WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.879 waiting for food at a restaurant, waiting to cross at the lights. 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:07.860 I've been living here in Chatswood for almost two months, 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:09.720 and I'm sick of waiting in traffic, 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:15.820 waiting for a husband or wife to get ready, no elbowing, 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:19.559 waiting for kids to do anything. 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:24.560 Waiting makes us impatient, makes us angry. 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:28.400 We've been conditioned through fast food 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.779 and the instant gratification of the internet 00:00:30.779 --> 00:00:33.600 to get what we want and get it now. 00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:36.359 And if we don't get it, well, we should complain. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.960 What do you mean I have to wait? 00:00:39.979 --> 00:00:41.859 You know, don't you know who I am? 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:47.219 I don't care that these three people paid before I ordered. 00:00:47.539 --> 00:00:49.060 I want my coffee right now. 00:00:50.619 --> 00:00:54.640 It's not just a personal shift, but it's also a cultural one too. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:58.820 We as a society have lost the ability to wait. 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:01.039 You only have to go back a generation, 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:04.760 and people would do things like send letters to each other 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:06.579 and then wait to get a letter. 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:08.180 Does anybody remember that? 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.799 I remember waiting for letters. 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:13.920 It's a little bit less exciting, you know, checking the mail these days. 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:15.180 It's just bills and packages. 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:19.140 You would wait in line at the bank to get cash out, 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:22.260 and you would listen to the radio or to the wireless 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:24.700 in the hopes of hearing your favorite song. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.299 I do remember back in the day having a cassette tape 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:29.840 and waiting to hear my favorite song, 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.400 and then I'd hit record on it. 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:34.579 Some young people would have no idea what that looks like. 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:39.420 But what is the impact of our impatience 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:41.760 on our relationship with God? 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:46.580 Do we expect that God should just jump at our prayers 00:01:46.580 --> 00:01:49.320 and deliver what we want in 30 minutes or less, 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:50.100 or we get a refund? 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.800 We don't want to endure a pain or hardship. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:58.180 We cry out, God, why am I suffering? 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.860 Why am I enduring loss? 00:02:02.020 --> 00:02:04.740 Why have I lost this family member? 00:02:04.860 --> 00:02:06.340 Why am I waiting to get a job? 00:02:06.460 --> 00:02:08.420 Why don't I have children yet? 00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:10.060 Why aren't you providing for me? 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:15.860 Why are there still problems and struggles in my life? 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.479 I think one thing we can do is we can get caught up 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:21.900 just remembering part of who our God is. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.719 We remember that our God is loving and merciful, 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:28.900 and we think that He should just obey our every command. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:32.819 And we can forget that our God is massive 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:34.539 and powerful and sovereign, 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:37.560 and He works at His good pleasure. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:41.680 The truth is, waiting is hard. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:46.620 Waiting on God is one of the hardest parts of Christianity, 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:50.659 and yet it's also one of the most important parts 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:51.199 of Christianity. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.520 Today we're continuing our series, 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.819 Reasonable Faith in Unreasonable Times, 00:02:56.980 --> 00:02:58.400 and we're looking at the book of Habakkuk. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:00.659 Last week we looked at chapter 1, 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:03.980 and we saw that Habakkuk was crying out 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:07.099 because of all the injustice that he saw in Judah. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.679 Habakkuk cried out asking God, 00:03:09.899 --> 00:03:11.039 why aren't you doing anything? 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.099 And God replied, I am. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:15.759 I am going to bring justice. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:18.560 I'm going to bring the biggest superpower, Babylon, 00:03:18.859 --> 00:03:21.079 and they're going to judge Judah. 00:03:21.959 --> 00:03:23.659 And Habakkuk cried out, 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:24.379 what? 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.139 How can you bring those evil people to judge Judah? 00:03:27.359 --> 00:03:28.500 They're so much worse. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:32.240 And Habakkuk is trying to understand 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.860 how a good and pure God 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:36.919 could allow a sinful army 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:39.360 to come and attack God's people. 00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:42.460 And this is where we find Habakkuk today. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:44.500 He has cried out to God, 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:45.759 God has answered him, 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:48.319 and Habakkuk wasn't satisfied with that response, 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:51.139 so Habakkuk's gone back with another question, 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:54.520 and now we find him waiting on God. 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:56.960 Waiting for God. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.180 It is such a strange phrase. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.460 Just wait for God. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:02.520 Have you ever had someone say to you, 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:03.860 just wait for God, just wait? 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:08.480 Well, what does it mean for Habakkuk to wait for God? 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:10.460 And what does it mean for us 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:13.340 as we cry out and wait for God? 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:17.060 We need to come to our God in prayer for this, 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:19.199 asking that he would teach our hearts, 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:20.240 so I'm going to pray now. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:22.879 Heavenly Father, 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.120 as we look at your word this evening 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:28.980 and we learn how to wait just like Habakkuk had to. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:33.420 Teach our hearts to have patience before you, Lord. 00:04:33.840 --> 00:04:34.240 Amen. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:36.699 So please have a look at me, 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:38.480 with me at Habakkuk chapter one. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.300 It will be on the screen 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:43.180 as we look at these four short verses. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:46.720 from chapter two, verse one. 00:04:50.400 --> 00:04:52.400 I will stand at my watch 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:54.840 and station myself on the ramparts. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.379 I will look to see what he will say to me 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:00.399 and what answer I am to give to this complaint. 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:02.699 Habakkuk has said his peace, 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:04.500 he's questioned God, 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.680 he has expressed his concern, 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.319 and now he is going to wait. 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:12.360 He takes his concern to God and he waits. 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:14.959 And what does waiting look like? 00:05:15.500 --> 00:05:16.439 Well, it's active. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.959 It's not passive. 