WEBVTT

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 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina.

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 Well, I want to invite you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Habakkuk chapter 2.

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 Habakkuk chapter 2 is where we continue in our study today.

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 We're going to cover the entire chapter with the exception of the first verse.

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 So we'll begin reading at verse 2 and go all the way down to verse 20.

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 But we're going to spend most of our time on verses 2, 3, and 4.

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 That's really where the meat of this particular passage is found.

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 Verses 5 through 20 is what is called a taunt song.

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 We're going to talk about that a little bit when we get to it.

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 But it's really just a specific expression of judgment toward this group of individuals.

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 And we'll talk about that when we get there, but we're not going to spend a lot of time there.

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 We're going to focus our attention on verses 2, 3, and 4.

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 Habakkuk chapter 2, verse number 2.

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 And the Lord answered me and said,

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 Write the vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it.

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 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie.

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 Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come.

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 It will not tarry.

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 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith.

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 Yea, also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home,

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 who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied,

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 but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.

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 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him,

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 and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his.

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 How long?

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 And to him that ladeth himself with thick clay.

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 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee,

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 and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

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 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee,

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 because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

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 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high,

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 that he may be delivered from the power of evil.

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 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

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 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

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 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity.

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 Behold, it is not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire,

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 and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity.

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 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

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 as the waters cover the sea.

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 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, and putt thy bottle to him,

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 and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness.

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 Thou art filled with shame for glory.

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 Drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered.

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 The cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto thee,

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 and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

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 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee,

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 and the spoil of beast which made them afraid,

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 because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land,

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 of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

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 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it,

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 the molten image, and a teacher of lies,

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 that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb idols?

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 Woe unto him that saith to the wood,

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 Awake, to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach.

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 Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver,

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 and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

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 But the Lord is in his holy temple.

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 Let all the earth keep silence before him.

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 The first four weeks of our study of Habakkuk

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 only covered 18 verses,

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 and there has been so much to learn

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 in the dialogue between God and his prophet.

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 But the passage we study today

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 is the crucial text of the entire book.

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 Everything that's been written for us thus far

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 exists to serve the purpose of this message from God.

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 After learning that God was raising up the Chaldean Empire

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 as his instrument of judgment,

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 Habakkuk had difficulty understanding

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 how the actions of God

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 seemed to be inconsistent with the character of God.

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 With a spirit of worship, humility, and submission,

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 he issued his question to God

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 and patiently waited for a reply.

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 Now, the general confusion of Habakkuk's question,

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 which is found in verse 13 of chapter one,

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 is what God addresses in his response.

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 In fact, let's read that verse together.

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 Look with me at chapter one in verse 13.

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 Habakkuk says as a part of this question for God,

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 thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil

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 and cannot look on iniquity.

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 Why then do you look upon them that deal treacherously

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 and hold your tongue when the wicked devours the man

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 that is more righteous than he?

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 We find that as we discovered last week,

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 this same question plagued Asaph as he wrote in Psalm 73.

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 He said, behold, these are the ungodly

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 who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.

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 It's a common question throughout the scriptures.

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 Job asked the same question in Job chapter 21.

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 David asked this question in some of his Psalms.

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 And it all boils down to how can you as a holy God

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 not do something about the sin that we see?

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 How is it that the wicked around us seems to be exalted?

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 How is it that the sinful around us seems to prosper

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 while your own people are in despair?

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 And though not given in the way that we would usually hope,

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 God's answer as we study this book

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 and as we study Psalm 73 and as we study the book of Job,

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 God's answer brings great resolution

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 and peace to the hearts of these men.

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 But it is here that we must take time to recognize

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 the way in which God chooses to answer our questions.

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 When we bring our confusion to the Lord in prayer,

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 we're typically seeking for him to issue an explanation

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 of his behavior.

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 It's like an itch that cannot be scratched

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 until every single facet of our perplexity is explained.

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 For some Christians,

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 this process actually ends up revealing

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 a very sinful attitude and spirit to the Lord

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 that shows a lack of trust in God.

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 Rather than assuming God's perfection and righteousness

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 when they bring their question to God,

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 they actually bring their question

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 demanding that God prove that he is righteous

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 and that he is perfect and that he is good.

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 And there's a clear distinction.

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 The same question can be asked,

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 but the attitude behind it can determine

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 whether or not a person's heart is right with the Lord

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 in a right perspective of God's character

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 or whether it actually reveals a severe lack of faith.

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 Whenever we bring our questions to the Lord,

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 we're to come to him with the assumption

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 that God is right and that he is perfect.

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 But many times when we come to him,

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 we're not coming with that understanding

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 simply seeking an answer.

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 We're coming demanding that God prove to us

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 that he's right before we actually trust him.

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 A question that should come from a spirit of faith

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 and submission in reality for many people

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 is in a spirit of judgment.

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 Now, I've thought a little bit about this.

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 What gives us this tendency?

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 And I do think that perhaps our democratic culture

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 of Western civilization plays a role

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 in our sinful spirits toward God.

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 Let me explain.

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 We are accustomed to exercising the power

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 of our individual vote to put people

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 that we determined are worthy of it

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 in positions of leadership and authority over us.

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 And if we're unsatisfied with the way

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 a particular leader has led,

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 we exercise that same power and right to vote

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 to remove them from office

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 and put somebody else there in their place.

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 We become the judges

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 of whether or not a person is performing adequately.

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 And in this sense, we submit to authority

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 only as long as that authority submits to us.

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 We will submit to their position and their leadership

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 only as long as they lead

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 based on what we have demanded that they do.

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 And for this reason,

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 we refer to these people as public servants.

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 And I think because we're accustomed

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 to this relationship between submission and authority,

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 we often come to our relationship with God in the same way.

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 But we have not chosen God.

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 He has chosen us.

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 We have not voted him into office.

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 He is the God of creation.

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 We are not his judge.

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 He is our God.

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 He is not our servant.

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 We are to serve him.

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 He is righteous, not us.

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 He owes us nothing.

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 He owes us no explanation

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 for why he works in the way that he does.

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 And any revelation that we have of him and his work

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 only comes by his own love and grace.

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 So we are not to come to the Lord

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 and judge his actions in the way

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 that we would judge the human actions of a human leader.

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 We come to the Lord rather in submission to him as God.

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 And when we bring our perplexity,

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 it's not to judge him and demand

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 that he prove to us that he's right.

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 It's where to come to him with the assumption

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 that he is God and he is right and he is perfect

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 and seeking to understand not to accuse.

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 So because of this relationship with him being God

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 and us being his servant,

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 God does not offer explanations.

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 He does not answer our questions

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 in the way that we expect.

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 When it comes to our perplexities,

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 God deals in promises, not explanations.

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 Let me say it again.

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 When it comes to our perplexities and our questions

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 and our confusions and the prayers that we pray,

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 God does not answer us on the basis of an explanation.

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 He answers us with a promise, with a covenant.

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 He is infinitely more concerned about our faith

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 than he is about our complete understanding.

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 His desire is that we trust him

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 even when we don't understand how and why he's working.

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 And this is the pattern of God's dealing

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 all throughout the scriptures.

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 Think about God's relationship to Abraham.

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 God comes to him and says,

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 I'm going to make a great nation.

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 Your seed is going to bless all other nations.

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 And Abraham says to God in Genesis 18,

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 how can I have a son who I'm so old

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 and Sarah is well beyond childbearing years?

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 And what did God say?

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 He didn't give him an explanation

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 that explained the physiology

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 of how he was going to make it work

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 and how it was going to come to be.

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 God didn't do anything like that.

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 What did God say?

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 Genesis 18.

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 He says, is anything too hard for God?

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 Abraham brings his question to the Lord.

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 He's seeking for an explanation.

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 God doesn't provide an explanation.

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 He provides a promise.

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 Is anything too hard for God?

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 In other words, God looks at Abraham

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 and he says, believe me, Abraham.

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 You don't have to understand.

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 Just trust me.

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 Think about Moses when God came to him

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 and spoke through the burning bush

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 and he told him that he wanted him to go

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 and speak to Pharaoh

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 and deliver the people of Israel from Egypt.

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 Moses argued with God

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 and there came a point in the conversation

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 where he said, how can I,

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 a man with a speech impediment,

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 I'm not eloquent at all.

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 How can I go and stand and speak

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 before such a ruler?

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 And God didn't give any explanation

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 about how he was going to bring Aaron

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 in on the equation

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 and how he was going to use these signs

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 through the staff

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 and how he was going to allow Moses

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 to speak in a particular way.

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 He didn't give any of that.

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 What did he say to Moses?

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 He said, Moses, in Exodus 4.11,

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 who made your mouth?

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 Who made your mouth, Moses?

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 In other words, believe me, Moses.

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 You don't have to understand.

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 Just trust me.

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 Think about Gideon.

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 Gideon was threshing wheat

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 in a time when Midian was taking over.

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 Hundreds of thousands of soldiers

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 had a mast to take over this tribe of Manasseh.

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 God comes to Gideon and says,

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 I want to use you to lead the army

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 and I'm going to make it interesting

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 by giving you just 300 men to do it.

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 And Gideon says,

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 I'm the least in my father's house

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 and my father's house is the least

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 in the tribe of Manasseh.

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 How can you use me?

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 Why would you ask me to do this, God?

