THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

 

The Just Shall by Live Faith – Hab 2:4 – Sept 6, 2009

 

Intro:  Today I am echoing the words that have been proclaim through out Christian history.  Paul wrote about this phrase in Rom 1:17 and in his darkest hour of faith, this phrase became the cornerstone of Martin Luther’s life and work. 

 

Background

 

1.  Habakkuk lived during the latter days of Judah.  He was a contemporary of Ezekial,

     Nahum and Jeremiah.  He saw how the nation had gone from revival to ruin in one

    Generation.  This is what has happen to Canada, when prayer, the bible and worship of

    God was taken from the public realm our nation became corrupt.  Our sins are as

    Follows

 

      Murder of innocent children, redefining the family unit, rampant divorce, injustice,

     Moral indifference, idolatry, removing God from moral fabric of society, rampant

    Dishonesty, destruction of family and social ills.

 

a.  Habakkuk saw the wickedness of the land and he was alarmed.  He was concerned

     How quickly people can go from serving God to lukewarm ness and even turn away

     From God.  That is why the writer of Hebrews writes, “Don’t neglect such a great

     Salvation.”  Here are the signs to show you that you are going cold.

 

1.  Not reading your bible everyday.

2.  Not praying everyday.

3.  Not going to church whenever the opportunity comes.

4.  When God has not crossed your mind sometime during the day.

5.  Not sharing Jesus when the opportunity presents itself. 

6.  Who do you associate with?

7.  Shallowness in your relationships with God and others.

8.  Emptiness of life.

9.  Love for the world.

 

b.  Habakkuk looks at his world and sees that there is a failure to repent, so many things

     And God does not seem to intervene.  Evil enterprises, dishonesty, covetousness,

     Loose living, idolatry, crime &  bloodshed.  As a man of prayer and an intercessor this

    vexed his righteous soul. 

 

2.  God answers by saying the Babylonians were His instruments of vengeance.  But this

     Creates a second problem, Habakkuk as a sincere discerner of truth wants to know

     How can God who is pure let a nation such as Babylon attack Judah?  You ever asked

     The question, “God can you use them or let this happen?  There are things and

     Situations that are mind boggling and baffling. 

 

 

 

a.  God’s answer is our text, “The just shall live by faith.”  The child of God doesn’t

      Need to know everything but the righteous shall be preserved as they trust in Him. 

b.  Habakkuk found out that any sincere questioner will receive an answer.  You may not         

     always like the answer or understand it but God can be trusted and circumstances are

     subordinate to faith. 

b.  In verse one of Chapter two, Habakkuk sees himself as a watchman on the walls.  He

     Says, I will wait and see what answer God gives me. 

 

3.  God answer comes in these simple instructions.

 

a.  Write down what you hear and see  vs 2.

b.  Make it plain.  Vs 2

c.  Be ready to run and share it with others  vs 2.

d.  Know that God’s answer has an appointed time.  Vs 3

e.  It has an end point  vs 3.

f.  This answer will not prove false.  Vs 3

g.  It may take time but wait for it.  Vs 3

h.  It will come and it will not be delayed.  Vs 3

j.  The wicked are puffed up and not upright.  Vs 4

k. The righteous or just will live by faith.  Vs 4

 

4.  Habakkuk learns that God rises above all human doubt.  When all is gone, God is

     There.  Faith is the key.  It is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of

     Things not seen.  Heb 11:1, you have to believe God is exists and He the

     Rewarder of those that diligently seek him.  When faith is knocked off its feet

     It develops wing.  He also learn that when a vision or answer comes we must wait

     Until it comes.

 

a.  Habakkuk learns that Babylon will be God’s instrument but they will also be

     Destroyed.  Retribution and vengeance belongs to God.  Habakkuk learns that the

     righteous win so he is glad to find out these things.  A confidence in God is shown and

     God is Glorified.  God is ruling and the purposes of God will come.  God’s character,

     Goodness, love for His people, view of justice and righteousness are shown here.

c.  This lead to Habakkuk, a poet, musician and singer to close with a Psalm and prayer

     Of thanks. 