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:21.300 He's actively looking for God's response 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:23.620 and he's going to persist as he waits. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:25.659 And Habakkuk paints this picture 00:05:25.659 --> 00:05:28.199 of waiting on God persistently 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.139 like a century in a watchtower. 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:31.759 Imagine you've got a city, 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:33.279 it's walled in, 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:34.319 and you've got towers 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:37.300 where you can watch over where the enemy comes. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:38.540 That's what the ramparts are, 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.360 the towers where the centuries would stand. 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:42.199 And the job of the century 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:44.040 is to be on the lookout, 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:45.680 be watching persistently. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:48.500 You have to stay there your whole shift. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:50.319 It's not a job you can say, 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:51.900 I'm a little bit bored. 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:55.060 Maybe I'll have a nap. 00:05:55.460 --> 00:05:57.280 Maybe I'll duck down to the castle cafe 00:05:57.280 --> 00:05:58.379 for a skim milk latte. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.420 It's not that kind of job. 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:04.400 If he takes his eyes off the target, 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:06.100 even for a minute, 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:09.000 he could miss seeing the approach of an enemy 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.500 and the defenses might not be ready in time. 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:15.400 Being a century on a tower 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:18.020 requires immense persistence. 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:20.740 This is what Habakkuk is doing. 00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:23.680 He is waiting and watching for God's answer 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:24.560 with persistence. 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:28.500 Now Habakkuk wasn't really on the walls, 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:30.800 but this verse creates the idea 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.080 that he was determined and persistent, 00:06:33.820 --> 00:06:35.680 waiting for God's response. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:38.060 And he has full confidence 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.480 that God would answer his prayer. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:42.060 He's just going to keep waiting 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:43.280 until God answers him. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:46.560 Not only is he watching for God, 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.260 he is determined not to miss God's response 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:50.080 when it does come. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:51.879 And when God does speak, 00:06:52.080 --> 00:06:53.560 he's not going to be too busy with life. 00:06:53.640 --> 00:06:55.360 He's not going to be distracted doing other things. 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.140 He's not like a person who asks God for something 00:06:58.140 --> 00:07:00.160 and then forgets that they've asked, 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:03.180 so that when God does provide or answer, 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:04.120 they miss it. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:05.220 He is watching. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:06.180 He is persistent. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.060 His eyes are on God. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:09.900 His eyes are on the prize. 00:07:11.080 --> 00:07:12.620 Waiting can be passive, 00:07:12.780 --> 00:07:14.800 like you're just in a shop waiting for a coffee. 00:07:15.700 --> 00:07:19.080 But here, waiting on God is active. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:22.200 It's persistent waiting for God. 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:28.300 So for us, waiting on God means to keep waiting. 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:31.060 And so we shouldn't despair 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:35.019 when God doesn't answer as quickly as we would like. 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:38.620 It's an encouragement not to throw the towel in 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:40.939 when Christianity and our Christian walk 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:42.680 isn't as it should be. 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:45.579 I think far too often we can rebel 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:47.379 against God's lack of response. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:49.060 Maybe it goes something like this. 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:51.120 I've prayed to God 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.560 and God hasn't answered me as quickly as I like. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.139 And so I feel self-pity. 00:07:56.780 --> 00:07:57.480 Woe is me. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:58.839 God doesn't talk to me. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.879 And so I'm going to stop going to church 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.399 as much as I used to. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:04.720 Maybe I'll stop reading my Bible, 00:08:04.840 --> 00:08:05.939 stop praying to Him. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.019 Because what's the point of listening 00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:09.240 and talking to God 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:10.519 if He's not going to talk to me? 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:13.079 And maybe I stop going to Bible study, 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:13.879 community group. 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:17.800 Maybe we distance ourself from God. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:21.199 But also from the way He's going to talk to us 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.000 through His Word and through people. 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:26.800 Now imagine you're that sentry on the tower. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.480 You've been sitting on that watchtower 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:30.960 for your whole career, 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:32.299 12 hours a day, 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.460 every day of the week. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.700 And you've never seen anything. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.580 And so you finally think, 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.240 I've had enough. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:40.379 That's it. 00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:41.740 I'm going to quit. 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:42.500 I'm going to go down. 00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:43.799 And so you climb down the tower. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.240 You go and hide somewhere. 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:47.360 It doesn't take too long. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:48.379 Eventually the military comes 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:50.220 and drags you out of whatever hole 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:51.139 you've been hiding in. 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.539 And you get court-martialed, 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:54.379 dragged before a judge, 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.159 a military judge. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:56.240 And the judge says, 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.779 why did you leave your post? 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:01.360 And you respond, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:01.860 well, 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:06.480 I just didn't want to wait anymore. 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:08.740 It was too hard to keep on waiting. 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:11.720 Do you think the judge would be okay with that? 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.279 No, I don't think so either. 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:19.320 For us, 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.580 it's the same with God. 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:25.539 We need to continue to be persistent. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:28.340 Waiting for God is active. 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:28.940 And Habakkuk, 00:09:29.180 --> 00:09:31.360 he is persistent as he looks 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.220 and waits for God to answer. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:36.139 He is like that sentry in the watchtower. 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.639 Waiting for God to respond, 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.419 we must persist, 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.799 even when it's hard. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:46.360 Now, we don't know how long it was 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:47.639 that Habakkuk was waiting, 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.019 but we do know that God answered him. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.299 He did receive God's answer. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.039 Have a look at verse two. 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:57.439 Then the Lord replied, 00:09:57.819 --> 00:09:59.559 write down the revelation 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:01.399 and make it plain on tablets 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.699 so that a herald may run with it. 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:07.039 For the revelation awaits an appointed time. 00:10:07.219 --> 00:10:08.419 It speaks of the end 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:09.939 and will not prove false. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:11.219 Though it linger, 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:12.000 wait for it. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.620 It will certainly come 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.480 and will not delay. 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:16.099 The Lord's answer is a special one. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.519 Habakkuk is to write it down. 00:10:19.439 --> 00:10:20.679 Habakkuk might not remember it. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.740 He might not remember everything, 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:24.220 but everyone needs to know this message. 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.060 It's an important one. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:27.740 So write it down on tablets. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.159 I can't help but think of the, 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:29.340 you know, 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:32.080 the movies with the Ten Commandments in it, 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.060 these big stone tablets. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.720 It's that kind of idea. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:35.700 Clay tablets. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:36.680 Write it down 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:38.539 so a herald could carry it 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.539 and run out 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:41.340 so that you could leave it somewhere 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:43.019 and people could see it and read it. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:46.940 Now, our minds can do funny things 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:47.600 with messages 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.480 and God didn't want to leave Habakkuk 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.700 any room for error. 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:53.500 He wanted this message 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:55.279 to be preserved with accuracy. 00:10:56.040 --> 00:10:57.060 So write it down. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:58.500 Write it down 00:10:58.500 --> 00:10:59.800 because there was going to be 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:01.860 a period of waiting 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:03.500 for God 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.600 after this. 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:05.279 Verse 3, 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:20.319 Habakkuk had to wait 00:11:20.319 --> 00:11:21.839 for God to answer. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.419 And now that God has answered, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.539 God says, 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:26.579 wait. 00:11:27.959 --> 00:11:29.899 I am bringing justice 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.019 and I am working, 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:32.899 but you are going to have to wait. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:35.639 You must have patience. 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.480 It is close, 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.980 but it might seem far off 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:41.000 for humans, 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.519 but it will come without delay. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:46.079 There's an emphasis here 00:11:46.079 --> 00:11:48.019 on the different timings 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:49.959 and there's a difference 00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:50.759 in our perception. 00:11:51.079 --> 00:11:52.600 God perceives time 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.059 very differently to us. 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:55.840 For God, 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:59.340 80 years goes in the blink of an eye, 00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:00.100 but for us, 00:12:00.579 --> 00:12:01.559 it is a lifetime. 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:02.979 Habakkuk, 00:12:03.099 --> 00:12:03.879 just like us, 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:05.079 wanted God to act 00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:06.619 and to act immediately. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.979 But God is God 00:12:08.979 --> 00:12:10.799 and his timings are his own. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.039 And so Habakkuk 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:13.719 had to wait with persistence 00:12:13.719 --> 00:12:17.099 and now he waits with patience. 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.359 Are you patient? 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:22.419 Would the person sitting next to you 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.719 describe you as patient? 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.339 You've got 15 seconds. 00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:25.859 Ask them. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:26.979 No, no, no, don't, don't, don't. 00:12:26.979 --> 00:12:27.399 I'm just joking. 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:29.519 Maybe you say, 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:30.579 oh, look, patience, 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.879 that's not my virtue. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.360 I've got other virtues. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:35.059 I'm not one of those patient people. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.360 I don't deal well with that. 00:12:36.459 --> 00:12:37.419 And you just laugh it off, 00:12:37.459 --> 00:12:38.799 maybe like you're doing right now. 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:44.059 Patience is the opposite of pride. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:46.559 From Ecclesiastes 7, 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.139 it says, 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:49.059 the patient in spirit 00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:51.539 is better than the proud in spirit. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.960 Patience comes from a place of humility, 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:58.180 where we put someone else before ourself. 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.240 I have a three-year-old daughter, Tamara, 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:03.019 and patience can look like 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:04.379 putting her conversation 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:06.580 above what I need to say to her. 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:09.120 And so she will go on and on 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.220 and talk about leaves and dolls, 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:13.220 probably as Evie would know from Kids Church. 00:13:13.900 --> 00:13:16.160 And so patience with my daughter 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:16.980 looks like saying, 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:19.500 what you have to say is valuable 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:21.660 and so I'm going to listen to you. 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:24.019 Patience before God 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.159 is actively saying, 00:13:25.319 --> 00:13:26.360 God, you are sovereign 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:29.179 and things happen in your time 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:30.460 and not in my time. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:34.460 The book of James chapter 1 says, 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.179 the testing of your faith 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:38.439 develops patience. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.299 Romans 5 says, 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.519 suffering produces patience or perseverance. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.519 And patience and perseverance 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.740 develop character 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.960 and character hope. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.440 When trouble, 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:52.700 dark times and suffering hit, 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:54.740 they are an opportunity 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.800 to learn 00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:57.720 patience. 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.160 They're an opportunity 00:13:59.160 --> 00:14:00.060 to learn 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:01.780 how to wait on God. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.860 Imagine you're going out, 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.280 you're going on holidays. 00:14:07.400 --> 00:14:08.879 Where would we like to go on holidays? 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.180 Does anybody want to pick a place? 00:14:10.540 --> 00:14:11.780 Somewhere you can drive to preferably. 00:14:13.660 --> 00:14:14.139 Sorry? 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.460 Where are we going? 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:18.340 I'm thinking Queensland 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:20.199 because we're going to New Zealand. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:23.819 I'm not sure about driving to New Zealand 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.879 unless we've got some kind of 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.860 fancy new car. 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.720 Queensland? 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.519 Queensland? 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:31.000 Has anybody driven to Queensland before? 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.120 Yes? 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:32.740 Okay. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.419 My family likes to go to Queensland. 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.720 Let's say you've got the car packed. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.699 If there's kids in your family, 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.580 if you are those kids you are packed in, 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:41.600 you are looking forward to 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.700 theme parks, 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.620 sand and warm weather 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.180 and you're excited. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.259 The whole family is excited 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.279 about leaving cold, 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:48.940 wet Sydney. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.080 Is anybody with me 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:51.080 desiring this right now? 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.300 Yes? 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:52.700 Okay. 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.240 I've got you. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:53.440 Good. 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.639 And you drive out 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:57.279 and you hit traffic. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.680 Not just a little bit of traffic. 00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:00.580 This is Chatswood 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.639 on a Friday afternoon 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.740 in the middle of a storm 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.759 with lanes blocked 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.560 on both sides 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.320 of the Pacific Highway 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:06.040 type traffic. 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.580 One of two things will happen. 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.980 Firstly, 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.200 maybe you feel yourself 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:12.840 starting to get 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.540 just a little bit cranky. 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.160 It's like getting hot 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:16.700 under the car, 00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:17.460 just agitated. 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.720 You start to seethe. 00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:21.240 This is taking too long. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.000 What turns out, 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.980 what was just a minor inconvenience 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.500 all of a sudden 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.379 builds to four hours 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.060 in the car. 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:28.920 You haven't even left 00:15:28.920 --> 00:15:29.740 the suburb yet. 00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:31.540 You're snapping at the kids 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:32.800 or your partner in the car. 00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:34.100 Everyone needs to go 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.620 to the toilet 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.580 but nobody can. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.980 The people in the car 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.519 next to you 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.200 are there to blame 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.279 and you get angry 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.180 and even when you 00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:42.240 finally get moving, 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.379 you're so angry 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.800 that the whole holiday 00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:46.500 is ruined. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.240 That's option one. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.600 Maybe you can imagine that. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.120 Option two, 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:53.779 a little bit different. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.980 You get in traffic. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.399 Instead of getting angry, 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.060 you acknowledge 00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.899 that it's not 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.960 as it should be. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.379 And instead of getting angry, 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:05.360 you wait patiently. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.019 You go through 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.379 every single game 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.639 in the car you know. 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.300 And when you finally 00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:11.960 get moving, 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.139 the family's okay. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.379 Maybe just one or two 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.120 little cries out. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.600 That's it. 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:18.500 But you've learnt patience 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.919 and you've grown. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.480 What do we do 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.980 when suffering 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.320 and bad things 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.360 and troubles hit? 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:28.279 Do we thrash around? 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.000 Do we get angry? 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.800 Do we blame everyone else, 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.960 including God? 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:34.420 Or do we take 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:36.160 the God-given opportunity 00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:37.040 to wait 00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:39.460 and to learn patience? 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.019 When trouble hits, 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:43.320 when real difficulties, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.060 when strife, 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.960 when suffering happens, 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:46.639 it can either 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.720 drive us 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.680 to God 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:50.000 to have a closer relationship, 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.720 to pray 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.920 and talk more to God, 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.360 or it can drive us 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.300 away from God. 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.480 Let it not be the latter 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:57.940 for us, 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.720 brothers and sisters. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:02.100 We come to the final verse 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.240 of this short passage 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.279 for us today. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:04.900 Verse 4. 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:07.720 See, 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.500 the enemy is puffed up. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.279 His desires 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.620 are not upright, 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.360 but the righteous person 00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:14.960 will live 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.259 by his faithfulness. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.059 Here, 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.039 God is comparing 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.279 two different types 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.759 of people. 00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.980 You've got the one 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.740 who is upright 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.640 before God 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.940 and the one 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.559 who is an enemy aggressor 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.579 that is puffed up. 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.539 I really like this term, 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.139 puffed up. 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.059 It's this picture 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.440 of someone 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.759 who is so full 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.399 of themselves. 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.059 They're just inflated. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.639 They're like a balloon 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:39.180 filled up too far. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.420 These arrogant, 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.379 puffed up people 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.579 are ready to burst 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.539 before God. 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.980 They're swollen 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.940 with pride 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.579 and self-importance. 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.720 On view here 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.039 is the Babylonian army. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.099 They are self-righteous. 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.119 They are pursuing 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:56.559 every sinful act. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.740 They're seeking 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.759 their own ends 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.579 and it just leads 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.460 to pride 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.440 and arrogance. 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.440 And it also leads 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.059 to death. 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.759 Verse 4 said, 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.059 the righteous 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.079 will live, 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.919 but the enemy 00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:11.940 who is puffed up, 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:12.539 well, 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.899 the implication 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.139 is that it doesn't 00:18:16.139 --> 00:18:16.819 lead to life. 00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:17.779 It leads to death. 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.759 And so on view 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.599 is the Babylonian 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.819 army coming, 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.759 but it's also 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.220 anyone who is puffed up 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.859 or arrogant 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.639 before God. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.379 God is holding 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.039 out his hand 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.539 to Judah 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.119 saying that 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.460 you can have life 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.000 even though 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.779 an enemy 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.179 is coming towards you. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.720 God will vindicate 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.740 his people. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.899 Life comes 00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.500 to those 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.839 who have faith. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.339 The righteous 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.519 don't think 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.099 of themselves 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.779 arrogantly, 00:18:46.939 --> 00:18:47.379 but instead 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.220 look to God. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.899 They've placed 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.639 their faith 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.400 in God. 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.259 This is a faith 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.400 that strips us 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.540 of our arrogance 00:18:55.540 --> 00:18:57.160 and leads us 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.520 bare and needy 00:18:58.520 --> 00:18:59.040 to God. 00:19:00.020 --> 00:19:00.640 This is a, 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.300 it's a picture 00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:01.960 of a contrast 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.920 between those 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.840 who think 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.600 they don't need 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:04.980 God 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.180 and those 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.759 who realize 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.280 they need 00:19:07.280 --> 00:19:08.420 everything from God. 00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.060 You see, 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.660 faith is humility. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.620 It is the person 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.259 who admits 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.200 that they need 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.020 God's help 00:19:17.020 --> 00:19:18.480 and what he has 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:18.920 to offer 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.340 and that they 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.100 can't do it 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.819 on their own. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.199 And the view 00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.000 of faith here 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.099 is waiting 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:25.299 in humility. 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:26.480 Waiting 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.539 on God 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.379 is faith. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:29.959 This is what 00:19:29.959 --> 00:19:30.559 faith is, 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.139 to take 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:33.079 someone else's 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.980 words, 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.659 to take someone 00:19:35.659 --> 00:19:36.319 at their word. 00:19:36.439 --> 00:19:37.159 Faith is to take 00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.799 someone else 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.399 at their word. 00:19:38.719 --> 00:19:38.859 Now, 00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.899 is anyone engaged 00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:40.179 here? 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:44.039 your daughter 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:44.620 got engaged 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.080 yesterday. 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.320 Tom's engaged. 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:47.980 I actually, 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.779 I think you're 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.299 sitting in the 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:50.720 same spot 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.140 Rad's was 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:51.560 this morning. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.140 So, 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.060 Tom's engaged. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.400 Okay, 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.120 let's use Tom 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:57.100 as an example. 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:57.500 Is that all right, 00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:57.660 Tom? 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.640 Wonderful, 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:58.980 thank you. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.560 It's just a very 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:00.120 short illustration. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.380 So, 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:00.539 okay. 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.060 So, 00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:02.740 Tom has made 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.360 a promise 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:04.279 to someone else. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.539 He's made a promise 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.940 that he is going 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.559 to wait 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.480 for marriage. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.920 When are you 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.259 getting married? 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.460 July. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.379 Very soon. 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:13.779 Congratulations. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.059 He's made a promise 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.700 that he's going 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.599 to get married 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.220 to Rad's 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.059 in July. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.519 Now, 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.259 while he has 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.059 made that promise, 00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.799 he is waiting 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.700 for that to come. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.759 While he's waiting, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.539 he doesn't go 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:24.980 and marry 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.740 someone else. 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:28.559 Don't, 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.099 don't go 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.440 and marry 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.059 someone else. 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.399 You, 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.759 he's made 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.559 these promises 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.259 and so Rad's 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.680 can have 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.259 faith 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.019 in his 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.579 promise 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.339 that he 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.920 won't go 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.220 and marry 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.619 someone else 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:38.960 and that 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.500 they'll get 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:39.839 married 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.799 in July. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.279 Faith 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.140 in practice 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.059 looks like 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.640 waiting 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.720 and someone 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.460 waiting 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.160 means that 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:48.700 they have 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.200 faith. 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.079 God has 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.799 made promises 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.700 to Habakkuk 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.359 that he 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.000 will come 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.039 and Habakkuk 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.480 is to respond 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.379 by waiting. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.200 Now, 00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.879 the second part 00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.579 of verse 4 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.200 may have 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.039 sounded familiar. 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.559 The righteous 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.279 will live 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.000 by faith. 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.200 The righteous 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.980 person will 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.379 live 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.000 by his 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.619 faithfulness. 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.039 Now, 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.480 this is 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.039 one of 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.539 the most 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.940 important 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.299 verses 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.740 in the 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.259 New Testament. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.139 It's one 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.460 of Paul's 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.240 most important 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.639 phrases. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.500 He quotes 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:17.899 this in 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.740 Galatians 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.019 and in 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.259 the book 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.740 of Romans. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:20.859 Let me 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.259 read from 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.919 Romans 1. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.559 It says, 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.879 For 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.319 in the 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.700 gospel 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.220 the 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.779 righteousness 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.659 of God 00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.399 is revealed. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.399 A 00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:29.899 righteousness 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.460 that is 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.019 by faith 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.679 from first 00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.399 to last, 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.579 just as 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.039 it is 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.299 written. 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.139 The 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.500 righteous 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.119 will live 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.799 by faith. 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.879 We 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:39.039 live 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.319 by faith. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:41.919 God 00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:42.339 has made 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.779 promises 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.859 to us 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.539 and faith 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.159 is waiting 00:21:46.159 --> 00:21:46.740 on those 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.159 promises. 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.339 Just a 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:48.679 couple of 00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:48.960 God's 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.339 promises. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.440 God has 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.779 promised 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.720 that there 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.259 is only 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.960 life in 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.319 Jesus. 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.579 God has 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:54.839 promised 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.160 that he 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.660 will raise 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.059 us from 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.579 the dead 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.180 and God 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.660 has promised 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.099 that the 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.599 only way 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.579 to God 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.019 is through 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.379 Jesus. 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.019 He's the 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.500 only way 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.980 to God. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.619 So having 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.379 faith means 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.639 waiting on 00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.420 these promises. 