TITLE: When Faith Begins to Rise

TEXT: Habakkuk 3:1-16

A prayer for Hope Church from the prayer of Habakkuk: Oh LORD…

1 – IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, GIVE US A SONG OF DEPENDENCE! – V.1

Acts 16:25 – “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Matthew 26:30 – “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Matthew 26:31 – “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of me this night.’”

Psalm 77:1-2, 6 - “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted… I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’”

2 – REMEMBERING THE PAST, GIVE US FAITH FOR THE FUTURE! – V.2-16

1 Timothy 2:1-2 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

TITLE: When Perspective Comes

TEXT: Habakkuk 2:6-20

When God seems slow, we need the right perspective…

1 – EVERY EVIL PLAN WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL – V.6-19

When God’s activity seems slow, you must remember that God will bring down all:

1A. Oppression – 6b-8

1B. Exploitation – V.9-11

1C. Iniquity – V. 12-14

1D. Immorality – V.15-17

1E. Idolatry – V.18-19

2 – GOD’S RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WILL LIVE BY FAITH – V.20

TITLE: When It’s Time to Wait

TEXT: Habakkuk 1:11-2:5

Learning to wait on God means:

1 – REMEMBERING THE CHARACTER OF GOD – V.12-13a

A.W Tozer – “We wonder why we don’t have faith; the answer is, faith is confidence in the character of God and if we don’t know what kind of God God is, we can’t have faith.”

2 – WRESTLING WITH THE ACTIONS OF GOD – V.13b-17

David Baker – “The prophet’s faith in a holy God is challenged by the reality of Yahweh’s choice of the Babylonians as an instrument of punishment. This causes Habakkuk again to ask ‘why?’”

3 – WATCHING FOR CLARITY FROM GOD – Chapter 2:1-5

Watching for clarity from God…

You cannot force His hand, watch & pray - Chapter 2:3a

If his answer seems slow, be patient – Chapter 2:3b

Faith is the key, trust with hope – Chapter 2:4

TEMPTATION

GENESIS 3:1-7

BIG IDEA:

Why is this passage in the Bible? / What question does this passage answer? What is the answer to the question? / Move from the meaning to

significance of the passage. / What? (What does it mean?) So What? (Why does it matter?) Now What? (What should we do about it?)

Knowing God’s word and trusting God’s goodness are essential for victory over temptation.

OUTLINE

WE FALL INTO TEMPTATION WHEN

1. We DoubtGod’s Goodness

2. We Denying God’s Word

3. We Desire God’s Throne

INTRODUCTION

Stimulate interest > Show the need > Start with the Bible > State the Big Idea > Summarize Outline

What’s wrong with the world?

- social

- economic

- poitical

Sin is what’s wrong with the world.

POINT 1 - DOUBTING GOD’S GOODNESS

[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [2] And the woman

said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the

fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

EXP

(1) THE SERPENT

- No background or details given, - no explanation as to why this creature can talk

(1) MADE - the serpent and the devil that the serpent represents or that has possessed the serpent are both

creatures created by God. - there is no dualism (it’s on like the light side and dark side of the force in Star Wars)

Original Audience

- Uraeus (god of protection) on Pharoh’s headdress.

For us

Revelation 12:9

[9] And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole

world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (ESV)

(1) DID GOD ACTUALLY SAY - causing doubt, bringing confusion

(1) YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF ANY TREE

2

- Exaggerates the prohibition and excludes to the provision

- Made God seem harsh and restrictive and unreasonable

- Invites Eve to evaluate whether or not God’s commands are appropriate or not (flatters her)

(2) WE MAY EAT

i. Omitted “freely”

ii. Added “touch”

Iii. omitted surely

- De-emphasized God’s generosity, made God seem more strict and less generous, made the punishment

less definite.