 

    

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR JUNE 4, 2026

 

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

 

The Kindness of Strangers – Book Of Ruth

 

Intro:  Today we are going to look at the lessons we can learn through the life and example of Ruth.  I will not spend a lot of time this morning on the survey, background or characters of this book.  You have the information in your hands today. 

 

1.  The first lesson we learn is out of tragedy good came come.  Naomi moved to       

     Moab, a foreign land and lost her connection with Israel, husband and two sons. 

    Yet God had a plan.  This is something we can hold to considering the events of this

     Past week.  Part of the process is remembering,

 

a.     That all things work together for good. 

b.     Knowing that God has everything under control.

c.      Choosing to trust God,

d.     Making the decision to rise above.

e.      Learn from what you are going through.

f.      Knowing this is not the end of the story. 

g.     It is choosing to be better not bitter.   

 

     Talk about the prayer meeting.

 

2.  Even in bitter times and circumstances God can use willing vessels to restore the

     Broken hearted.   Naomi was bitter.  When she came home she wanted to be called

     Mara.  She blamed God for her troubles. 

 

a. In Gal 6:1, Paul says it is the believer’s responsibility to be part of the restoration

     Process.  He says to his readers come in a spirit of meekness.  You come with love,

     Concern, a non judgmental attitude, a listening ear, and a desire to restore.  Paul

     Also warns his readers to be careful not to get caught up or succumb to others

     bitterness.

b.  In James 5:19, James tells his readers to restore someone in a fault..  Hurt and

      bitterness often lead to faults.  This intervention and restoration keeps people from

      multitudes of wrong decisions and sins.  Naomi was normal.  It is O.K. to be hurt but

      it is not O.K. to stay hurt.  Talk about Earl and Lisa.

 

3.  Ruth’s decision of faith had far reaching effects.  May I remind you that your

     Decision has the same potential.  Ruth helped restore Naomi, complete Boaz and

     Became an ancestor of Jesus Christ.  Decisions of faith can effect generations. 

     Read 4169 & 4182

    

a.  Ruth’s decision to say, “Where you go I will go, where you live I will live, Your

     People will be my people and your God will be my God had far reaching effects.

     This confession exalted her to a Royal Line.  Ruth 4:13-17 

 

 

 

 

b.  The apostle Paul’s decision, brought us half the New Testament, John Wesley’s

     Decision gave England a second chance and brought an end to slavery in the

     England because one of his converts, William Wilberforce refused to let slavery

     Continue.  Talk about the hired killer who came to Christ in a special meeting

     On his way to kill someone.

 

4   Ruth is an example of what a biblical woman should be.  Now I know, I am going

     To sound a bit old fashion but we really need more biblical women and men today.

 

a.  Ruth was godly, consistent, hard working, recognized by her good deeds, willing

     To accept the counsel of an older friend and showed true family love.

b.  Ruth’s godly living and faithfulness, led to greater influence and opportunities. 

 

5.  This book is a picture of what redemption is all about.  Boaz was Ruth’s and

      Naomi’s kinsman redeemer.  Someone who was willing to pay for freedom.

 

a.  Jesus is our redeemer.  Like Naomi we have been ripped apart by life.  Some of

    Us have blamed God for our troubles and have become bitter.  Jesus is here today

    To redeem and restore you.  The book of Ruth shows us that God has a universal

    Plan.  He used a Moabite woman to show his gracious purpose to save man. 

b.  Christ’s death, burial and resurrection was for the whole human race.  This book

     Is such as picture of redemption.  One willing to pay a price for the restoration

     Of another. 

THE NOBLEMAN

 

The Nobleman`s Son – John 4:46-54 Nov 4, 2012

 

               This event happened in Cana which was where Jesus turned the water into wine.  Jesus had returned from Judea and the people had heard about all the wonderful things He had been doing.  One man in particular heard about Jesus.  He was a member of the royal family.  His son was sick so when Jesus arrived in Galilee from Judea this official came to Jesus to heal his son.  Jesus told him to go back to Capernaum and he would find his son healed.  This act of faith made his son well.

