faith Archives - Page 22 of 33 - Plain Bible Teaching

Andy Sochor September 14, 2012

Praise for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (9/14)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Daniel 1-3.

Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego – were thrown into a fiery furnace for their refusal to bow down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. After they were miraculously delivered, Nebuchadnezzar offered some praise to these three men.

“Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God’” (Daniel 3:28).

Nebuchadnezzar mentioned four things that these men did that we must be willing to do also if we wish to please God today.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: faith, obedience, sacrifice

Andy Sochor August 16, 2012

Faith in Vain

Faith is absolutely essential if one wants to be saved. The Hebrew writer said, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Paul wrote about being “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1). But while faith is essential, it is important to understand that we must have the right kind of faith as it is described in the New Testament. If we do not, then whatever faith we do have will be worthless or in vain. How can faith become of no value to us?
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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: authority, faith, obedience, truth, word of God

Andy Sochor August 9, 2012

“I Alone Am Left”

After contending with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and proving to the people the power of God, Elijah was forced to flee from the wrath of Jezebel. He then spoke to the Lord at Horeb about what was troubling him.

“Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away’” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

Elijah had just been a part of a decisive victory for the Lord over Baal on Mount Carmel. But despite this, he was in such a depressed state that he wished the Lord would take his life (1 Kings 19:4). He was focusing on the challenges, hardships, and persecution before him, while being convinced that there was no one else who was of like-mind striving to serve the Lord.

As Christians, we may also feel isolated from others and, as a result, face what seems to be a daunting task of enduring the hardships that will come for servants of God (2 Timothy 3:12) without aid, comfort, or encouragement from others. We may feel as though we are alone in standing for the truth while everyone around us seems to be compromising, apostatizing, or wholly apathetic about contending for the faith. During such times, it is important to remember a few points.
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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: encouragement, faith, God, persecution

Andy Sochor August 3, 2012

God Will Help Us Fight Our Battles (8/3)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Chronicles 32-33.

“After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged and fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself. Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, ‘Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?’

“And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number. He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, ‘Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (2 Chronicles 32:1-8).

Hezekiah was confident that the Lord would fight for them, allowing them to defeat the mighty Assyrian army. But with this faith in God, notice what he also does:
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: faith

Andy Sochor August 2, 2012

"Set Your House in Order" (8/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 20-21.

“In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.”‘ Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly” (2 Kings 20:1-3).

If you continue reading in this chapter, you will see God answering Hezekiah’s prayer and granting him an additional fifteen years of life (v. 5-6). But before we get to God’s response, there are a few lessons from this passage that we need to learn.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: death, faith, obedience, prayer

Andy Sochor July 25, 2012

Hezekiah’s Prayer for Deliverance (7/25)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 37-39; Psalm 76.

When Assyria invaded Judah, King Hezekiah sought help from the Lord. After receiving assurances from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 37:5-7), he went to the temple and prayed:

“O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God” (Isaiah 37:16-20).

There are a few important points to notice from the Hezekiah’s prayer:
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: faith, God, prayer

Andy Sochor July 5, 2012

Joash Did What Was Right All the Days of Jehoiada (7/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24.

Joash became king when he was just seven years old. Understandably, he needed help from a faithful, God-fearing man at the beginning of his reign in order to rule properly. He received the guidance he needed from Jehoiada.