ILL

“Are you out of your skull? Look around! This is Eden; this is paradise! God knows exactly what he is doing. He

made everything; he even made me. My husband loves me and I love him—and we are both intoxicated with the

joy and holiness of our beloved Maker. My very being resonates with the desire to reflect something of his

spectacular glory back to him. How could I possibly question his wisdom and love? He knows, in a way I never

can, exactly what is best—and I trust him absolutely. And you want me to doubt him or question the purity of his

motives and character? How idiotic is that? Besides, what possible good can come of a creature defying his

Creator and Sovereign? Are you out of your skull?” (D.A. Carson - what Eve should have said

APP

- Do you think God is holding out on you?

- God is not here to make sure no ones having too much fun (turn down the music)

POINT 2 - DENYING GOD’S WORD

[4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your

eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

EXP

(4) YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE

- Satan just flat out lies

John 8:44

… He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks

out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Satan tells three lies

1. You will not die

2. Your eyes will be open

3. You will be like God

- He denies the doctrine of judgement - that there are consequences for actions and punishment for sin

- Satan gets Eve thinking she can judge the ap

TITLE: When God Seems Inactive

TEXT: Habakkuk 1:5-11

When God seems inactive, remember & be amazed…

1 – GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING, EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T SEE IT – V.5

2 – GOD IS NEVER CONFINED, HE WORKS IN UNBELIEVABLE WAYS – V.6-11

Waylon Bailey – “God raising up the Chaldeans showed that he is sovereign over the whole earth. He is not confined to one nation or one people. God can work through other peoples to accomplish his purpose. God used the Assyrians as the ‘rod of his anger’ to punish Judah at an earlier time (Isaiah10:5-15). He chose Cyrus to deliver the people of Judah from the exile imposed by the Babylonians (Isaiah 45:1). In Habakkuk’s day God would use Babylon to punish Judah for it's rebellion against the Lord.”

ESV Study Bible – “The perversion of justice in the triumph of the wicked prefigures the temporary triumph of the wicked in the crucifixion of Christ…The unbelievability of God’s use of a wicked people, the Chaldeans, prefigures the unbelievability of the way in which the injustice of the crucifixion of Christ is used by God for salvation.”

TITLE: When Your Heart is Burdened

TEXT: Habakkuk 1:1-4

When your heart is burdened…

1 – TAKE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER – V.1

JC Ryle - I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, Do you pray? The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God. I beseech you in all affection to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray. Do not tell me that my question is unnecessary…I cannot see your heart. I do not know your private history in spiritual things. But from what I see in the Bible and in the world I am certain I cannot ask you a more necessary question than that before you - Do you pray? There is a way by which any man, however sinful and unworthy, may draw near to God the Father. Jesus Christ has opened that way by the sacrifice he made for us upon the cross….There is an Advocate and Intercessor always waiting to present the prayers of those who come to God through him….There is the Holy Spirit ever ready to help our infirmities in prayer….There is a friend ever waiting to help us, if we will unburden our sorrow to him…Jesus can make those happy who trust him and call on him, whatever be their outward condition…Prayer can lighten crosses for us however heavy. It can bring down to our side One who will help us to bear them.”

2 – SEEK GOD WITH HONEST QUESTIONS & REVERENT COMPLAINTS – V.2-4

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

Psalm 81

Introduction

I can’t do it Lord – I NEED STRENGTH

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Recognizing the source of our strength

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Passionate worship

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Remembering the works of God

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Listening to God’s voice

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Considering the consequences

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Finding satisfaction in God’s promises

So What!?

Title: the boy jesus

Text: Luke 2:41-52

RC Sproul:

This was the age at which the Jewish boy became a man, and went through the bar-mitzvah, which simply means ‘son of the commandment’, entering into the full measure of adult commitment to the covenant of Moses.

--

RC Sproul:

“It was customary in ancient Israel for boys to be taken to the temple a year or two in advance of their bar-mitzvah, so that they might become familiar with the operations of the temple and of the educational programmes of the rabbis there. It was almost like a trial run, a time of orientation, so that a child, when he did reach thirteen, would have had some preparation. So Jesus went to Jerusalem at twelve, perhaps for his initial orientation of the structures and customs of the temple.”

