The Just Shall Live By Their Faith

“The Just Live by Faith” Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

1. The Prophet has some trouble understanding the reasoning Israel is suffering

• Habakkuk says,2How long, O LORD, must I call for help? Why do you tolerate the wrong? Its so bad it seems Justice never prevails.

• The situation for Israel is like the citizen of Ukraine, Russia has invaded.

• So, the Ukraine’s pray, saying, “Lord, how long are you going to let this go on, with bad people making good people suffer?” That’s whats going on with Habakkuk

• As followers of Jesus, you notice some things in your society that trouble you — some fast dealing and unjust actions like trailer courts cost to stay on them was 200 an out of state owner from who know where raised the rate to 500 dollars to stay on the property. Not fair!

•

2. When will Justice Come? That’s the question Habakkuk asks.

• God’s answers Habakkuk: “They aren’t going to get away with it for long. “Oh no, Lord! Why would you allow a country that is worse than ours to invade us?”

• Ukraine has no clue when Puttin will end His terror and destruction

• As Chapter 2 opens, the prophet describes himself as standing at a watch post, meaning that he is waiting for God’s answer to why he would allow the Babylonian’s to do this

• God seldom supplies any of us with “explanations” about his deeds.) But he does give Habakkuk the assurance that he can continue, even in the face of trouble.

3. The single most important statement in God’s response to Habakkuk’s question is in 2:4b: “the righteous live by their faith.”

• Habakkuk is told to write down “upon tablets” what God is about to tell him 2:2

• Its those same six words that changed history during the reformation Martin Luther “The Just Shall Live By Faith”

• Maybe the just live by faith means Faith means trusting God,

• Faith means we believe bad acts will be subdued and good will overcome, but when? That s what Habakkuk asks?

4. Something’s God allowed Habakkuk to know

• Faithfulness would enable them to get through the troubles that were coming

• In The vision Habakkuk was told Babylonians would themselves be defeated. Verse 8 of Chapter 2 “Since you yourself have plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you. …” This essentially happened in 539 B.C., when the Persians conquered the Babylonians.

•

5. Finally, God tells us “The Just Live By Faith” That what he tells Habakkuk, Ukrine, Us

• Remain Faithful so we can receive the Promise when facing persecution. Hebrews 10:36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Endure so you may receive

• Remain persevering for there is a harvest day “. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.).

• Remain Righteous and Habakkuk did. He wrote

• Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines;

• though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food

• ; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,

• yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation” (3:17-18).

6. There’s an old story about a farmer, who, when asked to lead prayer in church, would end with a peculiar statement: “And, oh Lord, prop us up on our leaning side.”

His pastor asked him what he meant by that. He explained: “I’ve got an old barn, and it’s been there a long time. It’s been through a lot of storms, and the bugs have eaten at it. I got to looking at it one day, and I noticed it was leaning to one side. So, I thought to myself, this can’t be good: it’s only a matter of time before it falls.”

“So, I went and got some pine beams, and I propped it up. It still leans, and probably always will. But it’s not going to fall down because I supported it on its leaning side.”

“I got to thinking about it,” he went on. “I thought about the kind of year I’ve had, and some of the storms I’ve been through, and some of the people who are bugging me: eating away at my joy. And I got to thinking, I’m still here! I’m still standing after all I’ve been through. The howling winds: they couldn’t topple me. It’s because God’s grace was propping me up on the leaning side.” Friends Just Live by your faith,