THE JUST WILL LIVE BY FAITH

Time with Jesus - 5 Oct 2013

Hi all,

Our Old Testament includes the writings of twelve so called, “Minor Prophets”. This was done to distinguish them from the so called “Major Prophets”; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. 

What these 12 men stated was by no means minor. Most of them brought God’s warnings to the people of their day. Habakkuk was a little different. His book was written as though he was dialoging with God.

Habakkuk

Very little is known about Habakkuk. It’s also not certain when he brought God’s message to the people. We know Isaiah warned Hezekiah about the rising power of the Babylonians. Some years later, Habakkuk brought his Prophesy. God told Habakkuk about the Babylonians. It’s likely that the dialogue with God took place before the fall of Nineveh in 612BC. So a “thumb-suck” produces a guesstimate of ±620/30BC. 

It must have taken place before the battle of Carchemish, that took place in ±605BC between the allied armies of Egypt, led by Pharaoh Necco 2 and former Assyria, against Babylonia led by Nebuchadnezzar 2. 605BC also corresponds with the date when Jerusalem surrendered to the Babylonians. That’s when Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and his friends to Babylon.

At the time of Habakkuk’s prophesy, the standards of morality and justice in Judah and Jerusalem were shocking. Things were so bad, Habakkuk “had a go” at God.

 “Why are you allowing the wicked to prosper” Habakkuk asks. “Can’t you see what’s happening? Why are you not doing anything about it?” “But I am doing something” is what God replied to Habakkuk. “Can’t you see it? I’m raising up the Babylonians!” In 20^th century terms it would be similar to God saying, “I’m raising up the Nazi’s”. 

What the Babylonians did to the people and land they conquered, beggars the imagination. They killed men, women and children when it suited them. Some were taken to Babylon as servants and slaves. The ones like Daniel and his friends were emasculated. 

Meanwhile, back in the place where people had once lived, they smashed the cities. All animals were slaughtered. The crops were burned. Even the trees, along with their fruit, were burned down and destroyed. When the Babylonians were finished, nothing remained alive. It is reported that they would keep some of the defeated men with them. Then if they couldn’t cross a river, they would drive the prisoners into the water and kill them. Then the Babylonians would march across the water on the dead bodies of their prisoners.

Habakkuk could hardly believe what God had told him. The Babylonians were even more wicked than the men in Judah and Jerusalem. Surely God wouldn’t allow these fierce and terrible people to overrun Judah and Jerusalem? Nothing would be left behind and God’s people would be destroyed.

“So will it really happen?” wonders Habakkuk to himself. “I’d better climb into my watchtower and wait for God to tell me conclusively, if it’s a certainty”. Was this a real watchtower on the walls of the city, or was he speaking figuratively of being the Lord’s prophet? In either case, the outcome is the same. God tells him it is certain to happen. Consequently, Habakkuk is told to warn the people. 

In our day and age we would probably advise everyone by email or on the internet. Some years ago we would have had pamphlets printed and distributed. In Habakkuk’s day, messages were sometimes carved onto stones and distributed rather like we do with our pamphlets. Nevertheless there appears to be some urgency in getting the message distributed. 

The reader could run with the content of what Habakkuk had “seen” in his vision. Alternatively the runner could read the message while he was running. At this point Habakkuk learns from the Lord that the Babylonian invasion would certainly take place sometime in the future. 

Then the Lord adds that if it seems to be taking a long time, be patient. It will happen. ² Then the LORD said to me, "Write My answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. ³ This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. ⁴ "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk 2:2-4 NLT

The central issue here is in the last few words of Habakkuk 4:4. These are the words that sparked Martin Luther and the protestant reformation. The KJV states, the just shall live by his faith. It’s not a good translation. A better translation is the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Surely, this is what living is all about. The Lord wants us to live faithfully before Him. We have mistakenly translated the word “faith” and made the passage read something different from what was intended. According to Strong’s numbers, the word means: literally - firmness; figuratively - it means security; moral fidelity: - faithful, - faithfully, - faithfulness, set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

Nothing has changed in ±2600 years. In this wicked world we live in, we are required by God to be faithful to Him. One small difference is that for you and me, it’s what Jesus requires. 

He knows who His followers are. They are not perfect, but are trying to live a life pleasing to Him. They avoid sin like the plague. They are in pursuit of holiness. They seek to put Him first in every situation. They are the ones who “endure to the end”. Am I doing that? Are you?

