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Living by Faith

This document discusses how the prophet Habakkuk told the Jews that the righteous will survive times of difficulty by having faith in God. It provides context on the misunderstandings the Jews had about God, and explains that Habakkuk said the righteous will live by both trusting in God and being faithful to God. It then gives two examples from Habakkuk of how the righteous can live by faith - during times of religious decline, and during national calamities like economic hardship.

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Jonathan Mensah-Bonsu
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73 views

Living by Faith

This document discusses how the prophet Habakkuk told the Jews that the righteous will survive times of difficulty by having faith in God. It provides context on the misunderstandings the Jews had about God, and explains that Habakkuk said the righteous will live by both trusting in God and being faithful to God. It then gives two examples from Habakkuk of how the righteous can live by faith - during times of religious decline, and during national calamities like economic hardship.

Uploaded by

Jonathan Mensah-Bonsu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LIVING BY FAITH

Habakkuk 2:2-4

The Jews had a misunderstanding of the nature of God and how He deal with man. Dr

Maurice Harris wrote, “It took centuries to grasp the concepts that God is wholly spirit and

without material form, that He is the sole ruler of the universe, not sharing this power with

other divinities; that He is omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal; that He is absolutely

righteous and just in dealing with His children- not favoring Israel more than other people,

though they were the first to recognize Him.” The Jewish problem was in two folds – they

thought that God is like the pagan God and they thought that God will favour them among all

the nation even if they are sinning. The second misconception is what caused the prophet to

be asking the question, he asked in chapter 1 verse 13, “You are of purer eyes than to behold

evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do you look on those who deal treacherously, and

hold your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” His question to

God is Babylonians are wicked and they don’t serve God. Why will you use this wicked

people like Babylon to punish Judah when they sin? God answered Habakkuk in chapter 2. In

answering God Habakkuk how the righteous will survive – The Just Shall Live By Faith. This

morning, we encourage ourselves on the topic -- Living By Faith.

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4. The phrase “the just shall live by his faith” is quoted 3 times in the New

Testament. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
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it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for

the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,

the just shall live by faith,” In Galatians 3:11, Paul said, “But that no one is justified by the

law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith.” In Hebrews 10:38, the

writer said, “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no

pleasure in him.” The Bible discusses faith at length. When Habakkuk tells us that the just

shall live by their faith – faith is used in two ways; our trust in God and our faithfulness to

God.

The just shall live by their faith in times of DECLENSION IN RELIGION. Habakkuk

lived in a time of religious declension. The people of Judah have swayed from the word of

God. In Habakkuk 1:2-4, the prophet said, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and you will not

hear? Even cry out to you, violence! And you will not save. Why do you show me iniquity,

and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife and

contention arises. Therefore, the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the

wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, perverse judgment proceeds.”

You cast your mind back in our world, it is not strange. The world is backwards on religion.

Horrible things are done in the name of God and religion. Jeremiah 5:30-31, Jeremiah said,

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy

falsely, and the priest rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so. But what

will you do in the end?” The Bible is cast away in religious circles. Everyone is doing what

they think is right. Error rules the world.


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The just shall live by their faith in times of NATIONAL CALAMITY. Chastisement

follows transgressions to nations as well as to individuals. Judah had wandered from God,

and, lo! he permitted them to fall into the hands of the Chaldeans; and it was the mission of

Habakkuk to foretell the approaching Captivity. National calamities come to us in different

forms; it comes in the form of war; it comes in the form economic hardship. Romans 13:1,

Paul said, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority

except from God, and the authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are

appointed by God.” However, the government ordained by God is a reflection of nature of the

people in the country. Corrupt people cannot elect righteous people to lead. Ghana has been

talking about corruption since independence. The hardship we see in this country is clearly as

a result of the people we have elected. But in these times of economic hardship, we can live

by our faith. Our trust in God to open doors of opportunity and our faithfulness in the world.

The Babylonian captivity gave them economic hardship. In Habakkuk 3:17-19 told them,

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labour of the

Olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

and there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my

salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and he will

make me walk on my high hill.” We can learn from Habakkuk’s hymn. Things are hard for

me; I don’t have food to eat; I don’t have money to pay my bills; I don’t have work to get

money. Habakkuk says – I will rejoice in the LORD.

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