WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.860 My name is James Barnett, and it is good to be with you today. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:11.140 This has been a season to learn patience. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:17.600 I'm not very patient, and many times I can look for quick fixes, 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:20.400 particularly with language learning. 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:24.740 Instead of trying to do the hard and consistent work, 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:26.859 I'm always looking for a new quick fix, 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:30.620 a new app or a new solution to help me learn the language quicker. 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:37.179 But in this season of COVID, it's shown the value of patience. 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:41.219 But there are still people trying to find quick fixes, 00:00:41.899 --> 00:00:45.960 even encouraging people to inject themselves with disinfectant. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:50.439 We are only now starting to come out of severe isolation 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:54.179 because we, as a country, have had patience. 00:00:54.179 --> 00:00:59.899 We have valued other people more than ourselves by staying at home. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:04.840 And right now, we have showed the value of other people's lives 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:09.460 by avoiding people, by staying at home, by not going to work, 00:01:09.539 --> 00:01:14.739 so that we can see lives saved and so that the country can reopen. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.439 Patience has been a great asset. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:24.359 And yet, it has also been a time of great impatience. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.060 For those with kids, impatient for school to return, 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:31.319 impatient to hang out with friends, 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:34.959 impatient to have the freedom to drive wherever we like, 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:39.280 impatient to go and hang out with a friend or to go to the pub, 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:40.719 impatient to go to the beach. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:47.659 But this has also been a season where we can be impatient with God. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:50.519 God, where are you? 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:53.340 Why haven't you fixed this problem yet? 00:01:54.539 --> 00:01:56.260 And the question for us today is, 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:00.460 does this season lead us closer to God 00:02:00.460 --> 00:02:04.819 or is our impatience driving us away from Him? 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:12.519 Today, we are continuing in our series looking at the Old Testament minor prophet Habakkuk 00:02:12.519 --> 00:02:15.400 and his short book for us. 00:02:15.959 --> 00:02:18.400 Last week, we looked at the first chapter with Steve 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:23.659 and we saw Habakkuk crying out because of the violence and injustice 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:26.439 that God's people were doing to each other. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.659 And God had some radical words for Habakkuk. 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:34.639 I am going to send Babylon and they are going to bring violence 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:37.859 and injustice and oppression against Judah. 00:02:39.359 --> 00:02:41.019 And Habakkuk cried out in response, 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:42.359 how could you do that? 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:48.079 How can you use those evil people to judge your people, God? 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:49.539 They're even worse. 00:02:50.979 --> 00:02:55.840 And Habakkuk is trying to understand how a pure and holy God 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.200 can allow a sinful people to come and attack God's people. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:03.659 And this is where we find Habakkuk today. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:05.819 He has cried out to God. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:10.520 God has answered him and Habakkuk was not satisfied. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.980 He has called out to God again. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:18.780 And now we see Habakkuk waiting for a response. 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:24.280 And today we're going to see what patience actually looks like. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:28.259 We're going to see the value of gaining perspective 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:30.140 so that we can have patience. 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:34.080 And we're going to see what Christ-centered patience looks like. 00:03:34.420 --> 00:03:39.360 So as we look at Habakkuk chapter 2, please pray with me. 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:43.319 Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness to us 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:48.639 that in this time you continue to speak to us in your word. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:51.099 Help us be like Habakkuk today, 00:03:51.099 --> 00:03:54.759 to be patient and to wait for your words to us. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:55.539 Amen. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:58.579 Please have your Bibles open. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.579 Have the St. Paul's app open. 00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:02.939 There are notes in there that you can be following. 00:04:03.579 --> 00:04:06.539 We're in Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 1. 00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:22.879 Habakkuk has said his piece. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:26.459 He's expressed his concern about the coming Babylonian army. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:29.599 And now he is going to wait. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:34.779 He takes his concern to God and now he shows his patience. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:40.159 Habakkuk paints this picture of patience before God 00:04:40.159 --> 00:04:43.199 like a century on a watchtower. 00:04:43.659 --> 00:04:47.719 Imagine you've got a walled city which has towers 00:04:47.719 --> 00:04:51.819 and you have centuries, the watchmen, on these towers. 00:04:52.359 --> 00:04:54.119 And they're watching out for attacks. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.079 They're watching out for visitors. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:58.579 And you have to stay there your whole shift. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:04.719 And if the watchman takes his eye off the area he's supposed to be looking at, 00:05:04.919 --> 00:05:06.779 he could miss an invading force. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:08.839 He could miss people. 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:11.800 And they could not be prepared to defend the city. 00:05:13.039 --> 00:05:18.439 Being a century on a watchtower requires immense patience. 00:05:19.299 --> 00:05:20.479 And this is a choice. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.960 It is an act of the will to be patient. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:30.180 I think patience is mostly misunderstood in our time. 00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:36.200 We can speak about patience as being we're either patient or we're not patient. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:37.439 So we say things like, 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:41.300 Ah, I'm not patient but my wife, she's incredibly patient. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:47.840 But I wonder if we talk about it like we talk about who we are. 00:05:47.900 --> 00:05:48.879 So, you know, I'm Australian. 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:49.980 I'm redheaded. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.920 This is just how it is. 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:54.759 This does not change. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:59.660 It was an attribute I was either born with or I was born without. 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:04.800 Patience, we don't think of it as something we can gain necessarily. 00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:08.400 But patience is a choice. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:13.899 It is an act of the will that we have to choose to be patient. 00:06:14.739 --> 00:06:17.339 And what a day to be dwelling on patience. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:19.060 Today is Mother's Day. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:22.139 Happy Mother's Day to all you who are mothers. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:25.859 Those who have trained us in patience. 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:32.019 They were trained in patience from the very beginning of pregnancy to wait for children. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:38.799 And then when they have children to require immense amounts of patience to raise their children. 00:06:39.299 --> 00:06:41.519 What a wonderful day to be dwelling on patience. 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:43.560 And I think of my own children. 00:06:44.359 --> 00:06:46.680 My youngest son, his name is Micah. 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:47.740 He is three. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.599 And I need plenty of patience with him. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:56.339 He is at this wonderful age where he is learning how to dress himself. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:07:01.119 And he thinks he can do it. 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:04.619 And so he'll say, you know, Dad, let me put my shoes on. 00:07:05.599 --> 00:07:10.060 And I can often respond, oh look, just let me. 00:07:10.239 --> 00:07:11.039 It'll be faster. 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:13.839 I'll get them on the right feet most of the time. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.159 And I do do it faster. 00:07:18.179 --> 00:07:24.319 But in that moment, I am choosing my time over my son. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:28.779 Over Micah learning how to do this important skill to dress himself. 00:07:29.299 --> 00:07:35.019 I'm choosing what is more important to me, my time, which is just selfishness. 00:07:36.239 --> 00:07:43.759 Patience is an act of the will to say, Micah, you are so important to me, my little son. 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:47.099 That, you know what, you put your shoes in. 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:48.719 I will sit here and I will help you. 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:55.099 And if it takes minutes, if it takes hours, that is more worthwhile than me being selfish. 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:58.659 Patience is an act. 00:07:59.299 --> 00:08:01.099 It is not just who we are. 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:04.959 Habakkuk puts on patience. 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:06.639 It is an act of the will. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.219 He wants to know God's answer right away. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.719 But he is putting God's timing before his own. 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:16.539 This is what Habakkuk is doing. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:17.259 He's waiting. 00:08:17.799 --> 00:08:19.519 He is watching with persistence. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:24.139 He has full confidence that God is going to answer his prayer. 00:08:24.419 --> 00:08:27.799 It's just a matter of having patience and waiting on God. 00:08:28.919 --> 00:08:33.860 Let's not continue to say that we are either people who have patience or don't have patience. 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:38.340 But let us be people who choose to put on patience. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:46.419 When we put on and do patience, then we will become people who are patient. 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:52.060 Using our time to love others and love God waiting on him. 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:55.739 Because patience is the opposite of pride. 00:08:55.859 --> 00:08:57.339 Ecclesiastes 7 says, 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:01.919 The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 00:09:02.319 --> 00:09:05.239 Patience comes from a place of humility. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:10.279 Where we put ourselves under someone else. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.219 Patience with God is actively saying, 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:15.500 God, you are God. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:17.160 You are sovereign. 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:21.139 And things happen in your time and not mine. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.500 So let me encourage you to ask yourself, 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.200 how do you need to be patient today? 00:09:28.160 --> 00:09:31.800 What area do you need to choose to put on patience? 00:09:33.060 --> 00:09:35.000 Is it with your family? 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.759 Is it with your kids? 00:09:37.020 --> 00:09:41.740 Is it trying to get them out of the door when we were allowed to get out of the door? 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:43.900 Is it with co-workers? 00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:51.400 Is it being patient in this online frustrating world where we have Zoom meetings? 00:09:51.900 --> 00:09:54.180 And we need to require on people. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:58.059 And we can't just ask them for things and everything takes longer. 00:09:59.459 --> 00:10:02.239 How do you need to be patient with God? 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:06.500 Is it to choose his timing over yours? 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.599 We don't know how long Habakkuk was waiting for God to respond. 00:10:13.239 --> 00:10:15.159 But he did receive a response. 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:19.120 Have a look again with me at Habakkuk chapter 2 from verse 2. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.799 Then the Lord replied, 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:28.000 Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 00:10:28.459 --> 00:10:31.259 For the revelation awaits an appointed time. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.799 It speaks of the end and will not prove false. 