Our God Never Sleeps

Our God Never Sleeps

2006004

Topic 695 – Habakkuk

Introduction:

A. Psa. 139:7

1. Ever-present eye of God is an undisputed truth.

2. Hab. 1:2-4 – Habakkuk had forgotten it.

a) God had failed to see or ignored the injustice in Judah.

b) Subject to despair.

B. 1:5-11 - God answered his protest.

1. God is not an unconcerned spectator.

2. Injustice will not go without penalty.

3. God vindicates His glory & punishes haughty sinners.

C. 1:5 – we must not lose sight of the eternal vigilance of God.

D. Psa. 121.

I. God is always doing marvelous things.

A. We cannot see the constant activity of God.

1. When life’s stresses come about, we can find ourselves walking by sight.

2. But God calls us to look upward, to look to Him in faith!

B. 1:5 – wording of the verse…

1. Look! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder!

2. God is always fashioning events on earth to accomplish His tasks and purposes.

C. KJV/ASV – I will work a work in your days.

1. Refers to the diligent labor of a tradesman who uses his skill to complete a project.

2. Imagine a potter w/clay. As the skilled person begins to do his work – not always impressive.

3. Soon the skill of the person seen as he goes to work – gives the work form – soon beauty immerges.

4. Complete – the design is understood.

D. Look around – there are things that look to be in total chaos/ruin/distress.

1. We must develop the faith to wait & allow the Master Craftsman to use His skill.

2. Upon completion – we will look in total amazement at what He is able to do.

3. Psa. 106:1-3

E. 1:5 – Isn’t this what God told Habakkuk?

1. Astonished! Wonder!

a) Hebrew language has no comparative forms.

b) To stress intensity – wording is repeated. (Isa. 6:3 – holy holy holy) stresses absolute holiness.

2. Same language used in 1:5d. Describes the utter amazement the prophet would experience upon seeing God’s work.

3. God’s amazing power was well understood.

a) Jer. 21:2 – Zedekiah calls upon Jeremiah to pray

b) Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to His wonderful acts.

E. God is able to do astounding works that appear impossible! Eph. 3:20

II. 1:6 - God is in control of all things.

A. 1:6 – I am raising up… reinforces the fact that God is in control! Absolute control.

1. In control even when everything appears to be out of control.

2. As God works, all details will be addressed – the completed work will not fail to achieve its goal.

B. Rom. 8:28 – God’s absolute control is the basis of our confidence.

1. Even in the worst situations, God will see that His purposes are achieved.

2. Lk. 22:31-33 – Satan sought permission to sift Peter as wheat.

a) Job 2:6 – Satan sought permission to tempt Job.

b) 1 Pet. 5:8 – Satan is our adversary…seeking to devour us…

3. 1 Cor. 10:13 - But even with this, no matter how evil, Satan cannot burden us w/unbearable temptations.

4. Why? Because God is in control.

5. Calamities/sin/temptation can bring us to our knees – but we can be more than conquerors if we hold fast our faith!

C. Genesis 50:20 – consider Joseph.

1. hated/betrayed by his brothers; sold as a slave

2. dealt w/Potiphar’s wife & her lies; spent time in prison unjustly

3. Yet in the end – His faith was rewarded.

4. We need to appreciate & immolate Joseph’s faith.

5. We need to get to the point where we see God is in control of all things.

III. 1:6 – God is able to accomplish all things.

A. Habakkuk perplexed how God could allow evil nation like Babylon to come in & destroy Judah.

1. Bible has many examples where God used evil nations, problematic people, and dire circumstances to further His goals.

2. When God does this, God does not coerce them to become His instruments.

a) He does not predestine people to a life of evil.

b) Freedom of choice to obey or disobey.

3. After they make choices, God works with those choices to achieve His will.

B. Isa. 14:24, 26-27 – What God purposes – it will certainly come to pass – no one can thwart God!

1. Jer. 4:28; Rom. 8:31

IV. 1:12-13 – Our Almighty God is the Holy One.

A. 1:12-17 – Habakkuk responds to God’s remarks.

B. God is eternal, self existent, and Almighty.

1. Heb. 11:3 – with just the speaking of His voice, everything we know was created – from nothing.

2. This divine power is available to all who fear & obey Him.

a) We can petition the Almighty in prayer.

b) Eph. 3:20; Phil. 4:6-7

c) How comforting is this?

3. 2 Chr. 16:9 – Let us take refuge in the Almighty God!

4. We can overcome the crises attacking our faith!

C. Habakkuk also attests that God is the Holy One.

1. God cannot look with approval on sin. He cannot behold evil. He does not sanction wrong doing.

2. Psa. 5:4-6

3. God will not do anything inconsistent with His holiness.

4. Since He is a holy God – this guarantees that His justice will ultimately triumph.

Conclusion: God is the Rock of Our Salvation.

A. 1:12

1. Rock is a metaphor describing God.

2. Sure stability, He is the safe resting place; He is our constant support.

3. 2 Cor. 1:10b – God is a refuge for Christians today – His promises are as firm today as they always have been.

a) This is why it is so tragic to be without God.

b) God is THE rock – if you w/o Him – you have nothing!

B. When times come that it appears that God has forsaken us or forgotten us, let us recall the stability of the rock.

1. 2 Sam. 22:2-3, 47, 51

2. Psa. 62:6-7

C. Is your hope built on the Rock? Song # 367

D. From the utter despair & hopelessness of 1:2-4 – after God’s reply, we see hope rising out of hopelessness.

1. 1:12c – we will not die.

2. Because God is God, because He is independent, absolute, eternal, holy, and righteous, those who follow Him find protection.

