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Date Posted: 12:40:53 06/19/22 Sun
Author: c
Subject: even more teachings 6/2022

Back to the Bible

Jun 10, 2022 2:00 am EDT

The Righteous Will Live By Faith

June 10



Read Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.


Reflect

Do you ever feel discouraged because God seems silent even in the midst of great evil and suffering? How does Habakkuk encourage you to continue to trust God?

It might be hard for some to keep the faith these days. Sin and evil have always been a part of our world. But man, it sure seems to be snowballing these days and that snowball is going downhill fast. We live in a culture that doesn’t like to call sin, sin. Instead, we like to shout sin and embrace it with pride. Like the prophet Jeremiah said, our society does not seem to be ashamed and has forgotten how to blush (Jeremiah 6:15). Isaiah 5:20 warned: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil….” That is just what we are seeing. On top of that, violence abounds in our nation, wars are being fought all around us, and economic hardship looms.

Habakkuk was a prophet who ministered to Judah when it was on its last leg as a nation. Scholars aren’t sure of the exact date, but we know Habakkuk wrote it before the Babylonians invaded Judah, probably around 605 B.C. Sin was pervasive and warnings to repent were long ignored. Habakkuk complained that God was allowing all of this sin to go unpunished and he didn’t understand why. But what I respect about Habakkuk is that when he was struggling with issues that tested his faith or caused him to doubt, he didn’t run from God. Instead, he ran to God. He was open and honest with God about his questions and concerns.

He said, “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear? Or cry to You ‘Violence!’ and You will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2). He continued that iniquity, wrongdoing, destruction, violence, strife, and contention were rampant. But “justice never goes forth” (1:4).

In the next few verses of chapter 1, we read God’s answer which was probably surprising to Habakkuk. First, God reassured him that He was working. In fact, he was planning to bring the Chaldeans (the Babylonians) to punish Judah for their sins. But that confused Habakkuk even more. The Babylonians were even more corrupt and evil than Judah was! Why were they the nation that would be used as Judah’s judgment?

God responded that justice was for sure on the way but all in His time. God said, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:3-4). In other words, those who trust God know that they may have to wait for God to fulfill His promises, but they know that He ultimately will. God also reminded Habakkuk that He is in charge of the entire world: “But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20).

Habakkuk ended with a prayer of praise. He had a lot of questions but he knew that only God had the answers. Habakkuk wisely turned to the Lord with his doubts, worries, fears, and complaints. Even though the answer from God wasn't what he was expecting, by the end of his conversation with God, Habakkuk was content. He understood that the Lord was God and he was not. He knew what God had done for Israel in the past and he remembered all His mighty works. He knew that God was sovereign and powerful. And even though he feared what was to come, he knew that God was a righteous judge.

In today’s verses, we read Habakkuk's response to God in a song of faith. Even though he knew hard times were coming, he still rejoiced in the Lord. He knew God would strengthen him. He still found joy in his salvation. In fact, that is our Scarlet Thread of redemption for today. Habakkuk trusted that he would experience salvation from the Lord, no matter what.

Friends, we don't know exactly what the future holds or how long the Lord will tarry. But we do know that no matter what, “the LORD is in His holy temple.” He is in control and we can trust Him. Justice will be served in His time yet for those of us who trust Him, He is the God of our salvation! If you are experiencing some doubts or have concerns about the state of affairs in the world, do what Habakkuk did. Turn to God rather than run from Him. We won’t get all of the answers, but we’ll draw closer to the One who has the answers. When we are close to Him, we can live by faith.

Pray

God, sometimes it feels like suffering and evil are taking over the world. It often makes me wonder: how long until You return? But I trust You. I know that “though the wrong seems oft’ so strong, God is the Ruler yet” (Babcock). One day, You will right all wrongs. So I take joy in You, the God of my salvation! Amen.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford

-------------------------=

intouch.org Daily Devotion 6/18/22

God’s Purpose in Our Hardships

God orchestrates the events of our lives, even the difficult ones, for His glory and our good.

Psalm 105:16-24

The Bible is relevant for every situation. Although the details of our circumstances differ from what we read about in Scripture, the principles still apply. As we saw yesterday, for example, Joseph’s story teaches lessons to practice in our own life.

Something that stands out in Genesis 37-50 is how the Lord orchestrated events to achieve His purpose. Even though Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, God is the one who sent him to Egypt for the benefit of the Israelites (Ps. 105:17). The years of adversity positioned Joseph to become the leader who would rescue God’s people from famine.

Verse 19 goes on to tell us that “the Word of the Lord tested him” (ESV). When Joseph was a young man, God gave him two dreams about his future exaltation (Gen. 37:5-11), yet he would experience 13 years of humiliation and hardship before seeing their fulfillment. The Lord was faithful, however, and at just the right time, Joseph was released to assume the role God had planned for him.

