carefully reflect on your mercy, O God. 

On God's Works                          Psalms 77:12; Psalms 143:5 and Psalms 145:5
Psalms 77:12   I will reflect on all your actions and think about what you have done.
Psalms 143:5   I remember the days long ago.  I reflect on all that you have done.  I carefully consider what your hands have made.
Psalms 145:5   I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty and the miraculous things you have done.

7 Steps to Answered Prayer

I  Be Specific And Stand On God's Word!
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word   (Psalms 119:65)
This may be the most important step, and it requires preparation before you pray.  You have to know the promises of God, and then come to Him standing on His Word.

II  You Must Ask God For What You Want!
"....verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you....ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."  (John 16:23-24)

God already knows what you need, but He wants you to ask Him and believe that He'll do it!

III  Be Positive In Your Thinking!
And He said unto His disciples, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life...."  Luke 12:22

Let your thoughts affirm what you've been asking.  Don't let doubt, the second thought, creep in.

IV  Guard Your Mind!
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55:9)

You've got to guard your mind against the enemy.  If you want God's thoughts, you've got to know God Words.

V  Meditation Is The Key To Successful Prayer!
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.....for then you shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  (Joshua 1:8)

You've got to fill your ind with God's Word, meditate on it and let it roll around on the inside of you!

VI  Continually Thank God For The Answer!
Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..... (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

Thank Him for what He's done that you can see, and thank Him for what He's done that you can't see.

VII  Make Every Prayer A Statement Of Faith!
....let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right).
(Isaiah 43:26 AMP)

You've got to come to God and make your case in faith based on the promises that He's already made in His Word.

Prayer Issued by Creflo Dollar Ministries

Benefits Of The Knowledge of God (GWT)

Gives Stability to Life                                                      Proverbs 24:3-6
Proverbs 24:3-6
3  With wisdom a house is built.  With understanding it is established.
4  With knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant.
5  A strong man knows how to use his strength, but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.
6  After all, with the right strategy you can wage war, and with many advisers there is victory.

Enables Us to Know The Love Of God                           I John 3:1I John 3:1  Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.

Enables Us to Fight Sin and Evil                                       2 Peter 1:3-4

2 Peter 1:3-4

3  God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. 

4  Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.

Keeps Us From Destruction by God                                 Hosea 4:6

Hosea 4:6  I will destroy my people because they are ignorant.  You have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be my priests.  You have forgotten the teachings of your God, so I will forget your children. 

Essential to Eternal Life                                                     John 17:3
John 17:3  This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

Praying for God's Mercy (GWT)

Have Mercy                                              Psalms 4:1 and Psalms 9:13
Psalms 4:1    Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness.  You have freed me from my troubles.  Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Psalms 9:13   Have pity on me, O Lord.  Look at what I suffer because of those who hate me.  You take me away from the gates of death

Hear My Cry for Mercy                             Psalms 28:2 and Psalms 86:6
Psalms 28:2   Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your most holy place.
Psalms 86:6   Open your ears to my prayer, O Lord.  Pay attention when I plead for mercy.

Remember Your Great Mercy                    Psalms 25:6
Psalms 25:6   Remember, O Lord, your compassionate and merciful deeds.  They have existed from eternity.

Have Mercy On Me, A Sinner                    Luke 18:13
Luke 18:13   “But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Have Mercy On Us, Son of David               Matthew 9:27 and Matthew 20:30-31
Matthew 9:27  When Jesus left that place, two blind men followed him. They shouted, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
Matthew 20:30-31 
30  Then they could see.  He warned them, “Don’t let anyone know about this!” 
³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that region.

God's Expressions of His Mercy (GWT)

Forgiving Our Sins            Psalms 51:1-2; Daniel 9:9 and I Timothy 1:13-116
Psalms 51:1-2
1  Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy.  In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.
2  Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
Daniel 9:9  “But you, Lord our God, are compassionate and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you.
I Timothy 1:13-16
13  In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief.
14  Our Lord was very kind to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people.
15  This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner.
16  However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever.