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 5 Oct. 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE JUST WILL LIVE BY FAITH
Martin Luther is said to have launched the Protestant Reformation, when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of All Saints' Church, in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517. His famous rallying cry “The just shall live by faith” has been mistranslated in the KJV. Another translation states 4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk 2:4 NLT This was not a deliberate mistranslation. It’s a slight difference of understanding to the translators ±400 years ago. The issue for English speaking people, becomes apparent with a careful reading of the Book of Habakkuk. The meditation in verse today, describes the circumstances around the “dialogue” between Habakkuk and God in Habakkuk’s vision. This constitutes the first two chapters. In brief we read Habakkuk’s complaint about the corruption and violence he sees in Judah. We read of his accusation that God is doing nothing about it. The Lord replies and tells him He is doing something. He is raising up the Babylonians to deal with His people. Habakkuk was horrified. “Surely You won’t do that”, he says to the Lord. “They are more wicked than we are. They are incredibly cruel. They destroy all life when they invade. Men, women, children, animals, livestock, crops and trees. Nothing is left alive when they depart”. It’s a terrible picture of what he thinks the Babylonians will do to God’s people, the occupants of Judah. This is the point where God tells Habakkuk that not everyone will be slaughtered. Those who are seeking to follow Him in justice and righteousness will be protected. They will live because of their faithfulness to Him. i.e. The “just” (righteous) will be protected (will live) by their faithfulness (faith) to God. God had already told Habakkuk to write down the details of this vision on stone tablets and for it to be distributed throughout Judah. They were to be written so that those who run can read, or those who read can run. It was to be widely distributed. The vision would certainly take place although it would not be in the immediate future. At this point Habakkuk becomes reconciled to what the Lord has promised and the magnificent prayer in chapter three is recorded. He realises that no matter what happens to the people of Judah, those who love Him will survive. The Babylonians can do their worst. He concludes with the glorious words, “17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT In the 21st century we need to learn from this for our future! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			37 In just a very little while, "The one who is coming will come. He will not wait. Hebrews 10:37 NIrV	“How long must I cry out to You and still You do not hear? Violence is everywhere; Your people filled with fear. Justice is impossible; corruption’s all around. Why do You do nothing Lord? Why can You not be found?” “Look round at the nations! Look and be amazed. I am doing something that’s sure to make you dazed. I’m raising up in Babylon, a cruel and wicked folk. They’ll march through all the nations and make them wear their yoke. They’ll crush all opposition; be forced to bend their knees. Anyone who fight’s them will be butchered as they please. They gallop on their horses and swoop down on their prey. They scoff at kings and fortresses who try to bid them nay! They slaughter men and animals; they burn the crops and trees. The men are mostly massacred. The women mainly seized.” O Lord, You are eternal. You are the Holy One. Are You bringing discipline so we will all be gone? I know we are wicked. But Lord they are much worse. Surely they should be the ones whom You are going to curse? Will you let them catch us like fish caught in a net. They will string us up on hooks? Is that what we must get? Will You let them do this to the folk who bear Your Name? Surely there’s another way our wickedness to tame? Is this Your intention and what You’re going to do? I’ll climb my watch-tower to get a better view, Of what’s about to happen. Perhaps You’ll change Your mind. And some sort of alternative You’ll see if You can find. “Listen very carefully and write My answer down. Chisel it on tablets to take to every town. Summon men to carry it; those who can run fast; Distribute My warning because the dye is cast. Many will be massacred. Many folk will die But I’ll preserve the faithful. I will not deny, Those who truly follow Me. They’ll certainly be saved. All of those remaining will be butchered or enslaved. It is sure to happen. Perhaps not by next year. Sometime in the future, this judgement will draw near. If it’s slow in coming, you must wait patiently. But that it’s going to happen? It is a certainty.” Jim Strickland Written 5th Oct 2012
			2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write My answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:2-3 NLT
			8 Dear friends, don't ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:8-9 GW
			15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness’ and truth. Psalms 86:15 NASB
			1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence-- 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:1-4 ESV

GRACE GIFTS

Time with Jesus - 4 Oct 2013

Hi all,

I’ve mentioned my dad before. He was gifted by God to be an outstanding turbine erector. When he was 15, he started working of C A Parsons & Co in Heaton Works, Newcastle on Tyne. His father (my grandfather) had a senior position in the Despatch Department and, in spite of the depression, persuaded the company to take on my father as an apprentice fitter and turner in the factory. 