Phillip Ryken:

“Going to Passover must have been a great experience for a twelve-year-old boy. The streets of Jerusalem were crammed with as many as two hundred thousand pilgrims and one hundred thousand sheep for sacrifices. At that age Jesus may well have had the run of the city, with all its sights and sounds. He would have feasted with friends. He would have gone up to the temple to pray and sing psalms. On the night of Passover he would have worshiped with his family. As his father prepared the sacrificial lamb, Jesus would have heard the story of salvation all over again. Joseph would have reminded his eldest son how God rescued his people from slavery and delivered them from death in Egypt.”

1) JESUS WAS FULLY BOY (v41-46, 48)

2) BOY JESUS was FULLY GOD (v46-49)

RC Sproul:

After the feast it was the custom for the theologians of Israel to remain there for a few days to have what they called ‘theological disputations’, in which they would share the latest ideas and insights into theology. The students of the rabbis would sit at their feet, for their learning process was very similar to that of Socrates and Plato at the Academy: it was through questions and answers. The students would ask the rabbi questions, and at times, as a teaching technique, the rabbi would return questions to the students. It was in that situation that Jesus was found, astonishing everybody with his unbelievable understanding and insight to these things, and all who saw him were amazed.

Phillip Ryken:

Jesus referred to God as “my Father.” This intimate expression was totally new. No one had ever said anything like it before. To be sure, the fatherhood of God is present in the Old Testament. There are at least a dozen places where the Scripture refers to God as Father. However, those who are speaking always refer to themselves in the plural. That is, people spoke of God as “our Father,” but no one ever called him “my Father.” God’s paternity was more a general concept than a personal relationship. Even men like Moses and David, who enjoyed special intimacy with God, never dared to claim that he was their Father. But Jesus said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. If the temple was God’s house, then it was his Father’s house, because he knew that God was his Father.

--

RC Sproul:

How significant that the first recorded words of Jesus are ones that go to the heart of his own destiny, to his vocation and calling as the Messiah. Here Jesus is consciously identifying himself as the Son of God, because it was his Father’s house.

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Phil Ryken: He wanted to stay in his Father’s presence, lingering at the place where his heart could echo the joy he had always experienced as the eternal and preexistent Son.

--

John 17:5 – “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed”

--

John 17:24b – “ You loved me before the foundation of the world.”

3) THE HYPOSTATIC UNION IS A PROFOUND MYSTERY, BUT ALSO A PROFOUND TREASURE (v50-52)

Incarnation: "Incarnation is the word used to explain how the second member of the Trinity entered into human history in flesh as the God-man Je

Jason Matta | Ephesians 3:14-19

TITLE: Incarnation Humility

TEXT: Philippians 2:5-7

Matthew 20:26-28 – “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”

John 13:14-15 – “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

“Incarnation”

Incarnation is the word used to explain how the second member of the Trinity entered into human history in flesh as the God-man Jesus Christ.

Incarnation Humility…

1 – EMULATING, NOT IGNORING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE – V.5

Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but [notice it] in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”

2 – YIELDING, NOT GRASPING FOR POSITION – V.6

3 – SERVING, NOT INSISTING ON PROMINENCE – V.7a

J.I Packer – “For the Son of God to empty himself and become poor meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice, and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony—spiritual even more than physical—that his mind nearly broke under the prospect of it. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely men…”

J.I Packer – “It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians—I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians—go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. But it is the spirit of some Christians—alas, they are many—whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the marginalized of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on as best they can. The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob.”

4 – DECREASING, NOT INCREASING IN SELF-PROMOTION– V.7b

C.S Lewis – "In the Christian story, God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; …down to the very roots and sea-bed of the nature he has created. But he goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him… One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders… In this descent and re-ascent everyone will recognize a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world. It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle itself into something hard, small and deathlike, it must fall into the ground: thence the new life re-ascends…The doctrine of the incarnation, if accepted, puts this principle even more emphatically at the center. The pattern is there in Nature because it was first there in God."