Living By Faith
Series: Habakkuk
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 10th May 2020
Passage: Habakkuk 2:1-4
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 My name is James Barnett, and it is good to be with you today.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 This has been a season to learn patience.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:17 I'm not very patient, and many times I can look for quick fixes,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 particularly with language learning.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 Instead of trying to do the hard and consistent work,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 I'm always looking for a new quick fix,
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 a new app or a new solution to help me learn the language quicker.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:37 But in this season of COVID, it's shown the value of patience.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 But there are still people trying to find quick fixes,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 even encouraging people to inject themselves with disinfectant.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 We are only now starting to come out of severe isolation
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 because we, as a country, have had patience.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 We have valued other people more than ourselves by staying at home.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 And right now, we have showed the value of other people's lives
00:01:04 --> 00:01:09 by avoiding people, by staying at home, by not going to work,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:14 so that we can see lives saved and so that the country can reopen.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 Patience has been a great asset.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:24 And yet, it has also been a time of great impatience.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 For those with kids, impatient for school to return,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 impatient to hang out with friends,
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 impatient to have the freedom to drive wherever we like,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 impatient to go and hang out with a friend or to go to the pub,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 impatient to go to the beach.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:47 But this has also been a season where we can be impatient with God.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 God, where are you?
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 Why haven't you fixed this problem yet?
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 And the question for us today is,
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 does this season lead us closer to God
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 or is our impatience driving us away from Him?
00:02:04 --> 00:02:12 Today, we are continuing in our series looking at the Old Testament minor prophet Habakkuk
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 and his short book for us.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 Last week, we looked at the first chapter with Steve
00:02:18 --> 00:02:23 and we saw Habakkuk crying out because of the violence and injustice
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 that God's people were doing to each other.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 And God had some radical words for Habakkuk.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 I am going to send Babylon and they are going to bring violence
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 and injustice and oppression against Judah.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 And Habakkuk cried out in response,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 how could you do that?
00:02:43 --> 00:02:48 How can you use those evil people to judge your people, God?
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 They're even worse.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:55 And Habakkuk is trying to understand how a pure and holy God
00:02:55 --> 00:03:00 can allow a sinful people to come and attack God's people.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 And this is where we find Habakkuk today.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 He has cried out to God.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 God has answered him and Habakkuk was not satisfied.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 He has called out to God again.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 And now we see Habakkuk waiting for a response.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:24 And today we're going to see what patience actually looks like.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 We're going to see the value of gaining perspective
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 so that we can have patience.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:34 And we're going to see what Christ-centered patience looks like.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:39 So as we look at Habakkuk chapter 2, please pray with me.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness to us
00:03:43 --> 00:03:48 that in this time you continue to speak to us in your word.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 Help us be like Habakkuk today,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 to be patient and to wait for your words to us.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:55 Amen.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 Please have your Bibles open.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 Have the St. Paul's app open.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 There are notes in there that you can be following.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 We're in Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 1.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:22 Habakkuk has said his piece.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 He's expressed his concern about the coming Babylonian army.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 And now he is going to wait.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 He takes his concern to God and now he shows his patience.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:40 Habakkuk paints this picture of patience before God
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 like a century on a watchtower.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:47 Imagine you've got a walled city which has towers
00:04:47 --> 00:04:51 and you have centuries, the watchmen, on these towers.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 And they're watching out for attacks.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 They're watching out for visitors.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 And you have to stay there your whole shift.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:04 And if the watchman takes his eye off the area he's supposed to be looking at,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 he could miss an invading force.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 He could miss people.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 And they could not be prepared to defend the city.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 Being a century on a watchtower requires immense patience.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 And this is a choice.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:24 It is an act of the will to be patient.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:30 I think patience is mostly misunderstood in our time.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:36 We can speak about patience as being we're either patient or we're not patient.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 So we say things like,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 Ah, I'm not patient but my wife, she's incredibly patient.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:47 But I wonder if we talk about it like we talk about who we are.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 So, you know, I'm Australian.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:49 I'm redheaded.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 This is just how it is.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 This does not change.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:59 It was an attribute I was either born with or I was born without.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 Patience, we don't think of it as something we can gain necessarily.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 But patience is a choice.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 It is an act of the will that we have to choose to be patient.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 And what a day to be dwelling on patience.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 Today is Mother's Day.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 Happy Mother's Day to all you who are mothers.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 Those who have trained us in patience.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:32 They were trained in patience from the very beginning of pregnancy to wait for children.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:38 And then when they have children to require immense amounts of patience to raise their children.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 What a wonderful day to be dwelling on patience.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 And I think of my own children.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 My youngest son, his name is Micah.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 He is three.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And I need plenty of patience with him.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:56 He is at this wonderful age where he is learning how to dress himself.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 And he thinks he can do it.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 And so he'll say, you know, Dad, let me put my shoes on.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:10 And I can often respond, oh look, just let me.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 It'll be faster.