Hope For The Heart

This passage teaches us that God controls the reception of truth for salvation in some hearts and not all hearts.In fact, have you ever wondered why you trust Christ for salvation and many of your family and, or friends do not believe? Did you just get a dose of smarts one day and suddenly realize that it was the smart thing to do? According to this passage, your heart is like good soil that can grow crops , but how did it get that way ? This is what this parable is talking about in Mark chapter 4.

This passage teaches us the same as 1 Peter 5:7-"Cast your care on Him, because He cares for you." So Jesus is teaching at least 2 things to His disciples that night on the Sea of Galilee-1. He is demonstrating who He is by showing His power over the wind and water. 2. He is teaching The disciples that is does have sympathy and compassion because He does care for them. They were afraid during the storm, now they are very much afraid after the storm. Well what's worse than having a storm outside your boat, is having God on your boat. A real cause for panic.

Title: "What if Jesus was God?" Mark 4:35-41 This passage is probably one of the most exciting sections of the entire New Testament. It basic covers chapters 4&5 of the gospel of Mark. And in this section we see Jesus proving that He has Power over Nature, power over demons , power over physical health(sickness), and power over death itself and they are arranged climactically to prover that He is sovereign over all things because Jesus is God.

By the time we get to this passage of scripture in the book of Habakkuk, we see a different prophet. He has been changed by his conversion with God. He is ready to submit his will to the will of God and is , in fact, able to praise God even though he realizes that he will suffer a tremendous amount when God's judgment actually arrives in his country. His prayer did not change God's decision, however, he was changed by his own prayer.

I believe that we can see deep into Habakkuk's heart his passion for the Will of God to be accomplished because of sin. His one question is for God to temper His wrath with mercy, which history proved is exactly what God did do . By the end of chapter 3 in Habakkuk we see a prophet who is trusting God in spite of the judgment that is coming. He is able to stand confidently firm trusting God even though the prophet will suffer a lot with the loss of family, friends and income.

This passage today gives us a lot to think about when it comes to prayer. We can clearly see that God does answer the prayer of the prophet but He may or may not answer our prayer in a way for us to see His answer immediately. Prayer does not change the mind or will of God but it does bring us in line with His will. One thing is obvious to me as I read this prophet is that prayer changed the prophet. God's answer remains steadfast but now Habakkuk is told to record the vision because the people need to know and because it is absolutely certain that God is about to judge the sins of the nation of Israel. It is set for an appointed time in the very near future , wait for it -it's coming.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God were to speak to you audibly in your prayer time? Well, if you have then you will love the messages in this little book called Habakkuk. The prophet prays and God answered him audibly, but it is an answer a lot different than what the prophet wanted and in this message we can hear his response to God as he deals with an answer that would be very confusing to any of us. The prophet asked God how He could use a people who sinned worse than the nation of Israel. God's answer might surprise you -so come with me to the scripture to hear the words of a confused yet reverent man of God.

Within this passage is a lesson in theology because we are privy to be able to see the actual words this Godly prophet used in his prayer to God. Remember he is probably in shock after hearing from God that his problem is going to get a lot worse. He begins to speak to God using things he knows are true of God -I call these things the Attributes of God. It is as though he takes his focus off God and puts it on who God is. Like praising God for His eternity, being self-existent, Holy, omnipotent and faithful. Listen to this message and see if you can see the theological importance of his prayer.

In this passage we begin to see how God is addressing the problem raised by the prophet. Within that response we see developing a very basic and simple outline that will prove to be of encouragement for any believer. (1) God has a plan for your life, (2) that plan will be confusing, and (3) God's plan is always perfect. The application is simply, to trust Him with your life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Once again we are looking at a very confusing yet applicable passage of scripture. Here in this verse we are able to see how God begins to answers the prophet and discover very quickly that God's response is not exactly what the prophet was looking for. This passage begins to show us how Our Lord responds to a prayer like the one from the prophet or even a believer. Your prayer is not informing God of a need in your life but a word of comfort from God himself . God already knows of you needs before you pray-so your prayer is actually for you and a confirmation that He hears you and cares for you. Remember God never is inactive in your life.