Write it Down, Plainly

Hab 2:1-4 - NLT - 1 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. 2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. 4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Our theme for the year is power and authority. I’m here to tell you this morning along with that power and authority, you must have a plan and you need to write that plan down.

The title of today’s message is, “Write it Down, Plainly”.

The writer of today’s text is a man named Habakkuk. Habakkuk was a prophet. His responsibility was to relay messages. He spoke to God on behalf of the people and relayed to the people God’s messages.

Prophets were not always popular because they often found themselves being the deliverers of bad news.

When the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, got out of line, it was the prophets who delivered the message of God’s displeasure and subsequent punishment.

Habakkuk was known as one of the minor prophets. Not because he was any less important, but because of the length of his book; being just three chapters. In your prayer, study, and meditation time this week, make time to read the entire book, it won’t take you long.

To get a better picture of what’s going on in our text, when we look back at the first chapter of Habakkuk we’ll see he’s complaining to God about what’s going on around him.

There’s destruction, corruption, violence, and misery everywhere. Those in power are taking advantage. He’s surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.

He says the law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked outnumber the righteous so justice has become perverted.

Wait! Is he talking about today? No. But it’s proof that what King Solomon expressed is true; there’s nothing new under the sun.

But Habakkuk is like we are sometimes. He’s reached a point where he feels helpless and dare I say a bit hopeless because he sees what’s going on around him, he’s talking to God about it, which by the way is what prayer is, yet, nothing seems to be changing. The situation is not getting any better.

Anybody ever been there? You’re praying, praying, and praying, yet it doesn’t seem like your situation is changing.

You still can’t pay your bills.

Your marriage is still on the rocks.

You still don’t have a mate.

You still need a job.

Your body is still not healed.

Your children are still not saved.

Your loved one is still incarcerated after being wrongly convicted.

Your loved one still died, even though you prayed God would heal them.

You get to a point where you want to scream, “GOD! WHERE ARE YOU! CAN YOU HEAR ME!

The text assures us God does hear us. And when God answered Habakkuk, it appeared things were going to get worse before they got better.

Now wait a minute preacher. Are you telling me I could pray and things will get worse? According to Habakkuk, so it would seem.

Here’s the thing. Just like we punish our children when they are disobedient, there is punishment for sin, God is our Father, and the Father chastens those whom he loves.

The difference is, He knows exactly who did what, so it will not be a case of if I punish everyone, I’ll get the right one. God sees everyone and everything, the Apostle Paul informs us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Sometimes God will use the wicked to punish the righteous, as was the case here. But Habakkuk complained to God again and said, Now wait a minute Lord, are you really going to allow a wicked people to swallow up or destroy a more righteous people?

Just in case you didn’t know, let me tell you, nothing that happens, happens without God’s permission. Nothing takes him by surprise.

Also, Satan is the prince of the air and ruler of this world, but he can only do what God allows him to do.

When your world seems to be falling apart, get to your prayer closet, talk to God, and see if it’s Him allowing Satan to test you. See if God has said, “Have you considered my servant…” insert your name here.

When Satan is roaming the Earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, as a child of God you will at some point become his target. You must remember, his whole goal is to steal, to kill, and to destroy YOU!

But here’s the good news. When it seems like the matter is settled in heaven you can still talk to God about it. You can still pray.

Even when it seems like things are getting worse, continue to pray.

You don’t stop playing, because you lose one game. You go back and you practice so you can improve.

You don’t quit school because you failed a test. You study harder so you can learn the information.

You don’t get divorced because you have an argument. You sit down and calmly talk about the issue, pray together, forgive one another, and move on.

You don’t give up on God because you don’t think he answered your prayer. He may have answered it, just not in the way you thought He would.

Keep praying, prayer is a conversation. It’s an exchange. You talk—God talks, you talk—God talks, you talk, God talks, but remember, God has the final say, he has the last word in every conversation and in every situation.

So Habakkuk went back to God with his complaint. Let me pause right here for just a moment. There are those who will tell you, you can’t complain to God, you can’t ask him questions, but it’s right here in the Scripture even the prophets asked God questions and they were his chosen representatives to be an intermediary or go between, between God and the people.

God is our Father, He’s our creator, our deliverer, our all in all. Of course, we can go to him with our questions, our complaints, our concerns, our problems, our tears, and our fears. And guess what, He can and will handle them all.

So Habakkuk has expressed his second complaint to God and as we come to our Scripture text, now he says, I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. Translation, you talked to God about it, now go back to your post and wait to see what His answer will be. Wait and see how He’s going to address your concern and know that He will perfect that which concerns you.

