The softest whisper of prayer never goes unheard; the breath of prayer is never exhaled in vain. We must remember this when walking through life’s deep valleys, when all that we know has been turned upside down. God will never leave us nor forsake us, but He wants us...

Have you ever been falsely accused? David was. He did not claim sinless perfection, but he did declare his innocence regarding the false charges against him. Suffering is hard to take when you aren’t guilty, but God is on the throne and is watching over us....

Political corruption is not new. God commissioned mankind to rule the world and cultivate its riches as stewards, seeing all that they have as belonging to God. But, under sin, many rule out of self-interest, exploiting others to increase their assets and power. One...

Life can be full of calamities, but, like storms, they come and go. During the storms of life, we need shelter. When fleeing from Saul, David would sometimes hide in caves. However, despite his dark, dank surroundings, David knew that the Lord was his true refuge, and...

Are you burdened by something? It does not matter what it is; the answer from Scripture is the same: Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. If you are a child of God, He is on your side, and if God be...

Betrayal is a bitter pill, but David and Christ our Savior both had to swallow it. They were both betrayed by people that they once thought to be close friends. There is a natural impulse to want fly away from such troubles; however, the Lord wants us to flee to Him....

Prayer unto to God in times of trouble has always been the privilege of the people of God. Jesus made this possible when He absorbed all of God’s wrath on the cross for sinners that call upon His name. If you haven’t already done so, cry out to God today, and He will...

David compared himself to a green olive tree, thriving in the house of God. Not only is an olive tree a thriving tree, it is one of the longest-living trees on earth. David used this metaphor to contrast God’s eternal protection of his faithful servants with the...

David wrote Psalm fifty-one after Nathan the prophet confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. It is one of the Bible’s greatest passages concerning confession and forgiveness of sin. Please open your Bible and listen as Pastor Ray...

While our salvation in Christ assures us that our sins can’t bring us into ultimate condemnation, it also means that, with our greater spiritual resources, God holds us more responsible for living as He prescribes. To whom much is given, much will be required....

When a person dies, they must leave everything behind. Only the treasure that they have stored in heaven will remain. That treasure comes from serving Jesus with pure hearts that desire to glorify God by all that we do, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit....

We are living in unprecedented times in which fear and iniquity abound. Fortunately, the perfect love of our God can cast out fear, if we put our trust in Him instead of trusting in riches or worldly systems. Wealth, human government, and physical abilities will all...

A child of missionary parents once said, “Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God.” Today’s passage reinforces this thought. Please open your Bible to Psalm forty-seven, verse nine, and listen as Pastor Ray Viola completes his study of Psalms...

The pagan gods of the ancient world were imagined to be territorial gods. Their authority was limited to a nation or a region. However, the true and living God of Scripture is not like one of these imagined, territorial gods. Jesus Christ is not only King of the Jews,...

God is the refuge of each and every one of His children, and He is more present than we can even imagine or think. David had found that God had been so reliable in his past that he knew that he need not fear any future calamity. We pray that you can know this sense of...

Today’s message begins with a description of a celebration of the Mighty King’s marriage. The Groom is worthy of lavish praise for His splendor, majesty, and righteousness. The passage also contains counsel for His Bride as she is brought to the King’s palace in all...

In hard times, it is good to remember the great things that God has done in the past. Though it is He that brings us victory, His sovereignty does not excuse us from our responsibilities as belivers to carry out His will. Conversely, we should not get ahead of God...

Memories of former victories can make the pain of defeat even more bitter. Yet, when our fellowship with other saints is hindered and God is seemingly hiding His face from us, we begin to value our fellowship with each other and God even more. Oppression creates a...

The human soul has an inherant longing for some source of satisfaction. As Christians, we know that our inner craving is for fellowship with God. This spiritual thirst, which David likened to a deer thirsting for water as it wanders through a parched countryside, can...

The Psalms are filled with passages concerning discouragement and depression. These are real feelings experienced by the godly and the ungodly when confronted with life’s harsh realities. However, we should not let our emotions rule over us. As redeemed believers in...

Sometimes, but not always, sin can lead to sickness. In today’s passage, David believed that his sin was the cause of his sickness. David’s enemies were hoping that his sickness was terminal. Adding to his grief was that a once-close friend of David’s was among those...

