So good to see you. So good to worship with you, and
it's great to worship God together, and we've done that.
This far singing, These Praises. We have come together to pray
together and now, we're going to discuss his word together as
well. And I want to preface my
thoughts this morning by saying this, I am by no means a
political guy. In fact, if you want to put me
to sleep, start talking politics.
But I don't have to keep up with politics in order to make a few
observations. On unhappy, people are with
what's going on in our state, with what's going on in our
nation. What's going on with the
president people that you could see it.
And the way people talk and what's on social media, people
are just unhappy. They're on edge about about how
the president is governing. The governing this nation people
are on edge about weather We're going to go to war or not.
People are unhappy with morality that's going on around us.
Nami causes to think that things just aren't going well around us
and it just it just isn't our communities or a nation as a
whole, but some of us as Christians, we might be worried
in one way or another and from all these observations that have
been happening. It got me to thinking about why
that is. Is it because we don't agree
with kind of the way things are going.
Is it because we expose ourselves to Too Much media.
We might watch the news too much and listen to news radio or read
too many articles or see too many opinions on social media.
and if so, if we expose ourselves to so much, Have we
began to lose focus? Who really is in control.
A long time ago. There was a prophet who worried
about what was going on in his Nation.
In fact, he was so worried about it.
You know what he did? He complained to God about it.
And blamed God about what was going on.
And he said, how, how long are you going to allow these things
to happen in this nation? His name was habakkuk.
And I wanted to I want us to listen as we take a look at this
book of habakkuk this morning, the book of habakkuk is towards
the end of the Old Testament. It's actually one of the Twelve
Minor Prophets as our. We classify the Minor Prophets,
and there is a distinction between the major profit books
on the minor Prophet books. And let me give you the simple
explanation of what that distinction is.
All it is, is just the length of the book, that's all it is.
The Minor Prophets, don't have anything less importance in them
as opposed to the Minor Prophets.
They're just simply smaller in length.
So the book of habakkuk Begins by saying this, And if you can't
read this, open up your book. We're going to look at this
entire book, this morning, only three chapters long, the burden,
which the prophet habakkuk saw. Oh, Lord.
How long shall I cry? And you will not hear even cry
out to you violence, and you will not say why do you show me
iniquity, and caused me to see trouble for plundering?
And violence are before me? There were striped and can
Tension arises therefore the law is powerless and Justice never
goes forth for the wicked, surround the righteous therefore
perverse judgment precedes. And so he's got this complained
to God about what's going on. And I don't know if you've ever
complained about what's going on a run around us or but there are
some valuable teachings throughout this book from
habakkuk. That makes us kind of step back.
And really think about who really is in control and how
Should adjust our thinking in our attitude about this world
and about this nation about the state and the community that we
live in. Now what I like to do with any
any type of expository type of teaching that I do, I always
like to look step back and look at the setting to which why it
is that these words are written. Why it is that this Prophet has
these words or is bringing up this.
Complaint. It's always great to look at the
background in order to understand the message of the
book. And that's what I want to do.
Just for a few moments this morning.
In second chronicles. Chapter 36 we have a situation
with in Judah and within Judah. This is going on.
It says they're beginning of verse.
Number 11 zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king and he
reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. Now, here is the problem in
verse number 12, he that evil in the sight of the Lord, his God
and what else? Well, he did not humble himself
before, Jeremiah, the prophet who spoke from the mouth of the
Lord. What else?
Well, he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had
made him, swear an oath by God but he stiffened his neck and
Harden his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel.
Moreover, all the leaders of the priests and the people.
What do they do? Is says they tread transgress
more and more according to all the Abominations of the Nations
and defiled, the house of the Lord which he had consecrated in
Jerusalem. Then in verse Teen and the Lord
God of our fathers, sit warnings to them by his Messengers,
rising up early, and sending them because he had compassion
on his people and on his dwelling place.
So, that's what God wanted for his people.
He had compassion one, and the change.
But then in verse 16, what do they do, how they react?
They mocked The Messengers of God, despised his words and
scoffed At His prophets, until the Wrath of the Lord arose
against the people, till there was no remedy.
No, those are some pretty bad times.
Very bad times. Even the spiritual leaders were
corrupt. It's pretty bad.
So things look pretty bleak and you can kind of understand why
habakkuk was kind of in a worry. And why he would want to
complain to God about what is going on here.
Are we ever going to turn back to you now?
They had shut God out of their lives.
They all, they rejected All These Warnings by the prophets
who were sent by God, they only want to do what they wanted to
do, and it got to the point that God had enough, the wrath of God
arose against his people. He had had enough and so listen.
