He Will Deliver Us
Despair is an emotion that causes us to lose
our focus and trust in God. It is what happens when we allow ourselves to
consider the ways of the world as better than God’s. Despair is a familiar foe
to God’s followers. Jesus warned: pray and do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 1:8-10
– Paul overcame this deadly emotion by trusting in God. Habakkuk reveals
his vulnerability to despair (Hab. 1:2-4). Like Habakkuk, we struggle with problems. Pray persistently,
only to feel as if our pleas are rebuffed in silence. How can we handle that
– to keep us from dropping into despair?
A.
1:3-4 - Habakkuk
grew weary of the immorality around him.
1.
Christians can tire
of the rampant evil in today’s society.
2.
we often ask God:
a.
Why does God allow
evil to prosper when I don’t?
b.
Why does Satan
seem to be winning?
c.
Why God? I follow
your will…I keep my part of the covenant. Where’s your help?
B.
At times all we
have to rely on is our faith.
C.
God’s silence does
not mean that He has abandoned us!
A.
1:3-4 - Habakkuk
found a nation that was more concerned about self than others.
1.
Those ensnared in
despair trust in their own wisdom to explain the evil.
B.
Deut. 28:65 -
Israel had been warned that despair would be a consequence of sin.
C.
Too often the solutions
for today’s problems are sought in the wisdom of man.
a.
Jer. 10:23 - We
must look to God!
A.
1:2 – Habakkuk
had given up and thought evil had won.
B.
Heb. 10:35-39 - We
must never forget the abilities of God.
C.
Romans 8:31-39 - victory
comes through Jesus.
D.
Victory is ours
through Jesus – 2 Cor. 4:7-10.
A.
Habakkuk felt that
God was unwilling to act.
1.
Evil abounded
because of man’s wrong choices; not because God failed to act.
2.
Many people blame
God when things don’t go well. Job
9:17; Ps. 77:7-9
B.
James 1:13, 17 - God
is not the source of evil but good.
A.
Habakkuk saw
nothing but negativity.
1.
Nothing in Judah
was right; it was a lost cause. (1:4)
2.
Christians also
manifest the despair of Habakkuk.
a.
Our vision is
“short sighted”
b.
Even though we may
not see it right now, God is at work.
A.
1:2 - Habakkuk had
prayed and waited for God to do something to cleanse Judah.
1.
We often expect
God to work on our timetable instead of His.
a.
Like Habakkuk we
want answers to our prayers….NOW!!
B.
2 Peter 3:3-10 -
God does not work on our time; must trust Him to care for us.
A.
Habakkuk thought
nothing good could come of his people.
1.
Pro. 13:12 - His
blindness kept him from looking forward and seeing the possibilities.
B.
Heb. 6:19 -
Christians have an eternal hope that cannot be taken away.
1.
Remember, God sees
the end from the beginning.
A.
Despair will rob
you of your peace, health and most importantly your soul.
B.
How much do you
trust your God to care for you?