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HABAKKUK- ARE YOU LISTENING, LORD?

May 18, 2003 PM

Sermon Outline

HAB 1:1-4

INTRO: The more times I have read the little book of Habakkuk over the past few weeks, the more I have enjoyed what is going on within the little book. Why was this man? Well, very little is known about him. His prophecy should be dated some time just prior to Babylons invasion of Judah. His name, some have suggested, means embrace. One writer noted the appropriateness of his name as one who took his nation to his heart, comforted it and held it up.... The content of the little book would certainly bear the accuracy of that assessment of the man. Lets follow the message as Habakkuk takes the cause of the righteous people to God.

I. THE PROGRESSION OF THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS...

A. Habakkuks central question - 1:2

1. apparently, he had frequently laid his petition before God

2. from his perspective he could determine his prayers were heard

3. he had cried out to God of violence, but he saw no answer

4. the human perspective in praying was very much felt and evidenced by Habakkuk ... Lk 18:1

B. The situation in Judah was truly alarming to righteous people

1. all around him were strife and contention (1:3)

2. the law was virtually ignored and justice was scarce (1:4a)

3. the wicked far outnumbered the righteous (1:4b)

4. there was no protection for godly people (1:4c)

C. So, the Lord answers his petitions - 1:5-11

1. His judgment upon evil Judah which ye will not believe

2. and His judgment would come in the form of the Chaldeans (1:6) who were terrible and dreadful (1:7)

3. they would take captives as the sand (1:9)

4. but they would not give any credit for their victories to God - they would credit their power unto his god (1:11)

D. But Habakkuk is not sure he understands this answer to his prayer

1. he acknowledges Gods eternal nature and His holiness - (1:12a)

2. he acknowledges that Judahs evil should be punished - (1:12b)

3. but he does not understand how God could use such horrible people as the Chaldeans as the means of His judgment (1:13)

4. his view of this? The wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he

E. So, after his second complaint, he will wait for an answer - 2:1

F. And the answer from God comes quickly!

1. the judgment of God will surely come (2:3)

2. and His judgment upon the destroyer will ultimately come

3. why? because his proud heart is not upright in him (2:4)

4. then, the great principle: the just shall live by his faith (Rom 1:17)

G. Five woes are pronounced upon the Chaldeans

1. 2:6 - because of unrestrained greed

2. 2:9 - because of absolute selfishness

3. 2:12 - because of dishonesty and cruelty in seeking gain

4. 2:15 - because of shameless immorality

5. 2:18 - because of idolatry and its futility

H. The great contrast and doxology - 2:20

II. THE PSALM OF HABAKKUK - CHAPTER 3

A. This psalm is Habakkuks response of understanding

1. he had heard all that the Lord had said about judgment

2. he recognized that Gods choices were right and just

3. but in wrath remember mercy (3:2)

B. A historical realization - 3:13

1. Habakkuk knows this to have been the history of Gods dealings with His people

2. and here is an affirmation which should give comfort to us

3. while we may not always be able to fathom Gods plan, work, actions, we can be sure of this: He goes forth for the salvation of His people!

C. Habakkuks marvelous expression of faith - 3:17-19

1. at the end of the day, it really doesnt matter what happens to me ... for good, or for ill

2. I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation

3. this is possible even for us if God is our strength

CLOSE: If this little book has no other message to us than the last three verses, that is enough. Oh, that I should be able to know the contentment of Habakkuk!

Cecil A. Hutson

May 18, 2003

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "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) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)