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.240 We don't go 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.119 running somewhere 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.339 else to find 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.000 our satisfaction 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.740 in life. 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.460 We can only 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:13.980 get that in 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.299 God. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.700 There's no 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.299 need to try 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.920 and extend 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.819 our life as 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.160 long as 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.879 possible or 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:19.700 even to fear 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.299 death. 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.839 Because we 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.279 will have 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.379 life in 00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:23.500 the 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:23.980 resurrection 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.539 and we 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.680 eagerly want 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.200 to wait 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.940 for our 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.399 life with 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:28.879 the Lord. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.740 That's what 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.480 waiting on 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:30.920 God's 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.339 promises 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.099 looks like. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.500 Faith 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.359 in God 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.220 is 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.720 characterized 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.859 by waiting. 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.339 And we've 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.720 seen from 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.119 these four 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.700 verses that 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.319 waiting is 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.940 not passive, 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.599 it's active. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.599 It's a 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.059 waiting that 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.920 is persistent, 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.480 it's patient, 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.759 and it is 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.299 done with 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.839 humility. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.779 As I've 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.440 been writing 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.079 and preparing 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.519 this, I 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.019 haven't been 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.039 able to help 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.579 but think of 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.039 pregnancy. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.440 Is anyone 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.079 pregnant here? 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:58.980 No, no, no, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.299 tell me later, 00:22:59.339 --> 00:22:59.619 it's fine. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.759 What does a 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.399 pregnant woman 00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:03.259 do as she 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.139 waits for 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.720 the baby? 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:06.399 You know, 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.680 after the 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.660 first 12 or 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.000 so, maybe 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.359 after the 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.200 first trimester 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.299 of vomiting 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:11.740 and all those 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.079 kinds of 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.539 fun things, 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.119 there's fun 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:14.759 things to do 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.940 like pick a 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.259 name. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.279 Is it going 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.799 to be Harry 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.240 or Megan? 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.940 You have 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.279 to sort 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.519 out the 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.879 baby's 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.259 room, 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:21.799 what colour 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.019 is it 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.259 going to 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.779 be? 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.480 There's so 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.139 many decisions. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.700 Do we find 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:24.940 out the 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.259 gender of 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.659 the baby? 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.659 What cot 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:27.259 do we get? 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.720 Do we get 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.240 a pram with 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.759 three wheels 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.159 or four 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:30.559 wheels? 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.159 Who are 00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:32.279 going to 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.519 be the 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.099 godparents? 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.180 We have 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.980 to go to 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.680 prenatal 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.379 classes to 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:36.759 figure out 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.059 how to 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.539 hold this 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.839 baby. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.299 And then 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.779 there's the 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.019 labour 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.619 itself. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:41.819 And from 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.139 what I've 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.539 seen, 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.240 that can 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.059 be a long 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.659 active 00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.099 waiting. 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:47.259 Sometimes 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.219 people cry, 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.339 get this 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:49.740 thing out 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.059 of me. 00:23:50.959 --> 00:23:51.980 But sometimes 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.359 it can take 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.719 a long 00:23:53.719 --> 00:23:54.079 time. 00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:54.359 It's a 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:54.919 long wait. 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.539 So for 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.879 us, 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.539 our three 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.599 children have 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.299 made us 00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.719 wait a 00:23:59.719 --> 00:24:00.219 long time. 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.819 Isaac was 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.419 five days 00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:01.679 late. 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.379 Tamara 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:02.939 was three 00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:03.439 days late. 