1. Will God Bless
Title Slide: Will God Bless America?
America?

2. Habakkuk 1:1-4
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. 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.”
Passage—Habb.1:1-4…

3. Prophet Questions God’s Delay
Why didn’t God judge Judah for evil?
Violence, iniquity, and perverseness were present
Law was not respected; justice was perverted
Wicked allowed to take advantage of the righteous
Rightly understood these things cause judgment
Prophet Questions God’s Delay. Why didn’t God judge Judah for evil?
Violence, iniquity, and perverseness were present.
Law not respected; justice was perverted.
Wicked allowed to take advantage of the righteous
Rightly understood these things cause judgment.
Why did he wonder? God promised from the start to judge His people (nation) if they became unfaithful to the covenant and His laws. (Deut.27,28) Why the delay????

4. Habakkuk 1:5-7
“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. 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. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.”
Passage—Habb.1:5-7…

5. Habakkuk 1:8-11
“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. They all come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, for they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; he commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.”
Passage—Habb.1:8-11…

6. God Reveals His Work in Judging
God was already acting to bring the Chaldeans
Babylon was a bitter and hasty nation
Known for its ruthlessness and destruction
Would come for violence, plunder, and captives
Military might overwhelmed Judah
God knew the prophet would not understand His work
Yet, He knew His response was proper
God Reveals His Work in Judging.
God was already acting to bring the Chaldeans.
Babylon was a bitter and hasty nation.
Known for its ruthlessness and destruction.
Would come for violence, plunder, and captives.
Military might was overwhelming to Judah.
God knew the prophet would not understand His work. (1:5) God’s ways are not ours (Isa.55:8.9)
Yet, He knew His response was proper and appropriate. God was taking note and would act in His own time!

7. Habakkuk 1:12-14
“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. 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? Why do You make men like fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them?”
Passage—Habb.1:12-14…

8. Habakkuk 1:15-17
“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. Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their dragnet; because by them their share is sumptuous and their food plentiful. Shall they therefore empty their net, and continue to slay nations without pity?”
Passage—Habb.1:15-17…

9. Prophet Questions God’s Choices
The prophet understood God’s character
God is from everlasting (eternal not finite)
God is holy, pure, and takes no pleasure in evil
God’s power is absolute and certain in its effect
Question: Why does God chose a nation more wicked than Judah to judge her? (1:13)
The Prophet Questions God’s Choices.
The Prophet Understood God’s character.
God is from everlasting (not finite but eternal).
God is holy, pure and takes no pleasure in evil.
God’s power is absolute and certain in its effect.
Question: Why does God chose a nation more wicked than Judah to judge her? (1:13) The problem was the prophet was looking through eyes of human wisdom and reasoning—with limited knowledge. God deals from no such disadvantage!

10. Nations Exalted by Righteousness
Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” {Proverbs 14:34}
“By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” {Proverbs 11:11}
Nations Exalted by Righteousness. Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation:
Prov.14:34.
Prov.11:11…

11. Nations Exalted by Righteousness
Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation
“It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.” {Proverbs 16:12}
“Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” {Proverbs 25:5}
Nations Exalted by Righteousness.
Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation:
(3) Prov.16:12.
(4) Prov.25:5…

12. Nations Exalted by Righteousness
Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation
“Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge right will be prolonged.” {Proverbs 28:2}
People and leaders must BOTH be righteous
Nations Exalted by Righteousness.
Proverbs shows the need for righteousness in the nation:
(5) Prov.28:2. People and leaders must BOTH be righteous to endure!

13. Nations Judged for Wickedness
Verified in God’s dealings throughout time
Daniel 4:28-33—dealing with Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 5:17-31—dealing with Belshazzar
Prophecies against nations filled with examples
Judah and Israel both destroyed because of evil!
Nations Judged for Wickedness.
Verified in God’s dealing throughout time…
Dan.4:28-33—dealing with Nebuchadnezzar—eating grass with the animals.
Dan.5:17-31—dealing with Belshazzar—writing on the wall, bring the golden cups of the temple into the idolatrous feast!
Bible prophecies against nations filled with examples from the Scriptures. Judah and Israel both destroyed for their evil!

14. Nations Judged for Wickedness
Principle remains true today just as in the past. God gave the government a place…
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves…
Nations Judged for Wickedness.
Principle remains true today just as in the past. God gave the government a place…Rom.13:1,2…

15. Nations Judged for Wickedness
Principle remains true today just as in the past. God gave the government a place…
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” {Romans 13:1-4}
Nations Judged for Wickedness. Principle remains true today just as in the past. God gave the government a place…Rom.13:1-4…

16. Brings the Question to Our Minds...

17. Will God Bless
Will God Bless America?
America?

18. Points to Help Answer the Question
We all hope and pray for God’s blessings
We must remember that blessings are not assured by…
Our desires, our prayers, or our thoughts of right
The relative goodness of the nation by comparison
Wickedness of enemies faced by this nation
Points to Help Answer Question.
We hope and pray for God blessings on this nation.
Must remember blessings not assured by…comments…

19. Points to Help Answer the Question
Recognize the demands of privilege…
God demands more of those who are given more
God judges more harshly those who first call on Him and then depart from His righteousness!
Points to Help Answer Question. (1) Recognize the demands of privilege…comments…

20. If God Continues to Bless America…
We must return to upholding His righteousness
Growing tolerance of sin must be reversed
Must seek righteousness over material wealth
Justice must be served and evil must be punished
If God Continues To Bless America… (1) We must return to upholding His righteousness…comments…

21. If God Continues to Bless America…
We must use our blessings to serve God
Material wealth must go to His cause, not self
Freedom must be used to serve, not to feed our lusts
If God Continues To Bless America… (1) We must use our blessings to serve God…comments…

22. Are We Still One Nation Under God?
Invitation…”Do You Still Trust in God?”