1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,600 We've all been hurt. We all carry scars. We can all overcome these things and be 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:11,440 healed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let's build that relationship 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:18,920 together right here. Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. Hey everybody 4 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,320 and welcome back to the sanctuary. It's so good to have you here and if it's 5 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:28,280 your first time joining us, welcome! So the past couple of weeks we've been 6 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:33,080 looking at talking with God and really what we've been seeing is how we form 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:38,080 and maintain a relationship with Him because let's face it all relationships 8 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:43,920 start with conversation. I've said this time and time again. Now sometimes those 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,800 relationships take longer than others to form. Others seem to have an immediate 10 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,440 connection. You know it's that rare occasion that you meet someone. It's like 11 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,120 you've known them your whole life. You're just immediately best friends. You know 12 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:01,560 many of us we've had rough starts. You know having to deal with that 13 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,720 particular person that we just plain don't like. We don't see eye to eye with. 14 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:11,920 We don't get along with and then over time that relationship develops into 15 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,080 something wonderful. You know it starts with you start finding respect for 16 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,960 one another. Some common ground and then it builds and builds and then eventually 17 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:24,320 you have something just absolutely beautiful. Possibly in some cases you 18 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:27,760 might that might even be how you became best friends. You started off at one end 19 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,600 and worked your way to the other. It happens. You know others others come 20 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,400 quickly. You know a great example you put a bunch of veterans in the room together 21 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,760 introduce them and once they find out hey this person served as well guess what 22 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:47,560 not even ten seconds an instant family. They're not strangers anymore. They are 23 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,560 actually family. It's amazing to see if you haven't seen it get up with me. 24 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,760 Believe me I can I can pick it out for you and I can show you real quick. 25 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:01,400 All right it's an amazing thing. You'll see smiles. You'll hear conversations. 26 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,720 You'll hear things said and the way that they're said and you're just thinking 27 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,720 man this is how are they talking to each other. And it's and it's odd because 28 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,040 you're listening you know and it's not just veterans. You hear it with first 29 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:20,600 responders, medical personnel, construction workers. Every vocation that's out there 30 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,440 there's some something in a way that they talk to each other but especially 31 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,640 with veterans and first responders you listen to them and the way that they they 32 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,320 joke around and they rib on each other and you're like oh my goodness. How are 33 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:37,640 they doing? What is going on? But when you're hearing it you have no doubt in 34 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:42,160 your mind they're talking to each other out of love. Absolutely a hundred percent 35 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:49,680 it sounds like a couple of siblings. Now in chapters one and two we've seen 36 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:54,880 Habakkuk take those things to God that were weighing heavily on his chest. So 37 00:02:54,880 --> 00:03:00,520 much so that it was causing him to doubt his faith even. It's a stumbling block we 38 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,760 all have to deal with from time to time and he also demonstrates a great example 39 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:12,060 of actually talking to God which is simply put is prayer. Now again prayer is 40 00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:16,120 how we talk to God. That's how we further our relationship with him and it's 41 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:21,640 important to note he doesn't use any special meter. He doesn't use any special 42 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:25,600 rhyme or any of that other stuff that people throw out there to convolute the 43 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:30,880 conversation. You know to make it sound you know like holier than thou or 44 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,080 whatever else. You know he simply spoke to God. He took the burdens that were 45 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:41,240 weighing him down placed him at the feet of the Father and then sat there 46 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:46,200 patiently waiting. I shouldn't say he sat there. He started waiting and patiently 47 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,920 listening for God to answer him and I say this because he demonstrated how we 48 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,760 should wait for those answers as well because the answers that we're seeking 49 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:00,960 may not be readily available for us or as we've seen in other books of the 50 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:07,040 Bible they may be delayed by other things. So we have to be patient. We 51 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:13,120 have to. So when the questions have been asked at this point the answers have 52 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:19,920 been received at this point. Now Habakkuk is at peace with his faith. His faith in 53 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,680 God has been restored and there is a special peace that comes over a person 54 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:30,200 when they get to that point. It's unexplainable and you know we saw in the 55 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,480 first two books that basically there are I'm sorry not the first two books the 56 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,760 first two chapters the