I'vn'" ", ~St ∎ EDITORIAL

I'vn'" ", ~St ∎ EDITORIAL

I I / I YI P MW I'vN'" ", ~st ∎ EDITORIAL When God Doesn't Deliver XPERIENCE has taught us that we are not self-suf- tend to think the other half of the agreement is: "I will ficient . We are not on our own . Human hands fail ; bless you-NOW," "I will prosper you-NOW," "I will humanE hopes flounder. We need God . save you from pain, from grief, from disappointment, We believe in God because we see all around us the from hardship, from suffering-NOW." And when evidence of His creative Hand . We trust Him because these benefits are not immediately forthcoming ; when we know that He has consistently done what He has we find ourselves facing the same problems as those promised. We look to Him in our time of need because who have no interest in the divine scheme, we tend to we know He is able-abundantly able-to supply our question, doubt, deny. Even blame . need, to help, to deliver. Has He not promised His What we need most is a clearer view of God's long- faithful servant, "I will be with him in trouble ; I will range purposes . God's people in all ages have been far- deliver him" (Ps . 91:15)? Again, "I will never leave thee, sighted men and women, with inexhaustible patience nor forsake thee" (Heb . 13:5)? And has He not prom- and unfailing faith . They have been men and women ised to "uphold" with "the right hand" of His righteous- with the will to work, the faith to endure, the patience ness (Isa. 41:10)? to wait. But what about the times God does not deliver? It is good to set our expectations high ; but let us not What about the times we pray and God does not try to edit God's plans to include our ideas, or antici- intervene? pate what God has not promised. Timing is also a What about the time we do well, and have to suffer factor to remember . We may be like the child who has for it? been promised a reward-but who is not willing to wait What about the times when trouble strikes-and for it. We want it NOW. strikes hard. In our desperation we pray for deliver- We tend to forget that suffering, sorrow, strain and ance. But God does not seem to answer . No deliver- stress are within the mortal experience of all, even the ance is forthcoming. most dedicated, most serious believers, and that God What then? has not promised to spare us from these . Something in us wants to make faith in God an God's promises of deliverance and salvation are not automatic release from problems . When everything for the NOW. goes well, we tell ourselves it is because God is pleased with us, that we are in His favor . When trouble strikes, "God has not promised skies always blue, we expect Him to be there to rescue us immediately, Flower strewn pathways all our life through . or at least to supply some form of divine anesthetic God has not promised sun without rain, which will save us from pain or harm. Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But when our expectation is not fulfilled . when there is no release . when God is silent . what What has God promised? One revealing of His then? promise is found in these words of the apostle Paul : The problem lies not with God but with ourselves "Bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profita- and our own misreading of the divine contract . We are ble unto all things, having the promise of the life that asking the wrong questions, we have set up the wrong now is, and of that which is to come" (I Tim . 4 :8) . Here expectations . is the comprehensive insurance policy we have been When we establish a working relationship with God, looking for. when we agree to serve Him, trust Him, obey Him, we (Continued on page 10) Megiddo means "a place of troops" (Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon) ; "a ~1~giddo place of God" (Young's Analytical Concordance) . Megiddo was and is a town in Palestine, strategically located, and the scene of frequent warfare . In the spir- itual parallel, It is a place where soldiers engaged in spiritual warfare gather to renew their strength and courage (II Cor. 10 :4-5) . essase Vol . 72, No . 8 September, 1985 We believe -in God the Creator of all things, all men, and all life . We believe Editorial -in the Bible as containing the genuine revelation of WHEN GOD DOESN'T DELIVER 2 God and His purposes for men, and as being our only source of divine knowledge today . Sermon -PLUS FAITH UNLIMITED 4 We believe -in Christ the Son of God and our Perfect Example, Not unreasoning optimism but genuine confidence who was born of a Virgin, ministered among men, founded on evidence was crucified, resurrected, and taken to heaven, and Series who shall shortly return to be king of the whole earth . EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY 11 We believe Articles -in life as the gift of God, and in our sacred responsi- INVEST IN YOURSELF 12 bility to use it for God and His coming Kingdom . STAYING ON TOP 16 We believe How to make the effort, meet the challenge -in all mankind as providing the nucleus from which a superior, God-honoring people shall be chosen to Bible Study receive the blessings of immortal life . The Book of HAGGAI 18 We believe WHAT REALLY MATTERS?