Well, we're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise.
We're going to sing in Psalm 90, in the Scottish Psalter version, Psalm 90, page 350.
We're singing from verse 13 down to the end of the psalm.
Turn yet again to us, O Lord, how long thus shall it be?
Let it repent thee now for those that servants are to thee.
O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early satisfy.
So we rejoice shall all our days and still be glad in thee.
We'll sing from verse 13 down to the end of the psalm.
To God's praise.
Let it repent thee now for those that servants are to thee.
O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early satisfy.
So we rejoice shall all our days and still be glad in thee.
According to the days of the day, when we leave our heart,
And years when we leave our sin, So you have made us not.
O let thy word and fire appear, Thy servants face before,
And show unto their children here, Thy glory evermore.
And let thy beauty of the Lord, Our God, the earths of home,
Our heavenly holy world, Our holy world, Our holy world,
Our holy world, our holy world, Our holy world, our holy world,
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord our gracious God as we come to you we thank you for the assurance that you will meet with us
as we seek to meet with you that as we come in your name as we come with praise on our lips as
we come with that desire to know you and to understand you more we pray that you will help
us oh Lord and we thank you for these words that we have sung together they remind us of what we
need even today that you would turn again towards us Lord that you would remember us that you would
revive your work in our midst and especially these words that we sung at the end of the psalm
that you would let the beauty of the Lord our God be us upon we pray that today as we worship you as
we praise your name that your beauty would be upon us that we would know your presence and your favor
with us we ask that for all of us together here from the youngest to the oldest we pray for all
our families and our loved ones as we commit them to you we pray oh Lord for our young people
thankful for this time of holiday now that they might enjoy a time of refreshment and rest both
the children and teachers from the Sunday school and the day school alike Lord that your beauty would
be upon each of them throughout these days keep them safe and watch over them and continue to bless
the young ones as they meet in the creche and the tweenies as well that we would know Lord your favor
upon them there as well so continue with us at this time bless us as we go on in your name
guide us and keep us and pardon all our sin as we ask it all in Jesus name and for his sake amen
but just a word to the young ones before someone will leave for the tweenies just thinking about
the holiday times just now it's always good to be on holiday and I'm sure some of you may be
traveling around different places over these coming weeks I'm sure many have already gone away from the
island traveling to holiday destinations in different parts and as you travel around maybe you're traveling on
the roads and you're traveling to different places maybe you're traveling from Ullapool to Inverness
or perhaps you're going further than that you're traveling down the A9 maybe heading towards Glasgow or
Edinburgh or maybe even if you're lucky enough you're making your way over to the sunny side of the island
to the west side to Shawbust to enjoy the sunshine over there on the roads you'll often find something that
can be frustrating and something that can be quite annoying and that is roadworks everywhere you travel
doesn't matter what time of year you seem to come across roadworks and you start to think to yourself
well surely they finished the A9 by now surely they've fixed all the potholes between Ullapool and
Inverness surely they've tired all these spots that we're breaking up but it's always ongoing there's
always works going on and it can be frustrating for us but it's a reminder to us that roads always need
repairing there's always work to be done and in the bible that we're going to look at this morning
together in the church we're going to be looking at a book called Habakkuk we've been looking at this
book a few times now and we're looking at a verse that speaks of the work of the Lord and it speaks in
a way that's a bit like roadworks it's always ongoing and there might be times when we think surely
God's work is done surely God's repair work in us is done but it's never done because we live in a
broken world and we know in our own hearts that we always do the wrong things or say the wrong things
so God is always having to do a work in us
and like that we just have to be patient in it we have to be patient when we're stuck in roadworks on the
road but we have to be patient with God as well whether we're looking at the work he's doing around us
or the work he's doing in ourselves we need to be patient with him remember that as he is working
he is doing a good work in our midst and our prayer is that just as we sang there together
that we think of holiday times as a time when we enjoy rest and refreshment in the midst of every
part of our busy lives that today we would think too of the work that God is doing to give us rest
in him that he would do his work and that we would know the beauty of the Lord as the psalmist said there
the beauty of the Lord our God to be us upon so remember that over these holiday times wherever you go
whatever you do that the beauty of the Lord would be upon you that he would do his work in us and
around us to know that beauty and to establish it and may the Lord bless these thoughts to us we're
going to say the Lord's prayer together now our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name
thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from
evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever amen
we're going to sing again to God's praise in psalm 61 again this is in the Scottish Psalter version page 293
psalm 61 we'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 5
oh God give ear unto my cry unto my prayer attend from the utmost corner of the land my cry to thee I'll send
what time my heart is overwhelmed and in perplexity do thou me lead unto the rock that higher is than I
we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 5 to God's praise
oh God give ear unto my cry unto my prayer
what time my heart is overwhelmed and in perplexity do thou me lead unto the rock that higher is the
what time my heart is bound unto the rock that higher is the night for thou me lead unto the rock that higher is the night
unto the Lord,
the higher is the night.