first two parts of the book it was basically a Q&A 57 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:44,960 questions and answers. Now what we're going to see is how we respond to God's 58 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:54,000 answers or as Paul Harvey would say the rest of the story. Now go ahead if you 59 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,480 have your Bible with you or if you're taking notes join me here we're going to 60 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:04,800 look at Habakkuk 3 and chapter 3 the entire thing is a prayer from Habakkuk 61 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:09,560 where he's basically he's praising God. He's going through a list of things here 62 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,720 as we're going to see but the entire thing is his prayer to praise God and 63 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:20,400 his glory and we're gonna go through it piece by piece here. Okay now with that 64 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:26,320 said I want you to take note as well of how he's praying and we're gonna go in 65 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:33,440 more on that at a later time as well as far as how to pray. It's you know that's 66 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,200 one of those things that sometimes I feel like the church we just kind of 67 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,560 fall back on and we leave it like oh you need to say things this way or certain 68 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,120 words or any you know and they throw out jargon and we're gonna cut through all 69 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,720 that kind of stuff we're gonna break it down nice and easy but that's for a 70 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:52,440 later time. Alright so like I said Habakkuk chapter 3 we're gonna see his 71 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:59,760 prayer to praise God for answering his questions and restoring his faith. So 72 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:05,120 Habakkuk chapter 3 verses 1 through 2 the Bible says a prayer of Habakkuk the 73 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:11,520 prophet on Shigionoth I know I probably just butchered that one that that's one 74 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,120 I struggle with myself if you could pronounce it better than me good on you 75 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:21,480 because that's a tough one at least for me it is okay. Lord I have heard of your 76 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:28,160 fame I stand in awe of your deeds Lord repeat them in our day in our time make 77 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:36,440 them known in wrath remember mercy. So at this point Habakkuk knows that the 78 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,740 people of Judah are going to be punished and it's not going to be a good 79 00:06:40,740 --> 00:06:47,480 experience. In fact punishment and correction rarely are you know I don't 80 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,320 I don't know of any kids I don't know of anyone for that matter that's ever 81 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,560 enjoyed really you know being spanked you know when you're in trouble you know 82 00:06:55,560 --> 00:07:01,440 I recall being paddled in school somewhere around probably the fourth 83 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,160 grade and I know I'm gonna date myself here because this is in the the wanting 84 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:09,480 days when we still had corporal punishment in the schools okay and you 85 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:13,080 know I got sent to the principal's office and it was time to take my swats 86 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:21,480 and the principal using the paddle to give me my swats didn't quite come down 87 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:29,120 properly and broke my tailbone not a pleasant experience you know to add to 88 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,120 add the insult to injury of course after that you know the the family was called 89 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,920 the old man had to come pick me up and of course I got my licks there too so on 90 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,960 top of already having a broken tailbone there was more coming you know but you 91 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,440 know I digress think about it though all the different things that are out there 92 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:50,200 and I'm only gonna list a few here you know going to get a switch from the tree 93 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,160 for you for the grandmother you know or you know how about how about having a 94 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,240 grandfather that's the opposite you know he never raised a hand but instead had 95 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:03,480 that gentle way of talking to you just telling you simply how disappointed he 96 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,240 was and that in itself would make you feel like just the absolute worst person 97 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,840 on the planet you'd be crying like you just took the beating of your life you 98 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,880 know or how about you know the the father out there that had that that 99 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,200 leather strap and had no qualms of hitting and beating you and yelling at 100 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:26,000 you you know or how about this my I'm gonna take a take a page here out of 101 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:31,560 my mom's work workbook here you know wooden spoons and kitchen utensils or 102 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,080 maybe you're at a longer range where she couldn't reach you with that so she 103 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:41,160 threw her clogs at you you know those of you that live here in a southwestern 104 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,440 region of the US well heck I should just say the southern region really you know 105 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:50,960 the the beloved chancla you know some some of our mothers are our certified 106 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:58,920 bonafide snipers when it comes to those now you know like I said it's just a few 107 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:04,840 examples you know none of these are or were pleasant situations and I'm sure 108 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,920 each and every single one of us has stories of how we were corrected and 109 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:14,960 punished growing up you know punishments not fun it's not supposed to be it's a 110 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:20,440 learning moment you know and as a parent we don't look forward to having to 111 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:25,600 punish our children and God is no different he doesn't want us to be 112 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:32,520 punished he puts out correction he