The February issue from David Wilkerson this month talks about what it means to live by faith. Hard times are upon many here in America. Some of you are there, I know I am. He also talks about the prophet Habakkuk and how it
(Habakkuk 2:4) is the first mention of the concept of living by faith. Later, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul invokes the phrase three times. And today Habakkuk 2:4 remains one of the most preached texts in all of Scripture. It has formed the basis of many church doctrines.
The article goes on to talk about the historical context of the passage, and how it was a word to Israel how they were to live in the days of coming crisis.
If you haven't read the newspapers, watched TV lately, you might not be concerned, however after much discussion with my 86 year old father, who has lived through a lot, I am convinced we are living in the last days talked about in God's Word.
I am and have been grieved in my spirit for a while, just as Habakkuk was grieved deeply by everything God showed him. Several years ago, I gave up listenting to TV, reading financial articles, participating in political discussions because it grieved me more, and so I eventually I think I took a very passive attitude. Over the past two years, I have been fighting a mental, physical, financial and spiritual battle, and the Lord has in my quiet time been speaking to me to arise and become active again. His Spirit is calling me to arise to attention and to the hour in which we are living.
In days past I would be on the streets, proclaiming repentance, and I believe there was a time for that for me, and I would gladly do it again, if the Lord tells me to. I have also been through seasons of deep travail, intercession, weeping and wailing for my family members, our country, it's leaders, the sins that were overtaking the world. I am thankful there are many people praying for our loved ones, our nation and our world. There is hope for the lost.
God has been restoring my physical health, restoring my mental courage, restoring my spiritual faith, and restoring the joy of the Lord to my soul. We will need to be "JOYFUL" givers in the days ahead and living in a place of faith and courage in order to help others stay strong in the Lord.
I'm not quite certain where God is calling me to be "stationed" but wherever and with whomever, I know the hour is drawing closer.
This past week there were 4 home invasions, near me and my family, one girl was raped, while their houses were plundered. A bank was robbed across the street from one of the police stations, another child was abducted from the area near us and the police have no leads. There were 44 sex offenders in a very small radius.
This type of violence and lack of protection had fallen on Israel. Instead of telling Habakkuk He was going to stop the evil doer, God warned Habakkuk, that more war, famine and desolation was coming. Habakkuk says,
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice of rotteness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble (he wanted to die): when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
(3:16)
I belive the only answer to the days ahead is to keep our eyes firmly planted on the Lord, the author and finisher of our faiht. We must set our hearts to wait on God, for a word.
I will stand on my guard post, and station myself on the rampart: I will keep watch to see what he will speak to me, how I may reply
when I am reproved
(2:1, my italics)
Wilkerson goes on to explain in his newsletter, "Then the incredible word received by Habukkuk was meant not only for his day but this generation." "At the end it shall speak" "By faith" is the only way God's people are ever able to face a calamity or affliction." Wilkerson makes a very bold statement, backed by scripture "To live by one's faith is
to see God's hand and his holiness in all calamities and shaking:
The Lord is known by the jugment which he executeth" (Psalm 9:16)
"When thy hand is lifted up, (the wicked)
will not see" (Isaiah 26:11)
The world is not seeing God's chastening coming, but it is already happening. If we are to live by faith, we must have a reverential fear of God's power.
These are two sides of God's nature - righteous judgment and merciful love - require we live by faith
, says Wilkerson.
We must however, not fear for the future of God's church in calmaitous times. The Bible tells us "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith" (I Timothy 4:1) In perilous times such as ours, leaders will arise "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5).
Wilkerson and I go on to say, there is no promise that we won't suffer, lose our property, our loved ones, even our lives in the days ahead. Multitudes are on the edge of making choices to break the law in order to feed their families.
I had a very scary dream the other night, and the choice was before me,
but God showed me that
if I would stand by Him, He would stand by me.I Peter 1:3-9 promises us
"According to his abundant mercy (he) hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of god that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."Cinderella Released, from ashes to beauty