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 I don't want to do this.

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 Why would you ask me?

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 And God doesn't give an explanation.

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 He doesn't go ahead and tell Gideon,

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.580
 well, what's going to happen

00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.679
 is you're going to go down the hill

00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:09.679
 in the middle of the night.

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.220
 You're going to bang some pots together

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:13.039
 and scream out the sword of the Lord

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.899
 and of Gideon.

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.059
 And then all of the enemies

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.299
 are just going to end up killing themselves.

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.740
 He didn't give him an explanation.

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.879
 What did he say?

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.700
 He said to Gideon,

00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:24.200
 I will be with you.

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.940
 God doesn't deal in explanations.

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.840
 He deals in promises.

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.200
 What about the New Testament?

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.680
 Remember Thomas asked Jesus,

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.740
 Lord, we have no idea where you're going.

00:15:37.020 --> 00:15:38.180
 How can we know the way?

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:42.660
 Jesus didn't go into this extensive theological diatribe.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.680
 What did he say to Thomas?

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:46.280
 He said, Thomas, I am the way.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.800
 I am the way.

00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:49.159
 John 14, 6.

00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:51.000
 In other words, Thomas,

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.819
 you don't need an explanation.

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.799
 Just trust me.

00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.819
 The disciples toward the end of Jesus' time on this earth

00:15:58.819 --> 00:16:00.979
 said, how will we know when the end is near?

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.099
 How will we know when your kingdom

00:16:03.099 --> 00:16:04.240
 is going to be established?

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:06.000
 And Jesus gives them a little information.

00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:08.779
 He says, boys, it's going to get pretty rough,

00:16:08.859 --> 00:16:10.799
 but let me tell you, no one knows,

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.639
 but you need to watch and wait.

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:16.959
 In other words, just trust me.

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.700
 I'm coming back.

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:22.000
 God doesn't deal in explanations.

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.139
 He deals in promises.

00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:27.400
 He is far less concerned with our understanding

00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:30.360
 than he is with our faith in who he is

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.700
 and what he has promised.

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:37.160
 He's created us with the ability of logic for a reason,

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:39.639
 but our capacity of understanding

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:43.019
 is limited by God on purpose.

00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:44.019
 Why?

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:46.620
 Because he's far more concerned

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:49.879
 that we trust him without understanding

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:54.559
 than that we trust him because of understanding.

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:57.720
 Instead of providing explanations,

00:16:58.439 --> 00:17:02.460
 he graces us with his wonderful promises.

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:06.519
 And that's exactly what he's doing here for Habakkuk.

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:10.140
 Rather than provide a lengthy explanation

00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:12.059
 that connects all the dots

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:15.440
 and provides an explanation for why he's doing it this way

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.740
 and not another way,

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.059
 God simply reminds Habakkuk

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:23.340
 about this eternal covenant

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:25.880
 that he has made with his people.

00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:30.460
 And he instructs him to share it urgently

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:32.920
 and immediately to every generation.

00:17:34.260 --> 00:17:37.600
 And I want to examine this promise with you today.

00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:40.660
 Three quick things that we'll say about this covenant.

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:45.420
 The first one is we see the significance of the promise.

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:47.220
 The significance of the promise.

00:17:47.520 --> 00:17:48.880
 Look with me again at verse two.

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:52.000
 And the Lord answered me and said,

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.100
 write the vision and make it plain on tables

00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:59.180
 that he may run that reads it.

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:02.780
 Now, when we see Habakkuk in verse one,

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:05.480
 it's clear that he was anticipating

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:08.980
 God's reply to come with a measure of rebuke.

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:11.480
 He seems to have thought that there existed

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.160
 somewhat of an audacity in the question

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:17.140
 that he had just asked at the end of chapter one.

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:20.560
 And he expected God to respond strongly.

00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:23.380
 But that's not how God responds at all.

00:18:25.300 --> 00:18:27.340
 Consistent with God's nature of love,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.620
 he actually responds to Habakkuk very gently.

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:33.960
 And it shows and proves once again,

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:38.560
 God's great love for those that love and follow him.

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:41.540
 The fact that God answered at all

00:18:41.540 --> 00:18:44.380
 reminds us of his love and care for us,

00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:47.440
 which is exactly why Peter writes in the New Testament

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.760
 that we are to cast all of our care upon him.

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.120
 Why?

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.700
 Because he cares for us.

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:57.320
 God is sympathetic to our cries.

00:18:58.320 --> 00:18:59.660
 He wants to hear them.

00:19:00.340 --> 00:19:02.960
 And he doesn't respond with rebuke.

00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:07.360
 In fact, even in the moments that he rebukes his disciples,

00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.760
 Jesus in the New Testament,

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:12.460
 his rebuke is always with tenderness and with gentleness

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:15.599
 and with love despite its firm truth.

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.900
 God deals with us in that way.

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.259
 It's an example of his love.

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:22.319
 And he deals in that way with Habakkuk.

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.779
 And the significance of this particular promise

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.220
 and this particular response

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:31.759
 is seen in the manner in which God instructed Habakkuk

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.859
 to record his message.

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:38.379
 He told him to write it upon a tablet of stone.

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.699
 Look with me again at verse two.

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:43.439
 Write the vision, make it plain on tables.

00:19:43.479 --> 00:19:46.959
 That's just a reference to a stone tablet.

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:50.119
 There are only a few occasions in the Bible

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.399
 where God actually makes this command

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:55.259
 for his message to be recorded in this way.

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:59.240
 Most notably, we see this coming in the 10 commandments.

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:02.359
 As Moses went up on Mount Sinai,

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:05.139
 God delivered his law to Moses there.

00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:08.000
 He instructed and he actually did it by his own hand

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.500
 for the law to be written on stone tablets.

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.219
 And this was significant.

00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:14.519
 It's a simple gesture,

00:20:14.919 --> 00:20:18.139
 but there's two reasons that the way in which God

00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:20.439
 instructed Habakkuk to record this message

00:20:20.439 --> 00:20:23.039
 is significant to us and it shows the significance.

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.119
 The first way is this.

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:26.979
 It shows that this is an eternal promise.

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:29.719
 The promise God is having Habakkuk write

00:20:29.719 --> 00:20:31.719
 is an eternal one.

00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.140
 Now the use of stone reveals that this answer

00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:37.839
 was not meant to serve the people temporarily.

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:40.600
 It's an eternal covenant that would echo

00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:42.240
 throughout every generation.

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.519
 The message that God was sending through Habakkuk

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.460
 was not applicable to his experience

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.680
 with the Chaldeans alone.

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:53.140
 The prophecy finds its fulfillment in every generation

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:56.380
 before and after Habakkuk.

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:58.160
 As Robertson says,

00:20:58.800 --> 00:21:01.680
 the specific instructions to inscribe the vision

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.760
 and make it plain on the tablets underscore

00:21:04.760 --> 00:21:08.520
 its significance not only for the crucial hour

00:21:08.520 --> 00:21:09.760
 in which Habakkuk lived,

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:13.300
 but also for the generations to come.

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:16.520
 Now culturally speaking,

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:20.400
 any new covenant made between people in Habakkuk's day

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:23.060
 was recorded first on stone

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.980
 and it represented permanency

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:28.259
 and it demanded that the promise be kept.

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.159
 This message of God was to be viewed

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.519
 in light of eternity,

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.619
 not just the time of the Chaldean invasion.

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.039
 So he tells Habakkuk,

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:40.079
 not like he told Isaiah to write it on a parchment,

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.000
 not like he told Jeremiah to write in a book,

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.159
 he told Habakkuk,

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.119
 write it on a table of stone.

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.440
 It is an eternal covenant.

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.759
 It's an eternal promise.

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:54.000
 Secondly, it shows that it's an urgent promise.

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.820
 It's an urgent promise.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:00.080
 There's a practical note that God gives Habakkuk

00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:03.940
 about the way in which he's to write on this stone tablet

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.580
 and it relates to its size.

00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:06.980
 Look with me again at verse two.

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.640
 The Lord answered and said,

00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:12.259
 write the vision and make it plain on a table

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:16.180
 that he may run that reads it.

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.640
 And this is significant.

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:20.920
 The tablet was to be large enough

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:23.299
 to be clearly read and understood,

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.559
 but it was to be small enough

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:28.940
 to be carried throughout the nation by a runner.

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.519
 The message was to be clearly presented

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:35.859
 and then it was to be immediately proclaimed.

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:40.720
 And this indicates for us the urgency of the message.

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:45.759
 Pictured here is a herald that would go from town to town,

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:48.579
 maybe on horseback or maybe running from town to town

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.779
 and would cry in the midst of the town,

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:54.120
 an urgent message or an important or significant message

00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:57.380
 that came directly from his king.

00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:01.039
 The scriptures refer to angels as heralds

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.120
 and even preachers in the New Testament

00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:06.220
 are referred to as heralds.

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.279
 The task is the same for each one of them.

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:13.779
 Proclaim the message from your king.

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:17.899
 So paired with the eternal nature of this promise,

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:20.200
 it becomes plain that its truth

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:22.740
 is to be just as urgent today

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:25.420
 as it was when it was written.

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:29.559
 It's the message of God's judgment against sin

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:31.660
 and his offer of salvation

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:34.480
 through Jesus Christ that is so urgent.