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 I'll get them on the right feet most of the time.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:17 And I do do it faster.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:24 But in that moment, I am choosing my time over my son.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:28 Over Micah learning how to do this important skill to dress himself.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:35 I'm choosing what is more important to me, my time, which is just selfishness.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:43 Patience is an act of the will to say, Micah, you are so important to me, my little son.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 That, you know what, you put your shoes in.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 I will sit here and I will help you.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:55 And if it takes minutes, if it takes hours, that is more worthwhile than me being selfish.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 Patience is an act.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 It is not just who we are.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Habakkuk puts on patience.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 It is an act of the will.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 He wants to know God's answer right away.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 But he is putting God's timing before his own.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 This is what Habakkuk is doing.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 He's waiting.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 He is watching with persistence.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:24 He has full confidence that God is going to answer his prayer.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 It's just a matter of having patience and waiting on God.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 Let's not continue to say that we are either people who have patience or don't have patience.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:38 But let us be people who choose to put on patience.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:46 When we put on and do patience, then we will become people who are patient.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:52 Using our time to love others and love God waiting on him.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 Because patience is the opposite of pride.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 Ecclesiastes 7 says,
00:08:57 --> 00:09:01 The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 Patience comes from a place of humility.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:10 Where we put ourselves under someone else.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 Patience with God is actively saying,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 God, you are God.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 You are sovereign.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 And things happen in your time and not mine.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 So let me encourage you to ask yourself,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 how do you need to be patient today?
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 What area do you need to choose to put on patience?
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 Is it with your family?
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 Is it with your kids?
00:09:37 --> 00:09:41 Is it trying to get them out of the door when we were allowed to get out of the door?
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 Is it with co-workers?
00:09:43 --> 00:09:51 Is it being patient in this online frustrating world where we have Zoom meetings?
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 And we need to require on people.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:58 And we can't just ask them for things and everything takes longer.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 How do you need to be patient with God?
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 Is it to choose his timing over yours?
00:10:08 --> 00:10:12 We don't know how long Habakkuk was waiting for God to respond.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 But he did receive a response.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:19 Have a look again with me at Habakkuk chapter 2 from verse 2.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Then the Lord replied,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:28 Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 For the revelation awaits an appointed time.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 It speaks of the end and will not prove false.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 Though it linger, wait for it.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 It will certainly come and will not delay.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 The Lord responds and it's a special one.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 Habakkuk, get something to write it down.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 You might not remember it.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 You need to write it down.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:55 Write it down on a tablet so that it could be taken and someone could run with it.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 And it's durable and it's not going to break.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:05 Write it down because this will take some time for it to come about.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 Though it linger, wait for it.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 Habakkuk, you've waited for my response.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 But continue to wait.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 Continue to have patience.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Because God is working at his will.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 Verse 3.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 The revelation awaits an appointed time.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 It speaks of the end and will not prove false.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 Though it linger, wait for it.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 Wait for it.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 It will certainly come and will not delay.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 Habakkuk had to wait for an answer from God.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 And God has answered.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 And now God says, have patience.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 I am working.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 Continue to wait.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:52 And this emphasis on different timings reminds us of the gulf between our perspective of the world and God's perspective of the world.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:57 Habakkuk, just like us today, wants God to act immediately.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 Act right now.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 Fix this problem.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 But God is God and we are not.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 And his timings are his own.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:11 And having God's perspective is really key to learning patience.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:16 The metaphor of climbing that watchtower is actually quite helpful for us.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:21 Climbing up high so that we can survey the scene around us from all angles.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:29 When we don't have patience, in our situation, it's really easy to lose patience.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:34 When we don't have perspective, it can be easy to lose patience.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 I see my kids do this.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 Most days.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:44 It's like there's a dinner bell that goes off about half an hour before dinner.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:50 And they all of a sudden start coming into the kitchen looking for whatever scrap of food they can find.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:54 Diving their hand under the chopping knife as dinner's being prepared.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:59 Because as they say every day, half an hour before dinner, I am starving.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 There will never be any more food.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 I need food right now.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 I wonder if that's like you.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 I wonder if that's like your kids or you know someone that's like that.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:12 They are convinced that there will never be food again unless they eat right now.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:17 And they're not happy being told, dinner's half an hour away.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 Just go and wait.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:24 But to hear that perspective, something delicious is being prepared.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:30 Don't spoil your dinner by having chips or whatever it is.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 Don't spoil it.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 Don't ruin it now because something good is coming.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 They need to get that patience.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:40 They need to get that perspective so they can have patience.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:47 It takes hard work, just like climbing that watchtower would have been, to stop and get perspective.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 You know, I'll be hungry for half an hour.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 That's a long time for a child.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 I need to get that perspective so that I can grow in patience.
