THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
(HABAKKUK 2:1-4)
VERSE 1- I WILL STAND UPON MY WATCH, AND SET ME UPON THE TOWER,
AND WILL WATCH TO SEE WHAT HE WILL SAY UNTO ME, AND WHAT I SHALL ANSWER WHEN I AM REPROVED
VERSE 2-AND THE LORD ANSWERED ME, AND SAID, WRITE THE VISION, AND MAKE IT PLAIN UPON TABLES, THAT HE MAY RUN THAT READETH IT
VERSE 3-FOR THE VISION IS YET FOR AN APPOINTED TIME, BUTAT THE END IT SHALL SPEAK, AND NOT LIE: THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT, BECAUSE IT WILL SURELY COME, IT WILL NOT TARRY
VERSE 4-BEHOLD, HIS SOUL WHICH IS LIFTED UP IS NOT UPRIGHT IN HIM: BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH
VERY BRIEFLY WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD
AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS
I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON A THOUGHT
(THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH)
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK IS ONLY 3 CHAPTERS LONG
IT'S MINOR IN SCOPE
BUT MAJOR IN ITS IMPLICATIONS
HABAKKUK WHOSE NAME MEANS EMBRACE
PROPHESIED TO JUDAH
CONCERNING THE IMPENDING INVASION
OF THE CHALDEANS
IN CHAPTER ONE HABAKKUK
ASKS CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF GOD
WHY DO THE WICKED SEEM TO PROSPER
AND THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER
WHY ARE THE RICH GETTING RICHER
AND THE POOR GETTING POORER
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE
THEN IN VERSE 2 HE SAYS
O LORD HOW LONG SHALL I CRY
AND THOU WILT NOT HEAR
EVEN CRY OUT UNTO THEE
OF VIOLENCE
AND THOU WILT NOT SAVE
AND THIS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
HABAKKUK BASIC MESSAGE TO GOD IS
(HOW LONG)
EVEN IN THE DAY AND TIME
WE ARE LIVING IN
SOMETIMES WE AS CHRISTIANS
CATCH THE HOW LONG SYNDROME
HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO LISTEN
TO PEOPLE
WHO SAY THEY LOVE THE LORD
WITH ALL THEIR HEART
MIND
AND SOUL
BUT NEVER SHOW UP TO BIBLE STUDY
OR PRAYER MEETING
HOW LONG
HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WATCH
PEOPLE LIFT UP HOLY HANDS
IN THE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
(BUT WON'T LIFT A HAND TO HELP NOBODY)
HOW LONG
DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH MEMBERS
WHO COMES TO GODS HOUSE
AND RAISE $10,000
WORTH OF CONFUSION
AND WONT PUT A DOLLAR
IN THE COLLECTION PLATE
HOW LONG
HOW LONG
HOW LONG
DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
EXPERIENCE STANDOUTS
BUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT
BIBLE CLASS DROP OUTS
SOMETIME WE AS CHRISTIANS
CATCH A CASE OF THE
HOW LONG SYNDROME
AND EACH TIME THE QUESTION IS RAISED
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH
IT IS LEFT UNANSWERED
BUT I NEED TO REMIND YOU
THAT REVEREND DOCTOR PREACH BROTHER PAUL
HAD A THORN IN HIS FLESH
AND NOT ONLY DID HE PRAY
ONCE
TWICE
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS HE PRAYED 3 TIMES
AND PAUL REVEALS THAT GOD ANSWERS
OUR PRAYERS IN SEVERAL WAYS
HE SAYS
YES
NO
AND WAIT
BUT I HEAR PAUL SAYING
THERE IS A 4TH WAY
THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
AND THAT IS HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
AND I WONDER IS THERE ANYBODY HERE
THIS MORNING
KNOWS THAT GODS GRACE IS STILL SUFFICIENT
AND GODS GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED
HABAKKUK
HABAKKUK
TAKES HIS PROBLEM
AND PUT THEM
IN THE HAND OF A PROBLEM SOLVER
AND WHEN HE WENT BEFORE GOD IN PRAYER
(IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND)
THAT HE DIDN'T GO BEFORE GOD IN ANGER
OR ANXIOUSNESS
BUT HE PRAYED TO GOD IN ANGUISH
CAN I BORROW A SKINNY MINUTE
AND TELL YOU WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT
WHEN YOU GO TO LUKE 22:42-44
LUKE REVEALS THAT JESUS PRAYED IN ANGUISH
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
VERSE 42-SAYING FATHER IF THOU BE WILLING
REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME
NEVERTHELESS NOT MY WILL
BUT THINE, BE DONE
VERSE 43-AND THERE APPEARED AN ANGEL UNTO HIM FROM HEAVEN
STRENGTHENING HIM
VERSE 44-AND BEING IN AN AGONY HE PRAYED MORE EARNESTLY AND HIS SWEAT WAS AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD FALLING DOWN TO THE GROUND
BUT IN THE TEXT
BEFORE GOD ANSWERS HABAKKUK PRAYER
BY TELLING HIM
THAT HE WAS GOING TO USE THERE ENEMY
TO DESTROY JUDAH
FOR THEIR BACK SLIDING
HABAKKUK DIDNT UNDERSTAND GODS PERMISSION
OF THE EVIL IN JUDAH
AND WHY GOD WOULD USE BABYLON
AS A ROD OF CORRECTION
AND THAT THE DILEMMA IN PRAYER
THE ANSWER
BECAUSE SOMETIME THE ANSWER
MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR
JONAH GO TO NINEVEH
HOSEA MARRY THE PROSTITUTE OF GOMER
GIDEON YOUR ARMY TOO BIG
CUT IT DOWN FROM 32,000 TO 300
RICH YOUNG RULER IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ME
GO SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE
AND GIVE TO THE POOR
AND TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME
SOMETIME THE ANSWER
MAY NOT COME
WHEN YOU WANT IT TO
BUT THIS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IS WHERE FAITH KICKS IN
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
SO HABAKKUK SAYS IN VERSE ONE OF THE TEXT
VERSE 1- I WILL STAND UPON MY WATCH AND SET ME UPON THE TOWER AND
WILL WATCH TO SEE WHAT HE WILL SAY UNTO ME AND WHAT I SHALL
ANSWER WHEN I AM REPROVED
AND HABAKKUK REVEALS TO US
THAT WAITING AND WATCHING
ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS
BUT NOT ONLY
IS WAITING AND WATCHING
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS
BUT THE LORDS ANSWER IS A CALL OF DUTY
VERSE 2- AND THE LORD ANSWERED ME AND SAID WRITE THE VISION AND
MAKE IT PLAIN UPON TABLES THAT HE MAY RUN THAT READETH IT
AND I NEED TO PULL OVER
AND PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS
BECAUSE I NEED TO SHARE A LITTLE SOMETHING SOMETHING
WITH YOU
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CAREER AND A CALLING
A CAREER IS SOMETHING WE CHOOSE OURSELVES
A CALLING IS SOMETHING WE RECEIVE FROM GOD
A CAREER IS SOMETHING WE DO FOR OURSELVES
A CALLING IS WHAT WE DO FOR GOD
A CAREER LEADS TO UPWARD MOBILITY
A CALLING LEADS TO DOWNWARD MOBILITY
THAT'S WHY THE HYMNOLOGIST SAID
DOWN AT THE CROSS
WHERE MY SAVIOR DIED
DOWN WHERE
FOR CLEANSING FROM SIN
I CRIED THERE UNTIL MY HEART
WAS DRIPPING BLOOD
APPLIED GLORY TO HIS NAME
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
PHAROAH HAD A CAREER
BUT MOSES HAD A CALLING
POTIPHAR HAD A CAREER
BUT JOSEPH HAD A CALLING
AHAB HAD A CAREER
BUT ELIJAH HAD A CALLING
PILATE HAD A CAREER
BUT JESUS HAD A CALLING
BARAK OBAMA HAS A CAREER
BUT I REVEREND DOCTOR PREACH BROTHER COUTEE HAS A CALLING
NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE
GOD GAVE HABAKKUK A VISION
THAT NEEDED TO BE REPEATED
SUCH TO
IS OUR CALL
A CALL TO REPEAT THE VISION
WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN US
BECAUSE WHERE THERE IS NO VISION
THE PEOPLE WILL PERISH
