LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH
Habakkuk 3:16-19
INTRODUCTION:
A. Well we have come to the end of our study of the book of Habakkuk – today is our final message
1. And I hope you have come to understand what Habakkuk did – as long as we live in this world we must be Living A Life Of Faith!
2. The prophet had many questions – I am sure he had many more than we read about, but in the end faith brought the victory.
3. Do you remember the words of God found in Habakkuk 2:4 … the just shall live by his faith.
- Coincidentally, there is a parallel verse in the N.T. they are found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians – the just shall live by faith.
B. Interestingly enough there is another set of parallels: this time they are not in words but rather in thought.
1. The last three verses of our passage for today are Habakkuk 3:17-19 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
2. Verses 17-19 is the O.T. equivalent to a passage found in Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Both are very strong statements of faith – a life charter based on faith.
C. Living A life Of Faith is not something new for God’s people it has been around for a long time
1. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,…. Hebrews 11:4
2. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb 11:8
3. Read through Heb 11 and you will find faith mentioned over and over again – it is not an O.T. versus N.T. thing it is a child of God thing!
4. And as we have already seen, it was something Habakkuk had to deal with for the just shall live by his faith.
D. Like it or not God’s people are to be Living a Life of Faith – this was understood by Habakkuk, by Paul and needs to be understood by us.
1. So this morning I want us to determine we will live a life of faith.
2. First we will look at some general principles concerning faith
3. Secondly we will look at how these might be seen in the life of Habakkuk and ourselves.
E. So lets pray and ask God to enlighten our minds and hearts to faith – and may He grant faith above measure to each of His children, that we might be Living a Life of Faith.
PRAY
If we are to be Living a Life of Faith we must know what we are talking about when we mention faith. Therefore I want to begin this morning by looking first at some
I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING FAITH
A. Faith is a hard thing for most of us to comprehend – even those who do not have a problem with it can’t really put their hands on it because it is not something you can reach out and touch.
1. The apostle Paul explained faith as, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
a. In other words, faith is living in absolute assurance of things that we cannot see, because of the evidence that is seen.
b. We believe in a God we cannot see, because we see how he has worked according to His word over the centuries.
c. Because God has been true to His word in the past we believe – that is, have an assured hope – that He will continue to do so.
d. A belief in God’s existence and an assurance that He will stand true to His word in the future, as He has in the past, is what faith consists of.
2. So how do we gain this type of faith? Well it does not come from out of nowhere.
a. Listen to Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
b. Faith is a work of God that comes about as we hear the word of God.
c. This is why it is necessary that we preach the gospel – the whole gospel of God for the lost to hear
d. This is why, as Christians, we must continue to read and hear God’s word
e. In a way and for a reason we do not understand, God uses His word to bring about saving faith and growing faith.
B. Why is it important that we know about faith? That is a good question. Lets see if we can answer it.
1. First, faith is important because it is the avenue for salvation - Eph 2:8 states, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
a. It is not faith that saves us, it is our absolute certain belief that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was buried and rose again in accordance with God’s word to save us from our sins – this is a step we take through faith!
b. We can’t see or understand all that God did in these events, but we believe anyway – by faith.
2. Secondly, we walk through this present life by faith - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Cor. 5:7
a. Walking by faith means we follow God’s word, apply its principles and believe God is accomplishing His will in us.
b. And lest you worry about messing it up, if you are living by faith, God has made a promise, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
3. Thirdly, we must have faith for without it we cannot please God,
a. The writer to Hebrews said, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
b. My friend, living by faith is not an option – it is a must.
C. So if we are Living A Life Of Faith are there any guarantees? Yes – Let me give you two:
1. First, Living a Life of Faith is a fight – it is not easy
a. The apostle Paul told young Timothy, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Tim. 6:12
b. Much wants to destroy our faith in God and His provision through Christ but we must stand with our armor on and trust in God’s provision.
2. Second, Living a Life of Faith is victorious
a. It was the apostle John who wrote, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
b. You see folks, we do not have to worry about life and its many ups and downs – for those who have placed their faith in God, we know that He will see us through no matter what
1) We know even the hard things of life come our way from Him for a higher purpose than ourselves
2. We can stand on His word and stand secure when all else gives way – this is the way of faith!
So what does all this have to do with Habakkuk and how is it applied to me, now in 2010? Well, that is what our final point is all about. Lets Look at
II. APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES IN THE LIFE OF
HABAKKUK AND OUR LIVES
A. When you look at the book of Habakkuk as a whole what you find is a man who was Living A Life Of Faith.
1. He wrestled with things he thought, saw and felt – even things he did not understand – but he came back to trusting God by faith! Faith that brought rest and hope.
2. Look at Habakkuk 3:16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
a. As I read this verse I see him expressing fear, a heaviness even a little depression, yet look at the statement in the middle of it all - that I might rest in the day of trouble
b. The word for rest here carries with it the idea to settle down, to repose, or to be quiet.
c. As he remembered all that God had spoken, all he knew of God’s past deliverances of His people and therefore, was able to rest even in the midst of a terrible situation.
d. He could wait quietly as Babylon invaded Judah and then as God invaded Babylon.
e. He could do this because His faith was in the great I AM – Yahweh
3. Then if you look at the final 3 verses of the book Habakkuk 3:17-19 what we see expressed is, in a word, hope
a. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
b. Verse 16 essentially expresses the downfall of the Judean economy
c. “Yet” Habakkuk stands fast in His faith – one based on the God who is his joy, salvation, strength, and support.
4. Habakkuk was Living A Life Of Faith.
B. How about us?
1. If Habakkuk could live by faith in the circumstances of his day, shouldn’t we be able to live by faith in ours.
2. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke the words “ye of little faith” three times:
a. The first was in connection to life’s necessities (food, clothing, housing) Matt 6:30
b. The second in connection to life’s circumstances (storm) Matt 6:26
c. The third connected to life’s wisdom (misunderstanding the parable of the leaven) Matt 16:8
3. We are his disciples and we must live by faith – faith in God and His gracious plan brings the victory in these areas and much more.
4. We can live a life of peace and hope!
5. As Habakkuk shows us, Living a Life of Faith does not mean that you will always know what is going on and if you do you will not always like it.
6. It means trusting God that He will work things out for our good as we live for Him and follow His word.
CONCLUSION:
A. I like the way this short book ends - To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
1. It was as if Habakkuk was saying “I’m not crazy about the way things are turning out, right now, but I will continue Living the Life Of Faith
- I know my God is working according to His master plan and I must trust He knows what He is doing. Let’s sing about that!
2. We need to learn this lesson and follow His example
a. We need to stop worrying about a life of faith and start Living
A Life of Faith!
b. Our God is faithful and we have a grand hope in Him!
B. I close with one last quote from the apostle Paul - I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim. 1:12
C. Let’s Live A Life Of Faith!