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 But it is incredibly rewarding when we do.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:07 How much more is there to gain when we have the perspective of God himself?
00:14:07 --> 00:14:13 God was working in Habakkuk's time even though Habakkuk couldn't yet see it.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:18 And when we do this, it is actively trusting in God.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:25 Because in this moment of impatience with God, the only thing that can sink us is sin.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Disbelieving that God is working.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 Because life is hard.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 But the only thing that destroys us is sin.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 And sin has been defeated by Jesus on the cross.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:44 We have a God who has been incredibly patient with us.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 And he has patiently guided us to this very moment.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:54 To see that although this world is passing away, God has something far better in store for us.
00:14:55 --> 00:15:00 Just like Jesus was raised, he promises that we too will be raised.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 And for us today, we might need to stop.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 We might need to go and climb that watchtower.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:09 Metaphorically, if not literally, go and climb a watchtower.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:15 To get perspective on what God is doing in our lives in this season.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 We need God's perspective on our lives in this season.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Steve talked about this last week.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:26 That the violence used here by the Babylonians against Judah.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 It spread God's people.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 And God used that years later.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 So that when Jesus died and rose.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:40 The people who had been following God were dispersed.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 And so when the message of Jesus' resurrection went out.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:47 There were people ready and primed to hear and to believe.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:52 There is no way that Habakkuk could have seen all of this.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 But trying to climb that watchtower.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Trying to gain God's perspective.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 Grows our trust in God.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:05 And that he is the one who has good plans for us.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:12 I'm sure that there have been many unintended benefits of this season of isolation.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 For me personally, I'm getting to know my neighbours.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:26 But another unintended benefit of this season has been that there are hundreds of people tuning in to our church's live stream through YouTube.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 This might be you yourself.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 You might be joining us as a church for the first time.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 And if that's you, it is great to have you with us.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 We would love to connect with you.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 Fill out that form that is on our website.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 You can go to stpauls.org.au.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 There is a website so we can connect with you.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 We would love to get to know you.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:53 There has been an unintended benefit of many people hearing God's word.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 And we could not have planned for that.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 But gaining God's perspective.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:05 Maybe, I wonder, is God using this season to spread his word?
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 To see many people come to know and love him?
00:17:09 --> 00:17:19 Is it possible that God is using this season to grow our patience and our trust in him?
00:17:19 --> 00:17:27 That even though we can't see what his plan is right now, that we need to stop and gain God's perspective.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 And remember that God is working in our lives.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:38 So when we are in a season of difficulty and pain, when patience is really hard,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:42 let me encourage you to do everything you can to gain perspective.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:47 Ask God, God, what are you doing in this time?
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 How are you intending to grow me?
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 Ask a friend, friend, what is God doing in your life?
00:17:55 --> 00:17:59 What do you think God could be doing in my life in this difficult season?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:05 We come to the final verse of this short passage for us today.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Verse 4.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:24 Here God is comparing two types of people.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:31 The one who is upright before God and the one who is puffed up like an enemy aggressor.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 I really love this term puffed up.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:39 It's this picture of someone whose view of themselves is inflated.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 It's like we say, you know, they're full of hot air.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:49 It's like they're a balloon that is filled up too high and they're ready for the slightest prick to burst.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:54 They are swollen with pride and self-arrogance.