True religion in God’s eyes consists of a whole life that is lived in the awareness of and response to the unmerited, undeserved, saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. Only Jesus can atone for our sin and change our motives, actions, and attitudes by His Holy Spirit....

Jesus, the Son of God, completely submitted Himself as Son of Man to His Fathers purpose and will. Jesus tells us, “Follow Me.” That is the Christian life. It’s not lists of do’s and don’ts. It is a relational journey in fellowship with and in submission to God’s will...

Waiting on the Lord can be challenging, but one must realize that true waiting is not passive. Waiting on the Lord literally means to entwine yourself with Him. God commands us to be of good courage while we are waiting on Him. In other words, do not waver in double...

Our days on earth are limited. Therefore, we should endeavor to redeem the time, and make the most of every day until the Lord takes us home. Be like Caleb, and catpure every mountain that the Lord has promised to you. Please open your Bible to Psalm thirty-nine,...

Our days on earth are limited. This becomes increasingly apparent as one gets older. Today we will hear about what David felt when he confronted this reality. Please open your Bible to Psalm thirty-eight, verse seventeen, and listen as Pastor Ray Viola completes his...

God’s concivtion can sometimes feel so strong, it is like being pierced with arrows. David became emotionally and physcially ill because of such conviction coupled with the consequences of his sin. However, no matter how dark a situation might seem, one always has...

Though the wicked may prosper for a season, Scripture makes it clear that their end is not something that anybody would want. One day, the Lord will break the strength of the wicked, but He will uphold the arms of the upright. Jesus wants us to pray for our attackers...

David had suffered plenty at the hands of ungodly men. Today’s passage contains his godly advice on how to react when we are assaulted by people or circumstances beyond our control: Fret not! Delight yourself in the Lord. Take some time just to admire Him. Let Him be...

Hypocrisy, back-biting, and slander are destructive sins that are too frequently tolerated within the Body of Christ. There is nothing new under the sun; three thousand years ago, David was the victim of such sins committed by people that worshiped alongside him in...

How many of you are praying how-long prayers? When deliverance is delayed, it is easy to assume that God hasn’t heard or answered your prayers. Though David cried out, “How long?” in his prayer closet, he praised God in the midst of the congregation. He knew that...

David had many enemies. Some disliked David, because of what David did to them. Others sought to make his life miserable just because they envied him. In today’s passage, David called upon the Lord to take up his fight. This was wise, because vengeance belongs to the...

Is your heart broken today over circumstances that have arisen because of living after the flesh, or because of poor decisions that you have made? Maybe your heart is broken over a failed relationship or the loss of a loved one. The Lord is near to you. Turn to the...

A nearly forgotten treasure of the modern Christian life is taking time to meditate upon the Lord, especially when our fears are looming large before us. We must take the time to watch the sun rise, or to look up at the stars and see the vastness of the universe. We...

David wrote many of his psalms to record how God had rescued him from his enemies and his troubles. In light of God’s faithfulness towards him, David purposed to praise His God continually. How much more should you and I praise the Lord, because He has delivered us,...

Man’s plans and earthly wisdom are uncertain and unstable. In contrast, God’s truth never changes. His counsel is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. What God has determined shall be done, and His promises are yes and amen to all that believe. Please open your...

Today’s passage gives us several reasons for worshiping the Lord. He is our Creator. He made us, and we should stand in awe of Him. The earth is full of His goodness. He is our Redeemer, Who has saved us. God is also our help and our shield. Praise the Lord and...

David often spoke of God as his rock and as his fortress. Jesus Christ is our rock and our fortress. When you declare this, you are appropriating for yourself these promises of Scripture, and you can encourage yourself in a time of trial. Please open your Bible to...

Do you sometimes feel like God has turned away from you? David did, but he chose to praise and worship God anyway, and He made a plea for God to graciously intervene in his life again. As the Lord promised through Malachi, return unto Me and I will return unto you....

Praise and worship are acts of the will. We should worship God, because of Who He is, not because of how we feel or because of our circumstances. Jesus is risen! That is the true source of all our joy and hope. Please open your Bible to Psalm thirty, and listen as...