Now we're going to jump now to Jeremiah 6:11 and it's right in
the middle of the Lord's. Rebuke upon his people.
In fact, it says here in verse number 11 of Jeremiah chapter 6,
therefore, I am full of the fear of the Lord.
I am weary of holding it in. I will pour it out on the
children outside on a and on the Assembly of young men together
for, even the husband shall be taken with the wife, the age
with him, who was full of days. And so the Lord is very angry
weary of His wrath back on them, but he goes on now.
And skipped out here, staying in Jeremiah 6:16, but skipping on
down to verse number 13. And here's the reason why you so
angry at him. He says, because from the least
of them, even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to
covetousness and from The Profit even to the priest, everyone
deals falsely. They have also healed the heard
of my people slightly saying peace.
Peace. When there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they had committed Abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed.
Nor did they know how to blush? Therefore, they shall fall among
those who fall at the time I punish them, they shall be cast
down, says the Lord. He goes on now after saying this
and about what they've done and this is kind of a reoccurring
theme whenever God sends a messenger out to his people.
He tells him the wrong that they've done, he tells him the
punishment but he always calls them to repentance always.
And that kind of gives you a greater understanding of the
character of God. He will not tolerate sin but he
always wants people to change. And that's what he does here.
In verse number 16, thus says the Lord stand in the ways and
see and ask for the Old Paths with a good way is and walking
it, then you will find rest for your souls but they said we will
not walk in it. Also, I set a Watchman.
Are you saying listen to the sound of the trumpet?
But they said we will not listen, therefore here you
Nations and no congregation what is among them.
Hero worth behold. I will certainly bring Calamity
on this people. The fruit of their thoughts
because they have not heeded. My words nor my law but rejected
it for what purpose to me. Comes frankincense and sheba
from Shiva and sweet came from Far countries.
Free. Your burnt offerings are not
acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me. and so, from all
this, Even though God called them to repentance, they still
rejected his word, they still laid their lives of pleasure and
their cares without God. And understanding the the state
and the nation that habakkuk abides him.
It causes him to worry about this nation and questioning God.
Why all this? Why is all this happening?
And so he's asking God, why are you so indifferent?
As we read in the first few verses?
Why are you cylinder indifferent about what's going on?
Don't you care about your people?
Why aren't you doing anything about it?
How long he asks is this going to last?
Well, he questioned God and guess what?
God answered back. I don't know if back expected
for this to happen, but God answered back.
In fact, it if we continue now in verse number 5, this is God
speaking to a back and he says, look among the Nations and watch
be utterly astounded for I will work a, I will work at work in
your days which you would not believe though it were told you.
So basically God saying I'm not indifferent about what's going
on. I don't know what's going on in
the nation of Judah. He knew of all the wickedness
from the leaders and the people, but he tells a back here, I've
got a plan for it and it was a plan that habakkuk would not
even believe. And so, what was God's plan for
Judah? Well, let me tell you something.
Habakkuk was not ready to hear the plan from God.
And so what he was going to do is not a very comforting plan
but he goes on to tell habakkuk he's raising up the Chaldeans,
he's raising up the Babylonians and that's the enemy.
He's raising him up. And he's got plans for them.
He says, now the enemy these Chaldeans there going to be a
force that are going to be reckoned with.
In fact, the Lord goes on to describe the nature of the
Chaldeans and I'm not going to read verses six through 11, but
you could I've got the highlights of how the character
and how great of a force. These Chaldeans are going to be
against the nation of Judah. He says they're going to be a
bitter and they're going to be fierce, they're going to be
Hasty and Reckless, they're going to be terrible and dreaded
to them. They're going to be feared,
they're going to come with horses faster than leopards.
They're going to be Keener them wolves.
Hang out in the evening that seek their prey, they're going
to come with the strength of an eagle.
They're going to gather the captives like 12 scooping his
hand up in the sand. It's going to be that easy.
And there's going to be that many captives that they're going
to come take. They're going to also be
arrogance in their power and the Lord expounds Upon This by
generosity generalizing their arrogance and said, in fact, he
said that in the past, they become so arrogant.
Get in there ways that they have laughed at Kings and princes who
even tried to stand in their way. and that's how Fierce of a
Nation, these Chaldeans were But they're all their strength.
God said they claim to, they claimed it all to themselves and
even to their own false gods. The later on, we're going to see
where they got their strength and who allowed them to be such
a Victorious, and ruling Empire at that particular time.
And so habakkuk hears, these words from God.
And he hears, what God is going to do about the wickedness of
Judah, he's going to have enemies come down and he's going
to have them. Take the people of God captive.
