February 7, 2016 ()

Bible Text: Habakkuk 2:2-4 |

Though the Vision Tarry, Wait for It        February 7, 2016

Habakkuk 2:2-4 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The bible encourages us to wait on the Lord, whether we are tarrying for a decision or something else. God makes His word plain to those that are saved. He wants us to know His word for ourselves. Just ask Him. The vision is yet for an appointed time, at the end. The N.T. is the unfolding of the O.T.
Hebrews 10:35-38 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith:
It’s difficult to have patience in this day and age – everything is so instant. But God works patience in our lives – through tribulation. And after we do the will of God, not by going the way of the world, but in the renewing of our mind - we might receive the promise – the day the Lord returns with rewards! We need to have the vision or we’ll perish, which means to dismiss or go back. We need a fervency that He may return at any moment.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:
Vision – comes from a root word meaning “to contemplate with pleasure”. Daniel had a night vision.
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion…
We love Him so - we look forward to the day when Jesus will take His kingdom as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings! These clouds are not the white things you see floating in the sky, they are saints of the most high.
Our vision (what we contemplate with pleasure) should be the coming of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…
The Lord will come Himself, He doesn’t just send angels. He loves us so. He gave His life for us to have His best, to be in the midst of the throne. This is the kind of vision we need to have, it could be anytime.
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We have a hope we will see the Lord and be like Him. Hope is an expectation or confidence. The vision is to contemplate with pleasure, where hope is closer – it’s to anticipate with pleasure.
The Lord is not going to appear to everyone at the same time. Just as when He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, even before He ascended to His Father.
Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Why would He appear to her first? I believe it is because of her love for Him. Jesus said, “To whom much is forgiven, the same will love Him most.” Let’s not be slothful or distracted with the cares of this life, but watching for our Lord’s return. In the Old Testament you can see three groups of people in Israel; workers, warriors, and worshipers. We should be those and also watching and waiting.
Matthew 26:40-41 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Our old man, the fleshly nature is weak, actually it’s dead, that’s not who we are. We are born of the Spirit. Christ liveth in me. We live in the Spirit so let’s walk in the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
A lot of the church is asleep today, they think the whole church is the bride. But the bible says otherwise.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Be awake! Jesus will appear to those that are looking for Him.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Look for glory! Everything we’ve been worried about will be gone. Wait and Watch!

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