00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:35.579
 And listen to me, church.

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:38.099
 Church, we are the runners.

00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:40.439
 We are the heralds.

00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:44.079
 The task has been given to the church of God

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.279
 to spread this message.

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:48.480
 And he's entrusted us as Lakeside Bible Church

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.720
 to proclaim this urgent message

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.319
 to the people of Lake Norman.

00:23:53.179 --> 00:23:54.279
 That's our mission.

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:57.599
 What we do on Sundays when we gather back together,

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.019
 Lord willing, next Sunday,

00:23:59.139 --> 00:24:00.920
 what we do when we gather back together

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.899
 is worship the Lord.

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.180
 We disciple one another.

00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:07.119
 But our mission is to take this proclamation

00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:09.399
 that God is coming to judge sin

00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:12.559
 and that he provides salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.799
 We are to take this urgent covenant,

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.240
 this eternal covenant,

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:18.599
 and preach it to the people of Cornelius

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:20.460
 and Huntersville and Davidson

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.140
 and anyone else who will hear it

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:24.200
 and even those who will not hear it.

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:29.039
 Our job is to proclaim the vision of the Lord.

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.840
 Our proclamation is to be clear

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:34.700
 and our spirit is to be urgent

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:38.039
 because it is the promise of God that we share.

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.759
 Our king church has given us a message to proclaim

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:45.319
 and it's sinful if we do not go to our neighbor

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:47.240
 and to our family and to our community

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:50.279
 and proclaim the message of our king.

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.880
 So we see the significance of the promise.

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.039
 It was written on a tablet.

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.700
 It's eternal.

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.620
 It's urgent.

00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:01.700
 Secondly, we see the surety of the promise.

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.779
 The surety of the promise.

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:05.240
 Look with me at verse three.

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:08.440
 For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:12.359
 but at the end it shall speak and not lie.

00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:15.019
 Though it tarry, wait for it

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.980
 because it will surely come.

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:19.359
 It will not tarry.

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:22.000
 Now it's here that we have to remember

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.980
 that Habakkuk is a prophetical book.

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.839
 And the nature of biblical prophecy

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:30.200
 is that it often has a near fulfillment

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:35.819
 that foreshadows a future or ultimate fulfillment.

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:38.539
 In Habakkuk's case,

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:42.539
 the near fulfillment is the destruction of Babylon

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:44.420
 and the restoration of Israel.

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:47.659
 But this is only meant to foreshadow

00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:49.680
 the ultimate fulfillment

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:53.139
 of God's judging of the sin of all mankind

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:56.399
 and the eternal establishment

00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:59.240
 of his eternal kingdom.

00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:03.619
 Habakkuk's prophecy is not only meant

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:06.420
 to tell us of God's work 2,500 years ago.

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:10.900
 It's also a revelation of how God works now

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.380
 and in the future.

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:15.440
 And we cannot understand God's message to Habakkuk

00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.840
 without seeing it as an eternal message that it is.

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:22.019
 Now think of it in the terms of the other covenants

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.360
 in the Old Testament.

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.360
 God tells Abraham,

00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.860
 I'm gonna give you a seed

00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:29.480
 and in that seed all nations of the earth will be blessed.

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:31.720
 The near fulfillment of that prophecy

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.680
 is in his son Isaac.

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:36.799
 But the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.980
 is in the person of Jesus Christ.

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.680
 Think about the Davidic covenant.

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.200
 God comes to David and he says,

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.980
 I am gonna provide a king.

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:48.740
 Your throne will be established forever.

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:52.360
 Your seed will rule forever

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.900
 in an eternal kingdom.

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:57.960
 The near fulfillment of that is in his son Solomon.

00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:00.000
 But the ultimate fulfillment of that

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.880
 is in the person of Jesus Christ,

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:03.160
 not only in his first coming,

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.280
 but ultimately in his second coming

00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:06.600
 when he establishes his kingdom.

00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:08.340
 So when we look at biblical prophecy,

00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:10.400
 we see God delivers a message.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.100
 He uses a near fulfillment

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:14.360
 that foreshadows the ultimate

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:17.260
 or future fulfillment of his great work.

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.100
 And we must remember then

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:22.500
 that prophecy is not fortune telling.

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:26.460
 This is not the guesswork of a man.

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:32.480
 This is the true message from the mouth of God

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.980
 who cannot lie.

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:37.960
 Therefore, what we have in Habakkuk's vision

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:40.299
 is a message of certainty.

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:43.819
 It is sure to come about.

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:47.839
 Verse three assumes that many people

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.700
 will doubt the validity of the message

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:52.960
 because of what they will perceive as a delay.

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:55.840
 But since it doesn't happen immediately,

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.580
 they doubt that it will happen at all.

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:03.440
 But God reminds us that his work is sure to take place.

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:07.080
 Just because it doesn't happen on our timeline

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:09.240
 doesn't mean that it won't happen.

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:12.019
 And there's two ways that I believe God

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:14.140
 reveals the surety of this promise

00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:15.460
 in verse number three.

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:19.559
 The first thing we see is that there is a certain time,

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:22.559
 a certain or a sure time.

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:24.039
 Look at the first phrase.

00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:30.100
 For the vision is yet for an appointed time.

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.680
 Now, the destruction of Babylon

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:36.579
 had a specific date set on God's calendar.

00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:38.920
 It wouldn't take place immediately

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.680
 following the exile of Judah,

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:43.360
 but it would be less than 70 years

00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:45.500
 when it would find its fulfillment.

00:28:46.459 --> 00:28:48.679
 And the ultimate fulfillment of this judgment

00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:50.599
 has yet to take place.

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:54.359
 But we are still assured that it will.

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.479
 It is on God's calendar.

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.639
 It has an appointed time.

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:01.139
 It's not only an appointed judgment,

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:03.979
 but it's an appointed salvation.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:07.439
 We have to look at the book of Revelation to see it.

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.559
 In Revelation chapter 20,

00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:11.619
 we see that the ultimate fulfillment

00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:13.419
 of this prophecy of Habakkuk

00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:16.639
 is seen in an appointed judgment.

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.440
 John writes in Revelation 20,

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:19.759
 he says,

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:21.399
 I saw a great white throne

00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:23.179
 and him that sat on it,

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.839
 that is Jesus,

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:25.460
 and I saw the dead,

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.980
 small and great,

00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.220
 stand before God,

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.000
 and the books were opened.

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.859
 And another book was opened,

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.240
 which is the book of life.

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:36.759
 And the dead were judged

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:38.119
 out of those things

00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:39.319
 which were written in the books

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:42.140
 according to their works,

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.759
 the way that they lived their lives.

00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:46.759
 And whosoever was not found

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:48.599
 written in the book of life

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:51.839
 was cast into the lake of fire.

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.839
 Listen to me.

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.379
 There is a coming judgment.

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:57.099
 It has already been prophesied

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.180
 all throughout the scripture.

00:29:58.619 --> 00:30:00.180
 One day it is appointed.

00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:02.160
 God has put it on his calendar.

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:04.039
 We will all stand

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:06.379
 before the judgment seat of Christ.

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.799
 And when we stand there,

00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:09.039
 the books will be opened.

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:11.039
 And if your name is not

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.740
 in the Lamb's book of life,

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:14.339
 you will be cast

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.960
 into the eternal lake of fire,

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.879
 into eternal hell.

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:20.039
 That prophecy,

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.139
 that message from the mouth of God

00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:22.819
 is true,

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.899
 and it is certain,

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.059
 and it is coming.

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:29.460
 It's also an appointed salvation.

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.980
 Immediately after this,

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:33.019
 in Revelation 21,

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.799
 we read of the other part

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.940
 of this promise.

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.819
 John says,

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.980
 I heard a great voice

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.319
 out of heaven saying,

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.620
 Behold,

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:43.460
 the dwelling place of God

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.200
 is with men,

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:46.099
 and he will dwell with them,

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.759
 and they shall be his people.

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.559
 This is a picture

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.579
 of God's eternal reign.

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.720
 And God himself

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.940
 shall be with them,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.920
 and he will be their God.

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.519
 And listen to what he will do.

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:58.620
 God will wipe away

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.440
 all their tears

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.299
 from their eyes,

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.619
 and there shall be

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.419
 no more death

00:31:02.419 --> 00:31:03.759
 and neither sorrow

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.779
 nor crying,

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.839
 neither shall there be

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.619
 any more pain,

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.859
 for the former things

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.680
 are passed away,

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:10.139
 the former sinful things,

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.740
 the curse of this sin,

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.079
 wretched world

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:14.460
 will be passed away.

00:31:14.639 --> 00:31:15.659
 And he that sat

00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.419
 upon the throne

00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:16.879
 said,

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.500
 Behold,

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:20.680
 I make all things new.

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.740
 And he said unto me,

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.319
 Right.

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:22.960
 Why?

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.359
 Because the words

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.180
 that I am saying

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.019
 are faithful

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:28.159
 and they are true.

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.220
 It is said,

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.640
 there is an appointed time

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.220
 for judgment.

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.240
 And for those

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.240
 that follow Christ,

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.460
 there is an appointed time

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.500
 for salvation.

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.880
 Though it may seem

00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.779
 to delay now,

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:40.039
 don't think that God

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.059
 is not going to fulfill

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.660
 his promise.

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.559
 It's on his calendar.