And take him away. And through the process of it
habakkuk is worried that people are going to die.
We're talking about God's people.
They just might die. There might be Bloodshed when
all this happens. And from this if habakkuk wasn't
worried already, he's worried about more about how God is
going to deal. Wicked with the wickedness here
in Judah and it prompts him to really complain again.
And ask God another question because it says Harris would
continue on habakkuk 1 verse 12. He says, are you not from
Everlasting? O, Lord my God, my Holy One.
And he when he asked this he uses this rhetorical question.
It's clear that habakkuk and God did not think along the same
lines of how to deal with the wickedness in Judah.
They had two different ideas, and that's why he asked us.
In fact, he goes on to say this, we shall not die.
He's thinking were your people, there's no way that you're going
to allow us to die. O, Lord, you have appointed them
for judgment? Oh Rach, you have marked them
for correction. You are a purer eyes than to
behold evil and cannot look. I'm Wiccan this.
Why do you look on those who deal treacherously and hold your
tongue? When the wicked devours?
A person more righteous than he he's asking God.
Why are you going to allow these Chaldeans to come down?
And do these things to your own people.
I just don't understand it. And then he continues on.
It says, why do you make men like fish of the sea?
Like creepy things. They have no ruler over them.
They take up all them with the hook, they catch them in their
net and gather them in their Dragnet.
Therefore, they rejoice in our glad therefore they sacrifice to
their net and burn incense to their dragnets at.
Because buy them, their share is Sumptuous and their food is
plentiful, shall they therefore empty their net and continuously
Nations Without Pity? And so from this in habakkuk
Minds in mind, the Chaldeans, they're going to come down to
Judah. It's going to be a like a
fisherman, drops his net into the sea and then just takes
everything up into that net. Jude is going to have no hope
and escaping the dreaded Chaldeans and to go on even
further he says, if there are victorious against God's Own
people Then who is going to stop them.
And who is going to be powerful enough.
To be able to stop this count day at these Chaldeans, you're
just going to be victorious over other nations.
And these slings are going to even continue.
And he says, is there ever going to be an in to the great power
and the wickedness of the Chaldeans?
If you let your own people suffer to them, Where's it going
to stop? So we see he's troubled with
this plan. And after asking the second
question, I imagined. Well, God answered the first
time. Now, he's eager to hear about
what's God. What, how's he going to answer
now? well, he answers 2:1 I will
stand my watch and set myself on the rampart and watch to see
what he was saying to me. And what I should will answer
when I am corrected. And then he answers in verse 2,
the Lord answered me and said, write the vision, make it plain,
on tablets that he may run. Who reads it for the vision is
yet for the point of time, but at the end, it will speak and it
will not lie, though. It tarries wait for it because
it will surely come. It will not tarry.
Behold the proud. My soul is not upright in him,
but the just shall live by his faith. and so it's interesting
to me and I just love just how descriptive the scriptures are.
Especially God talking to a back of care.
I want you to write these things down on tablet.
Make it so plain than anyone running by just glancing at it
and be able to be able to understand it.
Tell playing, I want you to write these things.
So God answers with the very specific principle in verse 4
and the principal really is a warning against pride and
arrogance. He said if they're puffed up,
they're going to be punished. And so this is really
condemnation upon the Chaldeans. Do the their arrogance,
concerning the power and the rule, but it's really not
limited to the Chaldeans because God, as we know throughout time
and even with warnings even today Those who are proud.
They will be humbled. The Pride shall fall.
In fact, there's a reoccurring theme throughout the Minor
Prophets that reoccurring theme is pride.
And how one needs to be humble before his God?
That is a reoccurring theme. But it gives a second part to
his answer and he says this and you will notice you will
recognize this praise. He says that the just shall live
by his faith and this is really a contrast between the Arrogant
Soul who sets his will against God's Will.
And then you've got the one who willingly submits to God by way
of his faith in God. And that's humility.
And this verse is quoted by Paul in his letter to the Romans and
basis, really the entire letter upon this one phrase.
Romans 1:17 for in it. The righteousness of God is
revealed from Faith to Faith. As it is written, the just shall
live by faith. And Paul is using this quote
from here in habakkuk, the just shall live by faith.
It's an important phrase and it's important principle that we
as God's people have to obey and have to understand.
And abide by in fact, it's also stated in Galatians chapter 11
now, within the to context, Paul argues Noah could be justified
by the law. And that's the law of Moses that
they were trying to hold to. But he said a person could be
justified by his faith in the Lord thats y.
He quotes her back here and so people aren't going to be saved
by their own desires. People aren't going to be saved
by their own will. They're not going to be saved by
their own power? Now, the Chaldeans thought so
but the principle is it's not going to happen.
