Wait For It!
When God Doesn't... • Sermon • Submitted
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· 20 viewsGod is always at work, and while his work might seem slow to us, God will, in his own time and own ways, fulfill his Word.
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Introduction
Introduction
There is a candy called Warheads Extreme Sours. If you taste this candy, you will quickly find out why they are called extreme sours. When you put it in your mouth your initial response will be, “Oh, this is bitter!” but you have to, “Wait! and Don’t spit it out. You have to keep chewing it to get to the sweet part.”
Somebody here may be in a bitter situation. But I’m here to tell you that if you keep chewing you can make it to the sweet future God has for you.
As we wait on God to faithfully fulfill his Word, we must put our trust and confidence in the Lord and not rely on our own understanding.
You would remember that Habakkuk launches two complaints and God answers him twice.
Complaint #1 - How long will I cry out? Why want you listen? Torah Neglected, Violence & Injustice and Corrupt Leadership.
Response #1 - Look! I’m raising up the Babylonians...
Complaint #2 - What?! Babylon is even worse than Israel! They Deify their Power, They treat humans like animals and they devour nations. So I’ll stand watch & wait for God to respond to me.
Response #2 - ?
In God’s second response to Habakkuk, we observe several vital principles at work...
First, God’s wants to comfort his people.
First, God’s wants to comfort his people.
God begins by instructing the prophet to clearly write down on a stone tablet the response the Lord is about to give him.
God’s forthcoming revelation is not just for Habakkuk but for all of God’s people who will ultimately suffer at the hand of Babylon.
Secondly, God does not always act immediately.
Secondly, God does not always act immediately.
Another reason God commands Habakkuk to record his response through writing is because God’s answer will not take place immediately but at some time in the future:
). Just because God answers our prayers, it does not mean the answer is immediate or that rescue is taking place right away.
3 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.
Vs. 3 “For still the vision awaits its appointed time”.
Just because God answers our prayers, it does not mean the answer is immediate or that rescue is taking place right away.
Third, God’s Word is true and will come about.
Third, God’s Word is true and will come about.
God declares this about his revelation: “It hastens to the end—it will not lie” (2:3).
That is, the promises and plans of God will be completed.
There is no deception in the words of God. His Word is true
5 Every word of God is pure:
He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Fourth, we are to wait patiently on God.
Fourth, we are to wait patiently on God.
God says, “If it seems slow, wait for it” (2:3).
Rarely does God’s timetable match our timetable.
In our instantaneous culture, we abhor slow action.
That’s why Isaiah asked a question.
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
That the everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint;
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.
Fifth, God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word.
Fifth, God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word.
“It will surely come; it will not delay” (2:3).
The timing of God rarely meets our expectations.
Even though God’s answers are sometimes in the distant future,
we can be confident that God will indeed fulfill his Word and promises, despite what we perceive as delays and our circumstances seem to contradict.
Sixth, as God’s people, our life is to be characterized by faith.
Sixth, as God’s people, our life is to be characterized by faith.
God declares,
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:
But the just shall live by his faith.
In contrasting the pride-filled Babylonians, God’s righteous people are to live their lives marked by faith—even in dark times.
). In contrasting the pride-filled Babylonians, God’s righteous people are to live their lives marked by faith—even in dark times. Faith is a confident outlook of trust and dependence upon God while living in faithfulness to the commands of God. Here is a powerful testimony of a person enduring hardship through their faith in God’s Word:
Faith is a confident outlook of trust and dependence upon God while living in faithfulness to the commands of God.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he shall direct thy paths.
, ESV). From this passage we learn the following: 1) Our response to every situation in life is to trust God. We do not walk by sight but by faith. As we journey through life, we need to choose a God-confidence and put our assurance in God’s word and character. 2) We must not rely on our understanding, perceptions, and expectations. It is easy to default to worry, fear, and anxiety when trials, challenges, and darkness come against us. Also, it is so easy to allow our minds to go crazy and to develop false narratives and stories about our situations. 3) We acknowledge God by trusting him. The Hebrew word for acknowledge means ‘know him.’ To know God does not mean to know facts about him. To know God is to live relationally with him by trusting him. 4) God will make our path in life straight. Rather than seeking clarity to know the exact path to take, we can choose to put our trust in God and obey his directions”
From this passage we learn the following:
Our response to every situation in life is to trust God. We do not walk by sight but by faith. As we journey through life, we need to choose a God-confidence and put our assurance in God’s word and character.
We must not rely on our understanding, perceptions, and expectations. It is easy to default to worry, fear, and anxiety when trials, challenges, and darkness come against us. Also, it is so easy to allow our minds to go crazy and to develop false narratives and stories about our situations.
We acknowledge God by trusting him. The Hebrew word for acknowledge means ‘know him.’ To know God does not mean to know facts about him. To know God is to live relationally with him by trusting him.
God will make our path in life straight. Rather than seeking clarity to know the exact path to take, we can choose to put our trust in God and obey his directions”