Our Heavenly Father is arranging the events of your life too, and in the process, you also are being tested by His Word. Your difficulties in no way indicate that the Lord is absent. Instead, He oversees the events of your life and works them to fulfill His long-term purposes for you.

------------------------=

Turning Points Devotional June 2022

12 Fascinating Ways to experience the Bible

by David Jeremiah

(edited)

p 10 - 13

The Word of God is a SWORD....God's Word can pierce into your heart, facilitate your healing, and defend you from attack...(Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

Now look! The sword is changing into a MIRROR, one that reflects the mind of God and our true condition...The Bible shows us what needs correction, and as we look into Its pages, we see how to make the needed improvement. (James 1:23 - 24 For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.)

But wait, what's happening to the mirror? It's changing shape again, this time into a HAMMER....The same hammer that breaks a rock builds a house. (Jeremiah 23:29 Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? ).

Now imagine your hammer turning into WATER in your hands. The Word of God can cleanse, quench and refresh. Nothing helps us like extended time in the Scripture to cleanse and refresh us. (Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, )

Now think of Scripture as a SEED. ...When the seed of Scripture is planted in the furrows of our lives, It can bring forth life and fruitfulness. It can turn our lives from barren deserts to well-watered gardens. (1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.)

The Word of God is also SILVER....This has to do with the infallibility of the Bible (Psalm 12:6 And the Words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.)

Now watch as your Bible assumes the shape of a LAMP. (Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.)

But watch out! The lamp is about to drop away, leaving only the FIRE itself in your hands, or rather, in your heart. (Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in His Name, His Word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold It in! I can’t do it!)

Now, look at your Bible and picture it as a beautiful loaf of artisan BREAD. (Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.’")

As long as we're talking about nourishment, don't forget the Word of God is HONEY, bringing the sweet comfort of God's love to all who taste it. (Psalm 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.)

The Word of God is also MILK. (1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby:)

As we finish, look at your Bible and imagine it turning to pure GOLD. (Psalm 119:127 Therefore I love thy Commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.)

...Rediscover Its wonder!

-------------------------------------=

Today in the Word

7/3/22

Principles, Not Promises

(edited)

The biggest challenge to understanding Proverbs is to realize it is teaching principles rather than making promises. It may seem like Proverbs is promising us...a desired outcome. Therefore, we believe that if we follow the book's wise advise, we'll receive these benefits. When calamity strikes, we may feel God has not kept His Word. The books of Job and Ecclesiastes struggle with this very question.

But Proverbs is giving us principles, not promises. We are advised that it is better to be wise than foolish, which is true. Most of the time, hard work leads to success and pride causes our downfall. But in the context of this earthly life, we see exceptions....

In the New Testament, John the Baptist's faithful service ends in death...It is helpful to read Proverbs in context of the entire Bible, many of these promises will be realized in the next life, where we will dwell forever as the adopted children of God.

...Keeping an eternal perspective helps us better understand the benefits of wise living in the here and now.

Russell L. Meek

------------------------=

Today in the Word

7/15/22

Guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

(edited)

...Rather, Proverbs 4:23 and the entire passage, is emphasizing the importance of guarding our hearts from the sin and evil that wants to take up residence within us.

...Since we know that our tendency is to allow sin, we must actively guard our hearts, filling them instead with righteousness and holiness.

Russell L. Meek

------------------------=

Today in the Word

7/21/22

Love covers all

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

(edited)

...We must keep in mind that love is not primarily an emotion, though it certainly involves our emotions. Rather, love is an action, A God-ordained way of acting toward others. In Proverbs 10:12, love is pitted against hatred...Love, therefore, involves forgiveness: it is the opposite of picking a fight or continuing one. Love demands we extend grace when we could rightly continue to throw metaphorical punches.

However, we must also remember that love disciplines, so when this proverb says that love "covers over all wrongs" (v. 12). It is not saying that love covers up all wrongs. Love extends grace and forgiveness, yes...But love does not hide sin, for hiding someone's (and our own) sin allows the sin to continue to lead them (and us) down the path of folly and away from the Father's embrace.

Russell L. Meek

------------------------=

Today in the Word

7/26/22

Better than wealth

(edited)

Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

There are many times when we can choose humility...but do we? It is tempting to select the path that elevates us, brings us respect and reward. Ask God to give you a humble heart that is willing to serve outside of the spotlight.

Russell L. Meek

------------------------=

Today in the Word

7/30/22

Speaking or silence

Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

(edited)

...The primary purpose of Proverbs is to make its readers wise. We learn that wisdom is more than just knowing the right thing to do. It is doing the right thing at the right time....

