Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the penand no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Have you ever finished watching the evening news with all the violence and injustice in the world and in frustration asked, "Why isn't God doing something?" Why do the wicked and the dishonest people prosper? Well, that's not a new feeling. A prophet named Habakkuk felt that way around 620 B.C. and wrote a book about it.
Habakkuk's name means to "embrace" or "wrestle." His name has something to do with the message of his book. He was wrestling with a difficult issue: If God is good, then why is there evil in the world? Why do the evil prosper? What is God doing in the world? And the bigger questions: What is our responsibility? How do we as Christ-followers respond?
Join Pastor Merritt for an insightful three-part message series from Habakkuk entitled "Against the Ropes".
| Date |
Message |
Scripture |
File |
| 03/20/11 |
Round 1: Doubting God (On the Ropes, Part 1) |
Habakkuk 1:1-12 |
MP3 |
| 03/27/11 |
Round 2: Debating God (On the Ropes, Part 2) |
Habakkuk 1:13, 2:1-20 |
MP3 |
| 04/03/11 |
Round 3: Defending God (On the Ropes, Part 3) |
Habakkuk 3 |
MP3 |
Three Stories About Being "On the Ropes"
If you missed the live services from this series, here are three video testimonies we produced of people talking about a time when their lives were "on the ropes", and what God did when their faith was tested.
| Date |
Video |
Length |
Link |
| 04/03/11 |
On the Ropes: Laurie |
2:26 |
YouTube |
| 03/27/11 |
On the Ropes: Free |
2:08 |
YouTube |
| 03/20/11 |
On the Ropes: Peter |
2:31 |
YouTube |
Here are several suggestions for additional study on the topic of doubting God. Click a link to purchase the book on Amazon.com.
More resource suggestions are available in the Pastor's Library.
