Church Notes: When God Doesn't Make Sense

When God Doesn't Make Sense is the title of the recently concluded 3-week preaching series at VCF.  It's a study on the book of Habbakuk and it teaches us about the right perspective with God does not seem to make sense.

Check out the podcasts here: http://victoryfort.org/podcast-2/2011-podcasts/when-god-doesnt-make-sense/.  I recommend Pastor Steve Murrell's message on When Bad Things Happen.

The three part of this series:

  • When I Do Not Understand
  • When It Takes Too Long
  • When Bad Things Happen

When I Do Not Understand
Habbakuk was a prophet in the tumultuous time in Jerusalem's history before it was invaded by the Babylonians.  Israel is suffering internally from veering away from God and they were also threatened by invading armies.

Habakkuk means "to wrestle" or "to embrace".  The book of Habbakuk shows the prophet questioning God about Israel's suffering and deliverance.  It's ok to ask God questions.  It is in asking questions and finding answers that we grow in faith.

When It Takes Too Long
There are predictable things about God.  He is holy, loving, faithful.  But there are unpredictable things as well, like the hows and whens - the very things that we have to wait for... Habakkuk shows us how we should wait.

Habakkuk 2 says:
I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; 
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
...For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. 
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
...the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Stand at my watch - posture of waiting
Station myself on the ramparts - position/place where God wants us to wait; the ramparts is where one can have a better perspective
Look to see what he will say to me - purpose, the Word of God
Appointed time; though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come - the pronouncements will happen in God's own time.

When Bad Things Happen
  • Sometimes God's answers are more difficult to deal with than the questions
  • Ask God in prayer to also do for you what He has done for others. Habakkuk 3 says:
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD.
Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
  • But what if God doesn't do what you ask for?  Habakkuk 3 says:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
   though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
   though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
   yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Even if You don't do what I want, I will do what You want.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Around the Internet 12.09.11

Image
This week's notable links are related to world population.  I tend to be interested in a subject, read about it and discover these links. 7 Billion on National Geographic .  Special series on the world's 7B population, with stories and discussions.  They have a counter of world population as well. 7 Billion Actions .  A site where anyone can upload a story, highlighting positive action.  I was checking through the site and was encouraged by all the good work that people do.  Really, we can be hopeful.  It's just a pity that only the sensational negative stories get highlighted in the media.  Positive stories are found right here.  And thanks to the internet for making this possible. What's Your Number?   7 billion is an overwhelming number.  This site let's you enter your birthday and plots you on the population chart and identifies your specific number (datapoint).  Of course this is not perfect and employs some algorithm to estimate where you are on the cha
Read more

It's Not Complicated: Samson and Delilah, Ruth and Boaz

Image
The last two topics for the preaching series on love entitled 'It's Not Complicated' were on Samson and Delilah, and Ruth and Boaz. ( Podcast here ) Samson and Delilah .  The story of Samson and Delilah can be found in Judges 13.  Before Samson was born, his mother was visited by an angel who said to her, "You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razorbecause the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”  Samson was destined to lead and deliver Israel from its enemies.  But we know that his life was far from simple.  He made personal decisions that changed the course of his life, including marrying Delilah, which eventually led to his death.  It's a tragic story and Pastor Joe explained why it happened to Samson - wrong place, wrong standard, wrong person. Samson, although he was set apart as a Nazirite, spent time in Philistin
Read more

Filipino Friday 3: Reading Habits and Book Formats

Image
Reading Habits and Book Formats . Where and how do you read? Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading? Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can? Where and how do you usually read? Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print? Have you ever tried audiobooks? I am old school.  Even as most books now have digital versions, I still prefer the physical, ink-on-paper variety.  I like holding a real book, flipping the pages and being able to see my progress based on the thickness of read/unread pages.  Somehow, I feel more engaged and focused reading a physical book vs. from a gadget. I very rarely reread books so most of my collection just sit on the shelf after I'm done with them.  I feel it's a waste of precious trees if they are not shared with others.  So I started a Google doc at work where the team can list down their collections and anybody interested in
Read more