For Thou hast borne my remedy,
a shelter by Thy blood.
And for defense against Thy foes,
the lasting last of time.
Within Thy tower I lie
forever in the light.
And under cover of Thy wings,
with confidence behind.
For Thou, the Lord,
the Lord,
my God,
this year,
Thou hast given me the heritage
of those Thy name that fear.
Well, let's turn to read God's Word together now.
We're reading in the book of Habakkuk.
I'm reading in chapter 2,
taking up our reading at verse 18.
You'll find this around page 950 in the Bibles.
Habakkuk chapter 2 at verse 18,
and we read into chapter 3 down to verse 10.
What prophet is an idol when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image,
a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols.
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing,
awake,
to a silent stone,
arise.
Can this teach?
Behold,
it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.
But the Lord is in his holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before him.
A prayer of Habakkuk,
the prophet according to Shigonoth.
O Lord,
I have heard the report of you,
and your work,
O Lord,
do I fear.
In the midst of the years,
revive it.
In the midst of the years,
make it known.
In wrath,
remember mercy.
God came from Taman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His splendor covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of his praise.
His brightness was like the light.
Rays flashed from his hand,
and there he veiled his power.
Before him went pestilence,
and plague followed at his heels.
He stood and measured the earth.
He looked and shook the nations.
Then the eternal mountains were scattered.
The everlasting hills sank low.
His were the everlasting ways.
I saw the tents of Cushion in affliction.
The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Was your wrath against the rivers,
O Lord?
Was your anger against the rivers?
Or your indignation against the sea
when you rode on your horses,
on your chariot of salvation?
You stripped the sheath from your bow,
calling for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw you and writhed.
The raging waters swept on.
The deep gave forth its voice.
It lifted its hands on high.
And so on.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
We'll again come to God in prayer.
Let us pray.
O Lord, our God, as we worship you,
we thank you that you remind us
that we are to come with boldness before you,
but yet humbly before you.
That we are to come before you
and lay all things in our prayers at your feet.
And yet we are to come with that right fear of the Lord.
And this passage reminds us of both of these elements
of our worship,
of how we can approach you as a God
who is able to do so much for us.
And yet it reminds us too of our own weakness
and our own frailties before you as a holy God.
But we thank you that you are a God of mercy
and that you remember us by mercy.
And even as we look at this passage today, O Lord,
we think of what our lives deserve,
what this world deserves,
what our sin deserves.
And yet we have this great cry of Habakkuk in wrath.
Remember mercy.
And that is our prayer today, O Lord,
for our nations,
for our world in these days.
That you would, although we deserve,
your wrath and indignation poured out upon us.
That in wrath, O Lord,
you might remember mercy.
And we thank you for the mercy that you have shown to us
and deserving as we are.
We thank you for the mercy we receive on a daily basis.
The mercies of your faithfulness new every morning.
Your mercies new every morning.
And we pray, Lord,
that we will come with thankfulness in our hearts.
Thankfulness that you do indeed remember us,
that you have not forgotten us,
but that you, O Lord,
are with us and with us each day
and each moment of each day.
We pray to know your strength
and your blessing with us.
We pray to know it even as you go on in this week
for all that lies ahead of us.
We pray, Lord,
that you will remember us in all our needs,
remember us as a people,
remember us in our homes
and in our families
and in our communities.
And far and wide, O Lord,
in all the needs of our land
and in the needs of the world,
O Lord,
that you would show us your goodness and mercy.
And we know, O Lord,
there can be so many things going on in our lives
that leave us feeling overwhelmed.
But yet we look to you, O Lord.
We look to you as the one who has the fuller picture,
the one who is the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the end,
the one who has made all things well
and who has planned our very lives to every detail,
the one who is appointed each day and each moment,
the one who knows our every thought, word and deed.
And Lord, we come looking to you to guide us
and to help us.
As we think of families at this time
where there is grief and sorrow,
people are going through times of ill health,
people who are laid aside at home at this time.
Lord, we know the needs are many
and we just commit each one to you, O Lord.
Pray for your grace and your help,
your peace to be in the midst of all these things.
And we think of our land, our nation at this time
on a week that we will see a general election taking place.
O Lord, we pray for you to guide.
We pray for you to help.