Saving Us in Christ                    Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-5 and I Peter 1:3-4   
Ephesians 2:4-5
4  But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. 
5  We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.) 
Titus 3:4-5
4  However, when God our Savior made his kindness and love for humanity appear, 
5  he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. 
I Peter 1:3-4
3  Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 
4  We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
             
Being Faithful to His Covenant    
                            Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 13:17-18 and Nehemiah 9:31
Deuteronomy 4:31  The Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you, destroy you, or forget the promise to your ancestors that he swore he would keep.
Deuteronomy 13:17-18
17  Don’t ever take any of the things claimed for destruction. Then the Lord will stop being angry and will show you mercy. In his mercy he will make your population increase, as he swore to your ancestors. 
18  The Lord your God will do this if you listen to him, obey all the commands that I’m giving you today, and do what he considers right.
Nehemiah 9:31  But your compassion is endless.  You didn’t destroy them or abandon them.  You are a merciful and compassionate God.

Receiving Us Back to Himself                     Jeremiah 3:12-13
Jeremiah 3:12-13
12  Go and proclaim these things to the north:  “‘Come back, unfaithful Israel.  It is the Lord speaking.  I will no longer frown on you because I’m merciful,’ declares the Lord.  ‘I will no longer be angry with you.
13  Admit that you’ve done wrong!  You have rebelled against the Lord your God.  You have given yourself to strangers under every large tree.

Healing Us When Ill                                    Philippians 2:27
Philippians 2:27  Indeed, he was so sick that he almost died. But God had mercy not only on him but also on me and kept me from having one sorrow on top of another.

Sparing His Own From Destruction           Genesis 19:16 and Psalms 116:1-6
Genesis 19:16  When he hesitated, the men grabbed him, his wife, and his two daughters by their hands, because the Lord wanted to spare Lot. They brought them safely outside the city.
Psalms 116:1-6
1  I love the Lord because he hears my voice, my pleas for mercy.
2  I will call on him as long as I live because he turns his ear toward me.
3  The ropes of death became tangled around me.  The horrors of the grave took hold of me.  I experienced pain and agony.
4  But I kept calling on the name of the Lord:  “Please, Lord, rescue me!”
5  The Lord is merciful and righteous.  Our God is compassionate.
6  The Lord protects defenseless people.  When I was weak, he saved me.

Keeping Us Safe From the Enemy              Psalms 6:9-10 and Psalms 28:6-7
Psalms 6:9-10
9    The Lord has heard my plea for mercy.  The Lord accepts my prayer.
10  All my enemies will be put to shame and deeply shaken with terror.  In a moment they will retreat and be put to shame.
Psalms 28:6-7
6  Thank the Lord!  He has heard my prayer for mercy!
7  The Lord is my strength and my shield.  My heart trusted him, so I received help.  My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to him with my song.

Being Merciful Is Part Of God's Nature (God's Word Translation)

God Is Merciful                       Deuteronomy 4:31:Nehemiah 9:31 and Luke 6:36
Deuteronomy 4:31  The Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you, destroy you, or forget the promise to your ancestors that he swore he would keep.
Nehemiah 9:31   But your compassion is endless.  You didn’t destroy them or abandon them.  You are a merciful and compassionate God.
Luke 6:36  Be merciful as your Father is merciful.

God Exercises Mercy Freely           Exodus 33:19 and Romans 9:15-18

Exodus 33:19  The Lord said, “I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name ‘the Lord.’ I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.
Romans 9:15-18

15  For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” 
16  Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17  For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” 
18  Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement     James 2:13

James 2:13  No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

God's Law and Will are Perfect (Psalms 19:7: James 1:25 and Romans 12:2) NLT

His Law Is Perfect                    Psalms 19:7 and James 1:25
Psalms 19:7    The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.  The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
James 1:25     But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 

His Will is Perfect                     Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

We Must Hear the Word of God, Must Understand It and Must Accept It

We Must Hear The Word                            Isaiah 1:10 and Jeremiah 7:1-2   
Isaiah 1:10  Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”  Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
Jeremiah 7:1-2 
 1  The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
2  “Go to the entrance of the Lord’s Temple, and give this message to the people: ‘O Judah, listen to this message from the Lord! Listen to it, all of you who worship here!