Do you find yourself complaining about the weather? When David watched a storm sweep down over Israel, it inspired him to praise instead of murmuring. He then called upon the heavenly host to worship the Lord in recognition of His glory as revealed in the storm. But...

David prayed that the wicked people that sought to do him harm would get what they deserved. However, as recipients of God’s grace and mercy, Christians should follow Jesus’ command to pray that our enemies would repent so that they could also escape the eternal...

In times of trouble, we can always cry out to the Lord for help. Even if God is silent for a season, one can rest assured that He is listening to your cries. The Rock of our salvation is compassionate and merciful. He will provide deliverence from the wicked if we...

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. David had a deep and intimate relationship with the Lord. Personal intimacy with God scares Satan, and he will do anything that he can to prevent that from happening. Therefore, intimacy with God doesn’t just happen....

David was a man that had almost as many enemies as he had friends. These enemies falsely accused him of many things. David, who lived a life that was separated unto God, pled his case before the Lord. Nowhere did he claim to be sinless, but he did plead not guilty to...

David rejoiced in the strength of the Lord, Who had responded to his faith with an overwhelming victory. He also was encouraged by the prayerful intercession of the faithful who anticipated future victory by the power of God. Are you antcipating a great victory in...

In the Psalms, strong confidence is often expressed by the past tense, as if something had already happened. Shouting for joy was in anticipation of the victory. No matter how you feel or what you are dealing with right now, the message of the cross is that God’s...

Psalms twenty and twenty-one are two of seven royal psalms in Scripture. The royal psalms all point to Christ, the ideal King. Every king in David’s royal line was anointed to serve in anticipation of the coming of this perfect King. Contrary to what actually...

God’s word is a greater revelation than creation, because it tells us much more about Him. It reveals Him as the covenant God of love. Someone who knows God and His word intimately rejoices in this. Please open your Bible to Psalm nineteen, verse seven, and listen as...

Our sun is a wonderful example of how the heavens declare God’s glory. As it crosses the sky between its rising and setting, nothing can hide from its heat. Similarly, Jesus, Whom Malachi called the Sun of Righteousness, is the brightness of God’s glory. Jesus gives...

The God who created the universe is glorious, and His creation provides evidence of His glory. Like God, His creation is big, beautiful, and He gave mankind the ability to see it, to appreciate its wonder, and to study its mysteries. Perhaps the greatest mystery is...

Our Creator did not design us for selfishness or wickedness. He designed us for servanthood and holiness as modeled by Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s word and His Spirit that we are able to stay on the path that leads to eternal life where we will find ultimate...

Have you ever felt like the whole world is unfairly aligned against you? Are you being harassed by people that don’t like you? David had his share of such experiences. Some of his enemies even tried to kill him! David responded to the charges against him by asking the...

David asked, “Who can abide in God’s presence? Who can dwell in His holy hill?” The Master of the house always determines the terms of hospitality. To whom will The Lord extend the hospitality of His house? To those who come to Him for salvation by grace, through...

Psalms eight and fourteen are like bookends that describe the mysterious nature of humanity. We are at once glorious and yet fallen. We carry both the honor of bearing God’s image and the shame of our sin. Thus, all men stand in need of the forgiveness and pardon of...

David saw many people who said all the right things, but he didn’t see many people whose lives matched their words. It’s the same today; there is nothing new under the sun. You can be orthodox in your theology while your lifestyle is unorthodox and far from God. God...

There are going to be times in our lives as followers of Jesus Christ when we must choose between fear and godly trust. Fear is a human feeling that is the product of what we see or hear. Trust in the Lord requires us to walk by faith in what we cannot see or hear and...

From nursing babies to heavenly bodies, all of God’s creation declares His glory. David marvelled at what he saw, and it made him feel insignificant. However, a greater mystery awed him: The magnitude of God’s love for that which He had created. A love so great that...

It is sobering to realize that God is angry with the wicked every day. We are living on a planet that is largely in rebellion against God every hour of every day. Though God is merciful, He is also just, and His Spirit will not always strive with man. God measures...

Few things are more painful and frustrating than being accused of something that you did not do. This happened to David when Saul was still king. Similarly, Christians are often misrepresented and slandered in this world. Thankfully, we, like David, can always turn to...