We pray for you to give us spirit of the fear of the Lord
in our midst in these days,
that you would indeed in wrath remember mercy.
And Lord, be merciful to all who go into this week ahead
seeking to represent a people.
May you bring people forward who would be used by you
for your glory.
Do not just to represent a people,
but to represent you.
That your name would be praised.
That your name would be lifted up
even in our parliament buildings.
That in times when we have seen
so much ridicule and dishonor towards you,
we pray, O Lord, that you would turn that tide
and bring us to worship you,
to fear you,
and to praise your name.
We pray that for our world as well
and so much that's going on
with conflicts and fear and terror
all around us in so many ways.
And we pray, Lord,
that you would come in your power,
that you would revive your work in our midst,
that you would remember and make it known,
that your word would go out with power
to all ends of the earth.
That it would be that reviving word,
that word that gives life,
that brings people from darkness
into your wonderful light,
that brings them to know the power of Jesus,
the salvation that he offers,
the joy that he brings.
We pray, O Lord,
that you will hear our prayers
in all of these things.
And we give you thanks, O Lord,
for the ministry of your word.
We give you thanks for all that goes on
over these days.
We pray for the free church camps
as they have started already,
that your blessing will be upon all the children
and leaders and all involved
in the travel arrangements
and running the camps.
Lord, we ask that your spirit will be upon them,
that the beauty of the Lord would be upon them,
that we would see and hear
of days of your power in our midst.
We pray, O Lord,
that you would bless all that is done in your name.
We pray for our own holiday club
as continued preparation is made.
We pray again that your blessing would be upon it,
that you would see your hand upon us for good
in all of these things.
We pray for the busyness of summer,
although it's a time of holiday.
We thank you, too,
that the work of the gospel goes on
in so many different ways.
We thank you for the Fridays at the Free
and pray for these meetings going forward,
that we would see your hand upon us for good in that.
We thank you, too,
for the breakfast planned for later on in July
on the Sunday morning.
We thank you for all who have made preparation
already for it.
And we pray for willing volunteers to be involved
and to bless that work as well.
I think, too, are the open days for the cruise ships.
And thank you for the many people
who have already come through these doors
and pray for others who will come around our church
and meet with people here,
that they would come to meet with the living God,
that they would come to desire
and to know more of who this man Jesus is,
that they would hear of the salvation
that is offered in him.
And so we thank you, Lord,
for all the ways in which you help us
and which you guide us.
And we again thank you for the ministry
that has been taking place here
over these last number of years,
and especially remember James and Donna.
It's the day officially marks that retirement day.
We thank you for Friday evening
and for the blessing that there was in it
under your word and in our fellowship together.
And we pray, O Lord,
that we will be encouraged, as we heard,
to look to you going forward,
all of us together,
as a congregation here
and as Donna and James and the family
settle into their new home,
that they would know the blessing
and the beauty of the Lord upon them.
And so, Lord,
we commit ourselves into your hands.
We pray, Lord,
your blessing on us
as we turn to your words,
we sing your praise,
that in all that we do,
we would know your glory
and your presence.
So pardon all our sins
as we ask all these things
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Let us sing again
before we turn back
to our passage in Habakkuk.
We're going to sing in Psalm 85.
We'll sing Psalm's version,
page 113.
We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 7.
Psalm 85 at verse 1.
In times past, Lord,
you showed favor
to your own beloved land,
the prosperity of Jacob
you restored by your strong hand.
You forgave your people's trespass.
You were pleased their sins to hide.
You withdrew all your displeasure
from your wrath.
You turned aside.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 7
to God's praise.
Amen.
You restored by your strong hand.
You forgave your people's trespass.
You were pleased their sins to hide.
You went through all your displeasure.
From your wrath you turned aside.
God and Savior God and Savior for course studs.
Robe sec norv iT If thirteen lartesII 律 die àcost.