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.759
 It is coming,

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.519
 and it's coming

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.400
 at a certain time.

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.980
 But then we also see

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:50.299
 that what seems like a delay

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:52.500
 has a certain purpose.

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.259
 There's a certain time.

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.880
 There's a certain purpose.

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.620
 Look again at verse 3.

00:31:57.619 --> 00:32:00.899
 Though it tarry,

00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:02.519
 wait for it.

00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:05.859
 Because it will surely come,

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.719
 will not tarry.

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.579
 Now don't be confused

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.500
 by the usage

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.539
 of the word tarry

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.239
 in this verse.

00:32:12.679 --> 00:32:13.799
 There's two perspectives

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.619
 at play here.

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.979
 The first time

00:32:15.979 --> 00:32:16.839
 tarry is used

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:18.119
 is from the perspective

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.699
 of man.

00:32:19.199 --> 00:32:20.319
 And the second time

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.759
 it's used

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.659
 is from the perspective

00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.279
 of God.

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.239
 In other words,

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:25.019
 our perspective

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.700
 views God's fulfillment

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.700
 of promise

00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.599
 as a delay.

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:31.019
 But he views it

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.920
 as exactly on time.

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.279
 His work may seem

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.279
 delayed for us,

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.160
 but it's working

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.500
 exactly as he has

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.400
 divinely determined.

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.960
 He doesn't work

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.720
 on our timeline.

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.660
 He's not bound

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.519
 by time in the way

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.960
 that we are bound

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.920
 by time.

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.700
 He has said

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.660
 it's a point in time.

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.220
 And what may seem

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.340
 like a delay to us

00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:53.840
 is right on time

00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:55.080
 from his perspective.

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.840
 But that brings up

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.420
 the question.

00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:59.700
 If God is so intent

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.740
 on judging sin

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.560
 and establishing

00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.180
 his kingdom,

00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:04.040
 why would he delay

00:33:04.040 --> 00:33:04.500
 it all?

00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:06.860
 What's the purpose

00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:08.160
 in all these years

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.500
 that have passed?

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:11.180
 And the early church

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.880
 in the New Testament

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:13.140
 faced this same question.

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.660
 They believed

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.800
 that Jesus Christ's

00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.540
 second coming

00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:17.720
 was very near,

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.200
 but because it still

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.740
 continued,

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.759
 life still continued

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.980
 on without Jesus

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.460
 returning,

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.700
 many people began

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.940
 to doubt whether

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.759
 or not it was

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.660
 actually true.

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.580
 So Peter writes

00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:28.880
 about it.

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.180
 In fact,

00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:29.819
 you may want to

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.640
 turn in your Bibles

00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.360
 to follow along

00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:31.700
 with me.

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.259
 2 Peter 3.

00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.539
 Peter addresses

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:37.160
 it first in verse 2,

00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:38.440
 that ye may be

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.340
 mindful of the words

00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:40.120
 which were spoken

00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:41.120
 before by the

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.779
 holy prophets,

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.920
 including Habakkuk,

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.519
 and of the commandment

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.259
 of the apostles

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.799
 of our Lord and Savior,

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.480
 knowing this first,

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.680
 that there shall

00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:51.039
 come in the last days

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:52.680
 scoffers walking

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.819
 after their own lusts,

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.180
 saying,

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.660
 where is the promise

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.360
 of his coming?

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.940
 For since the fathers

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.700
 fell asleep,

00:33:59.079 --> 00:34:00.200
 all things continue

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.860
 as they were

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:01.400
 from beginning

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:02.120
 to creation.

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.259
 There will be those

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.000
 that will mock,

00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.980
 they will laugh at us,

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.480
 they will laugh

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.039
 at the church,

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.759
 they will laugh

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.339
 at the Bible,

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.199
 they will laugh

00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:09.240
 at this proclamation,

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:09.699
 saying,

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.860
 where is this coming?

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.420
 You say he's coming soon,

00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.539
 where is it?

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.679
 And they will doubt it,

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.960
 and they will mock at it.

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.860
 But Peter wrote

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.400
 that what seems

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.639
 like God's delay

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:22.360
 is actually a sign

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.380
 of his love

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.719
 and long-suffering

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.460
 to us.

00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:28.219
 Look at verse 8.

00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:29.699
 Beloved,

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.519
 be not ignorant

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.639
 of this one thing,

00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:34.380
 that one day

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.559
 is with the Lord

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.779
 as a thousand years,

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.059
 and a thousand years

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.659
 is one day.

00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.340
 He doesn't work

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.019
 on our timeline.

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.639
 He's got his own timeline.

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.300
 It doesn't matter

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.800
 if it's a day

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.539
 or a thousand years,

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.320
 it's all the same

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.900
 to God.

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.400
 And then he says,

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.719
 the Lord is not slack

00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:50.300
 concerning his promise.

00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.780
 He's not lazy.

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:54.360
 He's not a liar.

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.679
 He's not delayed.

00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.639
 What it is

00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:01.099
 is that he is long-suffering

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.820
 to us,

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.360
 not willing

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.460
 that any should perish,

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.360
 but that all should come

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:07.300
 to repentance.

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:09.380
 God's love

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.059
 this scene here.

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.940
 What is this delay about?

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:13.039
 We long for the coming

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.480
 of Christ.

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.559
 Why does it continue

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:14.900
 to delay?

00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.920
 But it's not a delay

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.420
 because God has determined

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:19.019
 he will not return.

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.480
 He will not institute

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.579
 this final

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.740
 and ultimate judgment

00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:24.440
 until all that belong

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.059
 to him

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.140
 come to faith

00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:27.400
 in Jesus Christ.

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.840
 He is long-suffering

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:30.160
 and loving to us.

00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.260
 And if he were to

00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:34.280
 come and return today

00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:35.740
 and institute this judgment today

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:37.180
 knowing that a month

00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:37.760
 from now

00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.980
 someone would have come

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.220
 to faith in Jesus Christ,

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.260
 he is unwilling

00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:42.620
 to come back now.

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.480
 He is unwilling

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.360
 for that person

00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.060
 to perish

00:35:45.060 --> 00:35:46.500
 before they have

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.520
 trusted Christ.

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.420
 What love

00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.280
 and patience

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:51.440
 and long-suffering

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.460
 that is for us.

00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:53.480
 That's the answer

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.160
 to God's delay.

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.480
 It's not a delay at all.

00:35:55.600 --> 00:35:56.380
 It's love.

00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:58.360
 And then Peter

00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.420
 reminds them again

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.220
 of the certainty

00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:01.860
 of Christ coming.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:02.920
 Verse 10,

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:04.880
 But the day of the Lord

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:06.200
 will come as a thief

00:36:06.200 --> 00:36:06.720
 in the night

00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:08.659
 in the which the heavens

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.539
 shall pass away

00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.420
 with a great noise

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.320
 and the elements

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:11.960
 shall melt

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:13.180
 with a fervent heat.

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.860
 The earth also

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.440
 and the works

00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.059
 that are therein

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.039
 shall be burned up.

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.800
 And then he says

00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:19.619
 in verse 14,

00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:20.460
 Wherefore, beloved,

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.740
 seeing that you look

00:36:21.740 --> 00:36:22.500
 for such things,

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.400
 be diligent

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.659
 that you may be found

00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:26.460
 in him in peace

00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.519
 without spot

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.599
 and blameless.

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.320
 And account that

00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:31.480
 the long-suffering

00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:32.539
 of our Lord

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:34.940
 is salvation.

00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:37.260
 Why does God tarry?

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.200
 Because he loves us.

00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.140
 But there will come a time

00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:41.820
 when his patience

00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.820
 has run its course.

00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.900
 Now is the time

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.420
 to repent

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:47.059
 and turn to Christ.

00:36:47.680 --> 00:36:48.300
 So we see

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:48.840
 the significance

00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.500
 of the promise.

00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.360
 We see the surety

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:50.940
 of the promise

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:52.440
 and we're out of time.

00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:54.260
 But we must see

00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:54.800
 the substance

00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.600
 of the promise.

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.880
 Now if you're watching

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.880
 this video at home

00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.700
 and you're in your living room

00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:00.519
 wherever you're at,

00:37:00.919 --> 00:37:01.980
 I know it's gone long

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.599
 and I know there's

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.960
 a tendency maybe right now

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:05.299
 for you to lose focus.

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.699
 If you're gonna focus anywhere,

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.639
 focus here.

00:37:08.859 --> 00:37:10.199
 What is this promise

00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:11.500
 that God is actually making?

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.039
 Please listen to me now.

00:37:15.319 --> 00:37:16.199
 Look at verse four.

00:37:17.899 --> 00:37:18.419
 Behold,

00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:19.500
 his soul

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.719
 which is lifted up

00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:22.179
 is not upright in him,

00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:24.099
 but the just

00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:25.699
 shall live by his faith.

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:28.379
 This verse

00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:30.320
 contains the key

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:32.400
 to God's eternal,

00:37:33.099 --> 00:37:33.420
 urgent,

00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.860
 and certain promise.

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.360
 And here's what it is.

00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.019
 God

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:39.240
 will judge

00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:40.019
 all sin,

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:42.099
 but salvation

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:43.559
 is available

00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:45.660
 by faith

00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:46.700
 alone.

