2 October 2005
Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegue, South Korea
BIG IDEA: There are times when God discipline BELIEVERS and test their faithfulness to HIM, by allowing UNBELIEVERS to do terrible things to them.
REFERENCES: Genesis 15:6 (And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness - KJV); Romans 1:17 ( For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith – KJV); Galatians 3:11 (But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith – KJV); Habakkuk 2: 4 (Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith – KJV); Philippians 3:8-9 (Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ 9 and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness – MSG); John 3:36 (He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him – KJV); Psalm 34:19 (Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD deliverth him out of them all); Habakkuk 2:1-4 (KJV); Hebrews 11:1-7 (The Parade of The Heroes of Faith);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Habakkuk 2: 1-4 (KJV)
II.THE LARGER CONTEXT:
Many of you that attend our Weekly Pastoral Bible Studies know that, of late, we have been studying the Book of Exodus; and we’ve been learning about how the people of God - having been delievered by God from the hands of their Egyptian enemies - found themselves in the Wilderness of Sin – murmuring, complaining, and quarrelling with Pastor Moses. The Lord through our Bible Studies have been imaginatively carrying along with the Isralelites through the wilderness. What powerful lessons they have been; encouraging us all to be mindful and thankful of our circumstances and situations. Because they could be worst.
We murmur and complain in Korea about the cultural food, as I’m sure our Korean brothers and sisters, in America, do about our American food. This past Tuesday night, we pointed-out that God fed the Israelites for 40 years – 3 times a day “What Is It” (Manna). Imagine not knowing what you were eating for 40 years.
All of which, makes me much more grateful for my Kimchi in Korea.
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III. INTRODUCTION:
Now, before we begin reading the scriptures this afternoon, I suggest that you once again allow your imaginations to work with you - as we get closer to and inside the mind-set of our biblical personality today.
Therefore, please allow me to share with you some HISTORICAL TRUES REGARDING THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. For instance, IN THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK WE DISCOVER THAT THE PROPHET’S NAME MEANS “EMBRACER”, …
NOT IN A ROMANTIC SENSE, BUT IN A COMFORTING SENSE. AS A RESULT, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK OF COMFORT. COMFORT IN PROBABLY THE MOST DISTRESSING PROBLEM THAT BELIEVERS HAVE TO FACE today:
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MOVE 1: THE QUESTION OF WHY GOD ALLOWS UNBELIEVERS TO DO TERRIBLE THINGS TO BELIEVERS.
a. In other words, Why does God allow bad and terrible things to happen to Good Church going folk, by unsaved folk that seemly aren’t even trying to live for Him?
b. FOR YOU SEE, HABAKKUK LIVED DURING THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM, King of Judah, during A TIME – believe it or not - …
c. …WHEN IT APPEARED AS IF TERRORIST from Babylon (and Modern Day IRAQ) were ruling the WORLD, …
d. and causing the people of God to be REACTIVE rather than PROACTIVE.
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MOVE 2: In fact, the Book of Habakkuk is nothing more than a conversation between Habakkuk – A Chaplain in God’s Army – and God HIMSELF.
a. And in the heart of this conversation, Chaplain Habakkuk, like many of us in 2005, raises the question of God’s Just Government of the World.
b. In other words, Chaplain Habakkuk is asking why is the devilish terrorist and those that do evil things …
c. … being allowed to inflict such painful and explosive hardships, and experiences upon people that have been proven to love God?
d. It just doesn’t make sense!
e. Where is God in all of this?
f. Godly children are loosing greatly needed mothers and fathers, while the unsaved seemly are rejoicing with their entire families intact.
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MOVE 3: Christian folk that faithfully attended Sunday School and Bible Studies are having to be reared by Single Parents or no parents at all!
a. Habakkuk is asking – “Where is God in all of this?”
b. Why do believers have to wait until Judgment Day before they can rejoice in the ruin of the devil – the enemy of their souls?
c. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, the first two chapters of the Book of Habakkuk are composed of a conversation that occurred between the Chaplain and God, …
d. … while Chapter 3 consist of Habakkuk’s desire to have his prayer - song to the beat of music.
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MOVE 4: Therefore, in our particular text, this afternoon, Chaplain Habakkuk shares with us all the specific information regarding God’s Righteous Rule over the Government of the World.
a. In fact, it is here that Chaplain Habakkuk complains and protest to God (himself) that IT APPEARS AS IF GOD IS SILENT as these INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE tragedies, and destructions occurs to His PEOPLE:
b. Daughters loosing mothers; sons loosing fathers; nations of believers loosing faith and trust in God their creator.
c. More specifically, in our text, Chaplain Habakkuk negates God’s Law and Justice by accusing God of NOT HEARING, …
d. … and NOT DOING anything about the tears and painful experiences of His followers.
e. Like the people of Isarel, in the Wilderness of Sin, Habakkuk complains;
f. BUT, he complains directly to God.
g. And God responds that on the Day of Judgment the wicked will perish, but the righteous who trust and maintain his faithfulness to God - in all things – will spiritually survive TERRIBLE THINGS.
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V. READ THE PERICOPE: Habakkuk 2:1-4 (KJV)
VI. READ THE TEXT: Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but
the just shall live by his faith – Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
VII. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to OTHERS that If they TRUST God - and maintain their FAITHFULNESS to God - they will spiritually survive terrible things.
