Habakkuk 1:1-11, Understanding Evil

Habakkuk 1:1-11

April 5, 2007

Intro: One day, before the rapture, there will be the last Preacher the

           final sermon.

A-   There will be that last service and final person saved; just before a voice as a trumpet is heard that says “Come up here”.

1-    Then, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye,  God’s judgment process will intensify as never before.

a-    Accumulating in the Great White Throne Judgment.

B-  It is generally believed that before this final sermon, there will be one last Great Revival.

1-    This is exactly what HAS HAPPENED in Habakkuk’s day and, I believe we are paralleling today.

a-    Habakkuk was one of the final prophets before the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon.

-         Although things did seem to get better as Assyria no longer existed (USSR).

-         Now moving into the created vacuum of power is the Babylonians (Al Queda).

·        The time is about 600 years before the birth of Christ.

Ø     Judah has just has a succession of ungodly leaders and, as a nation, their heart is very far from God’s.

A-   Then enters King Josiah and revival.

2 Chronicles 34:1-7, 18-19, 22-28, 31-33

2 Chronicles 36:5-7

                   1- PROBLEM: You can’t legislate morality or spirituality.

                             a- Under Josiah there was Revival.

                             b- BUT there was no Restoration of heart to God.

Malachi 4:4-6

Ø     The name Habakkuk = Wrestling.

A-   And what he is wrestling with is the combination of:

1-    The love of God, the Judgment of God

a-    God’s promises to Israel and their status as His people.

b-    How the world fits in and why does the world seem so blessed at times.

-         Really the Prophet Ponders; Lord as I look at the world and the events of the world WHERE ARE YOU IN ALL OF THIS???

Chapter 1 = The Prophet WONDERS and WRESTLES.

Chapter 2 = The Prophet WATCHES and WAITS.

Chapter 3 = The Prophet WORSHIPS and WITNESSES.

Read Verses 1-4

A-   The problem with the Prophet and even with us today is: We see the reality of the world today sometimes leaving faith out of the equation.

1-    It’s why we have the Book of Revelation so we know everything turns out OK for the believer.

a-    So look at a typical example on a typical Christians life.

-         He 1st picks up the paper and reads of the worlds deed of the day.

-         He then reads his e-mail and sees of the troubles, sickness, and problems of those even in the church.

-         He then picks up his bible and does his scripture reading for the day.

·        Then he struggles: HOW DOES ALL OF THIS FIT TOGETHER.

> Know these 4 things and you’ll have understanding:

#1- There are certain things in the life we JUST DON’T KNOW.

Proverbs 30:18-19, There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.

Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

                   1- There is no secret code to or in the bible.

#2- There are certain things that we will NOT KNOW.

          A- At least until we’re in heaven.

                   1- No man will know the day of the rapture, trib, 2nd

                       coming.

                   2- No man will know, in detail our Spiritual bodies.

                   3- No man knows who (specifically) will and will not be in

                       heaven.

Read Matthew 13:24-30 (tares & wheat)

                             a- I THINK you’ll be just as shocked as who IS IN

                                heaven as who IS NOT in heaven.

#3- Now there are also things we SHOULD KNOW.

          A- These things I have a responsibility to learn, things the

               scriptures tell me to NOT be ignorant of.

                   1- End time events.

                   2- Spiritual Gifts

                   3- Spiritual Warfare

                   4- My calling and election

#4- SO, Things we just don’t know,  Things we won’t know, 

      Things we should know, AND NOW THINGS WE DO KNOW.

          A- You need to know this because when:

                   1- The death in the family occurs,  The paycheck

                        decreases or goes away,  sickness comes,  or you

                        have children, OR the world seems to be going upside

                        down.

                             a- The deceiver will tell you otherwise BUT

(Say it together) Romans 8:28, ... we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Ø     So it’s very important that I (Christian)  need to be knowing of the place of suffering:

Romans 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

          A- “Consider” (reckon) = Charge to an account.

                   1- Paul has put the sufferings of the present day on one

                       side of the ledger.

                   2- AND he has placed the glory we will experience in

                       heaven for eternity on the other side of the ledger.

                             a- AND GUESS WHAT?  They don’t balance.

                                      - There is an infinite discrepancy with glory on

                                        the high side.

 Hebrews 2:10, For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain (pioneer)of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

                             b- THINK OF YOUR SUFFERING SITUATIONS

                                 THIS WAY:

                                       - The source of suffering = MAN

                                      - The giver of GLORY = GOD

John MacArthur: Our suffering is earthly,  our glory is heavenly.  Our suffering is short,  our glory is forever.  Out suffering is trivial, our glory is limitless.  Our suffering is in our mortal and corrupted bodies,  our glory will be in our perfected and imperishable bodies       

B- In order to see the beauty of the Christian life you have

     to enter in; BUT in order to see God’s purpose in

     suffering you have to GO THROUGH.

Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (The cemetary places)

Ø     Now God responds to Habakkuk.

Read Verses 1-11

A-   Now what God is specifically referring to here is His raising up of King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.

1-    But generally what we need to see and understand is ALL OF THE PAWNS (through out history) God has used “for the good” to see His will accomplished.

a-    Nazi Germany/Jews = The restoration of Nation Israel.

Habakkuk 1:5, “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

A-   What we are being told here is to “look among the nations” of history and “be astounded”.

1-    And really it’s HISTORY itself that we need to see and be amazed at.

Ø     I want to close with 4 little history lessons on history itself.

a-    Before I start: History = His story.

#1- History is under the control of God.

Read Verses 5-6

A-   Every nation is under the control of the hand of God.

1-    So as there is much evil in the world and many rouge nations KEEP IN MIND things are not always as they seem.

a-    God raised up Babylon, Rome, England, Germany, USSR, Al Queda, U.S.

-         All at His pleasure.

2-    So when it comes to History: God started it,   He controls it,  and one day He’ll end it.

#2- History follows the course of God’s divine plan.

A-   Noting happens by chance or accident, no nation comes to be, by mistake or surprise.

Proverbs 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

#3- History follows the course of God’s divine time table.

Habakkuk 1:5, …For I will work a work in your days …

Habakkuk 2:3, For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Isaiah 57:15, For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

#4- History is tied into God’s plan for His kingdom.

A-   All other kingdoms are only relevant in regards to Israel and the church.

Matthew 24:4-6, And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Read Verse 11

Daniel 4:27-33

A-   So one final thought:

Top 25 Most Evil People of the Millennium
according to a New York Post Poll conducted
from 9/30/99 to 11/1/99 among NYPost.com users

1-    Consider this where they are at now pails in comparison to where God is now and where you will be later.

Habakkuk 1:1-11

April 5, 2007

2 Chronicles 34:1-7, 18-19, 22-28, 31-33

2 Chronicles 36:5-7

Malachi 4:4-6

Proverbs 30:18-19

Deuteronomy 29:29

Romans 8:28

Romans 8:18

Hebrews 2:10

Psalm 23:4

Proverbs 21:1

Isaiah 57:15

Matthew 24:4-6

Daniel 4:27-33