Waiting by Faith in the Midst of Challenging Times
Sermon Notes
When God’s plan doesn’t make sense, wait. Don’t be hasty – wait until He answers.
1. Wait obediently (1 – God called him with a purpose – wait until He delivers)
2. Wait perspectively – keep your perspective on Him and all that He does (1)
3. Wait God-centrically – “I will wait to see what He will speak to me” (1)
4. Wait expectantly – ready to share - “when I am reproved” (1) and ready to obey - “take notes and run” (2)
5. Wait patiently – “though it tarries, wait for it” (3)
6. Wait with certainty – “it will certainly come, it will not delay” (3)
7. Wait in humility and faith –
But as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him:
But the righteous will live by his faith (2.4)
- Pride will keep me from God
- Pride and faith are opposites
- Righteousness comes through faith
- Pride is devastating
Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man,
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
And he is like death, never satisfied.
He gathers himself to all nations
And collects himself to all people (2.5).
Some New Testament Observations
There are three places Habakkuk 2.4 is quoted in the New Testament
1. Romans 1.17
2. Galatians 3.11
3. Hebrews 10.37, 38
It is the worship of our great God that leads us to wait and to faith – we will not wait on one who we do not think is worth waiting for, and if we do not wait we will we have little faith in Him.
Think about it:
God is consistent, but He is also unpredictable. He is consistent in His nature. You always know where you are with Him, but you seldom know what He is going to do next. You cannot find security in what God is doing. There is only security in who God is.
Graham Cook
To walk away from one’s faith because of unanswered questions about evil is to walk into a storm of unanswered questions about good.
Ravi Zacharias
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40.28-31).
Next Sunday: “The Five Woes – How Does God Judge Evil?” (Habakkuk 2.6-20)