puts out guidance yet as people as human 113 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:38,000 beings as part of the human human nature you know we we tend to to push things to 114 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,880 a point you know we we cross that line as far as we can and we test those 115 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:50,320 waters and the reality is it's that God just you know lashing out and punishing 116 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:57,680 us we bring the punishment on ourselves through our disobedience to him and our 117 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:04,280 just done right refusal to listen to what he's been telling us all along you 118 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:09,120 know it eventually it builds to this point where God's warners hey you need 119 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:16,080 to stop don't do that knock it off but we didn't listen and what ends up 120 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:28,720 happening is we have to learn things the hard way now have a cook he knew what 121 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:33,440 was headed their way much like when you're set to go fetch the belt and 122 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,960 bring it back for your own whooping you know it's important to see here though 123 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:45,680 he's not resistant he's not resisting at all you know he he knows that Judah has 124 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:53,640 messed up as a nation and that he is you know was the part of that nation he is a 125 00:10:53,640 --> 00:11:01,200 citizen of Judah and as a nation they were going to have to pay the price for 126 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,840 their transgressions now knowing this have a cook he didn't ask to be spared 127 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:13,840 he doesn't try to save himself or get himself out of what's coming he doesn't 128 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:26,800 even ask to not get hurt instead he accepts God's will and asks for help he 129 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:35,920 asks for mercy because he knows that as a people that Judah needs to learn the 130 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:41,200 lesson that God has for them so they could get realigned and get back to 131 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:46,320 where they need to be with God you know it's one of those heart those those 132 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:51,000 things that we forget about it's you know we're getting punished for 133 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,200 something or we're being corrected on something okay and the way culture set 134 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,360 up today was we will take on as a victims mentality and what we need to be 135 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,760 doing is asking God what are you trying to teach me what do I need to learn here 136 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:11,120 what am I missing okay that that is the missing factor here so flip with me 137 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,800 here to Hebrews chapter 12 Hebrews chapter 12 and we're going to look 138 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:23,040 specifically at verses 5 through 11 and the Bible says have you completely 139 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:29,800 forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses 140 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:37,720 his son it says my son do not make light of the Lord's discipline and do not lose 141 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:46,160 heart when he rebukes you because the Lord disciplines the ones he loves and 142 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:52,560 he chases everyone he accepts as his son should probably underline that 143 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:56,920 highlight that do something to mark that that's a good one all right endure 144 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:05,520 hardship as discipline God is treating you as his children for what children 145 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:12,240 are not disciplined by their father if you are not disciplined and everyone 146 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:17,280 undergoes discipline then are you not legitimate not true sons and daughters at 147 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:24,600 all moreover we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we 148 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:31,000 respected them for it how much more should we submit to the father of 149 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:38,800 spirits and live they disciplined us for a little while as they thought best but 150 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:46,400 God disciplines us for our own good in order that we may share in his holiness 151 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:55,080 no discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful later on however it produces 152 00:13:55,080 --> 00:14:04,680 a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it God 153 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:09,200 disciplines his children in love to bring them back to him he takes away the 154 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:15,600 distractions and he gets his children to focus on him to look at him so get you 155 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,000 know it's like you had that toddler getting out of line you know at the at 156 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,240 the store just anywhere really you know and so you give him that little swat on 157 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,640 the butt like hey knock it off look here you know and what happened they turn to 158 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:34,880 you right God does it's the same thing it's like hey you know redirect your 159 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:40,920 focus you know so who let me ask this who loves their children more the 160 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:46,440 parents that let their kids to skate by on anything and everything that they do 161 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:53,680 or the parent who corrects teaches and disciplines their kids to be better and 162 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:59,480 to do the right thing you know it comes back to the whole do the right reason I'm 163 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,400 sorry do the right thing for the right reason even if it's not popular even 164 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:09,480 when no one's looking right God's correction and discipline is one of the 165 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:15,800 many ways in which he shows his love for us and it is because he wants us to do 166 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:22,760 what's right so when we're facing his discipline much like had a cook we need 167 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:28,600 to refocus and again like I said earlier we need to ask him hey what do I need to 168 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:35,800 