HABAKKUK Waiting On God
Series: Reasonable Faith in Unreasonable Times
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 10th June 2018
Passage: Habakkuk 2:1-4
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 waiting for food at a restaurant, waiting to cross at the lights.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 I've been living here in Chatswood for almost two months,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 and I'm sick of waiting in traffic,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 waiting for a husband or wife to get ready, no elbowing,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 waiting for kids to do anything.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 Waiting makes us impatient, makes us angry.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 We've been conditioned through fast food
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 and the instant gratification of the internet
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 to get what we want and get it now.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 And if we don't get it, well, we should complain.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 What do you mean I have to wait?
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 You know, don't you know who I am?
00:00:42 --> 00:00:47 I don't care that these three people paid before I ordered.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 I want my coffee right now.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 It's not just a personal shift, but it's also a cultural one too.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 We as a society have lost the ability to wait.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 You only have to go back a generation,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 and people would do things like send letters to each other
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 and then wait to get a letter.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 Does anybody remember that?
00:01:08 --> 00:01:09 I remember waiting for letters.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 It's a little bit less exciting, you know, checking the mail these days.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 It's just bills and packages.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 You would wait in line at the bank to get cash out,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 and you would listen to the radio or to the wireless
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 in the hopes of hearing your favorite song.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 I do remember back in the day having a cassette tape
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 and waiting to hear my favorite song,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 and then I'd hit record on it.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 Some young people would have no idea what that looks like.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 But what is the impact of our impatience
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 on our relationship with God?
00:01:41 --> 00:01:46 Do we expect that God should just jump at our prayers
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 and deliver what we want in 30 minutes or less,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 or we get a refund?
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 We don't want to endure a pain or hardship.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 We cry out, God, why am I suffering?
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 Why am I enduring loss?
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 Why have I lost this family member?
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 Why am I waiting to get a job?
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 Why don't I have children yet?
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 Why aren't you providing for me?
00:02:10 --> 00:02:15 Why are there still problems and struggles in my life?
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 I think one thing we can do is we can get caught up
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 just remembering part of who our God is.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 We remember that our God is loving and merciful,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 and we think that He should just obey our every command.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 And we can forget that our God is massive
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 and powerful and sovereign,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 and He works at His good pleasure.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 The truth is, waiting is hard.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 Waiting on God is one of the hardest parts of Christianity,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 and yet it's also one of the most important parts
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 of Christianity.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Today we're continuing our series,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 Reasonable Faith in Unreasonable Times,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 and we're looking at the book of Habakkuk.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 Last week we looked at chapter 1,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 and we saw that Habakkuk was crying out
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 because of all the injustice that he saw in Judah.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 Habakkuk cried out asking God,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 why aren't you doing anything?
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 And God replied, I am.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 I am going to bring justice.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 I'm going to bring the biggest superpower, Babylon,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 and they're going to judge Judah.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 And Habakkuk cried out,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:24 what?
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 How can you bring those evil people to judge Judah?
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 They're so much worse.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 And Habakkuk is trying to understand
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 how a good and pure God
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 could allow a sinful army
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 to come and attack God's people.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 And this is where we find Habakkuk today.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 He has cried out to God,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 God has answered him,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 and Habakkuk wasn't satisfied with that response,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 so Habakkuk's gone back with another question,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 and now we find him waiting on God.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 Waiting for God.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 It is such a strange phrase.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 Just wait for God.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 Have you ever had someone say to you,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 just wait for God, just wait?
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 Well, what does it mean for Habakkuk to wait for God?
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 And what does it mean for us
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 as we cry out and wait for God?
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 We need to come to our God in prayer for this,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 asking that he would teach our hearts,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 so I'm going to pray now.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:22 Heavenly Father,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 as we look at your word this evening
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 and we learn how to wait just like Habakkuk had to.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:33 Teach our hearts to have patience before you, Lord.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 Amen.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 So please have a look at me,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 with me at Habakkuk chapter one.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 It will be on the screen
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 as we look at these four short verses.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 from chapter two, verse one.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 I will stand at my watch
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 and station myself on the ramparts.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 I will look to see what he will say to me
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 Habakkuk has said his peace,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 he's questioned God,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 he has expressed his concern,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 and now he is going to wait.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 He takes his concern to God and he waits.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 And what does waiting look like?