He started working there in 1932. He told me that his starting wages were in the order of 5/- (five shillings) per week. Not a lot of money. But since you could buy a house for £500, (my grandmother paid that for her house in Hull) it was probably par for the course. In those days my dad was a smoker. (He stopped in 1951) If I remember correctly, he could buy 10 cigarettes and a box of matches for less than 1/-. He worked 5½ days per week. However, he was a skilled fitter, who took to the job like a “duck to water”. He made rapid progress through his 5 years of training. So much so, they sent him to work in the Outside Department. 

This means that he travelled from construction site to construction site where turbo-generators were being installed in the small power stations of those days. Once again his gifts were appreciated and in 1937 he was one of their itinerant installers/repairers. He was unsupervised and thrived on the work. When the war began, he was working in a reserved occupation all over Britain repairing and re-commissioning plant. He was so busy and the demands of the war were such that the company didn’t want to give him time off to get married. Where and when necessary, he would work round the clock to get plant up and running again.

I would have loved to have his skills and ability. I didn’t. I was also taken on as an apprentice fitter and turner in September 1960. They paid me £2.12/4 per week; not very much. That’s ±1/- per hour! In fact, dad had to pay for my board and lodgings in Newcastle. He was working in Essex building West Thurrock Power Station. It was a 40 hours week. Dad found me a job and Jesus found me right there. Jesus said nothing about working hours or salary. What he did tell me was according to Romans ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23 NLT

It was pointed out I’d spent 18 years earning my wages. I’d worked very hard at what I had done and was doing, so there was a big back-log due to me. It was guaranteed that I would be paid in full. Furthermore, I was warned, living the life I thought I enjoyed, would mean that by the end of my life, my accumulated wages would be astronomical. The case of the man in Matthew’s gospel was drawn to my attention. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. Mat 18:24 ESV

Exactly how much this was in 1960 £ was far too much for me to calculate. I understand that it would not be possible to repay such a debt, even if I lived several lifetimes. In the meantime I was clocking up my wages at more or less the speed of light. Now Jesus had said, ²⁸ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:28 NLT Now I was only 18 and had an eye for the ladies; something I understood is normal for an 18 year old male. But the way I was looking at them, must have been as close to “lust” as the eyes of any 18 year male could be. Yes! I had a problem. It was insoluble. If it went on much longer, ten thousand talents would be small change!

Then a voice sort of “whispered” in my inner ear, “What next? Do you want to carry on down this road?” “No sir!” was my response. “I’m in a jam aren’t I?” “You sure are” said the voice. Then the voice continued. “How would you like to swap? I’ll forgive you. More than that! I’ll pick up your wages. More than that, I’ll help you change your life so that your wage account won’t get any bigger. Here’s the deal. Commit your life to Me. Make Me Lord of your life. Promise to follow me until you die. Repent and walk with me on the “straight and narrow” road, and I’ll be your Saviour.”

“But Sir”, I replied, “what will it cost me”? “Entrance costs you nothing. From then on it costs everything you have. I’ll give it to you as a free gift.” Now even at 18 I could spot a good deal. “One question Sir!” I asked. “Is this for real? Why are you offering this to me?” I asked. “Because I love you,” the voice stated.

A gift costs nothing. If there is a cost, it’s not a gift. If you have to work for it, you have earned it. If you’ve earned it, it’s not a gift. For example, when I married Phyllida, she had four children. We have always regarded marriage as giving ourselves to each other. We are in covenant together. I gave her everything I have. She gave me everything she had. These were gifts to each other. It meant that now, all four of her children are my children. They didn’t have to earn it to “deserve it!” 

They became mine because I love Phyllida and we are in covenant together. She is my beloved and I am hers. We are committed to each other in much the same way as Jesus is committed to the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are also in covenant. The covenant of life! Phyllida and I are in the covenant of marriage. As far as we are concerned, it will never be broken.

