“From Complaint to a Life of Faith”   5/18/08 

Habakkuk 2:2-2:20

 

Background- written in 606 BC; recent revival a memory.  The prophet goes from mystery to certainty, questions to affirming, and complaint to confidence.

 

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom 15:4

 

Theme of the book is about faith- trilogy in NT (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38).

REVIEW

POINT 1- The BASIS for living by faith.

 

A.   The basis for a life of faith is rooted in OBEDIENCE

(Verse 2:2; Psalm 119:32; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Micah 2:11; Gal 5:16)

 

B.    The basis for a life of faith is rooted in waiting for God’s PROMISES

(Verse 2:3; Isaiah 55:8-9, 10-11; It’s rooted in God’s timing; 2 Peter 3:9 )

 

Going           God wants you trust in His promises and be committed to obedience!

Deeper          

 

POINT 2- The REWARD for living by faith

Literal translation of Habakkuk 2:4b- “the justified, by his faith, shall live.”

 

A.     The reward for those justified by God, and receiving faith is LIFE

(Verse 2:4; Eph 2:8-9; John 10:10)

1) The opposite of faith is: worry, doubt, fear, anxiety, unbelief

          2) Unbelief brings about a lack of life (Mat 13:58, 17:20; Hebrews 3:12, 19).

          3) Do you live your life as rooted from your faith (TV, Reading, Free time,        Language, Finances, Raising of kids; John 17:14).

 

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Heb 11:6a; contrast James 1:6-7

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 AFRICAN IMPALA

 

“Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.” - John Emmons

ILL- boy on roof of burning house, he can’t see Dad, but Dad can see him.

Going         God wants you to receive life and through it a life of faith!

Deeper

 

POINT 3- The JUDGMENTS for not living by faith.

 

A.   The JUDGMENT of God will eventually fall on those rejecting God.

(Verses 2:5-20; FIVE WOES; Romans 2:4-9; Rom 1:18; Eph 5:5-6; Col 3:5-9)

 

Going         God wants you to be sure that you have put your faith in Him alone!

Deeper