The Church of Canton

A Prayer for Mercy: Habakkuk 3: 1-2

Habakkuk goes from complaining to praying, shifting his tone and posture. After God tells him that the Babylonians will destroy Judah but ultimately face the same fate they caused others, Habakkuk doesn’t get the answer he wanted but still accepts it. He trusts God’s plan, and his decision to pray shows his humility and dependence on God. He is aligning his own thoughts with God's will. He then pleads with God to show His mercy even within His wrath.

Understanding Sacrificial and Abundant Living

Today, we are learning about sacrificial and abundant living through Worship, Fasting, and Celebrating. When God asks us to sacrifice for Him it is always for His glory, His purposes, and His plans, but is also for our benefit. Each sacrificial opportunity requires a choice - Do I or Do I not trust God?  When we choose Him we state our faith and receive life in abundance. 

The Second Response - Habakkuk 2: 2-20

God instructs Habakkuk to write the vision of God's timing and future justice for the Babylonians. God issues a series of "woes" against those who exploit and idolize, including His judgment upon the wicked. He will bring justice, for He is holy and just. The earth should be silent before the Lord, acknowledging His holiness. The righteous have their faith and trust in God, who will endure, while the proud will fall.

Developing our Communication with God - In His Word, Prayer, and Silence

We are created to be in relationship with God. In order to have a strong and healthy relationship take communication. This message teaches us how to properly communicate with God through the intentional integration of studying His Word, being in Prayer, and in Silence. 

The Second Compliant - Habakkuk 1: 12-17; 2: 1

The prophet Habakkuk is observing the nation of Judah’s immoral living without God’s intervention. He brings his laments before the Lord for understanding. God responds that He is bringing wrath and evil upon the nation of Judah through the Babylonians. Thinking God was going to bring revival, Habakkuk has questions about God's way of handling the situation which goes against God's character. From this passage we learn a powerful lesson that spiritual problems require spiritual solutions from the only spiritual source - God, the Father. 

The First Response / Habakkuk 1: 5-11

In verses 1-4, Habakkuk is expressing deep grief and disappointment about the behavior of the Israelites and mourning the apparent injustice of God regarding the situation. He demonstrates the lamenting process: Turning to God, Crying Out to Him, Appealing to God for Him to Hear and Respond, and Confessing Trust. In verses 5-11, the Lord responds with a seemingly unconventional plan to handle things.

The First Lament / Habakkuk 1: 1-4

The prophet Habakkuk begins a conversation with God sharing his laments about the Israelites and questions about God's lack of intervention. 

The Red Letter Challenge - Going

The church will only grow if people share in bold proclamation the message of the Son, Jesus Christ. His message is the only message; for it is good. It’s the only message that has the power to completely change a person’s life at a heart level.

The Red Letter Challenge - Serving

As Christ followers, our posture of serving is found in Luke 5: 4-11  "Because you say so, I will."

The Red Letter Challenge - Forgiving

Our goal, only attainable through Jesus Christ, is to live as there is nothing that can be done to us or against us that we cannot forgive. To forgive means to let go of something and give it to God because you believe He will enact better justice than you could.