00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:37.219 Though it linger, wait for it. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.359 It will certainly come and will not delay. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:43.120 The Lord responds and it's a special one. 00:10:43.359 --> 00:10:46.759 Habakkuk, get something to write it down. 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.479 You might not remember it. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.599 You need to write it down. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:55.519 Write it down on a tablet so that it could be taken and someone could run with it. 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:57.800 And it's durable and it's not going to break. 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:05.920 Write it down because this will take some time for it to come about. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:08.420 Though it linger, wait for it. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.420 Habakkuk, you've waited for my response. 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.139 But continue to wait. 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.480 Continue to have patience. 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.759 Because God is working at his will. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.480 Verse 3. 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:21.180 The revelation awaits an appointed time. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:24.980 It speaks of the end and will not prove false. 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:28.320 Though it linger, wait for it. 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:29.899 Wait for it. 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:32.340 It will certainly come and will not delay. 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.860 Habakkuk had to wait for an answer from God. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:37.080 And God has answered. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:39.139 And now God says, have patience. 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:40.800 I am working. 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:43.120 Continue to wait. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:52.860 And this emphasis on different timings reminds us of the gulf between our perspective of the world and God's perspective of the world. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:57.500 Habakkuk, just like us today, wants God to act immediately. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:58.419 Act right now. 00:11:58.539 --> 00:11:59.500 Fix this problem. 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:02.840 But God is God and we are not. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.840 And his timings are his own. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:11.259 And having God's perspective is really key to learning patience. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:16.559 The metaphor of climbing that watchtower is actually quite helpful for us. 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:21.940 Climbing up high so that we can survey the scene around us from all angles. 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:29.980 When we don't have patience, in our situation, it's really easy to lose patience. 00:12:30.060 --> 00:12:34.160 When we don't have perspective, it can be easy to lose patience. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.480 I see my kids do this. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.160 Most days. 00:12:39.020 --> 00:12:44.000 It's like there's a dinner bell that goes off about half an hour before dinner. 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:50.700 And they all of a sudden start coming into the kitchen looking for whatever scrap of food they can find. 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:54.800 Diving their hand under the chopping knife as dinner's being prepared. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.600 Because as they say every day, half an hour before dinner, I am starving. 00:13:00.280 --> 00:13:01.879 There will never be any more food. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:04.020 I need food right now. 00:13:04.640 --> 00:13:05.820 I wonder if that's like you. 00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:08.160 I wonder if that's like your kids or you know someone that's like that. 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:12.860 They are convinced that there will never be food again unless they eat right now. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:17.600 And they're not happy being told, dinner's half an hour away. 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.420 Just go and wait. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:24.559 But to hear that perspective, something delicious is being prepared. 00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:30.019 Don't spoil your dinner by having chips or whatever it is. 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:30.719 Don't spoil it. 00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:33.659 Don't ruin it now because something good is coming. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.759 They need to get that patience. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:40.599 They need to get that perspective so they can have patience. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:47.680 It takes hard work, just like climbing that watchtower would have been, to stop and get perspective. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:51.360 You know, I'll be hungry for half an hour. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.279 That's a long time for a child. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.360 I need to get that perspective so that I can grow in patience. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:00.960 But it is incredibly rewarding when we do. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:07.019 How much more is there to gain when we have the perspective of God himself? 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:13.840 God was working in Habakkuk's time even though Habakkuk couldn't yet see it. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:18.419 And when we do this, it is actively trusting in God. 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:25.899 Because in this moment of impatience with God, the only thing that can sink us is sin. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.639 Disbelieving that God is working. 00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:31.099 Because life is hard. 00:14:32.219 --> 00:14:34.599 But the only thing that destroys us is sin. 00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:37.959 And sin has been defeated by Jesus on the cross. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:44.220 We have a God who has been incredibly patient with us. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:47.840 And he has patiently guided us to this very moment. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:54.800 To see that although this world is passing away, God has something far better in store for us. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:15:00.040 Just like Jesus was raised, he promises that we too will be raised. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.759 And for us today, we might need to stop. 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:05.759 We might need to go and climb that watchtower. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.299 Metaphorically, if not literally, go and climb a watchtower. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:15.159 To get perspective on what God is doing in our lives in this season. 00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:19.399 We need God's perspective on our lives in this season. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:21.799 Steve talked about this last week. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:26.899 That the violence used here by the Babylonians against Judah. 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:29.139 It spread God's people. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.319 And God used that years later. 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:35.379 So that when Jesus died and rose. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:40.259 The people who had been following God were dispersed. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.700 And so when the message of Jesus' resurrection went out. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:47.879 There were people ready and primed to hear and to believe. 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:52.159 There is no way that Habakkuk could have seen all of this. 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:55.879 But trying to climb that watchtower. 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:58.279 Trying to gain God's perspective. 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.799 Grows our trust in God. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:05.139 And that he is the one who has good plans for us. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:12.379 I'm sure that there have been many unintended benefits of this season of isolation. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:15.199 For me personally, I'm getting to know my neighbours. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:26.340 But another unintended benefit of this season has been that there are hundreds of people tuning in to our church's live stream through YouTube. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.160 This might be you yourself. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.960 You might be joining us as a church for the first time. 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:33.920 And if that's you, it is great to have you with us. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.700 We would love to connect with you. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.399 Fill out that form that is on our website. 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:42.300 You can go to stpauls.org.au. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.440 There is a website so we can connect with you. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.080 We would love to get to know you. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:53.560 There has been an unintended benefit of many people hearing God's word. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.560 And we could not have planned for that. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.660 But gaining God's perspective. 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:05.799 Maybe, I wonder, is God using this season to spread his word? 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.960 To see many people come to know and love him? 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:19.720 Is it possible that God is using this season to grow our patience and our trust in him? 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:27.640 That even though we can't see what his plan is right now, that we need to stop and gain God's perspective. 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:31.240 And remember that God is working in our lives. 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:38.299 So when we are in a season of difficulty and pain, when patience is really hard, 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:42.359 let me encourage you to do everything you can to gain perspective. 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:47.419 Ask God, God, what are you doing in this time? 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:50.279 How are you intending to grow me? 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:53.859 Ask a friend, friend, what is God doing in your life? 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.500 What do you think God could be doing in my life in this difficult season? 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.139 We come to the final verse of this short passage for us today. 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.139 Verse 4. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:24.800 Here God is comparing two types of people. 00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:31.580 The one who is upright before God and the one who is puffed up like an enemy aggressor. 00:18:31.780 --> 00:18:33.840 I really love this term puffed up. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:39.639 It's this picture of someone whose view of themselves is inflated. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.599 It's like we say, you know, they're full of hot air. 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:49.919 It's like they're a balloon that is filled up too high and they're ready for the slightest prick to burst. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:54.759 They are swollen with pride and self-arrogance. 00:18:54.759 --> 00:19:06.180 On view here is the Babylonian army who is self-righteous, seeking their own ends, leading to pride and sinful acts and ultimately their death. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:14.559 But it's not stated, but it's implied that the righteous will live, but the puffed up they will not. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:26.440 On view here is at least the Babylonian army, but also anyone who is puffed up and thinks too highly of themselves and their own opinion before God. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:34.539 God is holding out to Judah that they can have life even though there is an army coming towards them. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:42.960 God will vindicate his people by giving them life, life to those who have faith, who are trusting in God. 00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:47.879 The righteous don't think of themselves arrogantly, but instead they look to God. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.899 They place their faith in God. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:20:04.440 Patience with God is our faith in action. 00:20:05.280 --> 00:20:09.240 It is saying, God, your timing is better than mine. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:13.060 It shows humility. 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:21.700 The person admits that they need help and they need what God can offer and can't do it on their own. 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:25.639 And the view of faith here is waiting in humility. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.480 Waiting on God is faith. 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.319 This is what faith does. 00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:34.579 It takes someone at their word. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.960 And God has made promises to Habakkuk that he will come. 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:41.279 And Habakkuk is to respond with patience. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.720 Now the second part of verse 4 may have sounded familiar. 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:49.160 The righteous will live by faith. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:54.879 It is one of the most important verses for Paul in his writing. 