Habakkuk went back to his post and here’s what God said to him… “Write my answer plainly on tablets,” God said, write this down.

Anyone ever been in a communication class where they did the exercise of passing a message along, you had to whisper it, you could not repeat it and the receiver could not ask any questions. By the time the message got to the end it was a completely different message and it was wrong.

God said write his answer down, and write it plainly. If you’re ever in a planning session whether it’s for professional or personal reasons you’re told to write down your goals. And there’s a specific way you are to put your goals together. It’s called making SMART goals.

SMART is an acronym

S - Specific: When your goal is specific it increases the chances you’ll be able to accomplish it because the goal is well defined. You have determined the who, what, where, when, and why of what it is you want to do.

M - Measurable: When your goal is measurable you know whether you’re progressing toward it, at a standstill, or moving away from it. If you cannot measure your goal, how do you know when you’ve reached it?

A - Achievable: Now this is tricky for the household of faith. The world says create goals that are attainable and achievable by ensuring that you and your team have the skills and resources needed to reach the goal. But we know that we have a God that can do anything but fail and that with God, nothing shall be impossible. So on this one, our goals are God-sized goals. What we’re doing is making sure the goal is Authorized by God. We want to make sure it’s in His plan for us, we want to be sure it’s in his will for our lives.

R - Relevant: Is what we’re doing lining up with the ultimate goal of what we’re here for? Is what we’re doing adding souls to the Kingdom? Are we taking care of God’s people or are we just spinning our wheels? Running, running, running and going nowhere. Working, working, working, but nothing is being accomplished.

T - Time-based: We’re not putting a clock on God, but when we don’t put a time limit on ourselves the goal gets pushed further and further and further away. Then one day you look up and what should have taken you 11 days to complete has taken 40 years.

To write something plainly means to write it simply, don’t use $50 words when .10₵ words will do. The goal is to pass a message the people will clearly understand, not flaunt that you read the dictionary and your phone gives you a new word every day, so you’re trying to use it in a sentence. Make it plain so the people will know what you’re talking about!

To write plainly is also to not use 15 words when five will do. Has anyone ever picked something up to read or received a text message or email that was really long with no breaks in the message? Do you read the whole thing? Probably not.

Personally, if you have a long message you want me to read, break it up into paragraphs. Better yet, call me.

This is the reason the Bible is broken down like it is. In the original manuscripts, there were no chapters and verses. Scribes wrote the history; they wrote the inspired word of God. Much of the New Testament consists of letters written to the churches and pastors. It’s separated by chapter and verse to help us. Amen?

God told Habakkuk, “Write my answer plainly on tablets,” Why? “…so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.”

Now, there’s two words in there that shout out to me, correct—message. Passing a message is only beneficial if it’s the correct message.

How many have been guilty of gossiping? You don’t have to raise your hands; we’ve all done it. Some people will preface their gossip with, I’m just letting you know so we can pray. But go back to the passing the message communication exercise and remember how messed up the story was by the time it got to the last person.

During this time, to write something down took a significant amount of effort. You couldn’t just go to the desk and grab a pen and paper and jot it down. You couldn’t make a note on your phone or send a text.

God wants His message to be clearly understood by all who would read and hear it, both now and in the future. During this time the people would gather together and messages would be read to them. They didn’t all have a Bible they could turn to or pull up on their phone, for themselves like we do now.

When the message is written down, even those who were not the first recipients will still get the correct message from the Lord.

God goes on to tell Habakkuk, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

Here’s your answer, but what I’m telling you is it’s not going to happen right now. You may not see what you’re praying about in your lifetime, but rest assured, it will come to pass. God will do what he said he would do and when he does it, it will be right on time.

In our microwave society, we want everything fast, quick, and in a hurry. Sometimes you just gotta wait on God. And not just wait, wait patiently.

Bad things can happen when we get in a hurry, when we try to go before we get our marching orders from God. Quite simply, we mess stuff up.

Don’t get stuck on the, “It will not be delayed.” and take that to mean it’s going to happen soon.

God has no time, he is time. Our days are measured, not his, so his soon and our soon are two different things.

Ask a child who’s waiting to go to the park and mom says, we’ll go soon, how soon, soon is.

So don’t fret, don’t panic, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” And know that he is a God that not only hears you, he will answer you. Wait on him, He’s worth the wait.

And then we see just a glimpse of why the people are in the predicament they’re in. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.”

We cannot be trusted to always do what’s right and just. Man’s flesh is continually evil, that’s why we must wake up every morning, crucify the flesh, and put on the armor of God, so we don’t succumb to the enemy’s plan.