E. Christians have a hope that will never perish!

1. Would you like to grab hold of that hope? Obey God today!

F. I N V I T A T I O N



Our God Never Sleeps 2006004 Topic 695 – Habakkuk Introduction: A. Psa. 139:7 1. Ever-present eye of God is an undisputed truth. 2. Hab. 1:2-4 – Habakkuk had forgotten it. a) God had failed to see or ignored the injustice in Judah. b) Subject to despair. B. 1:5-11 - God answered his protest. 1. God is not an unconcerned spectator. 2. Injustice will not go without penalty. 3. God vindicates His glory & punishes haughty sinners. C. 1:5 – we must not lose sight of the eternal vigilance of God. D. Psa. 121. I. God is always doing marvelous things. A. We cannot see the constant activity of God. 1. When life’s stresses come about, we can find ourselves walking by sight. 2. But God calls us to look upward, to look to Him in faith! B. 1:5 – wording of the verse… 1. Look! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! 2. God is always fashioning events on earth to accomplish His tasks and purposes. C. KJV/ASV – I will work a work in your days. 1. Refers to the diligent labor of a tradesman who uses his skill to complete a project. 2. Imagine a potter w/clay. As the skilled person begins to do his work – not always impressive. 3. Soon the skill of the person seen as he goes to work – gives the work form – soon beauty immerges. 4. Complete – the design is understood. D. Look around – there are things that look to be in total chaos/ruin/distress. 1. We must develop the faith to wait & allow the Master Craftsman to use His skill. 2. Upon completion – we will look in total amazement at what He is able to do. 3. Psa. 106:1-3 E. 1:5 – Isn’t this what God told Habakkuk? 1. Astonished! Wonder! a) Hebrew language has no comparative forms. b) To stress intensity – wording is repeated. (Isa. 6:3 – holy holy holy) stresses absolute holiness. 2. Same language used in 1:5d. Describes the utter amazement the prophet would experience upon seeing God’s work. 3. God’s amazing power was well understood. a) Jer. 21:2 – Zedekiah calls upon Jeremiah to pray b) Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to His wonderful acts. E. God is able to do astounding works that appear impossible! Eph. 3:20 II. 1:6 - God is in control of all things. A. 1:6 – I am raising up… reinforces the fact that God is in control! Absolute control. 1. In control even when everything appears to be out of control. 2. As God works, all details will be addressed – the completed work will not fail to achieve its goal. B. Rom. 8:28 – God’s absolute control is the basis of our confidence. 1. Even in the worst situations, God will see that His purposes are achieved. 2. Lk. 22:31-33 – Satan sought permission to sift Peter as wheat. a) Job 2:6 – Satan sought permission to tempt Job. b) 1 Pet. 5:8 – Satan is our adversary…seeking to devour us… 3. 1 Cor. 10:13 - But even with this, no matter how evil, Satan cannot burden us w/unbearable temptations. 4. Why? Because God is in control. 5. Calamities/sin/temptation can bring us to our knees – but we can be more than conquerors if we hold fast our faith! C. Genesis 50:20 – consider Joseph. 1. hated/betrayed by his brothers; sold as a slave 2. dealt w/Potiphar’s wife & her lies; spent time in prison unjustly 3. Yet in the end – His faith was rewarded. 4. We need to appreciate & immolate Joseph’s faith. 5. We need to get to the point where we see God is in control of all things. III. 1:6 – God is able to accomplish all things. A. Habakkuk perplexed how God could allow evil nation like Babylon to come in & destroy Judah. 1. Bible has many examples where God used evil nations, problematic people, and dire circumstances to further His goals. 2. When God does this, God does not coerce them to become His instruments. a) He does not predestine people to a life of evil. b) Freedom of choice to obey or disobey. 3. After they make choices, God works with those choices to achieve His will. B. Isa. 14:24, 26-27 – What God purposes – it will certainly come to pass – no one can thwart God! 1. Jer. 4:28; Rom. 8:31 IV. 1:12-13 – Our Almighty God is the Holy One. A. 1:12-17 – Habakkuk responds to God’s remarks. B. God is eternal, self existent, and Almighty. 1. Heb. 11:3 – with just the speaking of His voice, everything we know was created – from nothing. 2. This divine power is available to all who fear & obey Him. a) We can petition the Almighty in prayer. b) Eph. 3:20; Phil. 4:6-7 c) How comforting is this? 3. 2 Chr. 16:9 – Let us take refuge in the Almighty God! 4. We can overcome the crises attacking our faith! C. Habakkuk also attests that God is the Holy One. 1. God cannot look with approval on sin. He cannot behold evil. He does not sanction wrong doing. 2. Psa. 5:4-6 3. God will not do anything inconsistent with His holiness. 4. Since He is a holy God – this guarantees that His justice will ultimately triumph. Conclusion: God is the Rock of Our Salvation. A. 1:12 1. Rock is a metaphor describing God. 2. Sure stability, He is the safe resting place; He is our constant support. 3. 2 Cor. 1:10b – God is a refuge for Christians today – His promises are as firm today as they always have been. a) This is why it is so tragic to be without God. b) God is THE rock – if you w/o Him – you have nothing! B. When times come that it appears that God has forsaken us or forgotten us, let us recall the stability of the rock. 1. 2 Sam. 22:2-3, 47, 51 2. Psa. 62:6-7 C. Is your hope built on the Rock? Song # 367 D. From the utter despair & hopelessness of 1:2-4 – after God’s reply, we see hope rising out of hopelessness. 1. 1:12c – we will not die. 2. Because God is God, because He is independent, absolute, eternal, holy, and righteous, those who follow Him find protection. E. Christians have a hope that will never perish! 1. Would you like to grab hold of that hope? Obey God today! F. I N V I T A T I O N