How they your age
Will you hang it burn
Against us
Will it last
From age to age
Will you not
Again revive us
That we may
Rejoice in you
Show us Lord
Your common mercy
Your salvation
And all you
Well we can turn back
to our reading in Habakkuk
We're going to be looking at
chapter 3 and verse 2
together this morning
There are times when we look
around and are blinded
to seeing things
especially to seeing things
from a bigger picture
or even an eternal perspective
because in front of our eyes
all that we're seeing
are challenges that seem to us
sometimes overwhelming
or sometimes they seem
like things that are unchangeable
that nothing can change
in what's going on around us
and we miss the potential
of what's around us
because our vision
is short-sighted
Here are these three examples
of a vision that didn't look
very far
In 1926
Lee Forrest invented
the cathode ray tube
What is used
or what used to be used
more commonly
in making televisions
For many years
that's the way
TV sets were made
and yet
at that time
in 1926
Lee Forrest said this
Theoretically
television may seem feasible
but I consider it
an impossibility
a development
which would waste
little time
dreaming about
It seemed like something
that was impossible
Well fast forward
a number of years later
and television is something
we know all around us
Another example
in 1943
Thomas J. Watson
was chairman
of the board of IBM
the computer manufacturers
and he said
I think there's a world market
for about five computers
You look around the world today
and there's billions
of computers
around the world
In 1962
a recording company
experts said
we don't think
the Beatles
will do anything
in their market
Guitar groups
are on the way out
How many years later
and the Beatles
are still a world
known brand
brand around the world
So you think of these
occasions
when vision
just looked
at the there
and then
instead of looking beyond
and looking to what
potential there was
that lay ahead
And we come
to look at Habakkuk
today
and we ask
well what kind of vision
did Habakkuk have
in his day
Was he short-sighted
and just looking
at the problems
and as we've seen
there was many problems
around both nationally
and internationally
there were problems
all around
in Habakkuk's day
but was he
short-sighted
or was he
looking up
and looking at things
eternally
and with a longer
vision
Yes he had
his questions
We've seen
that already
He has his questions
in verse 2
of the opening chapter
O Lord
how long
shall I cry for help
and you will not hear
There was this
wondering what was going on
but yet there was
this assurance
of knowing
where to come
We have seen already
the mysterious ways
in which God works
in verse 5
of chapter 1
We have seen
how God
tells his people
and Habakkuk
instructs his people
that they are to be
a people
who live
by faith
And then the last time
we were together
we were looking at
verse 14
of chapter 2
And there
they have these
wonderful words
of a vision
that looks way beyond
anything that's happening
in his day
but a day
when the earth
will be filled
with the knowledge
of the glory
of the Lord
as the waters
covers the sea
So Habakkuk
has this greater vision
of the potential
that there is
in looking
to God
in the darkness
of his day
he didn't see God
and think
he can't change this
he can't do anything
in this circumstance
He saw
a God
who can
change things
and that's the way
he came
to him
And so today
we come to another
of these nuggets
of gold
that we find
in this book
of Habakkuk
nuggets
that remind us
that God
is working
that God
is able
and so we're going
to look at
verse 2
of chapter 3
together today
and this is when
we come in
to Habakkuk's
prayer
as he approaches
God
in this wonderful
prayer
we're going to focus
on verse 2
today
and there it says
O Lord
I have heard
the report
of you
and your work
O Lord
do I fear
and your work
O Lord
do I fear
in the midst
of the years
revive it
in the midst
of the years
make it known
in wrath
remember
mercy
and you look
at the psalm
that we've just
sung together
there
Psalm 85
it's a psalm
that has so much
of what this
verse speaks
about
it speaks
about the anger
of God
his wrath
and yet the power
of God
to revive
and that is
what this verse
is all about
the way
the Lord
is able
to revive
his work
in the midst
of Habakkuk's
day
in the same
way that he
is able
to revive
his work
in the midst
of our day
and so there's
three things
I want us to
take from
verse 2
here
we're going
to look at
first of all
the blindness
that there was
and then the
boldness
that he had
and then the
blessing
that was
promised
so we're going
to begin
with the
blindness
you see
in Habakkuk's
day
there was
a problem
and it was
not a new
problem
and it's
not a problem
that has gone
away since
that day
it's a problem
that is still
all around
us
and what is
that problem
well it is
spiritual
blindness