We Must Understand The Word                 Matthew 13:23
Matthew 13:23  The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

We Must Accept The Word                       Mark 4:20: Acts 2:41 and I Thessalonians 2:13
Mark 4:20  And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Acts 2:41  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
I Thessalonians 2:13  Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

We Must Hide The Word In Our Hearts             Psalms 119:11
Psalms 119:11  have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

We Must Retain The Word                            Luke 8:15
Luke 8:15  And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

We Must Let The Word Dwell In Us              Colossians 3:16  
Colossians 3:16  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

We Must Trust In The Word                             Psalms 119:42
Psalms 119:42  Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.

We Must Hope In The Word                           Psalms 119:74, 81, 114 and Psalms 130:5
Psalms 119:74, 81, 114
74    May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.
81    am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.
114  You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.
Psalms 130:5  I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him.  I have put my hope in his word.

We Must Praise The Word                              Psalms 56:4,10
Psalms 56:4,10
4    I praise God for what he has promised.  I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?  What can mere mortals do to me?
10  I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.

We Must Live According To The Word          Psalms 119:9
Psalms 119:9  How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.

We Must Obey The Word                              Psalms 119:17, 67 and James 1:22-24
Psalms 119:17, 67
17  Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
67  I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
James 1:22-24
22  But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

We Must Handle The Word Correctly              2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy 2:15  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

We Must Preach The Word                              Acts 8:4
Acts 8:4  But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

                      

Characteristics of God's Word

It is Reliable                                                             2 Samuel 7:28
 2 Samuel 7:28  For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

It is True                                                                  I King 17:24 and John 17:17  
I King 17:24  Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”
John 17:17  Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

It is Flawless                                                            Proverbs 30:5
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true.  He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 

It is Alive and Active                                                 Hebrews 4:12
Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

It is Eternal                                                                Psalms 119:89
Psalms 119:89  Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.

It Endures                                      Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18 and Matthew 24:35
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
Matthew 5:18  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

It Will Not Return Empty                                            Isaiah 55:11

Isaiah 55:11  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 

What Power Does The Word of God Have?

The Power to Create                                      Psalms 33:6; Hebrews 11:3 and 2 Peter 3:5
Psalms 33:6 The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 
Hebrews 11:3  By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
2 Peter 3:5  They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.

The Power to Sustain All of Creation            Psalms 147:15-18 and Hebrews 1:3
Psalms 147:15-18  
15  He sends his orders to the world—how swiftly his word flies!
16  He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17  He hurls the hail like stones.  Who can stand against his freezing cold?
18  Then, at his command, it all melts.  He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
Hebrews 1:3  The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

The Power to Heal                                         Psalms 107:20 and Matthew 8:8
Psalms 107:20  He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
Matthew 8:8  But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.

The Power to Judge Our Hearts                   Hebrews 4:12
Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The Power of Give Us New Birth                 James 1:18 and I Peter 1:23
James 1:18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
I Peter 1:23  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

The Power to Lead Us to Faith                    Romans 10:17
Romans 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

The Power to Save Us                                  2 Timothy 3:15
 2 Timothy 3:15  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

The Power to Make Us Holy                       Ephesians 5:26
Ephesians 5:26   to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

The Power to Fight Against Satan               Ephesians 6:17 and Revelation 19:13-15
Ephesians 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Revelation 19:13-15
13  He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14  The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will 15  release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.

The Power to Destroy the World                 2 Peter 3:7
 2 Peter 3:7  And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

Spiritual Blessings Given to Us

General Statement                                                                      
John 1:16-17; I Corinthians 9:23 and Ephesians 1:3
John 1:16-17
16  From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
17  For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 9:23  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Ephesians 1:3   All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

God's Favor and Grace                            Psalms 5:12
Psalms 5:12  For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.