00:18:54 --> 00:19:06 On view here is the Babylonian army who is self-righteous, seeking their own ends, leading to pride and sinful acts and ultimately their death.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:14 But it's not stated, but it's implied that the righteous will live, but the puffed up they will not.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:26 On view here is at least the Babylonian army, but also anyone who is puffed up and thinks too highly of themselves and their own opinion before God.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:34 God is holding out to Judah that they can have life even though there is an army coming towards them.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:42 God will vindicate his people by giving them life, life to those who have faith, who are trusting in God.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:47 The righteous don't think of themselves arrogantly, but instead they look to God.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 They place their faith in God.
00:19:49 --> 00:20:04 Patience with God is our faith in action.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:09 It is saying, God, your timing is better than mine.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:13 It shows humility.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:21 The person admits that they need help and they need what God can offer and can't do it on their own.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 And the view of faith here is waiting in humility.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:29 Waiting on God is faith.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 This is what faith does.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 It takes someone at their word.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 And God has made promises to Habakkuk that he will come.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 And Habakkuk is to respond with patience.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:45 Now the second part of verse 4 may have sounded familiar.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 The righteous will live by faith.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:54 It is one of the most important verses for Paul in his writing.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 He uses it in his letter to the Galatians and to the Romans.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 And in Romans 1 he says,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 A righteousness that is by faith.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 From first to last, just as it is written,
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 The righteous will live by faith.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 We live by faith.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 Faith is that God has made promises to us.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 And faith is patiently waiting on God's promises.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:31 Pastor John Piper sums this up really nicely in a quote that you'll see on the screen.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 It reads,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:51 The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 In all our delays and detours.
00:21:54 --> 00:22:01 What a season of delay and detour that we are in right now.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 Delayed work.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 Delayed schooling.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 Delayed holidays and gatherings.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 Birthday parties and anniversaries.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:15 Even Mother's Day is not quite as we would hope it to be.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:19 But patience now is faith in God.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 It says,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 God, you are in control.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 Help me to have your perspective on this season.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 To know what you are doing in the world for your glory.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 In Chatswood.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 And in my life.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:38 God, give me the perspective to remember that you have done all that is necessary for me in Jesus.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:47 That he has died and he has been raised and he has taken my guilt and my shame.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:52 And you have promised that just as you raised him, you will raise me as well.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:56 And that right now we wait for him to come back.
00:22:57 --> 00:23:03 Help me to choose patience that you are working out something good for me every day.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:07 Have patience to love people and that I would give them my time.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 To love you more than myself.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 That I would wait on your timing.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 Patience with others makes us better friends.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 It makes us better siblings.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 It makes us better children and parents.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 It is a chance to value people.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 And not just what they do.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:33 God has shown his immense patience with us.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 That even though we continue to sin.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 He continues to show us his mercy and his love.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 And that all of our sin has been paid for by Jesus on the cross.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 Showing how much he values us.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 When we act with patience.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 We act with God's perspective.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:57 Knowing all that God has done in Christ.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:02 And that he will continue to act for the good of those who love him.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 When we act with patience.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 Not only does it grow our patience with others.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:12 But we get to understand more of the heart of God himself.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:21 I saw this morning that the isolation rules are going to be extended a little bit more on Friday.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:25 We'll be able to meet with more people in our homes.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:31 And many of us are champing at the bit like a race horse to bolt out of isolation.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:38 But don't miss this chance to grow in patience with God.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:45 To stop and climb the tower of perspective on your life and on God's kingdom.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:48 To exercise your faith in God's promises.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:54 May we all be people who grow in patience and live by faith.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 Let me pray for us.
00:24:57 --> 00:25:02 Heavenly Father, thank you for your immense love for us shown in your patience.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 That you have acted.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 That you have acted to show your patience.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:14 That you continually allow us to sin.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:18 And you don't wipe us out where we stand.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 But that you have paid for our sin.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:25 In the death and resurrection of your son.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 Father, help us to be like you.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:33 To choose to love you and to love other people by putting on patience.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:39 Lord, help us to grow in perspective of all you are doing in your world.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:45 Lord, we are so short-sighted.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:50 And it is easy for us to get caught up in our day-to-day issues.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 But Lord, help us to stop.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 And to consider what you are doing in this season.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 So that we would grow in patience.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 And love for you.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 Centered on what you have done.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 Through your son for us.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 Amen.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Amen.