The reality of this is the essence of giving. Phyllida and her children are a “gift” from her to me. Our gift of ourselves to each other will never be taken away. Covenant commitment demands this. Thank You Lord Jesus!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give			Time with Jesus – Friday, 04 October 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes							©
	INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	GRACE GIFTS
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Love / Goodness Joy / Faithfulness Peace / Gentleness Patience / Self Control Kindness		GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT Discerning of Spirits / Faith Word of Wisdom / Word of Knowledge Prophecy (foretelling and forth-telling) Tongues / Interpretation of Tongues Gifts of Healing / Working of Miracles		6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 1 Corinthians 12:6-8 NLT	1              Let us take on The Christ who’s the One. And walk in the gifts He will bring For all that we do Will only come true When Jesus is truly our King. 2              So let’s look around At what we have found As we have come into this place. The gifts will emerge In a powerful surge As Jesus expresses His Grace 3              Yes, let us be found Where assignments abound And let all our gifts be displayed For stewards we’ll be When the people all see A love that forever can’t fade 4              So how do we build That the Word is fulfilled And people all look to our King? It’s not you or me That the people must see, But Jesus who’s praises we sing 5              And let us all serve With sinew and nerve The One we all love and adore. For as all we give He’ll cause us to live And worship our Master much more. 6              As Moses’ face Was veiled in that place Let Jesus’ gifts be revealed. There’ll be no surprise When He opens our eyes To things we thought were concealed. 7              Fulfilment is found Where the gifting’s abound And we flow harmoniously. The ultimate end, We needn’t defend For sinners converted we’ll see!		8              We don’t want a flake Or anything fake To walk in the way we should go. So fill us with power To move hour by hour In all of the things that You know. 9              His burden is light It isn’t a fight To do all the things He desires. Just listen and do And all will come true. And His people will all be on fire. 10            Give thanks for the gifts And the way that they lift And carry your people on high. We won’t interfere When Your Spirit draws near And Jesus will cause us to fly. 11            God’s gifting is sure It’s Holy and pure And we will bring Him all the praise And if we are humble We won’t cause to stumble The people who walk in Your ways. 12            We’re not all the same And we worship the name Of Him who is more than complete. And as we harmonise And cast out all lies, We’ll all behold Satan’s defeat 13            Our body’s at rest And we will be blessed When all of our people are one. The warring will end When our knees we all bend And all of our quarrels are gone. 14            So let’s celebrate That as from this date The gifts of His Spirit we’ll see. And as we mature We’ll begin to endure And everyone here will be free.
Here we go again. Yesterday we looked at the Gifts and the Fruit of the Spirit. Today’s Scriptures warrant a further look at these topics. It is widely held that the Gifts of the Spirit were only needed during the time of the apostles in order to “kick start” the Church. I’ve met many lovely Christians who are convinced of this. The view is, that something like the Apollo Space system, the Gifts of the Spirit were needed to “launch” the young church into orbit. Then, rather like part of the used rocket system, the spent parts fell back down to earth. With the satellite in orbit, those various stages were no longer required. Thus, when the church was established, the gifts were no longer needed and could crash back to earth. It’s an excellent comparison. For convenience this has been called the evangelical point of view. The real question is whether or not it is true? The Charismatic/Pentecostal (C/P) view is that the gifts are as valid today as they were some 2000 years ago. Indeed, they would go so far as to say that there has never been a time in history, since Apostolic time, that the gifts have not been in evidence. Phyllida and I are unashamedly part of the C/P stream. At the same time we are deeply grieved that this issue has divided God’s people into these two “camps”. Both streams have much to offer each other if only we could both put aside these apparent opposing positions. I rather suspect that our Lord is deeply grieved by this lack of unity. We have a great love and respect for our evangelical brothers and sisters. We love the comparative tranquillity of their services. More than anything we admire the passion they have for God’s Word. Evangelical Churches study the Scripture in a disciplined and systematic way. It has been suggested that the Evangelical “Trinity” is Father, Son and Holy Scripture. This may be unfair. But it does show the huge emphasis on reading and studying God’s Word that quite frankly, the C/P’s have not adopted. The C/P by and large tends to be shallow when it comes to the knowledge of the Bible. It has been suggested that the C/P “Trinity” is “Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit”. Again it is a gross simplification, but is a fair assessment of C/P’s by our Evangelical brothers and sisters. Sadly there is much truth in this comment. Far too many C/P’s know very little of the Content of God’s Word. They can quote proof texts by the score. But most of those who do, know precious little about exegesis and hermeneutics. Lots of froth and bubble; lots of excitement, singing and dancing. But how often does the preacher even read from the Bible? Not very often. What both streams need today is the Evangelical commitment to God’s Word and the C/P freedom and enthusiasm. O Lord help! We badly need each other! Jim & Phyllida Strickland				19 Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he set out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine rulers refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said, "It will cost us our heads if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us." 20 Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded 1,000 troops from the tribe of Manasseh. 21 They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army. 1 Chronicles 12:19-21 NLT
				32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulon 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. 1 Chronicles 12:32-33 ESV
				8 A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can't make up his mind about anything. James 1:8 GW
				25 God's purpose was that the body should not be divided but rather that all of its parts should feel the same concern for each other. 26 If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts share its suffering. If one part is praised, all the others share in its happiness. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 GW
				4 There is one body and one Spirit. In the same way you were called to share one hope. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything. Ephesians 4:4-6 GW
					Jim Strickland Written 2009