So people as God calls them. He wants them to be saved
through humility. And by submitting to his will
and living by faith and it went, if we do, the will of God, guess
what? He's going to reward us in due
time. He will.
In fact, this goes along with what the book of Hebrews says
here in Hebrews chapter 10, verses 38 39.
Now the just shall live by faith but if any one draws back he
says my soul has no pleasure in him. but then he goes on to say,
verse 39, but we are not of those who draw back to Perdition
But of those who believe to the saving of the Soul, that's what
living by faith. Does it saves our souls, it
saves our souls and we praise God, because of that, that is a
grand promise that he gives us and he will save us if we live
by faith, And so there were people in Judah as we go back
here to the context of habakkuk. The reason why God said all this
to habakkuk was because he said there were people in Judah that
were actually walking by faith. Not every single person was
wicked. In Judah.
And because of that these people who are walking by faith will be
spared, when the Chaldeans would come down to take Judah.
But there would only be a few of them. when you look at the
background of what happens, when the Chaldeans do finally come
down, But God still works the same today as he did back, then
concerning his people if we live by faith, he's going to save us.
and so from that, and from the from the entire context and
understanding about where habakkuk is coming from here,
and even with us today living in this nation, no matter what
might be happening in this nation that we live in God,
still recognizes those of us who are walking by faith and you
know what he's going to do. He's going to save us, no matter
how Wicked of a place we live in.
He's going to save those who live by faith.
Don't lose sight of that. It don't let your Cloud.
Our don't let your mind become clouded and distracted.
By these other things, the just shall live by faith and they're
going to be saved, remember that?
I want you to notice something. As we now, go to chapter 3,
Habakkuk, he's been so caught up with what's going on around
them. And I mention He's so worried
about these things that he's he's questioned.
God, he's questioned God's control and he's really question
God's power. But now after listening to God's
reply to his questions, something amazing happens.
And I love chapter 3 because habakkuk has a change of mind.
And his attitude changes as well.
It causes him now to write a prayer and a song in, praise to
the Lord because now of bacchic sees the whole picture.
Did he finally saw God was truly in control and God knew what he
was doing all along. In fact, you look here in
chapter 3, in verses 1 and 2, a prayer of habakkuk, the Prophet
Insignia enough. Oh, Lord I've heard your speech.
And was afraid. Oh Lord, revive your work.
In the midst of the years, in the midst of the years, make it
known In Wrath. Remember Mercy.
He understands that God's going to have to show his wrath upon
his people because he's a just God.
And he has to punish sin. And so he begins this prayer to
the Lord. He goes on to write about the
power and the glory of the Lord and how it fills the entire
Earth. Now, I'm summarizing the middle
part of this chapter but he said his power has been shown in many
ways and he is, he alone is in control of all that's going on.
A packet goes on and as he reflects upon what has happened
in the history before his time, he was able to bring down
Nations through various elements such as plays and droughts and
natural disasters. And when God used the forces of
nature to carry out his judgment, these are the rod of
chastisement that God of God that is stated in verse number
10. And then from verses 13 through,
15 habakkuk brings to mind how God's people can look to the
past. And even we can look to the past
as we read these stories of old in the scriptures.
These are just stories. These are actual events that
happen as we can read them in the scriptures.
And we can see how God has acted on their on their behalf to
deliver them from the enemy. And from these past events,
people should dry encouragement and be assured of God's loving
concern and protection for his own people.
And so this is true even with us today.
When we read about what happened there in Jericho, we weren't
there. But the walls of Jericho fell
and we know God was behind it. God caused that to happen.
We weren't there when God's people were finally free from
Egyptian slavery, long, time ago, but we know God had
controlled during that time. We were not there when Gideon
and his 300. Men were victorious over a
thousands of men, but we see God was in control even when the
odds were stacked up against Gideon and his men, And when we
read, and when we have faith that God has done that for his
people in the past, let me tell you something, we can have faith
that God is still in control today.
No matter who was up in the White House.
No matter. Who is governing?
The state, no matter what laws are being passed, no matter what
wars are going on, God is still in control and he still cares
for you and he still cares for me, and we have to just take it
by faith and he He knows what's going on and he's in control and
we just need to live by faith. Let him.
Lead the way. He's going to take care of us.
It's going to take care of the church.
That's his promise. after all, this I love.
What is this to me is a highlight.
Is the punchline. It wasn't verse 16.
