OMBS7/ In the Good Times and Bad

PRAYER - "Religious Lip-Service Is Equal To No Religion At All" The Pharisees antagonized Jesus because they taught unscriptural traditions. To them, washing their hands before eating was a major religious activity, but they were dismissive about honoring their parents (one of the ten commandments). Jesus rebuked them for supplanting the word of God with worthless traditions. "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Biblically incorrect religion is worthless lip-service. Matthew 15:7-8 - "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." PRINCIPAL - "Habakkuk Recalls Israel's Deliverance From Egypt" The prophet remembered the glory days of Israel, when God brought them out of Egypt, through Teman (Edom) and Mount Paran. He recalled the pestilences in Pharaoh's courts, how God opened the sea, and afflicted those who stood in the way. "Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people." Habakkuk trembled, because God was about to judge them sorely. Habakkuk 3:16 - "When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, ...when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops." PRINCIPLES - "God Sacrifices The Wicked For The Righteous" God must and will destroy the wicked for the sake of the righteous. Righteousness will be universal. Zephaniah 1:7-8,15-16 - "The day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. ...in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish... That day is a day of wrath, ...trouble and distress, ...wasteness and desolation, ...darkness and gloominess, ...clouds and thick darkness, ...trumpet and alarm. ...the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them." PROPHECIES - "The LORD Will Cleanse The Land By Consumption" This major prophecy is rooted in Leviticus 26:15 and Deuteronomy 28. Isaiah and Daniel declared it. God will cleanse the land by consumption at Armageddon. Will there be a nuclear holocaust? Zephaniah 1:2-6 - "I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. ...man and beast; ...fowls ...fishes ...stumblingblocks ...the wicked; ...I will cut off man from off the land, ...Judah, ...inhabitants of Jerusalem; ...remnant of Baal ...them that worship the host of heaven ...that ...swear by the LORD ...that swear by Malcham; ...that are turned back from the LORD; ...that have not sought the LORD." In Good Times and Bad

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

- Psalm 91:14-15

God is called by many names. He is the Lord our Healer, our Provider, our Banner and our Righteousness. He also promises to be our Deliverer. In this troubled world that may very well be what we need Him to be most often. But there are many believers who never experience God's mighty delivering power because, instead of walking closely with Him day by day, they wait until danger strikes to call upon Him. That just doesn't work. If you want God to rescue you in the bad times, you have to fellowship with Him in the good times. Why? Because God responds to faith. Our faith—not our need—is what causes Him to act on our behalf. And we'll never be able to develop that kind of faith, that kind of trust and confidence in Him, if we don't spend enough time with Him to get to know Him. First John 3:20-22 tells us that we have confidence toward God when we do the things that are pleasing in His sight. If we only serve God halfheartedly, then we will not have confidence in Him to deliver us from trouble. When danger surrounds us, instead of being filled with faith, we'll find ourselves paralyzed with fear. Love and serve God with your whole heart. Walk closely with Him in the good times. Then, when you need Him to be your Deliverer, you'll know without a doubt you can trust Him to care for you!

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38