Have you ever been pressed to the limit, when it seems like everything that can go wrong does? To make things worse, it seems that there is no hope that things will ever get better. David was in such a situation. He was being chastened by God, taunted by his enemies,...

One of God’s most defining characteristics is His holiness. As such, Scripture says that He hates those that work iniquity. That is, He hates those that arrogently make a practice of sinful behaviors and that have no place for repentance. Fortunately, as Christians,...

David was an anointed king of Israel, yet he recognized that he was a man under God’s authority. When David prayed, he acknowledged that the Lord was both his God and his King. David’s authority stopped at the boundaries of his kingdom, but God’s authority knows no...

Psalm three was a morning prayer. Fittingly, Psalm four is called an evening prayer. Some believe that both psalms concern the time in which David had to flee from Absalom. Once again, David cried out to God, and, as God searched his heart, David felt a sense of being...

David’s enemies told him that there was no help for him in God when Absalom tried to usurp his throne. However, David knew that God was his shield and his glory. That is, David knew that, even if he could not feel it at the moment, he knew without a doubt that God’s...

When Absalom rose up against his father and his king, David had to flee for his life. As he fled, some from his kingdom cursed him vigorously. Yet, as we will see in today’s passage, David still had a song in his heart and faith that the Lord had heard his cry for...

There is only one King and Jesus is His name. One day the Heavenly Father will have Jesus sit on His throne on Mount Zion as undisputed Ruler of all the earth. Some men will still try to cast off His authority, but Jesus will deal swiftly with such insubordination....

People that war against Christ and His Gospel have been blinded by Satan. Moreover, they love darkness more than they desire the light, because their deeds are evil. However, through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, such rebellious people can be brought to a...

We are living on a planet and in a culture that is in rebellion against the living God. This rebellion will reach its peak near the end of the Great Tribulation. At that time, a federation of world leaders, led by the Antichrist, will unite in a futile attempt to...

Though Jesus has saved us, we are in a race, not in competition with one another, but to become the most fruitful and Christ-like people that we can. To do this we must set aside those things that might hinder us from reaching our goal, which is to finish well. This...

The first Psalm contrasts the ways of the godly and the ungodly. It sets before us only two paths: one of life and the other of death. The first is a fruitful life and the other is withered. We pray that you would choose to take the way which leads to a truly blessed...

Today we begin a new series of messages based upon the Bible’s longest book: Psalms. Unlike other books of the Bible, Psalms had many authors, including David, Asaph, Moses, and others. The Psalms express a wide range of emotions ranging from deep despair and anger to...

Last time, we saw how James called us to pray in every circumstance—whether in suffering, joy, or illness—and to trust in God’s healing power. Today, we will focus on the strength of fervent prayer and the call to restore wandering believers. Moreover, will we see...

Are you facing trials, sickness, or moments of weakness? In today’s passage, James reminds us that prayer is the believer’s lifeline. God wants us to pray in every circumstance—whether in suffering, joy, or illness—and to trust in God’s healing power. Please open your...

Today’s passage turns our attention to the call for steadfastness in the face of trials. God’s Word encourages us to be patient, to strengthen our hearts, and to endure with faith until Jesus returns. We are reminded that the Judge is at the door, and that our lives...

Today’s passage delivers a sobering warning to the wealthy who misuse their riches—reminding us that hoarded treasure and unjust gain will testify against us on the day of judgment. We are called to examine our hearts, live with integrity, and pursue righteousness...

Yesterday we learned that hearing and putting into practice the truth of God’s word is the highest form of worship. Today’s passage reminds us that those who are born again live with a new purpose—serving God in the light of His wisdom, not the world’s or our own....

According to Jesus and his half-brother James, hearing and putting into practice the truth of God’s word is the highest form of worship. Today’s passage emphasizes not speaking evil of others, recognizing that our lives are short, and that all our plans should be...

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. That’s not just a proverb—it’s a spiritual law. Today’s passage calls us to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to the Lord. As we align ourselves vertically with God and His priorities, we will find...

Have you ever had a fight with someone you love—or with someone with whom you work or serve alongside? Of course you have. But why? James answered this lovingly but bluntly: These conflicts arise from our own selfish desires. Yet there is hope. If we humble ourselves...