learn and we need to be grateful you know really we need we need to read learn 169 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:41,000 how to be grateful but we need to be grateful for the fact that God loves us 170 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:47,440 enough to correct us and to mold us into better people not wallow in self-pity 171 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:52,040 and you know we're buying into that garbage victims mentality you know again 172 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:56,200 we need to ask God to help us face the things that we need in order to make the 173 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:04,920 necessary changes we need in life before it's too late so going back to Habakkuk 174 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:13,000 chapter 3 and we're gonna look at verses 3 through 7 175 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:24,440 so the Bible says God came from Taman the Holy One from Mount Paran his glory 176 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:30,200 covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth his splendor was like 177 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:38,280 the sunrise rays flashed from his hand where his power was hidden plague went 178 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:44,120 before him pestilence followed his footsteps followed his steps he stood and 179 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:51,080 shook the earth he looked and made the nations tremble the ancient mountains 180 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:58,880 crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed but he marches on forever I saw the tents 181 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:07,320 of cushion in distress the dwellings of Midian and anguish in simple terms here 182 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:13,120 Habakkuk is saying that God's coming and his judgments coming with him you know 183 00:17:13,120 --> 00:17:17,560 now there's those comments those memes out there that say you know heck I could 184 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,840 think of a few movies here you know a Western in particular says tell them I'm 185 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,600 coming and hell's coming with me well you know what I say go ahead because my 186 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:30,880 God is mightier and his judgment is more to be scared of I'd rather be corrected 187 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:36,240 in life than to spend eternity in hell for not listening to what he warned me 188 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,920 about and what he told me to stop doing 189 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:47,920 continuing on to Habakkuk chapter 3 we're looking at verses 8 through 15 now 190 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:55,520 the Bible says were you angry with the rivers Lord was your wrath against the 191 00:17:55,520 --> 00:18:01,400 streams did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and chariots 192 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:09,920 to victory you uncovered your bow you called for many arrows you split the 193 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:17,520 earth with rivers the mountains saw you and writhe torrents of water swept by 194 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:25,020 the deep ward and lifted its waves on high sun and moon stood still in the 195 00:18:25,020 --> 00:18:29,080 heavens at the glint of your flying arrows and the lightning of your 196 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:37,680 flashing spear in wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you 197 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:45,040 threshed the nations you came out to deliver your people to save your anointed 198 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:50,320 one you crushed the leader of the land of wickedness you stripped him from head 199 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:58,000 to foot with his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out 200 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:08,280 to scatter us gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in 201 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:13,400 hiding you trampled the sea with your horses 202 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:23,640 churning the great waters a storm was coming and the storm was about to come 203 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:30,800 upon them and it was going to be intense there were going to be some drastic 204 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:37,120 changes made that would save God's children and it was going to change the 205 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:41,440 landscape around them things were not going to be the same moving forward not 206 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:46,000 in any way shape or form not even the slightest iota you know God had already 207 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:52,400 given plenty of correction he'd given guidance he'd sent warning you know for 208 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,800 those who turn a deaf ear and you know weren't faith you know they weren't 209 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:03,040 faithful it you know it was it was gonna get real ugly real fast they brought 210 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:09,960 punishment on themselves basically it came down to is they listened to the 211 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,200 devil the devil was trying to sell him something and they listened and they 212 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,520 were going to find out that what they bought into wasn't what they thought it 213 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:25,520 was leadership is gonna be shaken their culture was it's gonna be weeded out 214 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:32,040 you know basically think of farming or gardening I know a lot of you garden you 215 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,640 know is very much what was gonna happen here is you know it's gonna be like 216 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,440 pulling weeds from the crops and gardening you know God was going all 217 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:43,720 out here he's pulling those weeds he's clearing out the debris reshaping the 218 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:50,480 soil for crops you know an irrigation applying fertilizer where needed dealing 219 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,160 with the bugs and the animals and all those those various things that would 220 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:59,680 destroy the garden you know things were gonna get dirty things were gonna get 221 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:06,440 messy but it was gonna be for the good of the garden so good fruit could flourish 222 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:12,160 again you know so with God doing this he did he was doing this so that his 223 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:17,680 children could prosper so let's keep moving forward here and we're gonna look 224 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:23,880 at verses 