Regional Bible Training Institute Coordinator
Bro. Santiago Posada
Monthly Devotion
Impulso regional del
Instituto de Entrenamiento Bíblico
Coordinador Regional
Hector A. Banuelos
Enero 2023
Regional Boost
Bible Training Institute
Regional Coordinator
Hector A. Banuelos
January 2023
If it had not been the LORD
At the beginning of a new year, many make a list of goals they want to achieve, others have the habit of looking back to evaluate and then begin planning for the new year.
When meditating on the things that God has done for us in this year 2022, God brought to my memory Psalm 124. A beautiful Psalm that makes us put our feet on the ground and give Honor and Glory to Almighty God for allowing us to get to this day. The Psalmist wrote.
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath as kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124
David wrote this Psalm like many others after victorious events in his life. We are not told when or after which victory, or if he was meditating on the events in which he and the people were surrounded on the verge of being defeated by the enemy and God helped them. The important thing when reading this Psalm is to remember that the victories were not obtained because of the strength of his army, his military ability to fight against the enemies of Israel, or because of King David's defense strategies as their king and leader, but by the Lord, the almighty God who delivered them from the powerful enemies they faced.
King David and his army were incapable of overthrowing the enemy, no matter how brave they were and no matter how many war strategies, they would never have been superior to their enemies. David's initial phrase and with which he exhorts the people to repeat is: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side.... This made the difference in the battle. They escaped from the enemy only by the providential intervention of Almighty God. Glory to God!
In the same way, by the Power of our God, you and I were able to emerge victorious from those circumstances that we faced this past year - diseases, trials, tribulations. Our human strength and strategies were and are insignificant against our adversary during the battles, the struggles, the tests, the dangers, the storms, but with God we are more than conquerors. Paul said to the Romans, ...If God be for us, who can be against us?
David encouraged the Israelites and reminded them to be thankful to God for giving them victories against their enemies and to continue to trust in God and not themselves for the future battles they would face.
This is a Psalm of praise and trust in the Lord, a wonderful statement of praise for the Lord's care, protection, and deliverance when faced with the enemies.
In the same way, this Psalm is for us The Church of God, as the chosen people and as individual members a declaration of the wonderful perseverance of God during the tough times that we have experienced this past year 2022.
This Psalm was sung by the Israelites as they went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Lord. I can imagine them sharing their personal stories of the deliverances in which God helped them. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath as kindled against us: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
The testimony of King David is beautiful, what can we thank God for at this moment?
Let us think of those times when we felt almost defeated, in those moments when our strength was almost reduced to nothing, let us think of those times of difficulty and thank God for allowing us to reach this new year. There are many blessings from God towards us that we can take a few minutes and repeat the words of King David, Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Let’s not let go the powerful hand of God and let him be the one who fights for us in this year 2023.
Amen
"¿Listo para ayudar o listo para correr?"
"Ready to help or ready to run?"
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
B.T.I. 2020
Established in the Truth
2 Peter 1:12
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
There is an urgency in knowing and understanding our teachings (doctrine), and not only knowing them but believing in them and practicing them.
Simon Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, admonishes us to ... [give] all diligence [to this matter] ... (2 Peter 1: 5a). Although his readers knew the truth, knowing that our eternal life − eternal destiny is at stake, it is necessary to bring these things (doctrine) to remembrance over and over again.
Peter had been admonished by Jesus himself in Luke 22: 32b ... and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. As leaders within the Church of God, that responsibility falls upon us, of which Paul advised Timothy, “… Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (II Timothy 4:2).
But as members of the body of Christ, it is necessary that everyone have great interest in knowing the doctrine of the Church of God, of studying the Word and seek after the things that God has revealed to his Church through the Holy Spirit (John 14: 25-26, Acts 15:28).
Both leaders and members have the responsibility to learn and teach the Doctrine and thus each one, as members of the body, be established in the truth.
The meaning of establish or strengthen is that it cannot be moved. We need to put what we already know into operation and/or practice so that when the enemy wants to question God's Word, we are well grounded and will not be moved by winds of doctrines.
As members of the Church of God, we need to be constantly studying the teachings, doctrine, assembly agreements of the Church in order to be established in the truth.
It is of great benefit and necessary to attend the Bible Training Institute (BTI), but it is our responsibility to continue studying in our homes. If there is something you cannot understand or something that is not clear, go to your overseer and ask as many questions as you need to clarify your doubts.
A word of caution to all members of the Church of God: We cannot place our thoughts ahead of what has already been established. We cannot make our personal beliefs part of the doctrine of the Church and expect the membership to submit to them.
It is our responsibility as pastors and leaders of the Church of God, to constantly teach the doctrine of the Church of God. Never grow weary in preaching or teaching the truth.
The doctrine of the Church was not established by men, nor by what seemed convenient to the first leaders in the Church of God, rather it was revealed by the Holy Ghost. John 14:25-26: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, hich is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Today, we have 29 prominent teachings which we study, and practice. These 29 teachings were revealed to the Church at different times. Each one of these were brought and presented to the assembly for discussion and approval through prayer and study of the scriptures and following the biblical principle of Acts 15:28 ... For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.
Let us seek the Lord every day and soak up His Word. There is no time to lose. Let us prepare ourselves to help others in their spiritual growth and establish them in the truth.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the participation of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (II Corinthians 13:13).