[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered on the 20th of July, 2014.]
Hear the words of our Lord as spoken through His prophet Habakkuk, from chapter 2 verses 1 through 4, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
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.
4 Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith."
Let us pray... God in heaven, come to us this morning as we watch for You, as we seek Your face in this sweet hour of prayer. Speak to our hearts the message You would have us hear. Show us the vision You would have us see, that it might guide us through the days ahead. In the holiest name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.--Habakkuk 2:1-4 (NKJV)
An older gentleman was strolling through the park one beautiful late summer afternoon when he came upon a young boy sitting on a bench very intently saying his ABC’s. The old man waited until the child was through then said, “I see you’re practicing your alphabet. Are you getting ready for school to start?” “No,” the boy replied, “I was praying. You see, I don’t know how to pray very well. So I just give God all the letters and He puts them into the right words."
I wonder if sometimes folks don’t pray because they think they don’t know how to pray very well. They don’t even take the time to give God all the letters, like that little boy. They don’t realize that God doesn’t care how they pray, just that they seek Him, that they open up and talk to Him.
Habakkuk understood the importance of going to the Lord in prayer. His book is effectively one long prayer. The first two chapters form a running conversation with God, with Habakkuk asking questions and God answering them. The third chapter is more of a monologue, with Habakkuk praising the Lord in a prayer to Him.
In these three short chapters he takes us from doubt and despair, as in chapter 1 verse 2 where he says…
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,--Habakkuk 1:2 (NKJV)
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
…to exultation and rejoicing, as in chapter 3 verse 18, when he prays…
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
--Habakkuk 3:18 (NKJV)
…if only we keep trusting the Lord and living by faith, as we heard in the last part of verse 4 of today’s scripture from chapter 2.
In those three verses, one from each chapter, Habakkuk goes from worrying to watching and waiting to worshiping! Instead of complaining, he is praising the Lord. He is setting an example we should try our best to follow.
Habakkuk looked at his and his people’s circumstances and felt perplexed. Sounds kind of like us, doesn’t it? But rather than fretting or shaking his fist at heaven or running around in circles like we are prone to do, Habakkuk waited for God and listened to what the Lord told him. He understood that any endeavor that does not begin with God ends in failure!
And the last part that God gave him - that the just shall live by faith - sent ripples throughout the world that are still felt today. That observation so impressed the Apostle Paul that he used it twice in his letters, once in Romans 1:17 and once in Galatians 3:11. The author of Hebrews also quoted what God told Habakkuk in Hebrews 10:38. As for those words reverberating through time, Paul’s treatment of Habakkuk’s vision impacted Martin Luther so strongly that it gave him the courage and conviction to press forward with his great reformation, of which our church is a product.
Habakkuk opens chapter 2 by promising to position himself atop the wall and stand his watch. Now in those days it was critical to their survival that the Israelis would watch for their enemies from vantage points on the walls surrounding their cities. So they would understand that Habakkuk considered his time alone in prayer, watching for the Lord, to be critically important to him.
He stands watch in prayer, every day, waiting to see what the Lord might say to him and how he himself would respond. Especially how he would respond to the Lord’s judgments and corrections. It was in prayer that he could not only talk to God, but that God would also speak to him.
Then when God answers in verse 2, the watching and waiting shifts into action. God gives Habakkuk a vision and tells him to write it down. Not only that, but to write it in such a clear manner that even someone running quickly by could easily read and understand what the vision contains. God wants others to be able to learn from what is recorded.
This concept of watching for the Lord and writing down what He shows us was important enough to God that He gave the same message to the prophet Isaiah. In his book, chapter 21 verse 6, Isaiah says…
6 For thus has the Lord said to me:--Isaiah 21:6 (NKJV)
“Go, set a watchman,
Let him declare what he sees.”
So why is a vision so important that we should not only watch out for it but also write it down? In Proverbs chapter 29, the first part of verse 18, our good teacher tells us that…
That was from the King James version. Switching back to my New American Standard Bible for a moment, we see that King Solomon first voices this warning in Proverbs 11, in the first part of verse 14, where he cautions that…
With no vision to guide them, people are left to meander through life, just existing day to day. The Israelis refused to accept the vision God gave Moses, the vision that Moses wrote down to share with God’s people, to guide them. And they ended up wandering aimlessly through the wilderness for 40 years.
So vision is important, but not just any vision – only the vision given to us by God.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, while we may be talking about Habakkuk and what God said to him and showed him, it all applies to each of us as well. We are to watch and wait for the Lord. We are to go to Him in prayer and listen for His response.
One aspect of watching is to look. Look at what is going on around us. The author of Hebrews tells us in his chapter 12 to look first to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” – that faith which we are to live by. And like the little cartoon in our bulletin shows us, if we do so, we can run the race without becoming weary or discouraged.