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 Well, it's active.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 It's not passive.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 He's actively looking for God's response
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 and he's going to persist as he waits.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 And Habakkuk paints this picture
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 of waiting on God persistently
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 like a century in a watchtower.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 Imagine you've got a city,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 it's walled in,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 and you've got towers
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 where you can watch over where the enemy comes.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 That's what the ramparts are,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 the towers where the centuries would stand.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 And the job of the century
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 is to be on the lookout,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 be watching persistently.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 You have to stay there your whole shift.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 It's not a job you can say,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 I'm a little bit bored.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 Maybe I'll have a nap.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 Maybe I'll duck down to the castle cafe
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 for a skim milk latte.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 It's not that kind of job.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 If he takes his eyes off the target,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 even for a minute,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 he could miss seeing the approach of an enemy
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 and the defenses might not be ready in time.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 Being a century on a tower
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 requires immense persistence.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 This is what Habakkuk is doing.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 He is waiting and watching for God's answer
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 with persistence.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 Now Habakkuk wasn't really on the walls,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 but this verse creates the idea
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 that he was determined and persistent,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 waiting for God's response.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 And he has full confidence
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 that God would answer his prayer.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 He's just going to keep waiting
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 until God answers him.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 Not only is he watching for God,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 he is determined not to miss God's response
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 when it does come.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 And when God does speak,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 he's not going to be too busy with life.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 He's not going to be distracted doing other things.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 He's not like a person who asks God for something
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 and then forgets that they've asked,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 so that when God does provide or answer,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 they miss it.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 He is watching.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 He is persistent.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 His eyes are on God.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 His eyes are on the prize.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 Waiting can be passive,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 like you're just in a shop waiting for a coffee.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:19 But here, waiting on God is active.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 It's persistent waiting for God.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:28 So for us, waiting on God means to keep waiting.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 And so we shouldn't despair
00:07:31 --> 00:07:35 when God doesn't answer as quickly as we would like.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 It's an encouragement not to throw the towel in
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 when Christianity and our Christian walk
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 isn't as it should be.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 I think far too often we can rebel
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 against God's lack of response.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 Maybe it goes something like this.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 I've prayed to God
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 and God hasn't answered me as quickly as I like.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 And so I feel self-pity.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 Woe is me.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 God doesn't talk to me.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 And so I'm going to stop going to church
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 as much as I used to.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 Maybe I'll stop reading my Bible,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 stop praying to Him.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 Because what's the point of listening
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 and talking to God
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 if He's not going to talk to me?
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 And maybe I stop going to Bible study,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 community group.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 Maybe we distance ourself from God.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 But also from the way He's going to talk to us
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 through His Word and through people.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 Now imagine you're that sentry on the tower.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 You've been sitting on that watchtower
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 for your whole career,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 12 hours a day,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 every day of the week.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 And you've never seen anything.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 And so you finally think,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 I've had enough.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 That's it.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 I'm going to quit.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 I'm going to go down.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 And so you climb down the tower.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 You go and hide somewhere.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 It doesn't take too long.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 Eventually the military comes
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 and drags you out of whatever hole
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 you've been hiding in.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 And you get court-martialed,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 dragged before a judge,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 a military judge.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 And the judge says,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 why did you leave your post?
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 And you respond,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 well,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:06 I just didn't want to wait anymore.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 It was too hard to keep on waiting.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 Do you think the judge would be okay with that?
