The Struggle is Real

Notes: The Struggle is Real

Pastor Levi Lusko

August, 31 2014

Book of Habakkuk

Levi is speaking of Greg on vacation. If you don't sharpen your axe, you will need twice as much energy to chop down a tree.

Levi's telling us about Habakkuk. Habakkuk means someone who embraces, so either a hugged or wrestler. Like how Jacob wrestled with the commands of God.

Habakkuk is a man who embraces the goodness of God even when life is bad. 

He held on to God, which is a good example to us of how to depend on God. 

He lived 600 years before Christ, when the land of Israel split into a northern and southern kingdom. They both got weaker. They both had 19 kings in each area. All 19 Kings were wicked in the north in 732, they were defeated by Syria.

Manasseh was the most wicked and hunted sown the word of God and wood burn it. Josiah, was his grandson and when he was young, he became king, then he set his heart on God. Josiah rebuilt Jerusalem and they also found a copy of the word of God. When Josiah heard it, "it cut him to the quick". 

Josiah learned all the good that the Jewish people were suppose to do.

We are held accountable to what we know. Josiah now knew and was going to do it.

Unguarded strength can be a double weakness. Like Josiah, he would not stay behind  the battle lines and got killed.

His son took over, Jehoiakim and is the only king in the Bible that is documented killing a prophet. The word cut Josiah and Jehoiakim cut the word!

That is the back drop of the book of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 1:1-11 NKJV

[1] The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. [2] O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. [3] 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. [4] Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds. [5] "Look among the nations and watch- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. [6] For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. [7] They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. [8] Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. [9] "They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. [10] They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. [11] Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god."

As these things  were going on, Egypt and Syria were growing powerful. It was the Babylonian empire and King Nebuchadnezzar.

Habakkuk 1:12-17 NKJV

[12] Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. [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? [14] Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? [15] They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. [16] Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. [17] Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?

Habakkuk 2:1 NKJV

[1] I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

The Struggle is Real!

He is not talking about your wifi is down, or your pants are still damp and you need to leave. These people are being killed and living in a nightmare and it appears God isn't doing anything about it.

Their is an endlessness of suffering, it is hard to believe you can right yourself in despair. 

Habakkuk 1:2 NKJV

[2] O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save.

These cry's are translated in two ways, one two sob and second is to scream. God can handle your out rage.

The question is always asked, how can a God of love allow for these horrible things? If you aren't in a position to ask that question at this moment, you will be one day! Get ready.

4 take away truths from these verses.

1. The size of your assignment doesn't determine the scope of your impact.

Habakkuk is not a very well known prophet. He is a minor prophet. That has nothing to do with his assignment.

As our culture, we view prophets like we do big league teams as opposed to minor league teams. Yet they are just as important as all the prophets.

Martin Luther, was very impacted by Habakkuk.

Levi is really impressing on us the importance of all the people in the Bible. He says they are like parts of a watch, all needed to give us the time.

2. There is only one thing worse than not getting what you want.

Someone said, there is only two bad things in this world, not getting what you want and also getting what you want.

Habakkuk 1:5 NKJV

[5] "Look among the nations and watch- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

He is saying get excited about finding faith!

Be excited about what is going to happen by God, not just what He has done.

Why do we not know what s going to happen? Because we are NOT GOD! 

We have to trust God!

Things can get worse first.

3. Greater access means greater accountability.

Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV

[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?

Habakkuk didn't see that his people were worse then the Babylonians. That is because, the Jewish people knew what to do and didn't do it.

They are being held accountable.

4. Fall back on what you know and rise above it all.

Trials can either make you run to God or run from God.

Habakkuk is asking God why he is letting these things happen. He is trusting God and asking God.

Choose one day you will know as you have known.

Tell God why you are angry and then sit back and listen!

You will rise above it all in the midst of what is happening. Because God is for you, He will not be against you.

Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.

Even as bad things happen you should worship God and trust him anyway.

Levi is speaking of Legos and where they came from. They were made in Denmark. He is talking about how many ways Legos can be put together. 

He is using the Legos as illustration of all the different ways you can look at the situation you are in. You can build any thing with all the pieces Jesus has already given you.

Jesus loves you, He died for you and He can save you!

How are you going to build on Gods gifts?