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.039 And Micah, 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:04.500 well, he was 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.099 having a great 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:05.699 time, so he 00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.199 was seven 00:24:06.199 --> 00:24:06.799 days late. 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.599 So Alyssa 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.019 and I would 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.639 do all kinds 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.039 of things, 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.559 like eat 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.559 chilli, go 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.000 for long 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.859 walks, bounce 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.339 on one of 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:14.799 those fit 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.419 balls to 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:15.919 try and 00:24:15.919 --> 00:24:16.379 bring on 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:16.699 labour. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.619 None of 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.119 them worked. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.319 But waiting 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.000 for a baby 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.539 is an 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.119 active 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:22.759 exercise. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.720 It takes 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.659 patience and 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.179 persistence. 00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:26.879 And as a 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:27.500 father, plenty 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.059 of humility 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.679 because it's 00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.220 not about the 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.639 father at 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:29.839 all. 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.480 The father's 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.959 job is to 00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:31.759 support someone 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.139 else. 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.539 Can you 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.139 imagine if 00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:35.000 someone found 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.559 out that they 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.059 were pregnant 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:38.059 and they 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.819 just decided, 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.259 I'm going to 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.839 wait for this 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.119 baby. 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:41.740 And then they 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.119 just, you 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.659 know, put 00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.039 their feet 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.119 up and they 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.419 didn't do 00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:45.079 anything for, 00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:45.319 I don't 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.879 know, 35 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.439 weeks. 00:24:47.459 --> 00:24:47.899 People would 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.179 ask, you 00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:48.359 know, what 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.000 clothes is this 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.439 baby going to 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:49.799 wear when it 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.199 comes out? 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.859 Oh, I don't 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.099 know. 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.119 What are you 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.299 going to 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:52.619 name it? 00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:53.819 We'll figure 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.359 it out later. 00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:56.419 Waiting on 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.339 God does not 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.319 mean that we 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.099 just sit back 00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.819 and do nothing 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.879 until he jumps 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:01.639 out and speaks 00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.179 to us. 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.079 Waiting on 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.519 God is an 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:07.000 active exercise. 00:25:08.239 --> 00:25:08.719 Waiting on 00:25:08.719 --> 00:25:09.479 God looks like 00:25:09.479 --> 00:25:10.099 persistence. 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.619 It looks like 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:13.519 patience and 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.119 it looks like 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.379 humility in 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.500 trusting God's 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.939 promises. 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.819 We keep 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.759 waiting even 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.439 when it's 00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.519 hard because 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.179 we have a 00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:22.739 God who is 00:25:22.739 --> 00:25:23.099 faithful. 00:25:24.239 --> 00:25:24.799 When times 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.339 are difficult 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.899 and when we 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:27.000 struggle, we 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.419 take the 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:28.179 opportunity to 00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.159 learn patience 00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:30.439 because patience 00:25:30.439 --> 00:25:31.359 is humility 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:31.979 with God. 00:25:32.739 --> 00:25:33.539 And when we 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.539 wait on God, 00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.619 we grow in 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.500 our faith in 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.759 him. 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.539 Let me pray. 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:45.000 Heavenly Father, 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.519 we thank you 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.420 so much for 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.920 the opportunity 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:49.980 and challenge 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.980 it is to be 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.559 reminded to 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.619 wait on you. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.279 Thank you for 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.000 Habakkuk's 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.420 encouragement. 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.039 Help us to be 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.899 persistent like 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.920 him, to watch 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:02.059 you like a 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.000 century in a 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.319 tower. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.319 Help us to be 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.299 patient as we 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.000 wait, as we 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.960 put your timing 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.700 before our 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.440 own timing. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.299 And Lord, we 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:13.279 ask that we 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.019 would remember 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.900 your promises 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.360 and we would 00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:17.460 keep our eyes 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.660 fixed on those 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.519 as we wait 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.640 for the return 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.259 of your Son. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.660 This we ask 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.319 in his name. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.059 Amen.