* Habakuk was discouraged and took his cry to God.
* Notice how God responded:
* “Look among the nations! Observe!” (NASB)
* He was reminding Habakuk not to just look inward, but outward.
* Notice what was doing on around him.
* God told him to look around and notice what he saw.
* Do you know what happens when you do this?
* You will see God at work!
* When you are down look around!
* If you do this with an eye to see the Lord you will certainly find Him!
Habakuk 2:1 (12/31/15)
December 31, 2015 • Benham Brothers
• Habakuk had all these questions in his mind, so he poured out his heart to the Lord.
• Then he went right back to his post on the wall.
• He didn't abandon his position because of his lack of understanding.
• He knew the Israelites needed a watchman.
• Too many spiritual leaders have abandoned their posts as watchmen because they don't properly understand.
Habakkuk 2:2 (12/22/21)
December 23, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Habakkuk 2:2
* “Without vision people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
* Three types of vision:
* Personal - where you wanna go with your life.
* Professional - how you’re going to sustain your life.
* Prophetic - seeing what God is doing and how you fit into His plan.
* BACKSTORY:
* Most prophets represent God to the people.
* But they can also represent the people to God.
* This was Habakkuk - he brought his bewilderment over the coming Babylonian captivity to God.
* Chap 1 - he pours out his complain (vs 1:13).
* Vs 2:1 - Then Habakkuk LISTENED!
* This is important after you’ve voiced your complaint.
* Vs 2:2a - “Record the vision …” - A dream written down is a goal, a goal broken down is a plan.
* “When we measure things it aligns are Attention with our INtention.” -Eric Beck
* We align our behavior with what we truly desire.
* Vs 2:2b - “…make it plain” - The clearer the vision, the fewer the options, the easier the decision (Stanley).
* Vs 2:2c - “…that the one who reads it may RUN!”
* Habakkuk was to record the vision and give it to a herald who would “run” with it from town to town informing the people of what was coming.
* They would repent and get God’s mercy rather than wrath.
* How do we apply this?
* The Prophetic vision is the foundation for the personal and professional.
* Jesus is coming back, so keep the vision of your role in his Millennial kingdom at the front and center of your mind.
* Making your vision clear and understandable is key to it becoming a reality.
* It’s meant to help you RUN (don’t overcomplicate it).
* Tie your vision together with your mission using two key words - “SO THAT.”
* EX: I want to be ________________ SO THAT I can _________________ !
Habakkuk 2:6 (12/20/18)
December 20, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Habakuk was talking about people who were getting richer and richer by taking loans all the while God was going to destroy them.
* On that day their riches would amount to nothing.
* The KJV uses the word “clay” for silver and gold.
* They are just dirt - their only value is tied to what we give them.
* Riches without righteousness is like thick clay.
* If you need to run a marathon you wouldn’t want clay all over you.
* Focusing on increasing riches is weighing you down.
* Especially when doing it through debt.
* Money is God’s boundary for us.
* If you beg or borrow you move outside those boundaries.
* Testimony of 2008.
* God allows debt, but don’t use it solely to get rich.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (12/24/14)
December 24, 2014 • Benham Brothers
God does not exist to bless us - we exist to bless Him.
Humanistic Christianity has placed man at the center and God as a divine "blessing" machine.
Habakkuk says that whether or not God blesses him, he will still bless God!
God's blessings are simply by-products of who we are, just like I bless my kids.
We must love Him for Who He is regardless of how He chooses to bless us.
How? By remembering WHO we are and WHY we're here.
We were created for a battle - that's the reason we were put on this earth.
But the earth is fruitful, so if the devil can get us focusing on the beauty of the fruit then he doesn't have to worry about us fighting against him and his schemes.
We are here to fight a battle for the Lord, and along the way God will bless us.
But we can't focus on the blessing otherwise we cease to be any use in the kingdom.
* A blessing defined - something God gives to you for the benefit of others.
Our role in regard to blessings is to be a conduit, not a cul-de-sac.
God must remain at the center.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (1/2/14)
January 2, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Habakuk was a letter written as a dialogue between Habakuk and God
He was wrestling with God about His ways seeming unjust (using evil Babylon to punish Israel)
God replies to him, then Habakuk responds with a new confession of faith
"http://....yet I will exult in the Lord" - God loves this kind of heart
It's the same heart that Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednigo had - "even if God doesn't save us we won't bow down"
We must worship God for WHO He is and not WHAT He does for us
God rewards us with "new feet!" Like a deer running through the woods leaping over things that would trip us up
Try running through the woods as fast as you can - you'll break your ankle. But if you had the feet of a deer you would make it through and it will look effortless!
God won't always get us out of the situation but He will always get us through it - He will give us the feet to do it
