Why are bad things happening? God, don't you care? So cries the prophet Habakkuk when he sees the injustice around him. Jesus' disciples cry out, "Increase our faith!" when they hear about Kingdom-level forgiveness. Divine intervention is an easy ask, since we'd prefer to avoid the hard work.
We know things aren't the way they're supposed to be, and we may often find ourselves asking, like the prophet Habakkuk, why God doesn't do something about it.
God responds to the prophet by telling him to 'write down the vision' (= revelation in NIV). It isn't some grand document; it is meant to be carried easily by a herald who will run to bring it to the people. The vision is never made explicit, except that the time is coming when God's will shall be fulfilled - at the coming of the end of the age.
This is an early declaration that God will establish God's sovereignty over creation, but it also indicates that there is much work yet to be done before that happens. At bottom, it is not God's intervention that is needed. It is the commitment of faithful people to the will and way of God that is urgent and requisite for bringing hope and new life. In other words, don't ask God to do for you what you can (and must) do yourselves.
The howl of protest from Jesus' disciples upon hearing the demand for unending forgiveness brings their petition, "Increase our faith!" Jesus responds by telling them that their faith can do wonders if they would simply exercise the faith that they have readily available to them There is spiritual power in their hands ready to work. Faith as miniscule as a mustard seed is enough to transform things, providing a spiritual power that appears incredible.
He goes on to tell them a parable about the hard-working servant and the master. The point is that the servant is supposed to work hard and serve the master. You don't gain or deserve anything special; you're simply doing what you're supposed to do.
Keep going and learn even more in the sermon video below.
We know things aren't the way they're supposed to be, and we may often find ourselves asking, like the prophet Habakkuk, why God doesn't do something about it.
God responds to the prophet by telling him to 'write down the vision' (= revelation in NIV). It isn't some grand document; it is meant to be carried easily by a herald who will run to bring it to the people. The vision is never made explicit, except that the time is coming when God's will shall be fulfilled - at the coming of the end of the age.
This is an early declaration that God will establish God's sovereignty over creation, but it also indicates that there is much work yet to be done before that happens. At bottom, it is not God's intervention that is needed. It is the commitment of faithful people to the will and way of God that is urgent and requisite for bringing hope and new life. In other words, don't ask God to do for you what you can (and must) do yourselves.
The howl of protest from Jesus' disciples upon hearing the demand for unending forgiveness brings their petition, "Increase our faith!" Jesus responds by telling them that their faith can do wonders if they would simply exercise the faith that they have readily available to them There is spiritual power in their hands ready to work. Faith as miniscule as a mustard seed is enough to transform things, providing a spiritual power that appears incredible.
He goes on to tell them a parable about the hard-working servant and the master. The point is that the servant is supposed to work hard and serve the master. You don't gain or deserve anything special; you're simply doing what you're supposed to do.
Keep going and learn even more in the sermon video below.
| 10-06-19-sermon.mp3 |
| 10-06-19-ff-answers.pdf |
| 10-06-19-increase_our_faith.pdf |