“One Hit Wonder” Christ Connect Church (4-Aug-2013)

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength, And come and save us! 3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved! Our Proclamation

4 O Lord God of hosts, How long will You be angry Against the prayer of Your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, And given them tears to drink in great measure. 6 You have made us a strife to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved! - Psalm 80:1-7 Our Proclamation

One-Hit Wonders Gen X and Y: 1.Macarena (1996) - Los Del Rio 2.Ice Ice Baby (199) - Vanilla Ice 3.99 Luftballons (1984) - Nena 4.My Sharona (1979) - The Knack Today’s generation: 1. Bad Day (2006) - Daniel Powter 2. You're Beautiful (2006) - James Blunt

Habakkuk the man Habakkuk –“embraced” – the kingdom of Judah have fallen from the heights of king Josiah’s reforms to moral and spiritual corruption – God will use the fierce Babylonians to take His people captivity because of their sin

Habakkuk’s One-Hit Habakkuk 2:4 Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith (NIV-faithfulness) - Quoted by Paul and the writer of Hebrews - Habakkuk’s most famous line

What is Faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Verse 6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him Faith – Greek “pistis” (faith and faithfulness)

What is Faith? Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (NIV-the word about Christ)

What is Faith? 1.Faith is a gift from God 2.Faith is directed to God and His goodness 3.Faith is not just belief but also “faithfulness” 4.Faith is intimately bound to the gospel of Christ

Hab 2:4 in the NT Romans 1:17 For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith”

Hab 2:4 in the NT Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back (NIV-shrinks back), My soul has no pleasure in him

Living by Faith Deuteronomy 32:20 I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith (NIV- unfaithful) Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! “Faith is against idolatry, both then and now”

Living by Faith Galatians 3:6 Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness “We believe God and what He says in His Word” Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. “We live out our faith according to God’s Word”

Living by Faith Psalm 127:2 NIV In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for He grants sleep [1] to those He loves [1] for while they sleep He provides “Even our most ordinary acts – eating & sleeping – can be done in faith”

A Hymn of Faith 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor 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— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God [c] is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. c - Habakkuk 3:17-19