00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:50.160
 This is the promise

00:37:50.160 --> 00:37:51.360
 of Habakkuk's prophecy.

00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:52.900
 And it's also

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.640
 the answer

00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:54.860
 to his question.

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:56.599
 No sin

00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:57.619
 will go unpunished.

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.259
 The sin

00:37:59.259 --> 00:37:59.779
 of the wicked

00:37:59.779 --> 00:38:00.460
 Chaldeans

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.400
 will not go

00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:01.920
 unpunished,

00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:02.420
 Habakkuk.

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.039
 The wicked

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.119
 will not prosper.

00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.920
 The sin

00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.539
 of what would

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.299
 seem to be

00:38:09.299 --> 00:38:10.239
 the righteous Israelites

00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:11.679
 will not go unpunished.

00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.000
 All

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.639
 will

00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:14.579
 be judged,

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.500
 but salvation

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.440
 is made available.

00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.839
 But it's not made available

00:38:17.839 --> 00:38:18.699
 on our terms.

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.639
 It's made available

00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:20.619
 on God's terms.

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.539
 Habakkuk's first question

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.119
 had to do with

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.579
 the absence

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.119
 of judgment

00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:25.659
 on Judah.

00:38:26.299 --> 00:38:27.440
 And the second question

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.099
 had to do with

00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:28.559
 the absence

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.079
 of judgment

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.719
 on Babylon.

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.380
 But God's message

00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:32.400
 clearly states

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:33.500
 that every single

00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:34.279
 person on earth

00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:34.759
 will answer

00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:35.500
 for their sin.

00:38:36.819 --> 00:38:37.619
 The vision

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.579
 given to Habakkuk

00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:39.480
 narrows everything

00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.420
 down into two

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.239
 groups of people.

00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:43.359
 Those who follow

00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:44.139
 after self

00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:45.799
 and those

00:38:45.799 --> 00:38:46.460
 who follow

00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.380
 faith.

00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.039
 Let's first look

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:49.480
 at the one

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.480
 who follows self.

00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.199
 This is where

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.740
 verses 5-20

00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:54.519
 come into play.

00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:56.059
 It provides

00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.599
 a specific

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.199
 description

00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:58.099
 of the destruction

00:38:58.099 --> 00:38:59.559
 that will come

00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.400
 to the Chaldeans

00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:01.420
 or the Babylonians.

00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:03.280
 Now in Habakkuk's

00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.760
 prophecy

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:05.519
 the Babylonians

00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:06.019
 represent

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:07.179
 all people

00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:08.380
 who reject

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:08.820
 God

00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.599
 and follow

00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:10.440
 after their

00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:11.519
 own self.

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:11.940
 They follow

00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:12.559
 after their own

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:12.900
 heart,

00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:13.559
 after their own

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:13.840
 way.

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:14.300
 They do what

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.780
 they want

00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:15.639
 in opposition

00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.719
 to what God

00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:17.559
 has commanded.

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:19.340
 This section

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:19.840
 of verses

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.640
 is a literal

00:39:20.640 --> 00:39:21.620
 song.

00:39:22.140 --> 00:39:22.920
 Scholars refer

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:23.380
 to it

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.340
 as a taunt

00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:24.780
 song.

00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:26.180
 Now a taunt

00:39:26.180 --> 00:39:26.920
 song is a

00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:27.320
 judgment

00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:28.280
 that is

00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:29.160
 sung

00:39:29.160 --> 00:39:30.400
 by a

00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:30.860
 formerly

00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:31.400
 oppressed

00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:31.900
 people

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.920
 towards the

00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.600
 people that

00:39:33.600 --> 00:39:34.400
 oppressed

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:34.640
 them.

00:39:35.120 --> 00:39:35.500
 In this

00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:35.880
 case,

00:39:36.600 --> 00:39:37.019
 God's

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.400
 judgment

00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:38.559
 on Babylon

00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.600
 is delivered

00:39:39.600 --> 00:39:40.120
 as one of

00:39:40.120 --> 00:39:40.760
 these songs.

00:39:41.740 --> 00:39:42.420
 There's five

00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.120
 stanzas to

00:39:43.120 --> 00:39:43.559
 the song.

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.300
 Each

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:44.780
 stanza

00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:45.240
 consists

00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:46.280
 of three

00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:46.720
 verses

00:39:46.720 --> 00:39:47.660
 and each

00:39:47.660 --> 00:39:48.220
 stanza

00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:49.200
 pronounces

00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.679
 a

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.519
 woe

00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:51.239
 against

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:51.759
 Babylon.

00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.259
 It highlights

00:39:53.259 --> 00:39:53.839
 a specific

00:39:53.839 --> 00:39:54.379
 category

00:39:54.379 --> 00:39:54.899
 of their

00:39:54.899 --> 00:39:55.339
 sin

00:39:55.339 --> 00:39:55.960
 and then

00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:56.599
 it announces

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.079
 God's

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:57.460
 judgment

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.139
 against

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:58.419
 that

00:39:58.419 --> 00:39:58.919
 particular

00:39:58.919 --> 00:39:59.359
 sin.

00:39:59.619 --> 00:39:59.919
 Now we're

00:39:59.919 --> 00:40:00.179
 not going

00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:00.759
 to explore

00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:01.619
 all of

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:01.819
 this,

00:40:01.899 --> 00:40:02.119
 but let

00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.419
 me just

00:40:02.419 --> 00:40:02.719
 mention

00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:03.119
 the five

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:03.519
 stanzas

00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:03.779
 to you

00:40:03.779 --> 00:40:04.119
 for your

00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:04.299
 own

00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:04.659
 study.

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:05.939
 Verses

00:40:05.939 --> 00:40:06.179
 six

00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:06.359
 through

00:40:06.359 --> 00:40:06.699
 eight

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.460
 is the

00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:07.739
 first

00:40:07.739 --> 00:40:08.139
 stanza

00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:09.099
 and the

00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:09.359
 sin

00:40:09.359 --> 00:40:09.779
 that God

00:40:09.779 --> 00:40:10.319
 is judging

00:40:10.319 --> 00:40:11.239
 is greed.

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.359
 It's a

00:40:12.359 --> 00:40:12.679
 reference

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.799
 to piling

00:40:13.799 --> 00:40:14.519
 up wealth

00:40:14.519 --> 00:40:14.899
 through

00:40:14.899 --> 00:40:15.839
 extortion

00:40:15.839 --> 00:40:16.779
 and insatiable

00:40:16.779 --> 00:40:17.659
 appetite

00:40:17.659 --> 00:40:18.659
 for more.

00:40:19.199 --> 00:40:20.039
 Verses

00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.299
 nine

00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:20.480
 through

00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:20.859
 eleven

00:40:20.859 --> 00:40:21.659
 is

00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:22.500
 injustice,

00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:24.399
 covetousness.

00:40:24.879 --> 00:40:25.419
 One of the sins

00:40:25.419 --> 00:40:26.539
 listed in the

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.319
 Ten Commandments

00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:28.379
 is what's at the

00:40:28.379 --> 00:40:29.279
 heart of this

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:29.699
 particular

00:40:29.699 --> 00:40:30.179
 stanza.

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:31.399
 Verses

00:40:31.399 --> 00:40:31.659
 twelve

00:40:31.659 --> 00:40:32.359
 through fourteen

00:40:32.359 --> 00:40:33.339
 is violence.

00:40:34.219 --> 00:40:34.519
 They were

00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:34.980
 ruthless

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.039
 and merciless

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.460
 in their

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:36.819
 greedy

00:40:36.819 --> 00:40:37.839
 pursuits.

00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:38.779
 Verses

00:40:38.779 --> 00:40:39.179
 fifteen

00:40:39.179 --> 00:40:39.859
 through seventeen

00:40:39.859 --> 00:40:40.879
 is immoral

00:40:40.879 --> 00:40:42.419
 self-indulgence.

00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:43.919
 This element

00:40:43.919 --> 00:40:44.379
 of judgment

00:40:44.379 --> 00:40:44.819
 involves

00:40:44.819 --> 00:40:45.460
 gross

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:46.639
 immorality.

00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:47.940
 Verses

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:48.420
 eighteen

00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:49.039
 through twenty

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:50.619
 is idolatry.

00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.059
 This went

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:52.800
 well beyond

00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.119
 for the

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:53.780
 Babylonians

00:40:53.780 --> 00:40:54.340
 the worship

00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:55.820
 of idols

00:40:55.820 --> 00:40:56.220
 and of

00:40:56.220 --> 00:40:56.880
 carved images.

00:40:57.820 --> 00:40:58.260
 They were

00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:59.099
 the headquarters

00:40:59.099 --> 00:40:59.619
 in that

00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:00.400
 day of

00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:02.059
 spiritism

00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:02.740
 and sorcery

00:41:02.740 --> 00:41:03.320
 and divination

00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:04.300
 and even

00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:05.099
 what would

00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:05.980
 modernly be

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:06.179
 called

00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:06.900
 astrology.

00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:07.760
 It was all

00:41:07.760 --> 00:41:08.059
 wicked

00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:08.679
 and pagan.

00:41:09.820 --> 00:41:10.500
 The song

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.260
 doesn't include

00:41:11.260 --> 00:41:12.059
 an exhaustive

00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:12.679
 list of

00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:13.199
 sins

00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:14.460
 but it's

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.079
 a summary

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:15.679
 in verse

00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:16.139
 five

00:41:16.139 --> 00:41:16.659
 that holds

00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.039
 us all

00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:17.440
 guilty.