Take a good, hard look and see if you can spot what God is doing right now, in our society, in our world. And don’t think that God is not still moving in the world today. In answer to one of Habakkuk’s questions in chapter 1, God responds in verse 5 that we should…
Imagine that… God is doing such a great work in the world around us that if He told us about it, we wouldn’t even believe it! But that’s pretty much human nature, isn’t it? Do we really, deep down inside, believe that God is still doing an utterly astounding work in our world, right now, today? Or do we have doubts?
In verse 3 of today’s scripture, Habakkuk seems to contradict himself when he says that the vision may tarry but then ends the verse by saying it will not tarry. I don’t believe there is a contradiction at all, because I believe he is comparing our perception of events as measured in our timing verses God’s perception as measured in His perfect timing.
Perhaps the Apostle Peter can make this easier to understand. Let’s look at his second letter, at 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 9, again in the New American Standard Bible, where he explains…
In our sense of timing, we may think God is slow to act, but He isn’t slow in His timing. He is patient, and for a reason. Remember that Solomon warned that without vision, man will perish? Well, here Peter assures us that God doesn’t want us to perish. So the Lord gives us glimpses into His vision for us to guide us, that we might not perish.
This is all about vision: God’s vision for us, what He is trying to show us. One way to define vision is that it is God’s means of expanding on our perspective. This is how He shows us what He wants us to see, to grasp, to understand.
Habakkuk went to his spot on the wall, to his tower, to pray, to watch and to wait and then to respond. To clearly hear God, we need to get away from our routines, from our daily pressures, from all the distractions and busyness of the world. If we lack vision, maybe it’s because we never put ourselves in a position to hear God’s voice. We need a quiet place. We need to set aside the time to stand watch and listen. And we need the determination to carry through on all this.
Some of you have heard me share the vision God gave me for His church, of a church without walls, a church that goes freely into the community to worship and praise our Lord and lead others to salvation through His word, a church where everyone will know we are Christians by the way we live and act and love. That is the vision God gave me and I have it written down, somewhere, digitally if not on paper.
What about you? Has our gracious Lord given you a glimpse into His master plan?
I have a challenge for you… You’ve probably noticed a bunch of composition books throughout the sanctuary, even in the choir seats, at the organ, and in the audio/video booth. Some are wire-bound, some have tape binding. Most pews have three, the rest have two, except these right here up front where nobody but the acolytes dare venture. There are two styles and plenty of colors to choose from. If they all get gone on your pew, look on some of the unoccupied pews.
If you accept this challenge, take one of the composition books and use it to journal your prayer life. If you don’t have a regular prayer life, start one today. It only takes a few minutes a day, but if you want to spend a sweet hour in prayer, that will be perfectly acceptable. Take time, go into your quiet place (which may simply mean turning off the TV and sitting on the couch), and pray. And then spend time listening for God to answer, watching for Him to show you something. Once you’ve given Him that time, thank Him for listening and close your prayer.
Then open up your journal, write down the date and make note of the key points of your prayer. What did you thank God for? What did you ask Him for? And then write down anything He showed you. Record what He told you concerning you, your family, your community. Get it all on paper, plainly and simply so that anyone can read it and understand. He wants us to share our vision with others in a way they can grasp it and learn from it.
And once you’ve got it all on paper, pause again and pray through it, so that it will sink into your innermost being and become a part of you.
Will you accept this challenge? I’ll be happy to run out and get some more comp books if we need them. It will only take a few minutes each day, or each week if you choose to stand your watch weekly rather than daily.
But stand our watch we should. Only through watchful prayer can we discern where God is moving in the world, and where He wants us to move. Through prayer we can seek His wisdom. Through prayer we can ask Him questions, and He will answer. Through prayer we can receive His vision for us, and for our church.
Now, it may be that we will not hear God answer us, that He may not show us His vision in our prayer. But remember what He told Habakkuk: His vision is yet for an appointed time. Our time is not God’s time. He will answer our questions and He will show us His vision, but He will do so in His own good time, not necessarily right when we ask Him to.
So don’t give up if you don’t hear anything the first day, or the 20th day for that matter. Wait for it, wait for God; don’t try to force the issue. Just pray and wait. Keep the faith. For the just person lives by faith.
So take up your position upon the wall and stand your watch. Watch and wait for the Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father, we come to You in prayer, earnestly seeking Your vision for us as individuals, for our church family, for our role in Your greater community. Lord God, right this very minute we stand upon the wall, watching and waiting for You to speak. Look into our hearts, Lord, and see our commitment to standing watch. Appear to us now, Father, and show us the direction You would have us take. Show us how You would have us move as we work to expand Your kingdom. Come to us now, as we silently pray…
Father, thank You for speaking into our hearts. Thank You for showing us a glimpse of Your great plan. Help us, please, to follow as You lead. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.--Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
That was from the King James version. Switching back to my New American Standard Bible for a moment, we see that King Solomon first voices this warning in Proverbs 11, in the first part of verse 14, where he cautions that…
14 Where there is no guidance the people fall.--Proverbs 11:14a (NASB)
So vision is important, but not just any vision – only the vision given to us by God.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, while we may be talking about Habakkuk and what God said to him and showed him, it all applies to each of us as well. We are to watch and wait for the Lord. We are to go to Him in prayer and listen for His response.
