Living By Faith: Habakkuk’s Journey
(Habakkuk 1-3)

Four Insights from Habakkuk 1:
1. We see only a part of the big picture. (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12)
2. God isn’t limited to what we think He ought to do. (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 55:8-9)
3. We need a bigger view of God! (Isaiah 40:25-26)
4. God is good all the time. (Psalm 100:5; Psalm 34:8)

KEY VERSES from Habakkuk:
“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18)

“The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

Living by Faith: Yet I Will Rejoice
(Habakkuk 3)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 )

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:24-25)

1. A Prayer of Remembrance (3:2)
“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known. In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV)

APPLICATION: Share with someone something great that God has done in the past.

2. A Vision of God’s Everlasting Greatness (3:3-15)
“He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting. (Habakkuk 3:6)

APPLICATION: Ponder God’s everlasting greatness.

3. A Response of Submission, Trust and Faith (3:16-19)
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. (Habakkuk 3:18-19)

APPLICATION: In what area(s) of life will you respond to the Lord in submission, trust and faith?

CHOOSE LIFE (Habakkuk 2)

God gives Habakkuk three instructions:

1. Write
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” (2:2)
2. Wait
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (2:3)
3. Remember
“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” (2:4)

Five Woes:
1. Extortion (2:6-8)
2. Arrogance (2:9-11)
3. Bloodshed (2:12-14)
4. Immorality (2:15-17)
5. Idolatry (2:18-20)

A promise:
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (2:14)

Application:
1. In what areas are you waiting on the Lord?
2. What truth from God’s Word will you remember this week?
3. In what areas are your choices not lining up with God’s Word?
4. Are you making choices that side with Jesus or Babylon?
5. Pray for ourselves, our community, and our nation to turn to God.

From Fear to Faith (Habakkuk 2:4)

Habakkuk’s Journey:
From Fear to Faith, Burden to Blessing, Perplexity to Praise, Confusion to Confidence, and
Worry to Worship.

“The just shall live by faith” is quoted in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38

1. Faith is making real what cannot be seen or sensed with human faculties. (Hebrews 11:1)

2. Faith is standing on God’s integrity and acting on His promises. (Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Peter 1:1-4)

3. Genuine faith is tested because of its great value and worth. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

4. We show evidence of our genuine faith by our works. (James 2:18-26)

5. Living by faith is what the Christian life is all about. (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:7)

Your faith is the vital point from which your whole life as a Christian is developed, and whatever strengthens that strengthens you.

In what places in your life or your thoughts do you need the Lord to help you move from fear to faith?

Living by Faith: Part Three
(Habakkuk 2:2-4; Romans 1:16-17)

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3 (NASB)

*What promise from the Lord are you waiting on this morning?

“The just shall live by faith” is quoted in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38

The Power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17):
1. It reveals a righteousness that comes from God.

2. The righteousness from God is received only by faith.

3. By the righteousness in the gospel, men and women are declared just in the eyes of God.

Righteousness means to declare “not guilty” and to declare someone innocent of all charges. If you are righteous in God’s eyes, you can stand before him and be declared “not guilty.”

Faith is complete reliance upon another person to do that which you could never do for yourself.

Living by Faith: Part Two (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1)

What do you do when you’ve prayed to God and you don’t like the answer you’ve received?

Question # 1: Who Are You? (Habakkuk 1:12)

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8.

Question # 2: How Can You Do This? (Habakkuk 1:13)

“But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” (Psalm 115:3)

Question # 3: How Long Will This Last? (Habakkuk 1:14-17)

Habakkuk’s resolve: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Living by Faith: Part One (Habakkuk 1:1-11)

Issue # 1: Unanswered Prayer (Habakkuk 1:2; Psalm 10:1)

Issue # 2: Uncontrolled Lawlessness (Habakkuk 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Issue # 3: An Unexpected Answer (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

1. We see only a part of the big picture. (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

2. God isn’t limited to what we think He ought to do. (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 55:8-9)

3. We need a bigger view of God! (Isaiah 40:25-26)

4. God is good all the time. (Psalm 100:5; Psalm 34:8)

Application:
What prayers are you waiting on the Lord to answer?
Will you trust Him in the waiting?
Pray that our hearts and country would turn to God.
How can you expand your view of God?
Pray that the Lord will strengthen our faith through this series.
Write out and contemplate Psalm 34:8.

Indescribable (Psalm 19:1-6)

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:25-26)

2. Focusing on His indescribable greatness helps us to realize that He is greater than our problems and fears. (Psalm 55:5-7; Ephesians 3:20-21; Isaiah 40:28-31)

3. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:4; Isaiah 40:26; Psalm 139:13; 1 Peter 1:18-21)

4. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6; Isaiah 26:3; 1 Chronicles 16:23-25)

Jesus Christ: The Head of the Church
(Colossians 1:18)

1. “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)

2. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

3. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

APPLICATION:
1. What are Christ’s qualifications as head of the body from Colossians 1:9-18?
2. What does it mean that Christ is the head?
3. Who will you encourage this week?
4. What are your talents or spiritual gifts? How are using them for the Lord?
5. What is the role of the church?
6. Is there someone in the church you need to forgive or ask their forgiveness?
7. Will you stop strife before it starts?
8. Know that you are deeply loved and appreciated by the Lord and by your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Lord’s Prayer: “Amen!”
(Matthew 6:13)

1. When we say “Amen” we affirm something as the truth. (1 Thessalonians 5:21; Philippians 4:8; John 17:17)

2. Jesus Christ is very blessedly God’s Amen to all His covenant promises! (Revelation 3:14; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Romans 8:32)

3. When we say “Amen,” we agree to take action based on what we have affirmed. (James 1:22; John 14:15)

“Amen” is not the end, but the beginning (of action). So, what action will you take in your life now that we have completed this series on prayer?

Will you commit yourself to a regular time of prayer?
Will you set aside a place to pray such as a war room or prayer closet?
Will you write out prayers or record prayer requests and answers in a journal?
Will you review the notes from this series and reflect on the application questions?
Will you use God’s Word and promises to guide your prayers?
Will you submit your will to His that His Kingdom may advance?
Will you trust Him for your daily bread?
Will you thank Him for answered prayer?
Will you obey what He has shown you in His Word and will you apply it to your life?

It is my prayer and hope that we all grow in our relationship with the Lord through prayer and that our prayers more and more reflect God’s Will and Word as we draw closer and closer to Him. Amen!