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 No, I don't think so either.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 For us,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 it's the same with God.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 We need to continue to be persistent.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 Waiting for God is active.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 And Habakkuk,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 he is persistent as he looks
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 and waits for God to answer.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 He is like that sentry in the watchtower.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 Waiting for God to respond,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 we must persist,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 even when it's hard.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 Now, we don't know how long it was
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 that Habakkuk was waiting,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 but we do know that God answered him.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 He did receive God's answer.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 Have a look at verse two.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 Then the Lord replied,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 write down the revelation
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 and make it plain on tablets
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 so that a herald may run with it.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 For the revelation awaits an appointed time.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 It speaks of the end
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and will not prove false.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 Though it linger,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 wait for it.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 It will certainly come
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 and will not delay.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 The Lord's answer is a special one.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 Habakkuk is to write it down.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 Habakkuk might not remember it.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 He might not remember everything,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 but everyone needs to know this message.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 It's an important one.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 So write it down on tablets.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 I can't help but think of the,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 you know,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 the movies with the Ten Commandments in it,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 these big stone tablets.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 It's that kind of idea.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Clay tablets.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 Write it down
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 so a herald could carry it
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and run out
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 so that you could leave it somewhere
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 and people could see it and read it.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 Now, our minds can do funny things
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 with messages
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 and God didn't want to leave Habakkuk
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 any room for error.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 He wanted this message
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 to be preserved with accuracy.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 So write it down.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 Write it down
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 because there was going to be
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 a period of waiting
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 for God
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 after this.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Verse 3,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:20 Habakkuk had to wait
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 for God to answer.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 And now that God has answered,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 God says,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 wait.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 I am bringing justice
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 and I am working,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 but you are going to have to wait.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 You must have patience.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 It is close,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 but it might seem far off
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 for humans,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 but it will come without delay.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 There's an emphasis here
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 on the different timings
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and there's a difference
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 in our perception.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 God perceives time
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 very differently to us.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 For God,
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 80 years goes in the blink of an eye,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 but for us,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 it is a lifetime.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 Habakkuk,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 just like us,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 wanted God to act
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 and to act immediately.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 But God is God
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 and his timings are his own.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 And so Habakkuk
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 had to wait with persistence
00:12:13 --> 00:12:17 and now he waits with patience.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 Are you patient?
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 Would the person sitting next to you
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 describe you as patient?
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 You've got 15 seconds.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 Ask them.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 No, no, no, don't, don't, don't.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 I'm just joking.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 Maybe you say,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 oh, look, patience,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 that's not my virtue.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 I've got other virtues.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 I'm not one of those patient people.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 I don't deal well with that.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 And you just laugh it off,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 maybe like you're doing right now.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:44 Patience is the opposite of pride.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 From Ecclesiastes 7,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 it says,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 the patient in spirit
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 is better than the proud in spirit.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 Patience comes from a place of humility,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:58 where we put someone else before ourself.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 I have a three-year-old daughter, Tamara,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 and patience can look like
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 putting her conversation
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 above what I need to say to her.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 And so she will go on and on
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 and talk about leaves and dolls,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 probably as Evie would know from Kids Church.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 And so patience with my daughter
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 looks like saying,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 what you have to say is valuable
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 and so I'm going to listen to you.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 Patience before God
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 is actively saying,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 God, you are sovereign
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 and things happen in your time
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 and not in my time.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 The book of James chapter 1 says,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 the testing of your faith
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 develops patience.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 Romans 5 says,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 suffering produces patience or perseverance.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 And patience and perseverance
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 develop character
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 and character hope.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 When trouble,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 dark times and suffering hit,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 they are an opportunity
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 to learn
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 patience.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 They're an opportunity
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 to learn
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 how to wait on God.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 Imagine you're going out,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 you're going on holidays.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Where would we like to go on holidays?
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Does anybody want to pick a place?
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 Somewhere you can drive to preferably.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Sorry?
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 Where are we going?
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 I'm thinking Queensland
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 because we're going to New Zealand.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 I'm not sure about driving to New Zealand
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 unless we've got some kind of
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 fancy new car.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 Queensland?
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 Queensland?
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 Has anybody driven to Queensland before?
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 Yes?
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 Okay.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 My family likes to go to Queensland.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Let's say you've got the car packed.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 If there's kids in your family,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 if you are those kids you are packed in,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 you are looking forward to
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 theme parks,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 sand and warm weather
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 and you're excited.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 The whole family is excited
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 about leaving cold,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 wet Sydney.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 Is anybody with me
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 desiring this right now?