In today’s passage, James did not mince words. He confronted believers that were harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition, which was essentially lying against the truth that they claimed to know. They should have known better . . . and so should we. Please open your...

According to James’ inspired words, there are two kinds of wisdom: heavenly and worldly. What kind of wisdom shapes your life? Is it humble, peaceable, and pure—or fueled by envy and strife? From the pulpit to the workplace, from family life to ministry, this passage...

The uncontrolled tongue is a fire—a world of iniquity. Without the Spirit’s temperance, our speech can defile, divide, and destroy. Though no human can tame the tongue, Scripture calls us to yield our words to the wisdom from above. Bitter and sweet, blessing and...

Words matter. According to James, they can either build up—or burn down. The tongue, though small, can steer the course of a life. From bridles and rudders to sparks and fires, Scripture paints vivid pictures of how powerful—and dangerous—our speech can be, especially...

In his general epistle, James made it clear: Faith comes to life through action. Drawing from the Old Testament, he highlighted Abraham offering up Isaac, and Rahab risking everything to protect God’s people as two powerful examples of faith that were validated by...

In today’s passage, faith and action collide. Is belief alone enough? What does living faith look like in the life of a true believer? In a world full of empty words and promises, James calls us to a faith that moves, serves, and obeys. Please open your Bible to James...

James wrote, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.” The word royal refers to something that belongs to a king. For those who have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord, this royal law is not only His—it is...

In today’s passage, we are confronted with a sobering truth: favoritism has no place in the life of a believer. Whether it is based on popularity, wealth, race, or social standing, showing partiality contradicts the heart of the Gospel. Sadly, this struggle has...

What does God call pure religion? It is more than words—it is a life marked by compassion and holiness, especially to the vulnerable like the unborn, young without parents, or the aged without spouses. We should also seek to keep ourselves unspotted from the world....

Every good and perfect gift is from above. With these words, James reminded us that, in a world full of shifting shadows and broken promises, we can trust in our heavenly Father’s unchanging generosity. Therefore, we should receive God’s Word with humility and...

James reminded believers that those who endure hardship for righteousness’ sake will receive the crown of life. We must also diligently resist temptations to sin. Such spiritual resilience is possible only through the Spirit-inspired power of the crucified Christ and...

In a world full of trials and temptations, today’s passage offers a sobering reminder that deception and death wait for those drawn away by desire, but rewards and eternal life come to those who patiently endure for righteousness’ sake. Fortunately, when a person is...

In the opening of James’ general epistle, we learn that trials are an unavoidable part of a believer’s life. However, through prayer, we can gain the necessary heavenly wisdom and guidance to prevail. When our world view is heavenly—rather than worldly—we can truly...

The opening verses of James’ epistle to the dispersed Jews call them—and us—to count it all joy when the Lord tests our faith in the crucible of trials. We are urged to prayerfully seek wisdom from above and anchor our hearts in God’s unchanging character. Whether...

Paul ended his epistle to the Romans with a wonderful benediction and doxolgy. God alone is the source and display of pure wisdom. All glory belongs to Him and to Jesus Christ our Mediator forever. Please open your Bible to Romans chapter sixteen, verse nineteen, and...

Paul closed his epistle with a warning about ungodly teachers that might try to worm their way into the Church. Such people try to create a following of their own, and they teach that which is contrary to sound doctrine. Such people and their false doctrines should be...

It is a joy to serve the Lord, but that does not mean that serving Him is easy. Multiple passages of Scripture describe ministry as labor using the same word that expresses what a woman does when she brings forth a child. One way or another, people will find a way to...

Priscilla and Aquila had the gift of helps, and Paul heartily acknowledged their service to him and the Lord. A church even met in their home. They were willing to risk their lives for the cause of Christ. Are you willing to lay your life down for the cause of Christ?...

At first glance, today’s passage might seem like an uninteresting catalog of names that have little or no meaning for us today. However, upon closer examination, this often-overlooked passage yields many important lessons for Christians today. Please open your Bible...

The fruit of believing in Jesus and obeying His commandments is joy and hope. If we do not obey God’s word, then we will not experience His promised rest. Studying and knowing God’s word is empty unless we apply what we learn to our lives. Please open your Bible to...