the people
as we see
in Habakkuk's
day and even
as we think
of our own
day to day
are people
who have
lost sight
of God
and when we
lose sight
of God
this leads
us to
look elsewhere
and that's
what we see
at the end
of chapter 2
here in
Habakkuk
we see
the blindness
of the people
has led them
to look
elsewhere
and what we
read in
verse 18
there
what profit
is an idol
which its
maker
has shaped
what profit
is an idol
they are
looking
to something
that they
can make
something
they can
touch
something
that they
can see
whether it's
made of
metal
or wood
because their
eyes of
faith
have been
dimmed
their focus
on God
has gone
and they are
looking around
them in the
midst of the
Babylonian
armies
and they've
been devastated
by what's
happened
they've been
taken captive
and they're
looking around
and they're
saying God
is gone
God is not
with us
we need
something else
to put our
trust in
and they are
blinded to
God
and they fix
their eyes
now on
idols
that cannot
help
and as
verse 19
there goes
on to say
woe to him
who says to
a wooden
thing awake
to a silent
stone arise
there's just
foolishness
there's this
blindness
in turning
to idols
God
seemed
far
away
God
seemed
to have
forgotten
all
about
them
and as
we saw
before
in verse
1
verse 2
of chapter
1
it was
something that
Habakkuk
himself
struggled
with
how long
shall I
cry for
help
and you
will not
hear
but Habakkuk
knew
where to
go
he knew
that idols
weren't
going to
help
his eyes
were still
open
to the
God
who was
there
for them
and we
were reminded
of this
on Friday
evening
as Kenny
I was
preaching
to us
from Joshua
that
as he spoke
of the
Ark of the
Covenant
going ahead
of the
people
it was
with a
purpose
that they
would
see ahead
of them
that God
was with
them
that their
focus
would be
on God
because
when we
just look
down
we don't
see him
and it's
the same
here
the people
aren't
looking
to God
they're
blind
to see
him
and so
they're
looking
to
themselves
to what
they can
make
and how
they can
help
themselves
but they
have been
blinded
we need
to keep
God
in view
and that's
what Habakkuk
is saying
to us
here
we need
to keep
God
in view
but we
need to
have a
vision
of what's
going on
around us
as well
because Habakkuk
he understood
what was
happening
around him
he saw
what was
happening
around him
and he saw
how the
people were
blinded
by the
gods
of this
world
he realised
the problem
it wasn't
just with
the people
but the
way this
world
blinds us
to God
and this
happens
in every
generation
when we
start to
forget about
God
we look
elsewhere
and so
as we
know God
ourselves
we have to
ask ourselves
the question
do we
understand
the people
around us
do we
understand
the situation
that is
all around
us
do we
just look
and condemn
without
thinking
do we
look
and judge
without
realising
the problem
is not
just with
the people
but the
problem
is more
powerful
than that
the problem
is sin
and the
evil one
who works
in this
world
and the
blindness
that sin
brings
and Habakkuk
as he looked
around could
see the
blindness
of the
people
he was
seeing
these idols
all around
them
and seeing
that they
had lost
their focus
on God
they had
lost their
focus
on looking
eternally
into eternal
matters
and he
understood
what was
needed
and there
is blindness
all around
us
and do we
understand
what is
needed
among our
people around
us
do we
understand
the needs
of the
people around
us
do we
understand
how sin
blinds a
people from
seeing
God
Habakkuk
did
and you
look
elsewhere
in
scripture
you find
someone like
Paul
who understood
that as
well
because he
looked around
him and saw
the way the
people lived
the way they
conducted
themselves
for example
when he was
in Corinth
as he spoke
to them
there
it says
in 2
Corinthians
4
in their
case
the God
of this
world
has blinded
the minds
of the
unbelievers
to keep
them from
seeing the
light of
the gospel
of the
glory of
Christ
who is
the image
of God
the God
of this
world
has blinded
the minds
of unbelievers
there is a
blindness in
this world
to this day
that is not
just from the
people we see
around us
the ones we
can so easily
judge
but the
blindness
that comes
from the
God of
this world
and he's
talking there
about Satan
the devil
who is
active
actively
blinding
people
from seeing
the glory
the gospel
of the glory
of Christ
and so
there is
blindness
all around
us
and this
understanding
that Habakkuk
has
this understanding
that Paul
has
this understanding
that we should
begin to see
more and more
of
should
then shape
our lives
and how
we live
and how
we pray
and how
we witness
and in
everything
that we
do
understanding
what is
going on
around us
is so
important
to that
and so
as you
come into
verse 2
in the
beginning
of verse
2
Habakkuk
says there
O Lord
I have
heard
the report
of you
and your
work
O Lord
do I
fear
now the
work of
the Lord
as we
have seen
before here
is in
verse 5