 

1.       The nobleman was a father who believed that Jesus could make his son well.  He was a man who loved his son and would travel great distances for the boy.

2.      Jesus asked him, “Unless you see a miracle he would not believe.”  This man was a Jew and Jesus was revealing the nature of the Jews, which was they would not believe until they saw a sign or miracle and even then that was no guarantee of belief.

3.      This man’s faith was put to the test when Jesus asked him to go back to Capernaum and take Jesus at his word.  When he did his son was made whole.  Faith is always active and must be tested.

4.      Jesus met the need and there were immediate results.

5.      The man saw his need met and he believed.  Jesus will always meet us at our point of need.

6.      There is a role that we must play in this drama of faith, we have to willing to put our faith to the test and take the Lord at His word.

7.      This was the second miracle recorded in John that Jesus did. 

 

 

PATH OF LIFE

 

Rom 14:17 – The Path of Life – Jan 19, 2014

Intro:  There is a burning question in many hearts today.  What is the path of life?

 

      1.   The Materialist says, “It is the accumulation of wealth that is all important.”

      2.   The success person is about getting degrees, being a CEO, owning and operating

            a successful business.

3. The fame people are about image, success, money and popularity.
4. The religionist is about finding the right religion that will to improve your behavior.
5. The evolutionist tells you mankind will get better in a billion years.
6. The tech person will tell you it is through gadget and better technology
7. The eastern mystic tells you it comes through meditation and betterment of self.
8. Jesus tells you that it comes through Him.  John 14:6.  He also said that the road to destruction is wide and many follow it but the path to life is narrow and few find it.

 

Paul in our scripture this morning talks that benefits of finding this path has nothing to do with meat, drink, food, clothing, accumulation of possessions or even having family.  It is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

1.     Paul says the Kingdom of God is about righteousness peace and joy.  Righteous means, “The character and nature of God communicated to man through a judicial act of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ that causes the receiver to will and to do what is right.” 

2.     Peace is the absence of personal warfare and strife.  You are at peace with God and others.  You have that peace that passes all understanding and this peace it something the world cannot give or take away. 

3.     Joy is that deep seated contentment knowing that God has everything under control and all things will work out.  Rom 8:28, you are not moved by what happens around you.  You are moved by your belief and trust in God. 

 

The qualities of the Kingdom of God are inward and eternal.  They flow from allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in you fully.  They flow in and out of you to others.  God wants you to be a conduit of righteousness, peace and joy.  They will see God’s love which is basis for the Kingdom

 

     

 

QUOTES FOR JUNE 3, 2026

 

THE POWER OF CHOICE

 

The power of choice – 1 Tim 4:15-16 – July 29, 2012

 

Intro:  Paul was writing to a young pastor named Timothy.  He was reflecting on his life, ministry and experiences.  He took his role as spiritual father and mentor seriously.  He wrote this book around 63 A.D.

 

Vs 15.  Be diligent in these matters give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

 

1. A leader and believer must know how to conduct a worship service and lead people others into a deeper walk with God.  This is done by personal example.  You cannot lead people where you have not been yourself. 
2. Give yourself to learning how to deal with sensitive issues such as caring for widows, slavery, employer and employee relationships, leadership issues such as training elders and deacons, counseling and praying for the sick.
3. Give yourself to teaching, hospitality, dealing with doctrinal issues, administration, sacraments, spiritual gifts and lifestyle evangelism.
4. A leader must be a person of prayer, the word, godliness, be above reproach and live for God
5. Give these above things your whole attention.  So everyone can see your progress. 

 

Vs 16.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 

1. Watch your life and doctrine closely.  This way the work of the Lord will not be hindered.  It is our responsibility to keep close on our watch with God Persevere in them, stay focused.  Each one of us is responsible for our own inner world.  The real you is what you do when no one else is around.
2. The reason for this is now given.  Your will save yourself and your hearers.  When one chooses to follow the call of God and to do ministry it is a higher calling and responsibility.  It is never to be taken lightly.  You are called to walk the walk. 
3. Our Christianity is caught rather than taught.  Role modeling is the best method.