-Part I -in ourselves as capable of fulfilling the demands and disciplines given us in the law of God, thus perfect- Meditating on the Word ing that high quality of character which God has NONE TO HIMSELF 22 promised to reward with life everlasting in His heav- Romans 14 :7 enly Kingdom on earth . Questions and Answers 24 We believe Concerning : -in the promise of God, that a new age is coming-is near-when the earth will be filled with His glory, The Atonement His people, and His will be done here as It is now More on Baptism done in heaven . Letters 26 Finally, Brethren 27 Bible quotations ONE LAST LOOK Unidentified quotations are from the King James Version . Other versions are identified as follows: The MEGIDDO MESSAGE is a religious magazine devoted to the cause of Christ, and published NEB-New English Bible for the dissemination of Bible truth alone . Official organ of the Megiddo Church . L . T. Nichols, NIV-New International Version Founder; Kenneth E . Flowerday, President and Editor. MEGIDDO MESSAGE is available in microfilm from Xerox University Microfilms, 300 N . Zeeb NAS-New American Standard The Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106 . RSV-Revised Standard Version The MEGIDDO MESSAGE (USPS 338-120) is published monthly (except July) by the Megiddo TLB-The Living Bible Church, 481 Thurston Road, Rochester, New York 14619. Second Class postage paid at TEV-Today's English Version Rochester, New York. SUBSCRIPTION RATE : One year, eleven issues, $2 .00 . POSTMASTER: Send JB-The Jerusalem Bible, Reader's Edition change of address to Megiddo Church, 481 Thurston Road, Rochester, New York 14619-1697 . Phillips-The New Testament in Modern English Berkeley-The Modern Language New Testament Weymouth- The New Testament in Modern Speech MEGIDDO is a way of believing and living, grounded solidly in the Bible as the reliable Moffatt-The Bible, A New Translation Word of our Creator. A total view of life, the world and the universe, it sees all events, men Williams-The New Testament, A Translation in the and nations moving together toward one God-ordained climax : the Kingdom of God on Language of the People earth . This has been the plan of God since the beginning . Christ will return visibly, bodily, as King, and the governments of this world will be joined to form a totally new worldwide government . When the task Is complete, our earth shall be numbered among the heavenly, About Our Cover . glorified worlds and filled with Immortal Inhabitants . This Is the purpose and goal of all Our cover photograph is taken at Moose River, creation . McKeever, New York . Plus Faith Unlimited! Scripture Reading : Hebrews 11 CERTAIN large industrial corporation has taken believed, or to those of which we have full understand- for its motto these three words : "-Plus Faith ing-we limit our ability to succeed . Unlimited." By this they suggest that they have This does not mean that God wants us to have a Aa faith in themselves which cannot be overpowered by blind faith, a faith that is willing to believe anything with negative circumstances ; that whatever comes, their or without evidence . Nor is it an unreasoning, unthink- faith will sustain them. All other factors being equal, ing confidence that whatever is, is right. No; but this special quality of faith will be for them the formula neither is it a faith that must wait until all the evidence for success . is in before it will take a step . True Christian faith is Is not this a suitable motto for every aspiring Chris- faith in motion, faith that is moving toward the great tian? For who has greater need for faith! Our founder goal of whole-souled confidence in God ; faith that said it another way, in these words: "You can't keep trusts God in the unseen because the evidence it has out of the kingdom the man who really believes ." And seen is irrefutable . again, "Every true believer will be saved ." This special quality of faith was the success formula We all know this is true, but how much are we doing, of all of the worthies of old, as the writer of Hebrews you and I, to support and build our faith? attests in his eleventh chapter .

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