of chapter
1
I am
doing a
work
in your
days
that you
would not
believe
if I
told
there were
things that
left
Habakkuk
afraid
taking into
captivity
by the
Babylonians
that God
would use
this powerful
nation
ungodly
nation
to fulfill
his work
and this
work
leaves
him
fearful
and leaves
him
fearful
not just
for himself
but for
those who
are blind
around him
and so
as he
begins his
prayer here
he says
I have
heard
the report
of you
and your
works
O Lord
do I
fear
he's
looking
to the
past
he's
looking
back
and he's
seeing the
things that
God has
done
and this
is what
shapes
his
prayer
this is
what
leads
him
to pray
to God
to make
a difference
to make
a change
because of
the blindness
that there is
he wants
them to see
God
and so
for ourselves
today we should
long for that
as well
that our
people
would see
Jesus
there's a
version
Job
in the last
chapter of
Job
chapter 42
and it's
coming to
the conclusion
of all
that he's
experienced
in life
Job
who lost
so much
whose life
was just
turned upside
down
who suffered
in so many
ways
and yet in
chapter 42
just before
you see
the Lord
restore so
much to
him
what you
hear Job
saying is
as he
comes in
repentance
he says
in verse
5 of
chapter 42
I had
heard of
you
by the
hearing of
the
ear
but now
my eyes
see
you
I had
heard about
you
but now
I see
you
and there's a
wonderful power
in that for
us as well
we have
heard
of God
we have
heard of
God
through his
word again
and again
but our
prayer is
to see
him
and that
is where
this prayer
begins
Habakkuk
is one
whose eyes
have been
opened
he is not
blind but he
is seeing a
people around
him who are
blind and
his longing
is that
these people
will be led
to see the
glory of
God
once again
and so
for ourselves
too
as we
think of
where we
begin
looking at
this verse
a prayer of
Habakkuk
to God
is that
our longing
is that
our desire
to see the
people around
us blinded
by the God
of this
world
but our
longing
that they
would see
Jesus
a
realization
and understanding
of the
situation
secondly
is what
gives Habakkuk
this boldness
as he
approaches
God
there is
both
boldness
and urgency
in his
approaching
God
and you
see that
in the
middle of
verse 2
where he
says
in the
midst
of the
years
revive it
in the
midst
of the
years
make it
known
he is
talking
here
about
his
work
the
work
of
God
and again
when you
think of
verse 5
in chapter
1
it says
therefore
I am
doing a
work
in your
days
that you
would not
believe
if told
so there's
a short
nature to
this
the work
in his
days
but now
Habakkuk's
prayer is
looking beyond
this
there is
this work
that is
necessary
in their
day
to bring
them to
repentance
but now
he is
looking
further
ahead
and he
says
in the
midst
of the
years
revive
it
in the
midst
of the
years
make it
known
so he's
saying
Lord
as we
go
forward
from
here
as we
look
ahead
from
here
in these
years
revive
your
work
and not
just
the work
of bringing
them into
captivity
as we
see in
chapter 1
verse 5
but more
bringing them
into freedom
bringing them
into the
presence of
God
in a more
blessed
way
in the
midst
of the
years
revive it
what do
you think
of
when you
think
of
revival
it's
the word
that we
hear
and pray
so often
that the
Lord would
bring
revival
but do
we really
know
what that
would look
like
our
expectations
of it
may be
better
days
blessed
days
easier
days
to be
a
Christian
but the
reality
of revival
is so
often
something
else
it may
be
many
of
these
things
it may
be
that our
prayer
is
that we
would
have
days
like
that
but
revival
begins
with a
realization
a
realization
that there
is decay
and even
death
spiritually
at a
time
and that's
what Habakkuk
is seeing
in his
day
there is
decay
there is
death
all around
him
we saw
in chapter
2 as we
looked through
it that there
were five
woes
and woe
was a
word for
death
and there
are five
things
that brought
death
into their
midst
because they
had lost
sight
of God
and so
as
Habakkuk
is praying
now he is
praying in
the midst
of this
decay
in the
midst
of this
death
that in
the midst
of all
of this
that the
Lord would
revive
his work
and the
word revive
has that
very sense
about it
it's
linked
to death
and you
think of
the defibrillators
we have
around our
communities
they've been
placed there
because of
a need
if an
emergency
arises
that someone
will be
brought back
to life
using that
and that
is the
very urgency
of this
prayer
as well
revive
is so
closely
linked
to death
a people
who are
perishing
a people
as Paul
describes
in the
New Testament
as those
who are
dead
in their
trespasses
and sins
the people
here were
under severe
oppression
from the
Babylonians
one commentator
puts it
like this
he says
the people
are either
dead
or under
the threat
of extinction
this is how
close they
are to
the end
and in
this he
pleads with
God to
act to
save
and deliver
this is the
revival that
Habakkuk is
looking for
this is the
revival that
Psalm 85