16 through 18 now so I have to cook three verses 16 through 18 the 225 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:31,140 Bible says I heard and my heart pounded my lips quivered at the sound decay 226 00:21:31,140 --> 00:21:40,240 crept into my bones and my legs trembled yet I will wait patiently for the day of 227 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:46,760 calamity to come on the nation invading us though the fig tree does not bud and 228 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:53,280 there are no grapes on the vines though the olive crop fails and the fields 229 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:57,920 produce no food though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the 230 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:08,200 stalls yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will be joyful in God my Savior so you 231 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:15,400 know scary stuff was coming some scary stuff is coming but Habakkuk knew it's 232 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,720 gonna be temporary and he knew that that nation that was being sent to deliver 233 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:25,200 the punishment he knew that their their day was coming as well so you know even 234 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:32,400 though things were going to be tough Habakkuk was going to take the lesson 235 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:37,560 that he learned of living in faithfulness and he was going to apply it 236 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:43,360 to his everyday life remember back in a chapter 2 verse 4 it says the righteous 237 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:49,840 person will live by his faithfulness meaning we will trust in God and be 238 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:55,040 obedient to him that's what that means is that we need to be you know 239 00:22:55,040 --> 00:23:00,120 obedient to God we need to trust in him and really that's the secret to finding 240 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:07,040 happiness that real spiritual joy in our lives just because we're being patient 241 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:11,440 and we're waiting on the Lord it doesn't mean we're sitting around doing nothing 242 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,120 we're not hanging out on our laurels or any of that kind of stuff matter of fact 243 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:22,600 you know if you turn with me to Isaiah chapter 40 and verses 30 through 31 the 244 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:29,760 Bible says even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall but 245 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:36,320 those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength see the Lord he expects 246 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,160 us to keep working you know things get tough he doesn't expect us you know hey 247 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,360 ask and then just sit there doing nothing to wait even while we're waiting 248 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:47,800 on him he wants us to keep moving forward and doing the work that he set 249 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:52,360 in front of us so knowing this and you know we also need to remember that no 250 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:56,320 matter what we're doing there are those times that we're just plain gonna get 251 00:23:56,320 --> 00:24:04,720 worn out and when we're waiting on the Lord to to provide for us what while we 252 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,960 go and we do that work that he's placed for us we're multitasking and we don't 253 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:13,520 even realize it we don't think of it that way so we can wear down really fast 254 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:19,160 and it's at these times especially that we need to take a moment and remember to 255 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:24,840 pray and we need to pray for strength and then forgot you know basically that 256 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:29,200 God's gonna renew it we need to you know I said ask God for that renewal of 257 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:35,640 strength and knowing that we could call on the Lord at those times on the father 258 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,560 that you know what he has our back he has our best interest at heart and in 259 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:44,120 mind and that could help us to relax a little bit better because he's going to 260 00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:48,720 provide for us you know going back to my farming reference from earlier with all 261 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,440 that was coming the animals and the crops were literally going to be 262 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:58,080 destroyed a whole lot of things absolute chaos and destruction was coming and 263 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:01,000 this was something that was gonna make things just you know even more 264 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:06,560 devastating to Judah however Habakkuk promised that even though there's going 265 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:14,040 to be starvation and loss that he was still going to rejoice in the Lord he 266 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:20,040 didn't give into his feelings about all the stuff that was going on around him 267 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:27,520 instead he was looking to find his strength in God this is something that 268 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:32,880 we could all learn from and we could find hope in you know because you know 269 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:37,920 even Jesus said you know bad things are gonna happen there's there's no if-ands 270 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:43,720 or buts about it it's it's not if it's when things are gonna happen bad guys 271 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:48,200 are going to get away with absolute heinous things just you know just 272 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:56,920 absolute terrible horrible heinous things for a time life is going to be 273 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:04,480 difficult that's the way of the world that is the storm of our lives however 274 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:10,240 we need to stay focused on Jesus and when we stay focused on Jesus and we 275 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:14,280 ask him for him you know to give us that strength and to help us out to be that 276 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:19,600 rock for us you know that foundation he's going to give it to us he's going 277 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:26,240 to provide for us and he's you know and this is the beauty of it it's not like 278 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:31,200 we just go to him he's like here you go bye-bye good luck he's with us through 279 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:37,040 it all he's with us every step of the way side by side going through