Listen to what Paul says about his struggle with sin. Reading from the 7th chapter of the book of Romans, beginning at the fourteenth verse he says:

“14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Is that anybody’s testimony today?

Are you relying on yourself; your means and your abilities, or trusting in God’s limitless resources and power?

Are you living according to the world’s, if it feels good do it philosophy, or God’s standard of holiness?

Are your goals ones that you can achieve or are they goals God authorized?

The problem with the pride is they trust in themselves. They see only as far as their money, skill, and connections will take them. Their lives are crooked, and they devise evil plans to get what they want. Be careful hanging out with proud folks, pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. You may have heard the saying, “Oh how the mighty have fallen.” That’s what pride and reliance on self will get you.

“But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”

The righteous are those who love God with all their heart, mind, body, soul, and strength.

The righteous are those who love their neighbors as themselves.

The righteous are those who understand God’s plan will always be better than their plan.

The righteous are those who meditate on his law day and night.

The righteous are those who have hidden God’s Word in their heart so that they won’t sin against him.

The righteous are those who are holy as he is holy.

The righteous are those who live a life that is pleasing unto God.

The righteous are those who present their bodies to the Lord, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.

The righteous are those who know they are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.

The righteous are those who know they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.

The righteous are those who know God is their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The righteous are those who pray without ceasing.

The righteous are those who look to the hills from whence cometh their help because they know all of their help comes from the Lord.

Right about now you may be saying to yourself, “Preacher, it takes all that to be righteous? I’ll never make it.”

Well, I’ve got good news for you, righteousness is a journey not a destination and it’s a marathon you’re running not a sprint.

The journey begins with believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is God, and that he came to Earth, born of a virgin to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. Sin demanded that something die, it demanded that blood be shed, and Jesus did that for us.

The journey begins with believing Jesus came to save us from the consequences of sin, to snatch us from the hand of the enemy so we wouldn’t experience the torment of hell.

Trust me when I tell you hell is real and it’s not a place you want to find yourself in for eternity.

Our lives here are but a vapor, gone in an instant when you look at the continuum that is our life. When this portion is complete, when you’re done running this race, when you have finished your course, there is another life awaiting you and you have the choice of what that life will be.

Let me say it plainly, when you die, you will either open your eyes rejoicing in heaven or you will open your eyes screaming in the torment that is hell.

Oh is that too direct? Sorry, not sorry. The reason we’re here…yes we come to church, we sit and listen to the preacher, we give our tithes, we feed the hungry, but our primary reason for being disciples is because, “Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

BOOM! Drop the mic.

We come in here, we listen to the preacher to receive the Word of God which is good for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness:

We come into the sanctuary to worship God, to be encouraged by our brothers and sisters. To see one another, to get or give a hug.

For some people, Sunday at church may be the only time they have face to face contact, especially post pandemic.

For those of you who may be watching this message online and you live in the Douglasville, GA vicinity, if you don’t have a church home, I invite you to come here to 3500 Hwy 5. We are a small but growing congregation on the move for Christ.

We believe in making an impact in the community in which we reside and one way we’re currently doing that is through our food pantry ministry.

With your help we can do even more. Many hands make light work.

What gift or talent has God given you for the edification of the saints? Would you consider allowing Love Christian Center to be the conduit through which you exercise it?

Come on in, Sunday school begins at 8:45 and it’s not just for kids, worship service begins at 10:00, our food pantry ministry is every Wednesday from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m., Bible study begins at 7:00 p.m. and intercessory prayer is on Thursday mornings from 8 - 9 a.m.

Your journey to righteousness, begins with a prayer, something like this. God, please forgive me, I come confessing I am a sinner and I need you. Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died for my sin. I invite you into my heart to be Lord of my life. In your name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, congratulations and welcome to the Kingdom of God. Now find a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area and get busy learning what God has designed you for and what he’s given you to give back to his people.

If you’re in the Douglasville, GA area, we’d love to have you join us here.

Perhaps you don’t live in this area but you would like to support the ministry financially, click the link on the screen or go to our website at www.lovechristianctr.org and go to our online giving page for all the ways you can give.

And finally, if this message blessed you in any way, please, hit like, hit share, and encourage us with a note that it encouraged you. What message has God given you to write down plainly? Have you asked Him?

Do more in this new year than make a resolution you’ve probably already given up and make SMART goals. Make goals that include honoring God and getting into a local church so you can live out God’s plan for your life.

If you’re here in the sanctuary and you have not received the Lord as your personal Savior, today is a great day to do so.

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