is speaking
about
this is the
revival that
we need
today
is to see
the death
and decay
that is all
around us
and that the
Lord would
come and
work in his
power to
bring life
that what
is the
work of
God that
Habakkuk is
speaking of
here
what do we
pray for when
we think of
praying for
revival
is it that
our praise
would be more
loud and
full
is it that
our prayers
would be more
powerful and
urgent
is it that
our lives
would be less
tainted by
sin
we can have
all of these
things
but the
greatest work
in view
here is to
bring life
to the dead
for God's
saving work
to be known
in their
midst
so that
people will be
made alive
in Christ
in our day
so that as we
look around
we would see
many being
born again
to a living
hope
see a day
of salvation
not an easier
day to live
as a Christian
but a day
when we will
be bold
when we will
be courageous
when we will
be strengthened
in the Lord
in the midst
of all the
challenges
to be bold
towards God
and to be bold
for God
that is what
Habakkuk is
praying here
in the midst
of the years
revive it
bring life
into our midst
when there are
people perishing
all around
us
and then he
says secondly
there
in the midst
of the years
make it known
so that it's
not just
the knowledge
of something
that could
potentially happen
not just
that knowledge
that God
may be there
for us
but make it
known
make it
a reality
for us
make us
see the
power of
your word
throughout
hearing of
it
through our
witnessing
to it
make yourself
known
and the
power that
you give
to your
people
to be
bold
and courageous
for you
that is what
Joshua had
to as he
took up
from Moses
the Lord
said to him
be strong
and courageous
be bold
for the
Lord
there was a
preacher by
the name
Hugh Latimer
he was a
minister in
the 16th
century
and he
sometimes had
occasion to
preach to
King Henry
VIII
and I'm sure
if you heard
anything of
King Henry
VIII
it would be
a terrifying
thought to
go and maybe
preach in
front of him
and this time
when he was
going to
preach before
him he said
he thought
about the
great responsibility
he had in
bringing
the message
before the
king
and as he
was preparing
he realised
it would be
a message
that the
king
would not
like
and yet
he began
to preach
before him
with these
words
he said
Latimer
do you
remember
you are
speaking
before the
high and
mighty
King
Henry VIII
who has
power
to send
you to
prison
and who
can even
have your
head cut
off if it
please him
will you
not take
care
to say
nothing
that will
offend
him
and he
paused
for a
minute
and he
continued
Latimer
do you
not
remember
that you
are
speaking
before the
King of
Kings
and the
Lord of
Lords
before him
at whose
throne
Henry VIII
will stand
before him
whom one day
you will have to
give account
for yourself
Latimer
be faithful
to your
master
and declare
all the
words
of God
he faced
a choice
would he
preach
to please
King Henry
or would he
preach
to please
the King
of Kings
and the
Lord
of Lords
he chose
to preach
for Christ
and later
on in his
life
he lost
his life
as one
of the
martyrs
for being
faithful
to his
Lord
but he
was bold
he was
courageous
and may
God give
us the
boldness
to make
him known
in the
midst of
the years
revive it
in the
midst of
the years
make it
known
because this
is of
eternal
importance
I read
this quote
this week
it's one
of these
ones where
you just
it may not
be the
reality
but it's
just something
to think
about
and it
said
imagine
in heaven
one day
some person
walks up
to you
and says
I am
here because
you weren't
ashamed
and told
me of
Jesus
thank you
it's a
powerful
thought
because
there are
people
perishing
around us
because
they hear
nothing
of Jesus
they are
blinded
by the
God
of this
world
that is
the situation
of Habakkuk
states
our own
day too
there are
people
who are
blind
so we
pray
in the
midst of
the years
revive it
in the
midst of
the years
make it
known
thirdly
and finally
we see
here
the
blessing
that
Habakkuk
was looking
for
as God
saw the
world
in
Habakkuk's
day
it would
have been
easy
for his
wrath
to be
poured
out
because
of the
sin
of this
world
the same
as our
own
day
but look
at the
wonderful
prayer
that
Habakkuk
has
these
words
in
wrath
remember
mercy
remember
mercy
Habakkuk
knows
that any
wrath
that God
could pour
out on
his people
here
it would
be
justified
because
sin
deserves
it
but
he is
pleading
with God
pleading
one of
his
amazing
attributes
that he
would
show
mercy
go back
to the
days
of Noah
and the
flood
when the
Lord saw
the wickedness
of man
and he
would have
been justified
to destroy
the whole
earth
but in
Genesis 6
verse 8
it says
but Noah
found favour
in the eyes
of the
Lord
there was
mercy
from God
go back
to the
days of
Moses
when God's
people were
suffering
in Egypt
he could
have said
they deserve
it
for their
sin
they can
be left
there to
suffer
but in
Exodus
chapter 2
verse 24
it says
God heard
their groaning
