I was visiting with a prospect recently and invited him to church. I told him I was beginning a sermon series entitled “Fourth and Long: Hard Core Faith for Perilous Times,” from the book of Habakkuk.
“Habakkuk,” he replied, “I’m not familiar with that one.”
In all honesty, I wasn’t as familiar as I should have been until I started studying for these sermons. I did tell him that Habakkuk is the fifth book from the end of the Old Testament. Go to Malachi and turn left four books. It’s located in the section of scripture known as the “Minor Prophets.” It’s only minor in length, not in message and importance.
Only three chapters and 56 verses. The book opens with Habakkuk presenting a problem. His nation is plummeting spiritually. There is iniquity, plundering, trouble, violence, strife and contention. There is lawlessness. The wicked appear to be prospering while the righteous are struggling.
Yet, God does not seem to hear. Has He forgotten Habakkuk? Has God abandoned His people?
“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear? Even cry out to you Violence! And you will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2).
Habakkuk’s burden for his nation was so intense that it took two Hebrew words translated cry to capture his plea for God’s intervention. God gave His answer in Habakkuk 1:5-11. God was at work and He had a plan, but His solution to Habakkuk’s problem was a total surprise.
Instead of sending revival, God was sending the wicked Babylonians to punish the unfaithful who had forgotten God. As this dialogue continues, Habakkuk wrestles with God’s method and does not understand God’s way, but he ultimately clings to God in faith, and underscores God’s sovereignty.
Though God may not answer our plea in the way we think He should, and though God’s ways are often strange and mysterious, He still invites us to come to Him and bring our plea. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded us to ask, seek and knock until we get God’s answer. Do we practice this persistence in prayer? Do we keep on coming to God even when God delays His answer?
When we are burdened and broken for our nation, do we cry out, as Habakkuk did? Throughout history, when things looked the most bleak, God’s people have cried out to Him to bring spiritual awakening and to change lives.
We could use some spiritual awakening, couldn’t we? I’m grateful that women across America will be joining together this Friday night, Sept. 23, to cry out to God and pray for the condition of America. CryOut16 is a large scale simulcast event in which thousands of women will gather at hosts sites to pray for God’s mercy and supernatural intervention in our world, nation, churches, cities and homes.
The three hour prayer time will focus on five key areas: personal, families, churches, our nation, and the world. Each segment will be led by a different keynote speaker who will set the tone for the next segment of prayer.
Speakers include Joni Eareckson Tada, Tony Evans, Stephen Kendrick, Kay Arthur, and others.
This emphasis, originating from Indianapolis, is presented by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Revive Our Hearts, an organization that exists to call women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.
Wolgemuth said, “I am asking the Lord to place a deeper hunger for prayer in the hearts of thousands of women for such a time as this. These days present an opportunity for the Lord to display His power in amazing ways. That’s why we need to seek His face and to ask Him to show His power.”
McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville is a host site. Located at 352 McDonough Road, near McCurry Park, the hours are 7-10 p.m. Just show up ready to pray and participate, and your prayer can make a difference!
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears!” (Psalm 34:17).
Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA. The church meets at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them at www.mcdonoughroad.org and like them on Facebook.
