Power Point - March 2, 2005

 

March 2, 2005

 

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. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 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.”

-Habakkuk 2:1-3

 

Yesterday, I talked to you about walking through the doorway of doubt. So, how do we move through and past the doorway of doubt and into faith? It’s the same thing that happened to Habakkuk for now we see the wisdom of waiting.

 

So, God answered Habakkuk’s question for why he wouldn’t do something about the evil infiltrating the land. God said He would send the Chaldeans and the Babylonians and use them like a rod of discipline on the people of Israel. He promised to do something…and it was going to start with His own people.

 

When Habakkuk heard that, he said, “Maybe I need to sit down and keep my mouth shut for a while.”

 

So, Habakkuk went to a watchtower, one of many planted all over Israel, and waited on God. If we are going to move from the doorway of doubt and into authentic and enduring faith, then it begins with waiting and listening to God. When you pray and God is silent, what are you to do? There is a key word in connecting with God—PATIENCE.

 

We were all born impatient, as humans, and when we come under this notion, it’s because we aren’t getting our way. God hasn’t provided this, or He hasn’t give an answer to that, or He’s taking too long, and before you know it we’ve become just like Habakkuk—impatient with God.

 

We can’t whip up faith like instant potatoes, or microwave some spiritual growth. So often, rather than waiting on God, we forge ahead and do something else…even if it’s wrong. And then we find ourselves in a bigger mess than when we started.

 

Have you made the discovery that God is never in a hurry? God is always on time! When some of us pray, if God doesn’t answer in the next 15 minutes, we’re ready to quit. And some people give aspirin more time to work than God. When you find yourself in a struggle with doubt or uncertainty, and you don’t have a clue as to what to think or do—wait on God.

 

TO WAIT ON GOD IS TO TRUST GOD!