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:58.440 He uses it in his letter to the Galatians and to the Romans. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.660 And in Romans 1 he says, 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:04.960 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.980 A righteousness that is by faith. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:10.900 From first to last, just as it is written, 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.680 The righteous will live by faith. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.420 We live by faith. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:20.120 Faith is that God has made promises to us. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:23.960 And faith is patiently waiting on God's promises. 00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:31.019 Pastor John Piper sums this up really nicely in a quote that you'll see on the screen. 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.539 It reads, 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:51.900 The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:54.519 In all our delays and detours. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:22:01.120 What a season of delay and detour that we are in right now. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.040 Delayed work. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.620 Delayed schooling. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.120 Delayed holidays and gatherings. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.880 Birthday parties and anniversaries. 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:15.400 Even Mother's Day is not quite as we would hope it to be. 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:19.960 But patience now is faith in God. 00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:20.500 It says, 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:22.160 God, you are in control. 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:25.519 Help me to have your perspective on this season. 00:22:26.280 --> 00:22:28.860 To know what you are doing in the world for your glory. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.980 In Chatswood. 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.360 And in my life. 00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:38.560 God, give me the perspective to remember that you have done all that is necessary for me in Jesus. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:47.179 That he has died and he has been raised and he has taken my guilt and my shame. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:52.559 And you have promised that just as you raised him, you will raise me as well. 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:56.539 And that right now we wait for him to come back. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:03.279 Help me to choose patience that you are working out something good for me every day. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:07.839 Have patience to love people and that I would give them my time. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:10.639 To love you more than myself. 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:13.619 That I would wait on your timing. 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:18.619 Patience with others makes us better friends. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.859 It makes us better siblings. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.220 It makes us better children and parents. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.940 It is a chance to value people. 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.559 And not just what they do. 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:33.460 God has shown his immense patience with us. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:36.960 That even though we continue to sin. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:40.759 He continues to show us his mercy and his love. 00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:44.539 And that all of our sin has been paid for by Jesus on the cross. 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:48.519 Showing how much he values us. 00:23:49.419 --> 00:23:51.559 When we act with patience. 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.980 We act with God's perspective. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:57.839 Knowing all that God has done in Christ. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:02.599 And that he will continue to act for the good of those who love him. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.380 When we act with patience. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.819 Not only does it grow our patience with others. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:12.120 But we get to understand more of the heart of God himself. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:21.220 I saw this morning that the isolation rules are going to be extended a little bit more on Friday. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:25.100 We'll be able to meet with more people in our homes. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:31.420 And many of us are champing at the bit like a race horse to bolt out of isolation. 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:38.500 But don't miss this chance to grow in patience with God. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:45.200 To stop and climb the tower of perspective on your life and on God's kingdom. 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:48.579 To exercise your faith in God's promises. 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:54.339 May we all be people who grow in patience and live by faith. 00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.899 Let me pray for us. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:25:02.579 Heavenly Father, thank you for your immense love for us shown in your patience. 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:05.000 That you have acted. 00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:09.879 That you have acted to show your patience. 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:14.740 That you continually allow us to sin. 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:18.839 And you don't wipe us out where we stand. 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:21.980 But that you have paid for our sin. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:25.180 In the death and resurrection of your son. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:28.120 Father, help us to be like you. 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:33.759 To choose to love you and to love other people by putting on patience. 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:39.920 Lord, help us to grow in perspective of all you are doing in your world. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:45.779 Lord, we are so short-sighted. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:50.340 And it is easy for us to get caught up in our day-to-day issues. 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:52.200 But Lord, help us to stop. 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:55.440 And to consider what you are doing in this season. 00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:57.800 So that we would grow in patience. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.620 And love for you. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.180 Centered on what you have done. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.160 Through your son for us. 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:04.880 Amen. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.019 Amen.