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 Yes?
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 Okay.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 I've got you.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 Good.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 And you drive out
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 and you hit traffic.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 Not just a little bit of traffic.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 This is Chatswood
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 on a Friday afternoon
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 in the middle of a storm
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 with lanes blocked
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 on both sides
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of the Pacific Highway
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 type traffic.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 One of two things will happen.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 Firstly,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 maybe you feel yourself
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 starting to get
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 just a little bit cranky.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 It's like getting hot
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 under the car,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 just agitated.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 You start to seethe.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 This is taking too long.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 What turns out,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 what was just a minor inconvenience
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 all of a sudden
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 builds to four hours
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 in the car.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 You haven't even left
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 the suburb yet.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 You're snapping at the kids
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 or your partner in the car.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 Everyone needs to go
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 to the toilet
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 but nobody can.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 The people in the car
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 next to you
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 are there to blame
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 and you get angry
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 and even when you
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 finally get moving,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 you're so angry
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 that the whole holiday
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 is ruined.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 That's option one.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 Maybe you can imagine that.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 Option two,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 a little bit different.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 You get in traffic.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 Instead of getting angry,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 you acknowledge
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 that it's not
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 as it should be.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 And instead of getting angry,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 you wait patiently.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 You go through
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 every single game
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 in the car you know.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 And when you finally
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 get moving,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 the family's okay.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 Maybe just one or two
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 little cries out.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 That's it.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 But you've learnt patience
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 and you've grown.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 What do we do
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 when suffering
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 and bad things
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and troubles hit?
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 Do we thrash around?
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Do we get angry?
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 Do we blame everyone else,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 including God?
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 Or do we take
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 the God-given opportunity
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 to wait
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 and to learn patience?
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 When trouble hits,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 when real difficulties,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 when strife,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 when suffering happens,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 it can either
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 drive us
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 to God
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 to have a closer relationship,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 to pray
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 and talk more to God,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 or it can drive us
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 away from God.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 Let it not be the latter
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 for us,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 brothers and sisters.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:02 We come to the final verse
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 of this short passage
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 for us today.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 Verse 4.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 See,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 the enemy is puffed up.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 His desires
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 are not upright,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 but the righteous person
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 will live
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 by his faithfulness.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Here,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 God is comparing
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 two different types
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 of people.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 You've got the one
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 who is upright
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 before God
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and the one
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 who is an enemy aggressor
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 that is puffed up.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 I really like this term,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 puffed up.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 It's this picture
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 of someone
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 who is so full
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 of themselves.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 They're just inflated.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 They're like a balloon
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 filled up too far.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 These arrogant,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 puffed up people
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 are ready to burst
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 before God.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 They're swollen
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 with pride
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 and self-importance.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 On view here
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 is the Babylonian army.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 They are self-righteous.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 They are pursuing
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 every sinful act.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 They're seeking
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 their own ends
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 and it just leads
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 to pride
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 and arrogance.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 And it also leads
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 to death.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Verse 4 said,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 the righteous
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 will live,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 but the enemy
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 who is puffed up,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 well,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 the implication
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 is that it doesn't
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 lead to life.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 It leads to death.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 And so on view
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 is the Babylonian
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 army coming,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 but it's also
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 anyone who is puffed up
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 or arrogant
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 before God.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 God is holding
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 out his hand
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 to Judah
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 saying that
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 you can have life
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 even though
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 an enemy
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 is coming towards you.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 God will vindicate
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 his people.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Life comes
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 to those
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 who have faith.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 The righteous
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 don't think
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 of themselves
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 arrogantly,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 but instead
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 look to God.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 They've placed
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 their faith
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 in God.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 This is a faith
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 that strips us
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 of our arrogance
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 and leads us
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 bare and needy
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 to God.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 This is a,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 it's a picture
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of a contrast
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 between those
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 who think
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 they don't need
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 God
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 and those
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 who realize
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 they need
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 everything from God.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 You see,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 faith is humility.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 It is the person
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 who admits
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 that they need
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 God's help
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 and what he has
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 to offer
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and that they
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 can't do it
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 on their own.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 And the view
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 of faith here
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 is waiting
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 in humility.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 Waiting
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 on God
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 is faith.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 This is what
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 faith is,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 to take
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 someone else's
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 words,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 to take someone
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 at their word.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Faith is to take
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 someone else
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 at their word.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 Now,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 is anyone engaged
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 here?