Forgiveness of Sins                          Psalms 32:1-2 and Romans 4:7-8
Psalms 32:1-2
1   Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
2   Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Romans 4:7-8
7   “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.
8   Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Salvation                                           Romans 10:12-13
Romans 10:12-13
12  Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13  For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Being Part of God's People                  Romans 15:27
Romans 15:27  They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.

Eternal Joy                                          Psalms 21:6
 Psalms 21:6   You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.

Spiritual Strength and Peace                  Psalms 29:11
Psalms 29:11  The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.

Having God as a Shepherd                    Psalms 28:9
Psalms 28:9  Save your people!  Bless Israel, your special possession.  Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever.

God's Will For His People Concerning Hypocrisy

He Wants Us to Avoid Hypocrites                        2 Timothy 3:5
5   They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

He Warns Us Against Hypocrisy                            I Peter 2:1
1   So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

He Wants Us to Express Our Faith by Works         James 2:14-17 and I John 3:17-19
James 2:14-17
14  What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
15  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,
16  and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17  So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
I John 3:17-19
17  If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
18  Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
19  Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

He Wants Us to Show Genuine Love                      Romans 12:9 and I Peter :22
Romans 12:9
9   Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
I Peter 1:22
22  You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 

He Wants Us to Exercise a Sincere Faith                  I Timothy 1:5 and 2 Timothy 1:5
I Timothy 1:5
5  The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 
2 Timothy 1:5
5   I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

Description of Hypocrisy

Displaying Religion With no Love for God                                             
Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 6:2-6, 16-18 and Matthew 23:5-7
Isaiah 29:13  And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine.  They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
Matthew 6:2-6
2  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
3  But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
4  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
16-18
16  “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
17  But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
18  Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Matthew 23:5-7
5  “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.
6  And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.
7  They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called Rabbi.’

Claiming Love for God, Mistreating Others
Mark 12:38-40; I John 3:17 and I John 4:20
Mark 12:38-40
38  Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces.
39  And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.
40  Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”
I John 3:17  If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
I John 4:20  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

Not Practicing What One Preaches
Matthew 23:3 and Romans 2:17-24
Matthew 23:3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.
Romans 2:17-24
17  You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.
18  You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.
19  You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.
20  You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
21  Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?
22  You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?
23  You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
24  No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

Sticking Only to the Letter of the Law
Matthew 23:16-23 and Luke 13:15-16
Matthew 23:16-23
16  “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’
17  Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?
18  And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.
19  How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20  When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.
21  And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.
22  And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.
23  “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Luke 13:15-16
15  But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?
16  This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

Criticizing Another for One's  Own Sins
Matthew 7:3-5 and Mark 7:6-13
Matthew 7:3-5
3  “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
4  How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
5  Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Mark 7:6-13
6   Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7   Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
8   For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
9   Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.
10  For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’
11  But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’
12  In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.
13  And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Being Outwardly Beautiful but Inwardly Rotten
Matthew 23:27-28
27  “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.
28  Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Having Only an Outward Form of Godliness
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 and 2 Timothy 3:5
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13  These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
14  But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15  So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
2 Timothy 3:5  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Lying to Make Oneself Look Good
Acts 5:1-10  
1   But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property.
2   He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
3   Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
4   The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
5   As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.
6   Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
7   About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8   Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”  “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
9   And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10  Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

God's Reaction to Hypocrites

He Is Anger With Them                                    Luke 13:14-15

14  But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
15  But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?

He Has No Reward for Them                           Matthew 6:2,5,16

2    When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
5    “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
16   “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.

He Pronounces Woe to Them                            Matthew 23:13-16, 23-29

13-14   “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
15        “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
16        “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’

23       “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 
24         Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
25      “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 
26        You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
27       “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 
28       Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29       “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.

He Has Punishment in Store for Them                 Luke 20:46-47

46         “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 
47          Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”

He Condemns Them to Hell                                Matthew 23:33
33          Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?