00:41:18.819 --> 00:41:19.159
 The wicked

00:41:19.159 --> 00:41:19.639
 person

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:19.960
 that is

00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:20.259
 pictured

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:20.659
 by the

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.440
 Babylonians

00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.799
 is consumed

00:41:22.799 --> 00:41:24.299
 with self.

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:26.819
 They follow

00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:27.659
 their own

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.039
 way

00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:29.739
 which only

00:41:29.739 --> 00:41:30.299
 leads

00:41:30.299 --> 00:41:31.199
 to eternal

00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:31.619
 death.

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.619
 As Proverbs

00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:34.319
 tells us

00:41:34.319 --> 00:41:34.899
 Proverbs

00:41:34.899 --> 00:41:35.299
 sixteen

00:41:35.299 --> 00:41:35.599
 twenty

00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:36.039
 five

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:37.059
 there is a

00:41:37.059 --> 00:41:37.399
 way that

00:41:37.399 --> 00:41:37.980
 seems right

00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:38.440
 unto a

00:41:38.440 --> 00:41:38.779
 man

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.879
 but the

00:41:39.879 --> 00:41:40.619
 end thereof

00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:41.659
 are the

00:41:41.659 --> 00:41:42.059
 ways of

00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:42.480
 death.

00:41:43.279 --> 00:41:44.000
 The promise

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:44.519
 of God's

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:45.119
 message is

00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:45.619
 that all

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.199
 sin will

00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:46.940
 ultimately be

00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.399
 judged by

00:41:47.399 --> 00:41:47.839
 sin.

00:41:48.239 --> 00:41:48.679
 It's an

00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:48.980
 eternal

00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:50.099
 promise and

00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:50.440
 it will

00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:51.019
 result in

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.379
 a certain

00:41:51.379 --> 00:41:51.799
 judgment.

00:41:52.679 --> 00:41:52.899
 And we

00:41:52.899 --> 00:41:53.480
 must remember

00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:54.639
 then Paul's

00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:55.079
 writing in

00:41:55.079 --> 00:41:56.519
 Romans that

00:41:56.519 --> 00:41:57.039
 we are all

00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:57.379
 guilty.

00:41:58.379 --> 00:41:59.179
 We've all

00:41:59.179 --> 00:41:59.639
 sinned.

00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.359
 We all fall

00:42:01.359 --> 00:42:02.019
 underneath the

00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:03.139
 scope of

00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.819
 God's judgment

00:42:03.819 --> 00:42:05.199
 from the

00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:05.759
 greatest to

00:42:05.759 --> 00:42:06.239
 the least

00:42:06.239 --> 00:42:07.259
 from the

00:42:07.259 --> 00:42:07.739
 oldest to

00:42:07.739 --> 00:42:08.239
 the youngest.

00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:09.440
 We are all

00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:09.779
 guilty.

00:42:11.259 --> 00:42:11.679
 So we see

00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:12.119
 the one who

00:42:12.119 --> 00:42:12.779
 follows self

00:42:12.779 --> 00:42:14.000
 but fortunately

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.739
 we finish

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:15.839
 with the

00:42:15.839 --> 00:42:16.279
 one who

00:42:16.279 --> 00:42:16.799
 follows

00:42:16.799 --> 00:42:17.880
 faith.

00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:20.380
 Look again

00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:20.719
 at verse

00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:21.079
 four.

00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:22.880
 Behold

00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:23.219
 his soul

00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:23.519
 which is

00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:23.940
 lifted up

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:24.239
 is not

00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:24.699
 upright in

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:25.799
 him but

00:42:25.799 --> 00:42:26.559
 the just

00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.839
 shall live

00:42:27.839 --> 00:42:29.059
 by faith.

00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:31.199
 Verse

00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:31.859
 four is the

00:42:31.859 --> 00:42:32.480
 most important

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.079
 verse in the

00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:33.739
 entire book

00:42:33.739 --> 00:42:34.359
 of Habakkuk.

00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:35.920
 It's the

00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:36.400
 verse that

00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:37.139
 brings hope

00:42:37.139 --> 00:42:37.739
 to the

00:42:37.739 --> 00:42:38.219
 prophecy.

00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:39.420
 Without

00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:40.659
 it there

00:42:40.659 --> 00:42:41.179
 would be

00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:42.159
 no hope

00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:42.440
 at all.

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:42.699
 We would

00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.259
 be utterly

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.059
 hopeless as

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:44.480
 a people.

00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:45.859
 And so

00:42:45.859 --> 00:42:47.119
 significant is

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.779
 this part of

00:42:47.779 --> 00:42:48.299
 the prophecy

00:42:48.299 --> 00:42:48.799
 that it's

00:42:48.799 --> 00:42:49.759
 quoted three

00:42:49.759 --> 00:42:50.619
 different times

00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:51.139
 in the New

00:42:51.139 --> 00:42:52.019
 Testament in

00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:52.619
 regards to

00:42:52.619 --> 00:42:53.079
 salvation.

00:42:53.299 --> 00:42:53.799
 Let me give

00:42:53.799 --> 00:42:54.239
 you the three

00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:54.639
 times.

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.239
 First we see

00:42:56.239 --> 00:42:56.799
 it in Romans

00:42:56.799 --> 00:42:57.759
 chapter one

00:42:57.759 --> 00:42:58.519
 and the

00:42:58.519 --> 00:42:59.199
 context of

00:42:59.199 --> 00:42:59.559
 its use

00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:00.299
 there is

00:43:00.299 --> 00:43:01.099
 that salvation

00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:02.119
 comes by

00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:02.960
 faith alone.

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:03.879
 Salvation

00:43:03.880 --> 00:43:04.519
 comes by

00:43:04.519 --> 00:43:05.240
 faith alone.

00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:06.380
 Paul writes

00:43:06.380 --> 00:43:06.880
 I am not

00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:07.940
 ashamed of

00:43:07.940 --> 00:43:08.480
 the gospel

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.019
 of Jesus

00:43:09.019 --> 00:43:10.380
 Christ for

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:10.820
 it is the

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.480
 power of

00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:12.320
 God unto

00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:14.519
 salvation to

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:15.519
 everyone that

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:16.360
 believes.

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:17.760
 Not to

00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:18.420
 everyone who

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:18.940
 does their

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.380
 best and

00:43:19.380 --> 00:43:19.800
 tries their

00:43:19.800 --> 00:43:20.539
 hardest but

00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:21.260
 to everyone

00:43:21.260 --> 00:43:22.539
 who believes.

00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:23.980
 And then he

00:43:23.980 --> 00:43:25.059
 says for

00:43:25.059 --> 00:43:25.900
 therein is the

00:43:25.900 --> 00:43:26.660
 righteousness of

00:43:26.660 --> 00:43:27.340
 God revealed

00:43:27.340 --> 00:43:28.400
 from faith to

00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:29.740
 faith as it

00:43:29.740 --> 00:43:30.840
 is written the

00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:32.260
 just shall

00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.460
 live by

00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:34.000
 faith.

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:34.940
 Salvation

00:43:34.940 --> 00:43:36.059
 comes by

00:43:36.059 --> 00:43:36.920
 faith alone.

00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:37.659
 And as we

00:43:37.659 --> 00:43:38.360
 understand the

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.920
 New Testament

00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:39.280
 and the

00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:39.800
 New Covenant

00:43:39.800 --> 00:43:40.980
 that salvation

00:43:40.980 --> 00:43:41.860
 that faith

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.920
 is specifically

00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:43.760
 in the

00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:44.539
 finished work

00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:45.360
 of Jesus

00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:46.059
 Christ on

00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:46.460
 the cross

00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:47.220
 and in his

00:43:47.220 --> 00:43:47.740
 resurrection

00:43:47.740 --> 00:43:48.639
 and making

00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:49.579
 him our

00:43:49.579 --> 00:43:50.000
 Lord.

00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:51.780
 Then we see

00:43:51.780 --> 00:43:52.500
 it in Galatians

00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.320
 chapter three.

00:43:53.780 --> 00:43:54.539
 The context

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:55.099
 here is that

00:43:55.099 --> 00:43:55.840
 works cannot

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.820
 save us and

00:43:56.820 --> 00:43:57.539
 that Christ

00:43:57.539 --> 00:43:58.420
 has paid the

00:43:58.420 --> 00:43:59.059
 penalty for

00:43:59.059 --> 00:43:59.679
 our sin.

00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.639
 He has taken

00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:01.420
 our death.

00:44:02.139 --> 00:44:02.639
 Galatians

00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:03.260
 chapter three

00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:03.580
 in verse

00:44:03.580 --> 00:44:03.860
 ten.

00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:04.580
 For all

00:44:04.580 --> 00:44:05.200
 who rely

00:44:05.200 --> 00:44:05.900
 on works

00:44:05.900 --> 00:44:06.480
 of the

00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:07.200
 law are

00:44:07.200 --> 00:44:07.780
 under a

00:44:07.780 --> 00:44:08.180
 curse.