In some contexts,...verbal argument will do no good....Answering that person is a waste of your emotional energy. However, there are also times when you should "answer a fool according to his folly" because the person needs to learn from you. In this case, the time and energy spent correcting this fool will be well spent.

....Proverbs gives us principles to live by, and it's up to us to decide - through the guidance of the Holy Spirit - when to speak and when to be silent. That is precisely why we must study the Scriptures diligently and depend fully on Christ.

...ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to speak truth when necessary and the grace to be silent when needed.

Russell L. Meek

------------------------=

Beside the Still water

7/27/22

Regrets and repentance

(edited)

...Feelings of remorse for past sins and mistakes help to fortify us for the future. They add new resolve to the thoughts and intents of our daily life. We need to thank our Creator daily for the promptings of the Holy Spirit, which help us to avoid things that will cause regrets later in life.

We also need to accept trials and afflictions that bring us to the point of regret and repentance. Since we are in this life to prepare for eternity rather than to seek pleasure, we can praise God for the trials He allows in our life.

Fred Beachy

--------------------=

Beside the Still water

8/7/22

Should we love the world?

(edited)

The term world is used in different ways in the Bible....

John 3:16 says that "God so loved the world" - referring to all mankind. But 1 John 2:15 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." What is the difference? The second verse is talking about the world as an evil system that opposes God.

...We must resist the devil and avoid getting tainted by this sinful system around us - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.....

...Jesus loved the people of the world and had compassion on them. He avoided the sinfulness of the world's system. As His followers, we must do the same. Only by the Blood of Jesus can we experience victory over this world.

Benuel Glick

Christians are in the world but not of the world.

------------------=

Beside the Still water

8/18/22

A Disciplined mind

(edited)

...God calls us to gird up the loins of our mind. Four key actions are involved.

Repent. ...Repentance is a drastic change in the very essence of my thinking, along with and change of direction...Repentance is the foundation of a truly disciplined mind.

Renounce. To renounce is to disown or make unwelcome. Since repentance does not immediately reverse all our wrong thinking patterns, we must renounce all past wrong thoughts and actions as they "resurface" in our new walk. Today's Bible reading clearly teaches that we need to put off the old and put on the new (Ephesians 4:17 - 32).

Renew. As we clear our mind of the old, we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) This requires continual feeding on Scripture and good things. (1 Peter 2:2).

Resist. A renewed mind needs to be constantly guarded. We do not give in to every thought that the enemy brings. (James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.).

Having a disciplined mind yields rich rewards. God's Word says that what we do in secret, He will reward openly. This certainly applies to diligent effort toward developing a disciplined mind.

Marvin Joel Eicher

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:

---------------------------------=

Beside the Still water

8/19/22

The Christian's Motivation

(edited)


...A Christian loves the Lord and lives in the light of eternity. His spiritual perspective of Heavenly realities affects his daily life and conduct.


As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by a living hope based on the unfailing promises of God's Word....Living for Christ is our passion. Serving others is our joy. Earth is but our temporary abode. Heaven is our home.

Mark Kropf

The unbeliever is motivated by his love for the world.

The Christian is motivated by his love for God and his neighbor.

---------------------------=

Beside the Still water

8/28/22

Facing perilous times

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

(edited)

...Usually our path is not physically perilous, but it certainly has spiritual perils. We should not fret about spiritual perils any more than David was to fret about physical perils.

It is very encouraging to notice the secure stepping stones that God provides for His children during perilous times (Psalms 37:1 - 25).

Step 1: Trust in the LORD."...Step 2: "Delight thyself also in the LORD." Step 3: "Commit thy way unto the LORD." This difficult step of commitment means rolling everything over into the Lord's care. Step 4: "Rest in the LORD." This can be the experience of all who are godly.


...God has provided clear instructions for a safe journey through perilous times.

Joseph Kuepfer

Psalm 23:3

-------------------------------=

Open Line with Dr. Mike Fabarez 6/18/22

Matthew 8:26

Mark 4:40

Luke 8:25


Jesus told His disciples that they would go over to the other side. Because of this information that Jesus Christ gave His disciples, the disciples deserved to be rebuked by Jesus Christ when they questioned whether Jesus Christ cared about the situation. (Mark 4:38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”). Trust is shown by holding your tongue from negative statements that show worry or doubt. This may be more of an aspiration type thing than solid ground, but with more experience, become more solid with each victory.

(Some could say if those negative feeling are there, it doesn't matter whether a saint verbally expresses those feelings, but Scripture has stated that there is benefit to keeping your tongue so situations can become clear:

Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.


Saints are priests:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

Priests must show controlled behavior for the office of being a priest. No matter what the disturbance like the disciples on the boat in the storm, saints are supposed to maintain a level of behavior that reflects trust in the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ power and goodness and lovingkindness.

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