1. The book of Habakkuk can be easily outlined into three parts.

2. In Chapter 1, we see the PERPLEXED PROPHET who brought his problem to the Lord.
3. In Chapter 2, we see the WAITING PROPHET who received the answer from the Lord.
4. In Chapter 3, we see the REJOICING PROPHET who was strengthened in the Lord.
5. We are going to look primarily at Chapter 3 today. Habakkuk was perplexed but thank God he is no longer perplexed. He has heard from heaven. He is worshipping God. Let me ask you: Are you worshipping God this Lord’s Day? Is that why you are here today? To worship God? I hope so.
6. The third chapter of Habakkuk is a poem, apparently a hymn, an anthem of praise. It includes praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and most importantly – a plea for REVIVAL (3:2). Our church needs revival. Our nation needs revival. So today I would like to preach on the subject of revival.

I. IN ORDER TO HAVE REVIVAL, WE FIRST MUST HAVE THE FEAR OF GOD (HAB.3:2).

1. Notice what Habakkuk says. "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid (3:2). Do you know why there is no fear of God today? People are not hearing from God. Habakkuk heard from God. He said: "I have heard thy speech, and was afraid."
2. We can never have revival without the Word of God. And we will not see souls saved without the fear of God.
3. And how can we expect to see God bless our church and to see souls saved when Christians are not right with God, when they are not reading their Bibles, when they are carnal and worldly?
4. If children had the fear of God they would not be fresh to their parents. If parents had the fear of God they would not let their kids do the things they do.
5. Today there are Christian parents who allow their daughters to dress immodestly. We had a lady here who used to be a member whose daughter dressed very immodestly. When I spoke to the mother, she said: "God gave my daughter a nice body. What’s wrong with showing it off." That is wicked! We will never see revival with that kind of perverted thinking.
6. Habakkuk said, "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid…" (Hab.3:2). If I was to ask you now: when was the last time you sat down and read a few chapters in your Bible, I wonder how many could say: "Pastor, I do it every day." Praise God, but how many can truthfully say this?
7. We need to hear from heaven. Habakkuk heard from heaven (3:2). The fearful report to which he refers is the revelation in chapter 2, concerning Judah’s coming chastisement. Are you afraid of God’s chastisement? "O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy" (3:2).
8. In answer to his prayer, Habakkuk received a glorious revelation of God. He saw what is described as a theophany, i.e. a glorious appearing of God (3:3).
9. This is a vision of the second coming of Christ. Isaiah saw this. Daniel saw this. Zechariah saw this. Many of the OT prophets saw this, including Habakkuk.
10. The LORD is seen coming from Teman, one of the great cities of Edom. He is "the Holy One" and He is coming from Mount Paran, between Edom and Sinai (3:3).
11. He is "the Holy One" (3:3). In Chapter 1, Habakkuk was perplexed. He kept thinking that the Babylonians were so wicked and the Jews were so righteous. So why was God allowing these heathen Babylonians to punish His Chosen People? (cf. Hab.1:1-4).
12. But now Habakkuk understands. He has heard from heaven. He has seen "the Holy One" (3:3). Now he was no longer thinking about how bad the Babylonians were. Now he was no longer thinking about how good the Israelites were. Now he was thinking about how holy God was!
13. When we start thinking like that, then God will start to move. Let’s not worry about how bad the heathen are. God will take care of them. Let’s just make sure that we are right with God.
14. Let’s make sure we are right with God, then God will take care of everything else.
15. The NYC area is a mess. But whose fault is it? The politicians? The saloon-owners? The drug-pushers? The prostitutes? The Mafia? WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCHES? Are they winning souls? Are they preaching the Gospel in power? Are the members living holy lives or are they worldly? Revival starts with God’s people.
16. Habakkuk began to realize that the distinction between the Babylonians and the Israelites was relatively unimportant in the light of God’s holiness, in the light of God’s majesty, and in the light of God’s glory.
17. Now Habakkuk saw it – the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Do you see it? Your own sinful heart?

II. AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

1. To properly understand the second coming of Christ, we have to trace it out throughout the Bible. And when we do that we see it is a time of judgment.
2. For example, we see here that our Lord will come from Edom (3:3; cf. Isa.63:1-6).
3. But yet, in the midst of this terrible scene of judgment and anger and fury and vengeance, we read these words: "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save" (Isa.63:1).
4. And Habakkuk asks God, "in wrath remember mercy" (Hab.3:2; cf. 3:13).
5. But the multitudes are rejecting God’s mercy. They reject salvation. They are determined to do things their way. And so God sends the pestilence (Hab.3:5).
6. You will recall Jesus said: "And there shall be famines, and pestilences" (Matt.24:7). This includes herpes and AIDS.
7. The "burning coals" (Hab.3:5) refer to burning plagues (cf. Num.11:1-3; Ps.18:12-14).
8. Proud and arrogant men, haughty unbelievers, knaves and fools are trying to bring in peace on earth without the Prince of Peace. One of the ways they are attempting this is through the UN and their New World Order. But God is going to judge that Christ-rejecting organization (Hab.3:6).
9. If Habakkuk knew that judgment was sure in his day, how much more should we?
10. The newspapers keep telling us nobody cares anymore if all the politicians are adulterers. But I’ll tell you what – God cares.
11. And He cares about abortion, and He cares about homosexuality. And He cares that most so-called churches do not preach the Gospel.

1. Habakkuk said, "When I heard…" (3:16).
2. We have heard God’s Word this Lord’s Day. Now what do we do? (cf. Acts 2:37-41).
3. Habakkuk trembled when he heard from God. But he was "resting" in the LORD (3:16). Are you resting in the Lord? Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you" (John 15:4).
4. Are you abiding in Christ? Or are you in a state of conflict? Are you in the flesh? Are you defeated? Griping? Murmuring?
5. Habakkuk was rejoicing in the LORD, in the God of his salvation (3:18). Is He the God of your salvation?

CONCLUSION:

1. Most of you have probably never heard the name Horatio Spafford. He was an attorney in Chicago, who had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan. Then the great Chicago Fire of 1871wiped out everything he had.
2. Later, he planned a trip to Europe for his family. He was also planning on assisting his good friends D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey in their campaign in Great Britain. Due to unexpected last minute developments, Mr. Spafford had to remain in Chicago, but he sent his wife and four daughters ahead, hoping to follow them in a few days.
3. On November 22, 1873, the ship was struck by another vessel, and it sank in 12 minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone."
4. His four children drowned out at sea. The boat sank and only his wife survived. Mr. Spafford left by ship to join his bereaved wife. Out at sea, near the spot where his four daughters had drowned, Mr. Spafford looked down into the mighty sea.
5. He was a Christian. And he was resting in God. He was abiding in Christ, and trusting in Him. So he could sit down and write these words.

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.