"THE PLACE OF VICTORY"
I. THE PERPLEXING PROBLEM.
A. It seemed as though everything was going wrong.
1. Evil was triumphing over good.
2. The judicial system had broken down.
a. The courts became a mockery.
b. The guilty were not being punished.
1. They were being released to continue
their crimes.
Thus:
3. They lost all respect for the law.
a. Violence increased.
b. Strife and contention were everywhere.
B. It seemed as though God was doing nothing about it.
1. Thought he prayed the situation did not change.
a. As though God did not hear his prayer.
b. As though God would not answer his prayer.
2. Why would the Lord show him these things.
a. It was just frustrating.
II. GOD'S ANSWER TO THE FRUSTRATED PROPHET.
A. I am working.
1. Because God's judgment is not always swift.
a. The wicked think:
1. That God does not see.
2. That God does not care.
3. They are actually getting by with it.
b. The righteous think:
1. Their prayers are going unheeded.
2. That it really doesn't pay to live
right.
B. If I told you, you wouldn't believe.
1. He would not understand.
2. When the answer started to come it would only confuse
him more.
3. We don't always understand the ways of God.
a. The person who insists on understanding
everything is in trouble.
b. "My ways are not your ways..."
III. THE PLACE OF VICTORY.
A. I will go in the tower and watch and listen.
1. Quit trying to figure it out and just wait for God to
show me.
B. There, God spoke to Him.
1. We get so involved we become deaf to his voice.
2. Our problems get so big we lose sight of God.
C. God's message to Him.
1. "I have an appointed time."
a. That's the problem - his timing is not in
agreement with mine.
2. "Though it tarry, wait for it."
a. Don't give up.
3. The soul that is proud is not righteous.
a. If you think you can do anything apart form Him
you are mistaken.
4. The just shall live by His faith.
a. Believing what I can't understand.
b. Believing what I can't see.
c. This is the only place of true rest in this
world of turmoil.
IV. THE VICTORY OF FAITH. 3:17, 18.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.