One aspect of watching is to look. Look at what is going on around us. The author of Hebrews tells us in his chapter 12 to look first to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” – that faith which we are to live by. And like the little cartoon in our bulletin shows us, if we do so, we can run the race without becoming weary or discouraged.
Take a good, hard look and see if you can spot what God is doing right now, in our society, in our world. And don’t think that God is not still moving in the world today. In answer to one of Habakkuk’s questions in chapter 1, God responds in verse 5 that we should…
5 “Look among the nations and watch —--Habakkuk 1:5 (NKJV)
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you."
In verse 3 of today’s scripture, Habakkuk seems to contradict himself when he says that the vision may tarry but then ends the verse by saying it will not tarry. I don’t believe there is a contradiction at all, because I believe he is comparing our perception of events as measured in our timing verses God’s perception as measured in His perfect timing.
Perhaps the Apostle Peter can make this easier to understand. Let’s look at his second letter, at 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 9, again in the New American Standard Bible, where he explains…
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.--2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
This is all about vision: God’s vision for us, what He is trying to show us. One way to define vision is that it is God’s means of expanding on our perspective. This is how He shows us what He wants us to see, to grasp, to understand.
Habakkuk went to his spot on the wall, to his tower, to pray, to watch and to wait and then to respond. To clearly hear God, we need to get away from our routines, from our daily pressures, from all the distractions and busyness of the world. If we lack vision, maybe it’s because we never put ourselves in a position to hear God’s voice. We need a quiet place. We need to set aside the time to stand watch and listen. And we need the determination to carry through on all this.
Some of you have heard me share the vision God gave me for His church, of a church without walls, a church that goes freely into the community to worship and praise our Lord and lead others to salvation through His word, a church where everyone will know we are Christians by the way we live and act and love. That is the vision God gave me and I have it written down, somewhere, digitally if not on paper.
What about you? Has our gracious Lord given you a glimpse into His master plan?
I have a challenge for you… You’ve probably noticed a bunch of composition books throughout the sanctuary, even in the choir seats, at the organ, and in the audio/video booth. Some are wire-bound, some have tape binding. Most pews have three, the rest have two, except these right here up front where nobody but the acolytes dare venture. There are two styles and plenty of colors to choose from. If they all get gone on your pew, look on some of the unoccupied pews.
If you accept this challenge, take one of the composition books and use it to journal your prayer life. If you don’t have a regular prayer life, start one today. It only takes a few minutes a day, but if you want to spend a sweet hour in prayer, that will be perfectly acceptable. Take time, go into your quiet place (which may simply mean turning off the TV and sitting on the couch), and pray. And then spend time listening for God to answer, watching for Him to show you something. Once you’ve given Him that time, thank Him for listening and close your prayer.
Then open up your journal, write down the date and make note of the key points of your prayer. What did you thank God for? What did you ask Him for? And then write down anything He showed you. Record what He told you concerning you, your family, your community. Get it all on paper, plainly and simply so that anyone can read it and understand. He wants us to share our vision with others in a way they can grasp it and learn from it.
And once you’ve got it all on paper, pause again and pray through it, so that it will sink into your innermost being and become a part of you.
Will you accept this challenge? I’ll be happy to run out and get some more comp books if we need them. It will only take a few minutes each day, or each week if you choose to stand your watch weekly rather than daily.
But stand our watch we should. Only through watchful prayer can we discern where God is moving in the world, and where He wants us to move. Through prayer we can seek His wisdom. Through prayer we can ask Him questions, and He will answer. Through prayer we can receive His vision for us, and for our church.
Now, it may be that we will not hear God answer us, that He may not show us His vision in our prayer. But remember what He told Habakkuk: His vision is yet for an appointed time. Our time is not God’s time. He will answer our questions and He will show us His vision, but He will do so in His own good time, not necessarily right when we ask Him to.
So don’t give up if you don’t hear anything the first day, or the 20th day for that matter. Wait for it, wait for God; don’t try to force the issue. Just pray and wait. Keep the faith. For the just person lives by faith.
So take up your position upon the wall and stand your watch. Watch and wait for the Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father, we come to You in prayer, earnestly seeking Your vision for us as individuals, for our church family, for our role in Your greater community. Lord God, right this very minute we stand upon the wall, watching and waiting for You to speak. Look into our hearts, Lord, and see our commitment to standing watch. Appear to us now, Father, and show us the direction You would have us take. Show us how You would have us move as we work to expand Your kingdom. Come to us now, as we silently pray…
Father, thank You for speaking into our hearts. Thank You for showing us a glimpse of Your great plan. Help us, please, to follow as You lead. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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