00:19:40 --> 00:19:44 your daughter
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 got engaged
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 yesterday.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 Tom's engaged.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 I actually,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 I think you're
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 sitting in the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 same spot
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Rad's was
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 this morning.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 So,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Tom's engaged.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 Okay,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 let's use Tom
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 as an example.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 Is that all right,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 Tom?
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 Wonderful,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 thank you.
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 It's just a very
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 short illustration.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 So,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 okay.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 So,
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 Tom has made
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 a promise
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 to someone else.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 He's made a promise
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 that he is going
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 to wait
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 for marriage.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 When are you
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 getting married?
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 July.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 Very soon.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 Congratulations.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 He's made a promise
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 that he's going
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 to get married
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 to Rad's
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 in July.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 Now,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 while he has
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 made that promise,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 he is waiting
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 for that to come.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 While he's waiting,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 he doesn't go
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 and marry
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 someone else.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 Don't,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 don't go
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 and marry
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 someone else.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 You,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 he's made
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 these promises
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and so Rad's
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 can have
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 faith
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 in his
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 promise
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 that he
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 won't go
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and marry
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 someone else
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 and that
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 they'll get
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 married
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 in July.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Faith
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 in practice
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 looks like
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 waiting
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 and someone
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 waiting
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 means that
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 they have
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 faith.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 God has
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 made promises
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 to Habakkuk
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 that he
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 will come
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 and Habakkuk
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 is to respond
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 by waiting.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 Now,
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 the second part
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 of verse 4
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 may have
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 sounded familiar.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 The righteous
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 will live
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 by faith.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 The righteous
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 person will
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 live
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 by his
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 faithfulness.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 Now,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 this is
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 one of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 the most
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 important
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 verses
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 in the
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 New Testament.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 It's one
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 of Paul's
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 most important
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 phrases.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 He quotes
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 this in
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Galatians
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 and in
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 the book
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 of Romans.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 Let me
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 read from
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 Romans 1.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 It says,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 For
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 in the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 gospel
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 the
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 righteousness
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 of God
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 is revealed.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 A
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 righteousness
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 that is
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 by faith
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 from first
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 to last,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 just as
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 it is
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 written.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 The
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 righteous
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 will live
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 by faith.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 We
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 live
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 by faith.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 God
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 has made
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 promises
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 to us
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 and faith
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 is waiting
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 on those
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 promises.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Just a
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 couple of
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 God's
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 promises.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 God has
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 promised
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 that there
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 is only
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 life in
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 Jesus.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 God has
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 promised
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 that he
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 will raise
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 us from
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 the dead
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 and God
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 has promised
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that the
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 only way
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 to God
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 is through
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 Jesus.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 He's the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 only way
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 to God.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 So having
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 faith means
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 waiting on
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 these promises.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 We don't go
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 running somewhere
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 else to find
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 our satisfaction
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 in life.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 We can only
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 get that in
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 God.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 There's no
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 need to try
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 and extend
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 our life as
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 long as
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 possible or
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 even to fear
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 death.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 Because we
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 will have
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 life in
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 resurrection
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 and we
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 eagerly want
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 to wait
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 for our
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 life with
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 the Lord.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 That's what
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 waiting on
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 God's
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 promises
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 looks like.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 Faith
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 in God
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 characterized
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 by waiting.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 And we've
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 seen from
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 these four
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 verses that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 waiting is
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 not passive,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 it's active.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 It's a
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 waiting that
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 is persistent,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 it's patient,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 and it is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 done with
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 humility.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 As I've
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 been writing
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 and preparing
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 this, I
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 haven't been
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 able to help
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 but think of
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 pregnancy.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 Is anyone
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 pregnant here?