00:44:08.740 --> 00:44:09.260
 For it is

00:44:09.260 --> 00:44:09.600
 written,

00:44:10.180 --> 00:44:10.760
 cursed be

00:44:10.760 --> 00:44:11.720
 everyone who

00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:12.280
 does not

00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:12.880
 abide by

00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:13.300
 all the

00:44:13.300 --> 00:44:13.780
 things written

00:44:13.780 --> 00:44:14.100
 in the

00:44:14.100 --> 00:44:14.360
 book of

00:44:14.360 --> 00:44:14.700
 the law

00:44:14.700 --> 00:44:15.180
 and do

00:44:15.180 --> 00:44:15.520
 them.

00:44:16.180 --> 00:44:16.860
 Now it

00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:17.320
 is evident,

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.020
 Paul says,

00:44:18.100 --> 00:44:18.860
 that no one

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:19.620
 is justified

00:44:19.620 --> 00:44:20.660
 before God

00:44:20.660 --> 00:44:21.460
 by the

00:44:21.460 --> 00:44:21.860
 law.

00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:23.440
 For the

00:44:23.440 --> 00:44:23.920
 righteous

00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:25.320
 shall live

00:44:25.320 --> 00:44:26.540
 by faith.

00:44:27.160 --> 00:44:27.780
 But the

00:44:27.780 --> 00:44:28.440
 law is not

00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:29.040
 of faith.

00:44:29.640 --> 00:44:30.020
 Rather,

00:44:30.120 --> 00:44:30.520
 the one

00:44:30.520 --> 00:44:30.980
 who does

00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:31.500
 them shall

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:31.980
 live by

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:32.220
 them.

00:44:32.219 --> 00:44:33.419
 Christ

00:44:33.419 --> 00:44:33.980
 redeemed

00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:34.259
 us,

00:44:34.319 --> 00:44:34.939
 Paul says,

00:44:34.939 --> 00:44:35.679
 from the

00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:36.599
 curse of

00:44:36.599 --> 00:44:37.199
 the law

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:38.319
 by becoming

00:44:38.319 --> 00:44:39.139
 a curse

00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:40.739
 for us.

00:44:41.379 --> 00:44:41.879
 For it

00:44:41.879 --> 00:44:42.399
 is written,

00:44:42.619 --> 00:44:43.379
 cursed is

00:44:43.379 --> 00:44:43.980
 everyone who

00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:44.459
 is hanged

00:44:44.459 --> 00:44:45.000
 on a tree,

00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:45.899
 so that in

00:44:45.899 --> 00:44:46.759
 Christ Jesus,

00:44:47.139 --> 00:44:47.939
 the blessing

00:44:47.939 --> 00:44:48.980
 of Abraham

00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:50.039
 might come

00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:50.419
 to the

00:44:50.419 --> 00:44:51.039
 Gentiles,

00:44:51.139 --> 00:44:52.079
 so that we

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.980
 might receive

00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:53.599
 the promised

00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:55.259
 spirit through

00:44:55.259 --> 00:44:56.359
 faith.

00:44:56.360 --> 00:44:57.800
 Christ became

00:44:57.800 --> 00:44:58.400
 a curse

00:44:58.400 --> 00:44:59.039
 on our

00:44:59.039 --> 00:44:59.559
 behalf.

00:44:59.860 --> 00:45:00.079
 And he

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:00.340
 says,

00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:00.720
 if you

00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:01.240
 will just

00:45:01.240 --> 00:45:02.420
 trust me,

00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:03.640
 that salvation

00:45:03.640 --> 00:45:04.360
 that awaits

00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:04.860
 in Revelation

00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:06.500
 21 will

00:45:06.500 --> 00:45:08.200
 be yours.

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:09.539
 Just believe

00:45:09.539 --> 00:45:10.099
 me.

00:45:10.720 --> 00:45:11.420
 You can do

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:12.019
 nothing on

00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:12.640
 your own.

00:45:13.519 --> 00:45:13.980
 Surrender

00:45:13.980 --> 00:45:14.620
 all of your

00:45:14.620 --> 00:45:15.519
 works and

00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.700
 trust in

00:45:16.700 --> 00:45:17.400
 me.

00:45:17.800 --> 00:45:18.160
 Follow

00:45:18.160 --> 00:45:18.980
 me.

00:45:19.340 --> 00:45:20.079
 Let me be

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.860
 your Lord.

00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:22.480
 The third

00:45:22.480 --> 00:45:23.140
 place is in

00:45:23.139 --> 00:45:23.879
 Hebrews 10

00:45:23.879 --> 00:45:25.019
 in the

00:45:25.019 --> 00:45:25.859
 context here

00:45:25.859 --> 00:45:27.179
 is that those

00:45:27.179 --> 00:45:27.739
 with true

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:28.420
 faith will

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:29.299
 continue in

00:45:29.299 --> 00:45:30.579
 faith and

00:45:30.579 --> 00:45:31.279
 in righteousness.

00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:31.799
 They will

00:45:31.799 --> 00:45:32.279
 not fall

00:45:32.279 --> 00:45:32.619
 away.

00:45:34.059 --> 00:45:35.019
 Verse 35,

00:45:36.139 --> 00:45:36.659
 cast not

00:45:36.659 --> 00:45:37.179
 away therefore

00:45:37.179 --> 00:45:38.019
 your confidence

00:45:38.019 --> 00:45:39.259
 which hath

00:45:39.259 --> 00:45:40.119
 great recompense

00:45:40.119 --> 00:45:40.799
 of reward for

00:45:40.799 --> 00:45:41.460
 ye have need

00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:42.219
 of patience

00:45:42.219 --> 00:45:43.319
 that after

00:45:43.319 --> 00:45:43.779
 you have

00:45:43.779 --> 00:45:44.279
 done the

00:45:44.279 --> 00:45:44.599
 will of

00:45:44.599 --> 00:45:45.000
 God you

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:45.619
 might receive

00:45:45.619 --> 00:45:46.279
 the promise.

00:45:47.319 --> 00:45:47.659
 And then the

00:45:47.659 --> 00:45:48.339
 writer says,

00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:49.079
 for yet a

00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:49.719
 little while

00:45:49.719 --> 00:45:51.259
 and he that

00:45:51.259 --> 00:45:51.879
 shall come

00:45:51.879 --> 00:45:52.519
 will come

00:45:52.519 --> 00:45:52.859
 and will

00:45:52.860 --> 00:45:53.519
 not tarry.

00:45:54.160 --> 00:45:54.700
 That's a

00:45:54.700 --> 00:45:55.079
 quote of

00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:55.519
 verse number

00:45:55.519 --> 00:45:56.599
 three.

00:45:57.519 --> 00:45:57.900
 And then

00:45:57.900 --> 00:45:58.280
 comes the

00:45:58.280 --> 00:45:58.880
 quote of

00:45:58.880 --> 00:45:59.380
 verse four.

00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:00.380
 Now the

00:46:00.380 --> 00:46:01.700
 just shall

00:46:01.700 --> 00:46:02.880
 live by

00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:03.200
 faith.

00:46:03.260 --> 00:46:03.720
 That is the

00:46:03.720 --> 00:46:04.400
 just will

00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:06.160
 continue to

00:46:06.160 --> 00:46:07.579
 live by

00:46:07.579 --> 00:46:08.200
 faith and

00:46:08.200 --> 00:46:09.019
 that faith

00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:10.099
 will result

00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:10.680
 in a

00:46:10.680 --> 00:46:11.059
 righteous

00:46:11.059 --> 00:46:12.200
 behavior.

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:12.760
 But if

00:46:12.760 --> 00:46:13.240
 any man

00:46:13.240 --> 00:46:14.079
 draw back,

00:46:14.260 --> 00:46:14.620
 the writer

00:46:14.620 --> 00:46:15.160
 says,

00:46:15.800 --> 00:46:16.400
 my soul

00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:16.800
 shall have

00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:17.300
 no pleasure

00:46:17.300 --> 00:46:17.780
 in him.

00:46:18.700 --> 00:46:19.019
 But we

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:19.519
 are not of

00:46:19.519 --> 00:46:19.880
 them who

00:46:19.880 --> 00:46:20.480
 draw back

00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:20.700
 unto

00:46:20.700 --> 00:46:21.200
 perdition,

00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:21.820
 but of

00:46:21.820 --> 00:46:22.280
 them that

00:46:22.280 --> 00:46:23.460
 believe to

00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:24.080
 the saving

00:46:24.080 --> 00:46:25.420
 of the

00:46:25.420 --> 00:46:25.900
 soul.

00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:27.060
 Just as

00:46:27.060 --> 00:46:28.000
 eternal judgment

00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:28.600
 will come

00:46:28.600 --> 00:46:29.160
 on those

00:46:29.160 --> 00:46:30.019
 that continue

00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:30.620
 in sin

00:46:30.620 --> 00:46:31.560
 by rejecting

00:46:31.560 --> 00:46:32.060
 Christ,

00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:33.340
 so will

00:46:33.340 --> 00:46:34.200
 eternal life

00:46:34.200 --> 00:46:34.740
 come to

00:46:34.740 --> 00:46:35.380
 all of those

00:46:35.380 --> 00:46:35.920
 who live

00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:36.620
 by faith

00:46:36.620 --> 00:46:37.260
 in Jesus

00:46:37.260 --> 00:46:37.860
 Christ.