it with 280 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:44,560 us so while nobody else might may know the storm that you're going through you 281 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:49,480 can rest assured that Jesus does because he's there with you whether you realize 282 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:57,520 it or not he's dealing with the same stuff for you so let's look at the final 283 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:03,200 verse in the book Habakkuk chapter 3 verse 19 the Bible says the sovereign 284 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:09,360 Lord is my strength he makes my feet like the feet of a deer he enables me to 285 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:17,920 tread on the heights for the director of music on my stringed instruments so that 286 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:23,440 little that last little part there was you know if it was basically you know 287 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,760 the early church you know taking his prayer and everything that they're gonna 288 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:30,680 play it to music or anything this this is really what it's going into in that 289 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:36,040 little section all right so if it doesn't make sense I hope it does now 290 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:41,520 going back to this though see God's going to see to his children Christians 291 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:46,760 those of us you know followers believers in Jesus because because of him and 292 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:53,600 because of his promises we can all find strength and we can all find confidence 293 00:27:53,600 --> 00:28:00,660 he has had more more before we were born he has more coming after he has more 294 00:28:00,660 --> 00:28:06,320 than enough strength and confidence for all of us and even though it seems like 295 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:11,360 there's no end to the evil having its way with the world it's not going to go 296 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:17,240 on forever you know all these evil people and groups and companies 297 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:23,080 organizations you know political groups politicians you know governments 298 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:29,120 nations so on and so forth eventually there you know they're they're gonna 299 00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:34,520 get their due they're bringing their punishment on themselves and the Bible 300 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:40,040 has already assured us that the battle is won we just need to remain faithful 301 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:49,040 and trust in God see how the cook he did something hard really hard I I can't 302 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:54,400 emphasize that enough he was in duress and in his time of duress he called out 303 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:59,520 to God and he asked the questions we've all asked you know hey what's going on 304 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,760 here how long are evil people gonna prosper and keep getting away with doing 305 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:10,000 whatever they want while good people suffer God provided the answers say hey 306 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:17,840 they're going to pay and he showed that he can also take all that bad and you 307 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:25,160 know these evil people and use it to help more people find him so he can take 308 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:31,920 that bad and use it for good you know so he's taking those evil doers and using 309 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:38,640 them to help more people to find God to help them find Jesus to save them in 310 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:46,040 their hours of greatest need because keep in mind we don't see Jesus the 311 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:53,400 clearest except for when we're at our lowest and we can count on him to always 312 00:29:53,400 --> 00:30:00,040 do the right thing for the right reason and at the right time and I'll remind 313 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:10,800 you that the right time it's not our time it is always his time his time now 314 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:17,840 isn't it great to know that our God has an open door policy that we can talk to 315 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:26,200 him at any time about anything and everything not only that we can but he 316 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:31,120 actually encourages us to do so he wants us to do so you know there's not a bad 317 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:38,920 time and you know sometimes we're we're we're faced with some ugly things that 318 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:46,920 we really we don't want to deal with you know we all could say say you don't even 319 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:51,400 want to acknowledge you just like I'm it no no nothing the world's happening here 320 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:57,720 you know and when those times come you know it's so easy to lose your about 321 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:03,320 your sight and you know fall back into the whole you know wonderment you know 322 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:09,920 where's God what's he doing in all this what's going on you know and that's what 323 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:15,000 that's when we need to stop what we're doing and we need to pray we need to 324 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:23,920 refocus on God we need to pray and wait for his answer and then based upon the 325 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:31,000 answer that we're given we need to push forward so that he can bless us you know 326 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,080 sometimes the thing that's the very thing that's just right there in our way 327 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:41,120 that stumbling block you know or that hardship that whatever that calamity is 328 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:47,320 it's the very test that we need to overcome so that we could get to the 329 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:51,960 blessing that the Lord has waiting for us you know it's that little piece it's 330 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,840 like hey you know what I you know I know this sucks but you know this is a test 331 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:05,240 for you and you need to get through it so you get into a line with me you know 332 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:10,840 and sometimes we wonder you know bad things happen and we're sitting there 333 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:15,280 we're praying we're like dude what's happening and we don't get that answer 334 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:19,920 right away you know again it's in his time but think of it this way think about 335 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:24,160 