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 No, no, no,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 tell me later,
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 it's fine.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 What does a
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 pregnant woman
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 do as she
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 waits for
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 the baby?
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 You know,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 after the
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 first 12 or
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 so, maybe
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 after the
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 first trimester
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 of vomiting
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 and all those
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 kinds of
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 fun things,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 there's fun
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 things to do
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 like pick a
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 name.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Is it going
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 to be Harry
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 or Megan?
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 You have
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 to sort
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 out the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 baby's
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 room,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 what colour
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 is it
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 going to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 be?
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 There's so
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 many decisions.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 Do we find
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 out the
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 gender of
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 the baby?
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 What cot
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 do we get?
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 Do we get
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 a pram with
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 three wheels
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 or four
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 wheels?
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Who are
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 going to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 be the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 godparents?
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 We have
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 to go to
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 prenatal
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 classes to
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 figure out
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 how to
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 hold this
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 baby.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 And then
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 there's the
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 labour
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 itself.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 And from
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 what I've
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 seen,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 that can
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 be a long
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 active
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 waiting.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 Sometimes
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 people cry,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 get this
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 thing out
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 of me.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 But sometimes
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 it can take
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 a long
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 time.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 It's a
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 long wait.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 So for
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 us,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 our three
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 children have
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 made us
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 wait a
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 long time.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 Isaac was
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 five days
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 late.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 Tamara
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 was three
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 days late.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 And Micah,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 well, he was
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 having a great
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 time, so he
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 was seven
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 days late.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 So Alyssa
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 and I would
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 do all kinds
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 of things,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 like eat
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 chilli, go
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 for long
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 walks, bounce
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 on one of
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 those fit
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 balls to
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 try and
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 bring on
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 labour.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 None of
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 them worked.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 But waiting
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 for a baby
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 is an
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 active
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 exercise.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 It takes
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 patience and
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 persistence.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 And as a
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 father, plenty
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 of humility
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 because it's
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 not about the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 father at
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 all.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 The father's
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 job is to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 support someone
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 else.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 Can you
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 imagine if
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 someone found
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 out that they
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 were pregnant
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 and they
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 just decided,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 I'm going to
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 wait for this
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 baby.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 And then they
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 just, you
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 know, put
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 their feet
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 up and they
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 didn't do
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 anything for,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 I don't
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 know, 35
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 weeks.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 People would
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 ask, you
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 know, what
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 clothes is this
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 baby going to
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 wear when it
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 comes out?
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 Oh, I don't
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 know.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 What are you
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 going to
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 name it?
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 We'll figure
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 it out later.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 Waiting on
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 God does not
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 mean that we
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 just sit back
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 and do nothing
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 until he jumps
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 out and speaks
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 to us.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 Waiting on
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 God is an
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 active exercise.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 Waiting on
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 God looks like
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 persistence.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 It looks like
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 patience and
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 it looks like
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 humility in
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 trusting God's
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 promises.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 We keep
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 waiting even
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 when it's
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 hard because
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 we have a
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 God who is
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 faithful.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 When times
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 are difficult
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 and when we
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 struggle, we
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 take the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 opportunity to
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 learn patience
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 because patience
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 is humility
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 with God.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 And when we
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 wait on God,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 we grow in
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 our faith in
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 him.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 Let me pray.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:45 Heavenly Father,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 we thank you
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 so much for
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 the opportunity
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 and challenge
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 it is to be
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 reminded to
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 wait on you.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 Thank you for
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 Habakkuk's
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 encouragement.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Help us to be
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 persistent like
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 him, to watch
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 you like a
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 century in a
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 tower.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Help us to be
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 patient as we
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 wait, as we
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 put your timing
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 before our
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 own timing.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 And Lord, we
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 ask that we
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 would remember
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 your promises
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 and we would
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 keep our eyes
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 fixed on those
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 as we wait
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 for the return
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 of your Son.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 This we ask
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 in his name.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Amen.