00:46:38.360 --> 00:46:39.220
 The promise

00:46:39.220 --> 00:46:40.019
 of salvation

00:46:40.019 --> 00:46:41.180
 is absolutely

00:46:41.180 --> 00:46:41.880
 certain,

00:46:42.060 --> 00:46:42.800
 but it only

00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:43.519
 applies to

00:46:43.519 --> 00:46:43.960
 those who

00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:45.019
 trust in

00:46:45.019 --> 00:46:46.340
 Christ alone

00:46:46.340 --> 00:46:47.360
 for it.

00:46:47.860 --> 00:46:48.500
 As James

00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:49.180
 Boyce said,

00:46:49.179 --> 00:46:49.940
 the foundation

00:46:49.940 --> 00:46:50.379
 of our

00:46:50.379 --> 00:46:50.719
 Christian

00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:51.579
 life is

00:46:51.579 --> 00:46:52.079
 not what

00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:52.480
 we can

00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:52.940
 do for

00:46:52.940 --> 00:46:53.379
 God,

00:46:53.460 --> 00:46:54.059
 but what

00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:54.699
 God has

00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:55.519
 done for

00:46:55.519 --> 00:46:55.899
 us.

00:46:56.399 --> 00:46:56.719
 Therefore,

00:46:56.919 --> 00:46:57.559
 the entrance

00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:58.239
 into that

00:46:58.239 --> 00:46:59.039
 life is

00:46:59.039 --> 00:46:59.679
 not by

00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:00.119
 working,

00:47:00.519 --> 00:47:01.319
 but by

00:47:01.319 --> 00:47:02.460
 receiving.

00:47:02.919 --> 00:47:03.440
 Receiving

00:47:03.440 --> 00:47:03.839
 what?

00:47:04.039 --> 00:47:04.839
 The free

00:47:04.839 --> 00:47:05.359
 gift of

00:47:05.359 --> 00:47:06.039
 salvation

00:47:06.039 --> 00:47:06.799
 that Christ

00:47:06.799 --> 00:47:07.359
 offers,

00:47:07.480 --> 00:47:07.839
 if you

00:47:07.839 --> 00:47:08.099
 will,

00:47:08.239 --> 00:47:09.359
 but believe

00:47:09.359 --> 00:47:09.940
 in

00:47:09.940 --> 00:47:10.719
 him.

00:47:11.399 --> 00:47:11.899
 According

00:47:11.899 --> 00:47:12.699
 to Habakkuk's

00:47:12.699 --> 00:47:13.159
 prophecy,

00:47:13.739 --> 00:47:14.460
 if salvation

00:47:14.460 --> 00:47:15.239
 comes as a

00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:15.819
 result of our

00:47:15.819 --> 00:47:16.159
 goodness,

00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:16.839
 we would

00:47:16.839 --> 00:47:17.339
 all be

00:47:17.339 --> 00:47:17.699
 doomed,

00:47:18.059 --> 00:47:19.079
 but praise

00:47:19.079 --> 00:47:20.339
 be to

00:47:20.339 --> 00:47:20.980
 God that

00:47:20.980 --> 00:47:21.940
 salvation is

00:47:21.940 --> 00:47:22.339
 not of

00:47:22.339 --> 00:47:22.719
 works,

00:47:22.980 --> 00:47:24.019
 it is of

00:47:24.019 --> 00:47:24.579
 faith,

00:47:24.739 --> 00:47:25.299
 and it is

00:47:25.299 --> 00:47:26.279
 offered freely

00:47:26.279 --> 00:47:26.839
 by the

00:47:26.839 --> 00:47:28.179
 gracious hand

00:47:28.179 --> 00:47:28.759
 of our

00:47:28.759 --> 00:47:29.839
 loving and

00:47:29.839 --> 00:47:30.980
 merciful God.

00:47:32.039 --> 00:47:33.239
 We each

00:47:33.239 --> 00:47:34.179
 and everyone

00:47:34.179 --> 00:47:35.379
 belong to

00:47:35.379 --> 00:47:36.000
 one of these

00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:36.739
 two groups.

00:47:37.739 --> 00:47:38.239
 We are

00:47:38.239 --> 00:47:38.879
 either living

00:47:38.879 --> 00:47:39.779
 by faith in

00:47:39.779 --> 00:47:40.579
 Christ alone,

00:47:40.719 --> 00:47:41.299
 or we're

00:47:41.299 --> 00:47:41.679
 not.

00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:43.379
 Judgment

00:47:43.379 --> 00:47:43.799
 day is

00:47:43.799 --> 00:47:44.199
 coming,

00:47:44.839 --> 00:47:45.460
 and we

00:47:45.460 --> 00:47:46.019
 will all

00:47:46.019 --> 00:47:46.360
 give an

00:47:46.360 --> 00:47:47.019
 account of

00:47:47.019 --> 00:47:47.579
 our lives

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:48.220
 to God,

00:47:48.679 --> 00:47:49.340
 and in

00:47:49.340 --> 00:47:50.039
 that judgment

00:47:50.039 --> 00:47:51.220
 you will

00:47:51.220 --> 00:47:51.679
 not be

00:47:51.679 --> 00:47:52.099
 declared

00:47:52.099 --> 00:47:52.920
 righteous for

00:47:52.920 --> 00:47:53.820
 working hard

00:47:53.820 --> 00:47:54.840
 and doing

00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:55.559
 your best.

00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:57.360
 Only those

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.659
 who have

00:47:57.659 --> 00:47:58.639
 trusted Christ's

00:47:58.639 --> 00:47:59.500
 sacrifice for

00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:00.720
 sin and

00:48:00.720 --> 00:48:01.420
 followed him

00:48:01.420 --> 00:48:01.920
 as Lord

00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:02.280
 will be

00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:02.619
 declared

00:48:02.619 --> 00:48:03.000
 righteous.

00:48:04.099 --> 00:48:04.699
 And this

00:48:04.699 --> 00:48:05.380
 is ultimately

00:48:05.380 --> 00:48:06.500
 the message

00:48:06.500 --> 00:48:07.460
 of the book

00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:08.079
 of Habakkuk.

00:48:09.019 --> 00:48:10.159
 The promise

00:48:10.159 --> 00:48:10.720
 of judgment

00:48:10.720 --> 00:48:11.380
 is urgent,

00:48:12.099 --> 00:48:13.220
 and it is

00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:13.639
 certain.

00:48:13.639 --> 00:48:15.559
 The question

00:48:15.559 --> 00:48:16.000
 is,

00:48:16.539 --> 00:48:17.239
 to which

00:48:17.239 --> 00:48:17.619
 of these

00:48:17.619 --> 00:48:18.359
 two groups

00:48:18.359 --> 00:48:19.480
 do you

00:48:19.480 --> 00:48:19.900
 belong?

00:48:21.359 --> 00:48:22.039
 Will you

00:48:22.039 --> 00:48:22.679
 be judged,

00:48:23.299 --> 00:48:24.299
 or will

00:48:24.299 --> 00:48:24.859
 you stand

00:48:24.859 --> 00:48:25.420
 justified?

00:48:25.420 --> 00:48:25.559
 God.

00:48:26.280 --> 00:48:26.960
 Thank you for

00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:27.400
 listening to

00:48:27.400 --> 00:48:27.860
 this sermon

00:48:27.860 --> 00:48:28.440
 made available

00:48:28.440 --> 00:48:29.200
 by Lakeside

00:48:29.200 --> 00:48:29.860
 Bible Church.

00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:30.980
 Feel free to

00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.280
 share it

00:48:31.280 --> 00:48:31.720
 wherever you'd

00:48:31.720 --> 00:48:31.960
 like.

00:48:32.460 --> 00:48:32.980
 Please do

00:48:32.980 --> 00:48:33.440
 not charge

00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:34.019
 for it or

00:48:34.019 --> 00:48:34.720
 alter it in

00:48:34.720 --> 00:48:35.500
 any way without

00:48:35.500 --> 00:48:36.360
 express written

00:48:36.360 --> 00:48:37.139
 consent from

00:48:37.139 --> 00:48:37.880
 Lakeside Bible

00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:38.260
 Church.

00:48:38.760 --> 00:48:39.440
 Don't forget

00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:39.960
 to visit us

00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:40.619
 online at

00:48:40.619 --> 00:48:41.920
 lakesidebible.church

00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:43.099
 or find us on

00:48:43.099 --> 00:48:43.780
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00:48:43.780 --> 00:48:44.500
 Instagram by

00:48:44.500 --> 00:48:45.139
 searching for

00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:46.039
 Lakeside Bible

00:48:46.039 --> 00:48:46.579
 NC.

00:48:47.320 --> 00:48:48.019
 If you live in

00:48:48.019 --> 00:48:48.639
 the Charlotte or

00:48:48.639 --> 00:48:49.019
 Lake Norman

00:48:49.019 --> 00:48:49.880
 area, we'd love

00:48:49.880 --> 00:48:50.240
 for you to

00:48:50.240 --> 00:48:50.740
 attend one of

00:48:50.740 --> 00:48:51.139
 our worship

00:48:51.139 --> 00:48:51.659
 services.

00:48:52.079 --> 00:48:52.680
 We meet every

00:48:52.680 --> 00:48:53.280
 Sunday morning

00:48:53.280 --> 00:48:54.059
 at 10 a.m.

00:48:54.059 --> 00:48:55.039
 We'd love to

00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.400
 meet you.