NOW NOTICE WHO GOD GAVE THE VISION TO
HE DIDN'T GIVE IT TO THE DEACONS
HE DIDNT GIVE IT TO THE CHOIR
NOR THE USHERS
BUT HE GAVE THE VISION TO THE WATCHMAN
REVELATION 1:1-8 CHURCHES OF ASIA THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH
GOD TELLS HABAKKUK TO
WRITE THE VISION
AND MAKE IT PLAIN UPON TABLES
THAT HE MAY RUN THAT READETH IT
BUT NOT ONLY DOES GOD GIVE
HABAKKUK A CALL OF DUTY
BUT HE ALSO GAVE HABAKKUK A CALL TO WAIT
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
GOD REVEALS TO HABAKKUK
THAT HIS PLANS IS OF CERTAINTY
AND REMIND HIM TO BE PATIENT
BECAUSE THE VISION IS YET FOR AN APPOINTED TIME
THEREFORE HE MUST WAIT WITH PATIENCE
THOUGH IT TARRY WAIT ON IT
BECAUSE IT SPEAKS OF THE END
AND WILL NOT LIE
NOW THE KEY WORD IN THIS VERSE
IS WAIT
AND THE REASON WHY
IS BECAUSE WE AS CHRISTIANS
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WAIT
BECAUSE WE LOOK AT IT FROM
A PASSIVE TENSE
INSTEAD OF AN ACTIVE TENSE
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORD WAIT
FROM A PASSIVE TENSE
IT REVEALS TO YOU VUNERALBILITY
YOU PUT YOURSELF IN WHILE WAITING ON GOD
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT
FROM THE ACTIVE TENSE
IT REVEALS TO YOU
THAT WHILE YOU ARE WAITING
GOD IS WORKING
AND HE IS WORKING IT OUT
FOR YOUR GOOD
FOR PSALMS 27:14 SAYS- WAIT ON THE LORD BE OF GOOD COURAGE AND
HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD
FOR ISAIAH 40:13- SAYS BUT THEY THAT WAITH 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
IF YOU WAIT ON THE LORD
I HEAR THE EAGLE EYE PROPHET SAYING
GOD WILL GIVE YOU INWARD STRENGTH
UPWARD STRENGTH
OUTWARD STRENGTH
AND ONWARD STRENGTH
WELL NOT ONLY DID GOD GIVE HABAKKUK
A CALL OF DUTY AND
A CALL OF DUTY TO WAIT
BUT OUR TEXT ALSO SUGGESTS
THAT GOD GAVE HIM A CALL OF DUTY OF FAITH
VERSE 4- SAYS BEHOLD HIS SOUL WHICH IS LIFTED UP IS NOT UPRIGHT IN
HIM BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
HIS SOUL WHICH IS LIFTED UP
IS NOT UPRIGHT IN HIM
DESCRIBES THOSE WHO ARE PROUD
TRYING TO WORK OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION
OR THEY ARE JUST LIVING FOR TODAY
WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF
EAT
DRINK
AND BE MERRY
FOR TOMORROW
WE DIE
THEY HAVE NO GOAL IN LIFE
HIS SOUL IS NOT UPRIGHT IN HIM
HABAKKUK WAS A MAN OF FAITH
HE SAID
I WILL GO TO MY WATCH TOWER
AND WAIT FOR GODS ANSWER
HE WAITED
BECAUSE HE WAS TRUSTING
IN THE ONE
WHO HAS THE ANSWER
TO ALL LIFE PROBLEMS
HEBREWS 11:6-SAYS 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
IT WAS FAITH THAT ABEL WAS ABLE TO WORSHIP
BECAUSE HE GAVE GOD HIS BEST
ENOUCH WALK WITH GOD BY FAITH
ABRAHAM WAITED ON GOD BY FAITH
I STOP BY HERE THIS MORNING
TO ENCOURAGE YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
TO CONTINUE TO STAND UPON YOUR WATCH
PRAY AND WATCH
BECAUSE PRAYER GIVES GRACE TO THE VISION
AND WATCHING KEEPS THE VISION FROM BEING FORGOTTEN
WRITE THE VISION BECAUSE THE VISION
IS THE ABILITY TO SEE
WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO
THE FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT IT
SHALL COME TO PASS
AND THE COURAGE TO COMPLETE THE TASK
THAT GOD HAS SET BEFORE YOU
AND IF ANYBODY ASK YOU
WHO'S YOU ARE
JUST TELL THEM
YOU ARE GODS WATCHMAN
STANDING ON THE WALL
THE BIBLE IS YOUR PORTFOLIO
THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL IS YOUR GOOD NEWS
WELL I HAVE TO CLOSE HERE
BUT I NEED TO TELL YOU
BLOUNT CHAPEL
BE ENCOURAGED AND HIGHLY FAVORED
