WEBVTT 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:12.480 Just like to say uh those of you I've talked to this morning, thanks for noticing that Linda and I were gone. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:20.079 So just to answer all the questions, we had a wonderful time. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:21.120 Thank you very much. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:22.800 It's great to be home. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.000 It really is. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:34.159 Now, for most of the summer, we've been studying the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament in order to learn how to live by faith in troubling times. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:43.359 We have three more messages in this series before I return to the study of the book of Acts, picking up where we left off. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:46.079 Today we're going to continue in Habakkuk chapter two. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:51.119 If you've been following along in your Bible, want to turn there, get ready, do that now. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.880 And if you didn't get an outline for the sermon, our ushers would be happy to give you one right now. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:04.799 Just a reminder to our children who are here who've been participating in the note-taking challenge I gave you at the beginning of the summer. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.640 Uh, you know what to do. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:08.400 See me afterwards. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.439 Uh, there's only three more Sundays. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:15.120 You can take advantage of this, and I hope you will. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:18.799 Um, I think you'll be surprised. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:31.040 Anyway, I like my coffee like I like my faith, strong and comforting. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:40.319 There's something about sitting down with that first cup of coffee in the morning that's very comforting to me, just like an old friend. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:41.599 And you know what? 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:49.439 There's something very comforting to know that God is with you, loves you, and is for you. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:02:02.640 When you wake up with that every day, the book of Habakkuk was written to strengthen and comfort us in our faith in Him, in the Lord, during troubling times. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:11.439 Habakkuk questions to God in chapter one kind of set the stage because he's struggling in his faith. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:14.960 Um, he's asking God a lot of questions in chapter one. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.039 Why don't you answer my prayers? 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.879 Why are you waiting so long? 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:24.000 Um, why do you allow bad things to happen to good people? 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:25.280 Your people? 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:32.479 Um, how does a holy God even discipline us using evil people, more evil people? 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:39.360 Uh, why is God silent when his people are hurt by evil? 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:47.360 Habakkuk's questions are very relevant even to us today, I'm sure pop up from time to time. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:56.400 Um, so we we really need the information in the book of Habakkuk to help us, because that's exactly why it was written to us. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:03.599 So far in Habakkuk, we've learned five things we must do to walk by faith in troubling or evil times. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:04.879 Let me review them. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:16.560 First, we must not, things get tough, must not abandon God, turn away from him when we don't understand what he's doing or why he's doing it, how he's allowing it. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:26.319 Second, instead, we must draw closer to God in prayer, pouring out our heart to him, even asking these questions Habakkuk asks. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:40.400 Third, we must realize that God is sovereign, he is holy, and we must trust him for the long view, believing that he does have a good plan. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:42.639 He does know what he's doing. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:50.560 And fourth, we must wait with patient endurance for God's plan to ultimately be revealed. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:57.280 And finally, we left off with we must hope in the coming Messiah who will make all things right. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:58.479 That's the promise. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:08.960 Now, today, God helps Habakkuk focus on the foundation he needs in order to live by faith in troubling times. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:15.439 The foundation, which is God's truth and God's comfort. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.560 Let me read just the beginning of chapter two. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:25.439 We're going to cover basically all of chapter two today, but I'm just going to read the first part and then I'll read the rest a little later. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:35.439 Uh Habakkuk chapter two, and breaking in, when the Lord answers Habakkuk's questions, this is what he said in Habakkuk 2, 2. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:44.720 Then the Lord answered me and said, Record the vision, inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:56.959 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, it hastens toward the goal, it will not fail, though it tarries, wait for it, for it will certainly come, it will not delay. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:08.560 Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him, but the righteous will live by his faith. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:17.199 First, when we're surrounded by evil or by trouble, we need to know the truth of God's word in order to live by faith in God. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.240 We need to know this. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.879 We need to know these truths. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:32.959 Because God's word itself is the foundation of our faith, the very faith we believing in God, the word of God is the very foundation for what we believe. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:41.040 Romans 10, 17 says, so faith, Paul says this, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:42.560 That's where it comes from. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:44.160 That's the foundation of faith. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:45.279 What has God said? 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:50.480 What has He told us about Him, about life, about the future. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:59.120 In this passage in Habakkuk 2, God gives Habakkuk four important truths. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:04.879 So the first point here is uh the foundation of our faith is God's truth. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:15.519 And he's going to give Habakkuk four important truths that he needs to know and we need to know to walk by faith in evil times. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.199 I'm just going to go through them. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:43.759 The first truth God reveals to Habakkuk is the is that the presence of evil in our lives or around us does not mean that God is uncaring or doesn't love us, which is quite often a mistake people make, thinking, well, why doesn't God like me? 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:45.920 Why is all this trouble happening? 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:59.759 God is concerned for people, and that's why he instructs Habakkuk to warn people of his coming judgment and discipline for the evil in his land, so they can run. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:05.040 Jesus' disciples, here's a classic case of this. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:16.399 Jesus' disciples raised the same doubts when they were being overwhelmed, fearing even death by a storm on the Sea of Galilee. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:19.519 Let me read from Mark chapter 4. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.879 Familiar story, but here it is. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.399 They struggling with the same thing. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:33.839 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along with them in the boat, just as he was, and other boats were with him. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:40.720 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:52.000 Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they they they woke him and said to him, Teacher, don't you care that we're perishing? 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.360 There it is. 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:01.439 If you really loved and cared for us, this storm would never be happening. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:03.839 Don't you care that we're perishing? 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:08.879 And he got up, rebuked the wind, said to the sea, hush be still. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:13.279 The wind died down, became perfectly calm, clear as glass. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:20.480 And he said to them, Why are you afraid? 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.920 Do you still have no faith? 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.000 Ah faith and fear. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:33.200 That's what we're gonna be talking about in a minute. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:40.399 They became very much afraid, not because of the storm, but because of Jesus. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.440 And they said to one another, Who is this? 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.799 That even the wind and the sea obey him. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:53.679 You see, at times our fear, our fears will overwhelm our faith. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:58.480 It's important to be aware of that. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:08.480 But the many truths from God's word, that He loves us, He's with us, and will help us. 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:14.240 That's the foundation to live by faith and overcome those fears. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:16.480 For instance, Psalm 27:1. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.080 There's so many verses. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:22.799 Um Psalm 27.1, the Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:24.480 Question. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:27.039 Exactly, whom should I fear? 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:29.840 God on his throne. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.320 The Lord is the defense of my life. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:36.639 Whom shall I dread? 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:41.120 Isaiah 41, 10, classic verse. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:45.360 Everyone who's a believer in Jesus should memorize. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.320 I mean it. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:49.919 You're gonna need this. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:54.399 Do not fear, God says, for I'm with you. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:59.360 Do not look anxiously about you, for I'm your God. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:03.519 I will strengthen you, I will help you. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.799 Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.840 That's the first truth. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:17.200 Just because we have troubling times is not need, God does not care and or does not love us. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.480 He does. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:36.639 The second truth God reveals to Abacuck is that this is the biggie for chapter two, is that pride, our pride, will always hinder our walk by faith. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.919 Always. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.080 You know what pride is? 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.240 It's relying on ourself. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.000 God is not the source of evil in the world. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:54.639 Chapter two is telling us, you know what's the source of evil in the world is Abegah? 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:55.440 Pride. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.120 Human pride. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.519 The sin of pride. 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:01.600 That's where it's coming from. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:13.519 And the scriptures from cover to cover declare God is opposed to all forms of pride. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:22.799 Now, when you're proud, we just read it, God says to you, your soul isn't right inside you. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.639 Something's wrong. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.480 You've dethroned me as God in your life. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:37.120 As for the proud one, Habakkuk 2.4, the soul's not right with him. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:49.200 Now, let me clarify, pride here does not mean having a healthy satisfaction you may have because you did a you did a good job. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.519 That's a different kind of pride. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.519 That's a good pride. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.360 Well satisfied. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:56.399 You did good. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:06.799 The pride here is talking about an inner rebellion against God, flagrantly defying his laws and his ways, his word. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.240 Flagrantly. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:09.200 Pride. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:10.080 Why? 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.000 Because we want to be in control. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.320 Pride. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:22.240 What chapter two is all about is he's he's giving them the answer to his question. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.519 I'm not the source of evil, Habakkuk. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:33.440 You're the human pride in the world is the source of evil, which began in Eden. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:40.240 Now, after highlighting that, as for the proud one, his soul's not right. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:55.519 What happens for the rest of the chapter is what God's gonna do is he begins to list sin after sin after sin that all stem from the sin of pride. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:04.559 A deliberate refusal to heed God's word in order to do what you want to do. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.039 He lists them. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.840 So Habakkuk's already noted this. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:12.320 He sees it in this culture, these things. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:14.879 But God's gonna point them out. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:22.159 In Habakkuk 2.5, he mentions how the sin of pride is connected to drunkenness and addictions. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:31.279 Listen, furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, haughty man, so that he does not stay at home. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:36.639 He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he's like death, never satisfied. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:41.120 He always gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:49.600 In Habakkuk 2, 6 to 8, the sin of pride is behind the desire to be rich, stealing from others. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:14:02.320 He says, Will not all these take up a taunt song against him, even mockery and insinuations against him, and say, Woe to him who increases what is not his for how long? 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.799 And makes himself rich with loans? 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:10.000 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken? 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:21.519 Indeed, you will become plunder for them, because you've looted many nations, and all the remainder of the people will loot you because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town, and its inhabitants. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.559 Greed. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.600 Habakkuk 2, 9 and 10. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:37.440 Pride is manifested by seeking to gain approval and status, by selfishly overpowering others in your way. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:46.399 Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to put his nest on high, to be delivered from the hand of calamity. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:51.360 You've devised a shameful thing for your house by cutting off many peoples. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.480 So you're sinning against yourself. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:04.399 Habakkuk 2, 11 and 12, pride is manifested by getting your own way by violence, hurting, taking advantage of others, God says. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:10.080 Surely the stone will cry out from the wall, and the rafter will answer it from the framework. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:14.799 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with violence. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:31.039 Habakkuk 2, 15 and 16, pride is manifested by dishonoring our bodies, by drunkenness and nakedness, and urging others to do the same. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:41.600 Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, who mix in your venom, even to make them drunk so as to look on their nakedness. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.440 You will be filled with disgrace rather than honor. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.960 Now you yourselves drink and expose your own nakedness. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:56.159 The cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will come upon your glory. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.799 I'm almost done. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:12.080 Habakkuk 2, 17, pride is manifested by violence, devastation to the land, to people, even to animals, God says. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.559 Why? 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.559 For selfish gain. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:33.360 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the devastation of its beasts, by which you terrified them, because of human bloodshed and violence done in the land to the town and all its inhabitants. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.519 You know what's happening in the world today? 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:41.200 Look, this hasn't escaped God's notice at all. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:46.559 Finally, Habakkuk 2, 18 and 19. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:51.679 The sin of pride ultimately leads to the sin of idolatry. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.919 He ends the passage with this note. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.159 What prophet is the idol? 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:08.400 And an idol basically is replacing the true God with an idol of our own creation to help us get what we want in life. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.799 Not trusting God for what he wants. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.759 I'm trusting in this to get what I want. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.799 That's an idol. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:22.640 What prophet is the idol when its maker has carved it or an image or teacher of falsehood? 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:31.119 For its maker trusts in his own handiwork, his own, his own creation, a God in his own mind. 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:39.200 When he fashions speechless idols, woe to him who says to a piece of wood, awake to a mute stone, arise. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.960 And that is your teacher. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:46.160 Behold, it's overlaid with gold and silver, and there's no breath at all inside it. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:58.079 Of course, he's talking about the ancient world's visible material idols. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:07.599 But there's also idols of every sort in our hearts and minds doing the same thing. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:17.039 In this passage, he he begins a proud heart. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.559 There's something wrong. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.880 Something wrong inside that person. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.640 It's pride. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:30.240 That's the source of evil in the world, of every kind of evil. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.880 Sin after sin after sin after sin after sin. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:43.119 In this passage, we find evil bracketed by its two partners, pride and idolatry. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.960 Beginning and the end. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.960 It's how God frames it. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:58.880 So the first thing we need to know, the first truth we need to know, Habakkuk's giving to uh God's giving to Habakkuk is that the presence of evil does not mean that God doesn't care. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.359 The second truth we need to know is God is not the source of evil. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:12.720 Pride is human pride, going after what they want and the sin that is results of in people's lives. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:22.160 The third truth God reveals to Habakkuk is we've just read it a hundred times, faith in God. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:26.480 The true God is the right way to live through evil times. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:32.480 Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him, but the righteous will live by his faith. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:42.559 That means we put our trust in God and his word, not in our circumstances, not in our fears, or anything else. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.279 I'll have more to say about that in a minute. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:58.559 The only other alternative we have is an idol that doesn't even exist. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:10.240 God's truths, you see, set the stage now for God's comfort in evil times, which we're gonna look at next. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:15.599 The foundation of faith in God is his word of truth revealed to us in the scripture. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:23.200 Significantly, God's word of truth gives us the hope and comfort that we need in evil times. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:30.640 And I'm just gonna highlight God gives, I believe, Habakkuk four comforts resulting from his faith in God. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:36.640 The first comfort we looked at before is that God's Redeemer is coming. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.480 Comfort number one. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.720 Here's his promise coming right out of the scripture. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.359 Habakkuk 2, 3, for the vision is yet for the appointed time. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:52.079 It hastens towards the goal, it will not fail, though it tarries, wait for it. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:54.240 It will certainly come, it will not delay. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:21:00.799 Now, if you remember last time, the Hebrew word for it is ambiguous. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:12.079 It can be translated he, the coming Messiah, referring to the coming Messiah, which is how I read it and how the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament understood it. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:17.039 The it refers is a he referring to the coming Messiah, Jesus. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:22.880 So I would read it this way: Habakkuk 2, 3, for the vision is yet for the appointed time. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.880 He hastens towards the goal, he will not fail. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:32.240 Though he tarries, wait for him, for he will certainly come, he will not delay. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.039 Referring to the Redeemer. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:46.319 The second comfort God gives us in this passage is that God is going to judge evil. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.079 Hang on, Habakkuk. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:50.160 I see it, I see it all. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:22:00.799 Evil may have its day, but not the Last word. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.160 Its end is certain. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:19.599 It's interesting that all of chapter two God speaks this about evil, about pride, sins, all this stuff, all the evil he's mentioning in terms of a funeral dirge. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:22.480 That's the way it's written in chapter two. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:27.279 A song of mourning, a funeral dirge. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:34.960 Signifying it's gonna end. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.319 It's gonna die. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:42.079 Habakkuk 2, 8 to 10, because you have looted many nations. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:56.480 In fact, you see in this passage, I believe, how God has even hardwired sin and the evils, the judgment for that in our life right now. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:59.119 He's hardwired into the system. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:04.799 Whatever a man sows, that's what he's gonna reap. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.400 It's hardwired in. 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:16.480 Because you've looted many days, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:30.640 Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all of its inhabitants, woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to put his nest on high, to be delivered from the hand of calamity. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:35.440 You have devised a shameful thing for your house by cutting off many peoples. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:40.480 So you are sinning against yourself. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.759 Evil's not going to win. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:49.519 It doesn't win in the short term, it doesn't win in the long term. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.200 Never does. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.160 The pain you've caused will be brought back on you. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:03.119 The sin you've committed is going to be judged just like God said. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:06.079 Woe refers to God's justice. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.640 You can expect it. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:22.960 You're thinking by going off and being your own savior, your own God, you're going to had, you're going to call it. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:31.440 Actually, you're sinning against yourself by not honoring me. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.519 You're going to be the one suffering. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:44.480 What's interesting is I think here's Jesus' ultimate example of what to do in troubling evil times. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:59.839 And he gives us the really the heart of a believer in God on the cross. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:02.559 He's nailed to the cross. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.559 He's the Son of God. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:07.200 He could have ripped everything apart. 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.960 He could have come down to that cross and just blasted everything. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.079 But he stayed there. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.559 Why? 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.400 Because God wanted him to. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.559 He loved him, his beloved son. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:25.759 Here's what Peter says about what Jesus did surrounded by all this evil. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:36.559 For to this you've been called, 1 Peter 2, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.440 You know what? 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.359 He committed no sin. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:43.359 Neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:47.920 When he was reviled, he didn't revile in return. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:52.079 When he suffered, he didn't threaten, but he continued. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:59.119 Here's what he did: entrusting himself to him who judges justly to the Father. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.000 Trust him. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.440 Trust him. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:09.039 Second comfort, God will judge you. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:16.640 Third comfort God gives Habakkuk is that when God defeats evil, he's going to fill the whole earth with his glory. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:19.359 Habakkuk 2, 13 and 14. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:26.000 Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts that peoples toil for fire and nations grow weary for nothing? 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.799 You know why? 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.799 Because there's a day coming. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:34.480 The earth is going to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.920 The third promise of comfort. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:42.799 Evil has its day, but it's not going to last. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:47.920 Fourth comfort God gives us in his word is that God is sovereign. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.079 Boy, we need to remember this. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:56.240 He is sovereign and in complete control at all times. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:00.640 Nothing escapes his notice. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:08.079 And he is so powerful he can turn evil on his head. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.319 He can turn evil to good. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.200 Like he did. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:16.160 You read the scriptures, that's what he's doing, redeeming it for good. 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:18.319 Habakkuk 220. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:28.160 This is how God ends his answer to Habakkuk after describing pride and the sins that result leading to idolatry. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:32.880 He says this, but the Lord is in his holy temple. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:37.839 Let all the earth be silent before him. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:48.640 What it means is he's in complete control, completely knowledgeable of what's going on, and he knows exactly what he's doing. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.599 So be quiet. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:28:02.400 I gotta tell you, and to me, this is where we probably struggle the most, I think. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:06.160 Because I say it because it's because where I struggle the most. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.400 And I don't know about you. