Faith In Action Series

Faith in Uncertain Times

“Faith in Action”

“Part 2”

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

Last week I stated that I would be doing a series on the book of Habakkuk and I started out with the subject of tested faith. I said during times of tested faith: – God wants us to understand whether we have the real thing. If we want to have a pure faith like purified gold, then God will put your faith in the fire. The testing of our faith is to make our faith stronger. Testing reveals to us where we are in terms of our faith as God already knows whether we will pass a given test. It is like a test in school to see if you knew what had been taught. When God tests us, He wants us to succeed. He wants us to see that our faith is real and that it has been refined by fire. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

When we pray sometimes, and we do not see answers to our prayers, or our prayers are not answered. We are left asking, what is the problem? Why does not God listen to me. Is my faith to small that God ignores my prayers or any other factors causing Him not to answer me. Either way, the net effect is we are discouraged from praying much, unless we feel very desperate. We even begin to believe that this promise of Mark 11:24 which says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” is not for me.

In chapter 2 Habakkuk is a man waiting for an answer from God. God gives him 3 instructions; however, before he receives his instructions he must get into the proper position, once in position he receives these 3 instructions: write, wait, and remember. Habakkuk’s name means to “embrace”. I feel this is to the fact that he was wrestling with difficult issues, he questioned God, yet embraces God for he understands that God is in control and that is exactly what we must do. We can question God, but we must embrace Him.

Today I want to talk about Faith in Action. God instructs Habakkuk to write, wait, and remember. This is how we must put our tested faith into action.

Prayer: -

Scriptures: Habakkuk 2:1-4 says “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry”.

As we pick up the story in chapter 2. Verse 1 says “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved”. This is especially important to putting faith in action and that is spiritual positioning. Habakkuk puts himself in the position to hear from God. He stands upon his watch and upon the tower while he waits to see what God will say.

WATCH THIS: - He separated himself from what was going on around him so he could hear from God. We must get into the presence of God. We must separate ourselves from the distractions and the issues that surround us and concentrate on God.

Remember the other week I talked about Asaph and how he questioned God about what he was experiencing, the pain he had, and where was God and why wasn’t God doing something about what was going on - until he went to the sanctuary of the Lord Psalm 73:17. Once he got into position he was able to hear from God. Habakkuk says I will get into position, I’ve questioned God, I have asked him to explain somethings, now I better get into position in order to hear from Him about the things I have been asking.

Remember it is o.k. to question God, but it is your responsibility to make sure you are in the proper position the hear His response. Sometimes we question God and say well He is not answering me when in fact He answered you just were not in position to hear what he is saying.