When I heard my body tremble. My lips quivered at the Boise
rottenness, in her, my bones, and I trembled in myself that I
might find rest of the day of trouble when he comes up to his
people. He won't buy them with his
troops. Bacchic is putting his trust in
God. All of his faith in God, he's in
a panic before. Now we just gives it over to
God. Sometimes we can be in so much
of a panic. What we need to do is what aback
you did, give it to God. Let him deal with the
wickedness. Just give it to God.
And so from that, we don't have to worry, we don't have to lose
sight, but we see now he writes, this this song that is written.
He says this Tanner actually led a song. that referred to these
very words from the understanding of habakkuk, after
all, that he had complained about and understanding that
God, He was the god. Who's in control.
I love this song that habakkuk rights.
Though, the Fig Tree may not blossom.
Nor fruit be on the vines. Though, the labor of the olive
May Fail in the fields yield no fruit.
Do the Flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in
the Stalls. Even after all these things,
that might be terrible and dreaded.
He says, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will join the god of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like dear
sweet, and he will make me walk on my high heels to the chief
musician, with my string instruments.
Don't you love his attitude? even though all this stuff made
happen, the Lord God is my strength.
That's who I'm going to go to. That's who I'm going to focus
on. No matter what is happening, no
matter who's in control? God is my strength.
And he is the joy of my salvation.
The joy of my salvation. I want to leave that song again
at the clothes I had already planned on it.
Tanner gonna jump the gun if you will.
That's all right. But we're going to sing that
song in with the understanding. Of this whole thing, and who is
in control. I like what's said is we begin
to close this morning in Hebrews 13:5 and six let your conduct be
without covetousness be content with such things as you have
for. He himself has said I will never
leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say the Lord is
my helper. I will not fear what can man do
to me a great attitude that we have and this is what it means
to live by faith. And habakkuk is this great
example, the attitude, That we should have to live by faith.
In closing. What I want to do is take a look
at a couple of passages in the New Testament.
And what we should do as we apply this to ourselves Titus, 3
verses 1 through 2 is one of these passages.
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities to obey
to be ready for every good work. So we we are subject to the
rulers and authorities but also this is a big one at the
beginning of verse. Number two, it's a big one.
Speak evil of no one. It's hard to complain about what
we don't agree with. Speak evil of no one.
Be subject to the rulers be Peaceable.
Gentle. Showing all humility to all men.
Sometimes we just need to hold our tongue.
Sometimes we shouldn't type what we type on social media.
Just pray to God about it. Don't worry.
About this in passing first, Peter 2 verse 13 and 17.
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme or to Governor's, is
to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and
for the praise of those who do good for this is the will of God
that by doing good. You may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men as free yet.
Not using Liberty as a quote for vice.
But as Bond Servants of God, Honor, all people love the
Brotherhood fear God. Honor the king.
And that could be very trying.
But these are Commandments that God requires of us.
And I really believe that when we do understand truly that God
is in control and we live by faith in that very thing that it
will become easier for us to not get so caught up.
And not worry. Because who really is in
control. Who really is?
Continue to pray. Pray for yourself.
Pray for the nation. Continue to pray for the rulers.
In fact, the Lord tells us to pray for those who rule over us.
Continue to pray but have God focused at all times.
I leave these things with you this morning and I hope I've,
I've edified you in some way to refocus Our Lives. even in the
world that we surround ourselves in, We want to offer an
imitation, really? It's not our imitation is God's
invitation to you. It's God's invitation you to be
his child. We talked about the character of
God and how he loves his people. He loves you.
You know, how much he loves you? He loves you so much that he
sent his son to Die For You on the cross.
You know why? Because he wants you into his
kingdom. He wants you into his kingdom.
That's how much he cares for you.
But you have to do your part by obeying.
The gospel Plan of Salvation as we see in the scriptures,
understanding that Jesus died for you was buried and was
resurrected on the third day. You have to believe that, and
then act upon that Faith to repent of your life that is to
make a change in your life. And we talked about repentance a
little bit this morning, God requires all men to repent.
And then confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
We find that in Acts chapter 8 and then be baptized for the
remission of your sins. We find that happen in Acts
chapter 2. When that happened, the Lord
tells us that the Lord added. Those people do his church and
the Lord will add you to his church.
If you obey that do that today, if you haven't done that, the
Lord wants you to do that. He wants you into his kingdom.
He doesn't want you to perish. but maybe if you have done that,
but But you've messed up. I'm so thankful that we serve
such a forgiving and merciful father, and he's willing to
forgive us of the sins that we commit against him.
And you could do that, if you've messed up, if you've sinned
against him, you could come before him asking forgiveness of
your sins and will pray with you.
And for you, consider your life and take advantage of this very
moment. Now, we thank you for listening
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