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:15.839 At times, fears can overcome, overwhelm our faith. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:23.359 Whoa! But the promises of God's word, you've got to remember this. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:31.039 Help us overcome those fears so we can trust in the Lord when life gets difficult. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.359 Listen to this from Psalm 112. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:38.799 Psalmist says, Praise the Lord. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:45.759 Blesses the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands, meaning his word. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:50.880 Surely he'll never be shaken. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:56.720 He will have no fear of bad news. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:04.160 His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:12.160 He'll have no fear of bad news. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:13.920 Why? 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:18.160 Because he's trusting the Lord. 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:23.039 That's the comforting faith I want. 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.480 I don't know about you. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:30.559 By the way, uh you do know God has a sense of humor, right? 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.920 Just yesterday I got a phone call. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:39.839 And it was bad news. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.680 And I gotta tell you, just like that. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:48.720 Fear! Oh my goodness. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.880 What are we gonna do? 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.519 I can't believe this. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:57.599 Fear overwhelmed me. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.799 I'm not kidding. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:08.160 My immediate reaction to the trouble was fear. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:12.720 You need to be aware of this. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:16.880 Because it's gonna happen to you if it hasn't already. 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:25.519 And this is yesterday, okay? 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:28.640 And I'm wrapping up my message. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.480 God has a sense of humor. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.759 You know what, Jim? 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:38.799 Before you go tell those people what they ought to do, I want you to do it. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.960 Got it. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:45.759 Do you realize how often God does that to me? 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:50.880 It's an awesome thing to preach God's word. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:55.200 And I never want to do it as a hypocrite. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:31:00.960 Because the judgment is more severe for those who do. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:04.319 I'm gonna apply it to myself. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:07.279 As soon as I recognize the fear hit. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:12.880 Oh my, this is exactly what God was trying to teach me. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:18.880 So I memorized hundreds of verses. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:22.000 And I remembered his promise. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.759 Fear not. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.519 You know why? 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:27.119 Because I'm with you. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.799 Don't be dismayed. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:32.319 I'm your God. 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:38.240 I'll strengthen you, I'll help you, I'll uphold you with my victorious right arm. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:42.240 And all of a sudden, peace. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:44.640 I stopped the anxiety thing. 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:54.079 What was that verse? 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:06.319 Ah, Psalm twenty-seven one. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:12.480 The Lord I I'm reviewing my sermon, preaching to myself. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:17.599 And it actually helped me. 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.160 Okay. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.079 That's what the word does. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:23.039 Psalm twenty-seven one, the Lord is my light, my salvation. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:25.279 Exactly whom shall I fear? 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:31.039 The Lord is the defense of my life. 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.599 Of whom shall I dread? 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.200 Nobody. 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:38.000 Okay, then let's go. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:40.079 Thank you, Lord. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.559 Anybody else want to preach? 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:51.519 And you can get it the next time. 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.160 Okay. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.960 All right. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:57.599 There's so much I could say. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:11.039 Like last time, um, again, we see an expanded lesson of the two things we need to walk by faith in troubling times: truth from God and hope from God. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:15.440 Those two things are extremely important to walk through troubling times. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:22.319 As I pointed out last time, too, that's exactly what the gospel message gives us. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:30.319 The truth is that we are sinners and God will judge our sin. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:32.000 That's the hard truth. 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.279 No excuse. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:38.880 And that judgment, the scripture says, is death, eternal death. 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:42.960 Romans 6, 23, for the wages of sin is death. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:47.920 But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.039 That's the hope. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:53.359 The hope that God gives us is that He loves us. 00:33:53.599 --> 00:34:00.960 He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us when we believe in Him for the gift of eternal life. 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.640 The hope. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:07.279 God's promise to Habakkuk, by the way, was fulfilled in Jesus. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:10.400 He came just as He promised. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:14.559 By the way, He's promised to come again. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.800 Can't wait. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:20.480 But today I invite you to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:29.840 If you've never done that, just express your heart to God and He'll enter your life, fill you with His Spirit, give you the gift of eternal life. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.719 Let's pray. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:34.960 Father, thank you for the truth and hope we have in Jesus and in your word. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:42.800 As the psalmist said, if your word had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:56.559 Whatever difficult circumstances, Lord, we're going through, help us to live by faith, trusting you, not our fears, not our circumstances, and finding hope in the promises of your word. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.559 I pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.440 Amen.