LifePointe Christian Church
Through It All - Double-Fisted Faith - Week 2
Speaker: Derek Gute, Adult Ministries Pastor
Locations & Times
LifePointe Christian Church
10291 E Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA 95624, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
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Text the word CONNECTING to the number 94000
OR visit: https://linktr.ee/lifepointechurch
Text the word CONNECTING to the number 94000
OR visit: https://linktr.ee/lifepointechurch
Where is God in the midst of evil? Why does God allow those who are evil to proper?
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?”
Habakkuk 1:2-3
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” Habakkuk 1:13
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.’” Habakkuk 2:2
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3
In the midst of evil, God is faithful in punishing those who deserve it. He will not allow the guilty to go unpunished.
Even though God will punish those who are guilty, we still have a desire to get revenge or bring about our own form of justice.
“Do any repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says
the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21
Even though God will punish those who are guilty, our timeline usually doesn’t line up with God’s timeline.
“For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”
Psalm 90:4
How should we respond when the fulfillment of God’s promise seems to be delayed? What should our response be when evil prevails or when God is silent?
“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright… Indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.”
Habakkuk 2:4-5
Even though God uses the evil Babylonians, He doesn’t condone their behavior.
“The righteous will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
God calls the righteous to live by faith even in the midst of awful times.
“Faith is trust or dependence on God based on the fact that we take Him at His Word and believe what He said.” -Wayne Grudem
Faith is trusting that God is who he says He is, and that He will do everything He promised to do.
Double-Fisted Faith: “Whether you choose to act or not, I will cling to you and hold on with both hands.”
We can have double-fisted faith because…Scripture tells us to expect challenging circumstances.
“In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2 Timothy 3:12
We can have double-fisted faith because…we’re not alone.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
We can have double-fisted faith because…we’ve experienced God’s faithfulness before and know that He will come through again.
Is double-fisted faith a defining characteristic of your life? Are you living by faith in God through it all?
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Ask God to increase your faith
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Grow in your knowledge and understanding of Scripture
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Do one faith-filled action every day
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Join a Rooted Group
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?”
Habakkuk 1:2-3
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” Habakkuk 1:13
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.’” Habakkuk 2:2
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3
In the midst of evil, God is faithful in punishing those who deserve it. He will not allow the guilty to go unpunished.
Even though God will punish those who are guilty, we still have a desire to get revenge or bring about our own form of justice.
“Do any repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says
the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21
Even though God will punish those who are guilty, our timeline usually doesn’t line up with God’s timeline.
“For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”
Psalm 90:4
How should we respond when the fulfillment of God’s promise seems to be delayed? What should our response be when evil prevails or when God is silent?
“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright… Indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.”
Habakkuk 2:4-5
Even though God uses the evil Babylonians, He doesn’t condone their behavior.
“The righteous will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
God calls the righteous to live by faith even in the midst of awful times.
“Faith is trust or dependence on God based on the fact that we take Him at His Word and believe what He said.” -Wayne Grudem
Faith is trusting that God is who he says He is, and that He will do everything He promised to do.
Double-Fisted Faith: “Whether you choose to act or not, I will cling to you and hold on with both hands.”
We can have double-fisted faith because…Scripture tells us to expect challenging circumstances.
“In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2 Timothy 3:12
We can have double-fisted faith because…we’re not alone.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
We can have double-fisted faith because…we’ve experienced God’s faithfulness before and know that He will come through again.
Is double-fisted faith a defining characteristic of your life? Are you living by faith in God through it all?
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Ask God to increase your faith
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Grow in your knowledge and understanding of Scripture
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Do one faith-filled action every day
How to Develop Double-Fisted Faith:
Join a Rooted Group