Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19 MEV
Timeline: 3338 Jewish calendars | 423 BC Christian calendars
What is Faith?
Is it not an act of faith to take someone’s word for the absolute safety of a surgical procedure? Years ago, a heart surgeon performed a five-bypass heart surgery on me. I slept well the night before. I had faith in the surgeon because he had a track record of successful operations.
While learning to fly, I had faith my flight instructor could land the airplane without injury to either of us. I did not have faith in my new skills until they had been tested by many touch-and-go landings and some landings to a full stop, with the instructor at my side. Afterward, I had faith in my own ability to land the aircraft alone.
Look to the New Testament, Matthew 6:9-15, the instruction pamphlet for effective prayer. When did the Lord Jesus give this instruction to his disciples?
Leading up to His lesson on prayer, Jesus has been teaching, preaching, and healing the sick all over Galilee. Jesus healed diseases, cast out demons, healed epileptics, and paralyzed people. Being witnesses to the miraculous healings confirmed Jesus’ authority to His disciples.
Teaching the model of prayer in Matthew 6:9-15, the disciples understood all Jesus taught them would empower them to fulfill their respective missions in life.
Habakkuk expressed his own faith, his confidence in God in Habakkuk 3:16-19: I wait, I trembled, I stood, I will triumph, I will rejoice.
The panoply of testimonies of God’s authority and power recorded throughout the Bible serves to build and reinforce our personal faith in God. But, if you don’t read the testimonies, you will not develop an effective faith.
What can we do?
Be lanterns of hope to our neighbors, family members, and people with whom we have personal encounters. Yes, God is angry at the sins of our people. As in the time of Habakkuk, America is not immune from the wrath of God.
You have a life-changing story people need to hear. Learn to tell your story, as per 1 Peter 3:15.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16
You are invited!
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. says loneliness is now a severe public health threat that it’s on par with smoking and obesity.
Psychiatrist Dr.Daniel Amen told CBN Newswatch, “I actually believe we’re on the beginning of a tidal wave of brain and mental health problems in young people, and it’s because we’re more disconnected than ever before, disconnected from our own families because when people are together their faces are buried in their gadgets.”
What is Dr. Amen’s prescription? “Go back to church. Get involved. Get involved with groups. We have to go back. And really, no better place to solve it than the church.”
The Lanterns of Hope Life Group is open to adults of all ages, whether single or married. Church membership is not a prerequisite. If you seek hope in troubled times or you want to be equipped to encourage others, we have a place for you.
LP Kids has a place for children from six weeks old through elementary school ages. To speed up your children’s check-in, preregister here: LP KIDS PRE-REGISTRATION.
Students have their own meeting places and events. Learn about them here: LP STUDENTS.
Join us every Saturday evening at 7:00 PM in room W304 of the Lakepointe Church, Rockwall Campus. Volunteers and staff can direct you to room W304 of the West Building. Find ample parking near the west entrance on the west parking lot and in the two-story parking garage.
Soli Deo Gloria
Lakepointe Church
701 E. Interstate 30
Rockwall, Texas 75087
John N. White 