when you were in school and it was time to take a test what was one of the 336 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:30,800 number one rules don't talk don't ask questions don't talk you do you do your 337 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,680 test if you need a pencil or something you stick your hand up the teacher will 338 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:38,720 take care of that part but there was no talking so sometimes when we don't hear 339 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:43,480 the Lord we need to remember the teacher doesn't always talk during the test 340 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:51,000 matter of fact more often than not they stay quiet so get you know just work on 341 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,920 that test and figure out what what do I need to learn what do I need to adjust 342 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,720 on what am I struggling on because you know testing that's what it's there for 343 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:05,480 to find out how proficient you are with something right now if you're not 344 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:09,520 already talking with the Lord you know well let me say if you are keep doing so 345 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:16,240 but if you haven't you need to start now before it's too late before you get to 346 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:23,140 that point where you're standing before Jesus and he says depart I never knew 347 00:33:23,140 --> 00:33:33,120 you he's knocking at the door of your life and he he wants to have a 348 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,160 conversation he wants to start that conversation he wants to start that 349 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,160 relationship he wants to form that relationship if you already have one he 350 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:43,440 wants to keep working on it and improving it and making it deeper and 351 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,760 you know he's he wants to have that relationship with you and he wants to 352 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:52,320 walk with you through your heaviest storms you know the the times when 353 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:57,320 you're you're hurting and you're asking for them you know those times when in 354 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,360 the past where you're you're asking for him and wondering where he was well you 355 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:09,240 know what he was there just as he's there now for you but you got to refocus 356 00:34:09,240 --> 00:34:14,160 we need to ask him for strength and we need to ask him for guidance in our 357 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:23,160 lives right now you know it's it's often said by a lot of people you know and I 358 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:29,240 know I've used the phrase as well that you need to make Jesus the Lord of your 359 00:34:29,240 --> 00:34:35,880 life it and really kind of you know and thinking about that it says it's the 360 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:41,600 wrong term it's it's saying the right thing but the wrong way because when you 361 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,040 say you know hey you need to make Jesus the Lord of your life it's it's like 362 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:49,960 it's like you're saying you know that you're the Lord but you're handing over 363 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,640 the reins like you're just telling him hey you know what here's the key to the 364 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:58,600 house here's the key to the car take over it's yours now you know and that's 365 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:02,720 just it's not the case you know Jesus is already the Lord of Lords and the King 366 00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:13,880 of Kings he's already the Lord and King of our lives but he's not like just that 367 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:19,880 that boss that says do as I say he is a servant leader he you know he set the 368 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,880 the ultimate example by doing it when he sent Jesus you know hey this is how you 369 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:28,520 do it so you know it wasn't just do as I say it's do as I do when he showed us 370 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:32,680 how and so what we all need to do is we need to be humble we need to humble 371 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:38,560 ourselves before him and we need to repent of our sin and be obedient to him 372 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:43,920 and by repenting of our sin it's not just acknowledging it it's taking those steps 373 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:49,480 to stop doing it to remove it from our lives and some things are harder than 374 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:53,680 others something you know some things it's not going to be just immediate so 375 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:56,640 we need to ask him on that strength and that guidance to get us through it so we 376 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:03,360 can get away from it you know it's it's it becomes so much easier though it 377 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:09,840 really is it's it's easy when we know how much Jesus loves us and the great 378 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:16,800 lengths that he's going to go to to protect us to know that when we bend our 379 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:24,280 knee to his will and we follow his plan as opposed to ours we're going to be 380 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:29,480 saved and we're going to be in fellowship with them not only here but 381 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:35,740 in heaven you know in heaven he's preparing a place for us so like 382 00:36:35,740 --> 00:36:47,160 Habakkuk I want to encourage you talk to the Lord ask the hard questions be bold 383 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:55,840 don't hold back don't be afraid let it out and then be prepared for the answers 384 00:36:55,840 --> 00:37:00,440 regardless of what they may be because let's face it sometimes we don't like 385 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:07,680 the answers we get it's not there for us to like the truth is the truth we have 386 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:16,800 to accept it and we need to respond in faithfulness by declaring his glory to 387 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:30,040 all because it is all his victory you are a blessing so go and be a blessing 388 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:36,800 go be the church y'all I want to thank you for joining us today if you have any 389 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:42,720 questions prayer requests or would like to know more about our ministry you can 390 00:37:42,720 --> 00:37:49,400 find us on our website at be the light sanctuary org or on Facebook at be the 391 00:37:49,400 --> 00:38:16,200 light sanctuary we'll catch you next time God bless