Last week, we began a new series at church on Sunday mornings. Our pastor is taking us through the book of Habakkuk. Last week, our topic was "Why, God?" This week, we are asking, "How long, Lord?
The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Waiting."
You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
We don't like to wait. However, we find ourselves waiting at a lot of places: stop lights, on hold on phone calls, medical waiting rooms, car rider lines, grocery checkout lines, for package deliveries, at the DMV (can I get a witness?)
We probably consider waiting time as wasted time. I know I do. We think nothing good comes out of waiting. However, there is great value in waiting on God.
I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved.
Then the Lord answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That the one who reads it may run.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
“Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith. - Habakkuk 2:1-4
Our pastor says, "Hold onto your ticket stub. You will see the movie soon!" :)
Waiting on God
1. We learn patience when we wait.
No one really is naturally patient. It is something we must learn. There are two deliberate actions we must take to learn patience.
*We must be clothed in humility.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” - James 4:13-15
*We should desire patience because we grow when we are patient.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-4
Patience grows us up.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:3-5
Did you know that diamonds grow from coal that is placed under intense pressure?
2. We gain perspective when we wait.
I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved. - Habakkuk 2:1
What is a rampart? A rampart is a high tower. In ancient times, it was part of the city guard wall. It is a high vantage point which gives a better perspective of what is going on below.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:183. We shouldn't waste time when we wait.
Stand your watch.
Station yourself on the rampart.
In Biblical times, the one standing on the rampart was a Soldier. Waiting is not passive. Waiting is active obedience.
Keep serving God.
When you are waiting, don't stay away from church. When you are in the "waiting room," don't medicate your pain with the wrong things.
4. We show our love for God when we wait.
Do you love God for what He give you? For what He does for you? Or do you love God because He is God?
Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. - Luke 12:37It is worth the wait.
Don't quit.
Be faithful.
Keep waiting.
To study Habakkuk and all the other books of the Bible, you need a Bible. If you don't have one, this is one of the Bible's I recommend.
Read all posts in this Habakkuk study here.
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