VIII. SERMONIC THEME: “… By HIS Faith”
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MOVE 9: My brothers and sisters, like Chaplain Habakkuk, sometimes the things that I see in life threatens my Faith in God.
a. I have a difficult time seeing babies die before having an opportunity to live.
b. I have a difficult time seeing News Flashes of husbands trying to hold on to their wives in the midst of KATRINA – only to succumb to the awesomeness of the STORM;…
c. …while hearing their wives last words: “Take care of our children, and our grandchildren!”
d. Seemly there aren’t too many days that go by that I don’t hear of yet another soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine dying in Iraq or Afghanistan.
e. Suicide Car Bombing has become almost as frequent as the rising of the Sun, and the going down of the same.
f. When I do watch television, I often see constant reminders of 9-11; the enemy of God and God’s people.
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MOVE 10: Sometimes, what I see causes me to get choked-up with tears. And sometimes what I see, causes me, like Chaplain Habakkuk, to fall on bended knees and cry out to God in prayer.
a. Then, honestly, there are those times when, WHAT I SEE causes me to question God …
b. … because I too am sometimes baffled by the SILENCE of GOD or what I perceive to be THE SILENCE OF GOD.
c. Perhaps, its just me! But, if God isn’t moving where I can personally see him,
d. … or hear from him in the midst of my traumatic circumstances, then in my opinion, GOD IS SILENT.
e. Likewise, my brothers and sisters, it was circumstances like these that were responsible for Chaplain HABAKKUK accusing God of being SILENT.
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MOVE 11: God responded to the Chaplain by saying, Habakkuk, I’m NOT SILENT … THE PROBLEM IS YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE MY ANSWER.
a. For you see, even as we speak, I’m moving …I’ve heard your cry … and I’ve been listening to your prayers concerning the UNGODLY ACTIONS of your enemies. …
b. … and I’m moving even NOW! For I’m preparing to raise-up a NATION OF TERRORIST from IRAQ …
c. My brothers and sisters, if Chaplain Habakkuk though he had problems in the beginning, he really has problems now.
d. In the beginning, the chaplain was puzzled by God’s strange silence, … but now, when he heard God was moving …
e. he couldn’t understand that either. There’s no wonder the great poet “… William Cowper once said , ‘GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY, HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM”.
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MOVE 12: So what do you do? When it looks like God is inactive, and when (like Chaplain Habakkuk) you find out GOD IS Moving …
a. You also learn that GOD is moving in a way that seems totally unbelievable to you.
b. Instead of the situation appearing to get better …. It appears to be getting worse.
c. If the truth was told – you were batting in the minor leagues, but NOW you …
d. … have MAJOR LEAGUE PROBLEMS.
e. Your finances are better than ever; but your spiritually life is at an all times low.
f. What do you do? Your family is extremely important to you – yet seemly you’re making all of the phone calls; and you’re showing all of the love.
g. What do you do?
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MOVE 14: It was one thing when your fellow believers were losing significant others;
a. … but now your love ones are hospitalize;
b. … your mother or father is deceased too.
c. What do you do?
d. On the outside, it looks like all is well in your household;
e. but you know it’s a forsade … but, you can’t tell anybody – what do you do?
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MOVE 15: First, STOP AND PRAY. ASK GOD TO DIRECT YOUR THOUGHTS.
a. Whatever you do; do not react emotionally to the problem.
b. Do not let panic grip you, or some terrible fear come over you. Pray about the CHARACTER OF GOD.
c. RESTATE TO YOURSELF THE BASIC THINGS YOU KNOW ABOUT GOD.
d. FOR DON’T YOU REMEMBER …
e. … HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR WILL HE FORSAKE YOU. HE’S GOD.
f. THE PSALMIST SAYS, in Psalm 34:19 , Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD deliverth him out of them all.
g. Weeping may endure for a night … but joy cometh in the morning – Psalm 30:5b.
h. No weapon formed against me shall prosper – Isaiah 54:17
i. A righteous man falleth seven times, (but he gets back up again ) … and risheth up again … - Proverbs 24:16a – KJV
j. So what do you do? Back away from the situation/circumstance … CHOOSE GOD …
k. DON’T TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM immediately …
l. Take what you know about the Character of God, and allow it to influence THE PROBLEM.
m. Finally, if you have not come an anwer, … leave it BY FAITH WITH GOD, AND ASK HIM TO SHOW YOU THE ANSWER.
n. This is exactly what Chaplain Habakkuk did … He left the problem with God …
o. … He said, I don’t understand what’s happening, BUT THAT’S OKAY .. BECAUSE GOD IS MIGHTIER THAN ME.
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Celebration: … So, I’ll remain faithful in all things …
I’M GOING TO REMAIN FAITHFUL … IN MY STEWARDSHIP TO GOD …
I’M GOING TO REMAIN FAITHFUL … IN THE TIME THAT I GIVE GOD …
I’M GOING TO REMAIN FAITHFUL … USING MY MONEY FOR GOD
I’M GOING TO REMAIN FAITHFUL … USING MY GIFTS FOR GOD…
NO MATTER WHAT … I’M GOING TO WAIT FOR GOD TO REVEAL HIS ANSWER TO ME …
AND WHEN HE DOES … I’M GOING TO GIVE HIM THANKS – KNOWING THAT … THIS IS HIS FOR MY LIFE – 1 Thessalonian 5:18 (KJV) .
