“I will stand my watch” (Hab. 2:1).
“But the just shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4).
If there was ever a time for the Christian to “flex the faith muscle” it’s now! When we don’t use our “faith muscle, it will become weak and we can’t do what we need to do. The Church is two-thousand years old and is tired. It has been through many persecutions and trials, but God brought it through. There was always a remnant who would flex the “faith muscle.” Today, too many Christians have a weak “faith muscle” and it must change! Many have forgotten what faith is. When was the last time you flexed your “faith muscle?”
“To flex one’s muscles” is “to demonstrate one’s strength.” This will bring us the power to do the work of God. Without faith we have a “power shortage.” Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
How are you responding to the world today with the critical remarks about Christ and His Church? Are you experiencing a “power” shortage? If you are weak in faith, you will find yourself not only bending… but breaking. You have a power shortage!
In Habakkuk we see our Nation. It is amazing that man rarely changes for the better. We too are asking God, “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?
Today, we see the economy, wars, rumors of wars, nuclear threats, violence, sin in every form, sexual immorality, abortion and the natural disasters that God allows, that we might raise our head up and cry unto Him. Church our “faith muscle” is weak! Many Christians are sleeping! It must change! We must pray about it. We must cry out to God. We must cry with a disturbed heart, a burden for the lost and for the power of the Holy Spirit to use the Church. We must flex our “faith muscle.”
God replied to Habakkuk: “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” (Hab. 1:5).
We too are in trouble. God chastised Israel… He will chastise us!!! God would chastise with an evil nation and that bothered Habakkuk. Habakkuk must flex his “faith muscle,” accept what God was doing and do what God called him to do. He wanted God to send a revival, but it didn’t happen. The people were deep into idolatry and sexual sin and would not repent.
When Habakkuk remembered who he was and what God would do and that God was in control, he fell on his face in prayer. He rose up and said: “I will stand my watch, And set myself on the rampart,” (2:1). God reminded him that “the just shall live by faith.” In other words, Habakkuk, flex your “faith muscle!” “look among the nations and watch—be utterly astounded!” We can get side-tracked and start wondering about things, but the Bible tells us why things are the way they are… idolatry! We have the full picture…Habakkuk had only the Law. We know the end is near!
No matter what happens we must be about His will…sharing the Gospel! Rise up, be a watchman, flex our “faith muscle.” Look up! Don’t look around! So. if you are down in the valley of little faith and full of questions… pick up the Word of God and your faith muscle will be stronger than before.
Habakkuk accepted God’s will, professed his faith and praised God. He rejoiced in the Lord. He realized that God was his strength. He left the valley of weak faith began his climb saying: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; (Hab. 3:18-19.
The faith of one Christian is strong. Imagine if we all flexed our “faith muscle” how much power that God would release.
A Revival!