and God
remembered
his covenant
with Abraham
with Isaac
and with
Jacob
God saw
the people
of Israel
and God
knew
what did
he know
he knew
that they
needed
mercy
and he
gave them
mercy
and so
Habakkuk
is pleading
with God
to show
his mercy
once again
even though
he could
justifiably
pour out
even more
wrath upon
them
he says
in wrath
Lord
remember
your mercy
have mercy
upon us
mercy
is a
powerful
thing
a mother
once
approached
Napoleon
the great
leader
of his
day
and she
approached
him
seeking
pardon
for her
son
Napoleon
replied
that
the young
man
had committed
an offense
not just
once
but twice
and just
as he
said
demanded
death
but
the mother
said
I don't
ask
for
justice
the mother
said
I plead
for mercy
and Napoleon's
reply was
but your
son does
not
deserve
mercy
and the
woman
replied
sir
it would
not be
mercy
if he
deserved
it
and mercy
is all
I ask
for
Napoleon
saw
this
woman
pleading
in this
way
and after
pausing
for a
moment
he said
well then
I will
have
mercy
is not
something
we
deserve
and yet
it is
something
that God
graciously
gives
what do
we deserve
in our
life
when we
read a
text like
Romans 6
verse 23
it tells us
what we
deserve
for the
wages of
sin
is death
that is
what we
deserve
that is
what our
sin
deserves
but that
verse goes
on to say
but the
free gift
of God
is eternal
life in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
that is
the mercy
that we
need
and where
can we
find that
mercy
today
well the
supreme
display of
that mercy
is at
the cross
at the
cross
of Christ
there we
see
mercy
that we
don't just
hear about
God did
not just
talk about
forgiving
our sin
or healing
a broken
people
he did
it
his
mercy
is seen
in Christ
and do
you know
this
mercy
have you
come
pleading
for this
mercy
in wrath
remember
mercy
I know
my sin
deserve
your
justice
Lord
but remember
your mercy
there's two
wonderful
examples
for us
in the
New Testament
one is
the tax
collector
who went
up to the
temple
to pray
what did
he cry
to God
even as
he was
hearing
another
who was
so boastful
beside him
praying
his prayer
was simple
God
be merciful
to me
a sinner
another
example
is
Bartimaeus
blind
Bartimaeus
who people
just looked
down upon
what did
he cry
out
he said
Jesus
son of
David
have
mercy
on me
two
simple
prayers
and yet
two
powerful
prayers
be
merciful
to me
a sinner
have
mercy
on me
and the
wonderful
thing is
that God
has mercy
to give
he has
mercy
to forgive
as the hymn
says
what patience
would wait
as we
constantly
roam
what father
so tender
is calling
us home
he welcomes
the weakest
the vilest
the poor
our sins
they are
many
his mercy
is more
what riches
of kindness
he lavished
on us
his blood
was a payment
his life
was the cost
we stood
neath the dead
we could
never afford
our sins
they are
many
his mercy
is more
our sins
are many
and they
deserve
the wrath
of God
but praise
God
his mercy
is more
and perhaps
our vision
is short
sighted
today
in the
here and
now
we look
around us
and all
around us
is a
blindness
of a
people
who are
blinded
by the
God
of this
world
but let
us approach
a great
God
a God
who is
able
and to
come boldly
that we
might know
the blessing
of God
reviving
his work
in our
midst
a work
that brings
life
to the
dead
a revival
not just
that fills
our praise
and our
prayers
that brings
people
to be
born again
to a
living hope
in Christ
and that
we would
know
his mercy
not as
our sin
deserves
but that
in wrath
he would
remember
mercy
and that
goodness
and mercy
would follow
us
all of our
days
let us
pray
our
gracious
Lord in
heaven
we do
thank you
for every
way
that you
remember
us
you know
our sins
they are
laid before
you
you know
that they
are many
but we
thank you
that your
mercy is
more
and we
pray Lord
that today
and in
our years
and our
days
Lord that
you would
remember
our needs
that you
would revive
your work
in our
midst
that you
would revive
it in a
way that
it is made
known
and that in
wrath
you would
remember
mercy
we thank
you for
it as
we see
it at
the cross
as we
see it
in Christ
who took
our sin
and we
pray to
know that
wonderful
forgiveness
as we
ask it
in his
name
amen
we're
going to
conclude
by singing
again
in
psalm
85
on page
113
and we
sing from
verse 8
to the end
of the
psalm
to god's
to the end
of the psalm
to god's
praise
time
hinapp
to
father
g Versa
the good
And return to foolishness.
Surely for all those who feel him, his salvation is at hand,
So that one sack in his glory may be seen within our land.
Love and truth are met together, Righteousness and peace and grace.
Righteousness looks down from heaven, From the earth springs faithfulness.
What is good the Lord will give us, And our land its fruit will bear.
Righteousness will go before him, And his royal way prepare.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
We'll close with the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.
Thank you.