text
stringlengths
6
569
[3500.86 --> 3502.86] Amen.
[3502.86 --> 3504.86] Amen.
[3506.86 --> 3508.86] Amen.
[3522.86 --> 3526.86] Why don't you have a seat now?
[3528.86 --> 3532.98] For those of you who are guests here tonight, my name is Chris.
[3533.22 --> 3536.30] I'm one of the other pastors here at Langley Emanuel.
[3537.30 --> 3543.18] And before we close, I just want to recognize something about tonight,
[3543.44 --> 3548.02] about nights like tonight, and seasons like the one we find ourselves in.
[3550.62 --> 3556.00] It's dark out there, both literally and figuratively.
[3556.00 --> 3563.00] At the time of year where the darkness is the longest and the heaviest that it may feel,
[3563.90 --> 3570.26] and yet here we sing that the light of the world has come into his creation.
[3570.80 --> 3577.86] That God himself, the one who spoke, let there be light, has come into this world.
[3578.84 --> 3581.46] Light has pierced the darkness.
[3581.46 --> 3589.58] And so we have these little lights among us, and you were given a little light on your way in.
[3589.78 --> 3592.94] In just a moment, we are going to sing our closing song.
[3593.92 --> 3600.76] And before we sing, we're going to have a few elders come up to the front, elders from our church.
[3600.76 --> 3608.12] And then Pastor Kevin and I will each light our candles, and then we will pass that light to the elders.
[3608.12 --> 3611.64] And then the elders will go out and pass that light to you.
[3612.04 --> 3614.28] And then you pass it down the row.
[3614.48 --> 3618.82] And in that way, in this moment, the light gets a little bit brighter.
[3619.50 --> 3623.22] And then as we go, we carry that light with you.
[3623.22 --> 3630.16] Now, this is also just a symbol, and so when you get to the doors, please blow your candle out and give it to the person who is there.
[3631.64 --> 3634.82] We don't need flames running around in the foyer afterwards.
[3636.16 --> 3637.98] But here's what else we know.
[3637.98 --> 3645.76] Even as we bring light into the darkness, we do so in a particular way and for particular purposes.
[3645.76 --> 3657.04] I was reflecting with someone this week about a story from the Old Testament, a story of David, before he fights Goliath.
[3658.70 --> 3666.12] In 1 Samuel 16, he is in the court of Saul, who's being oppressed by an evil spirit.
[3666.72 --> 3672.44] There's a darkness on him, and David sings, and the spirit flees.
[3672.44 --> 3681.02] There's something about the church gathering to sing the praises of God that causes the darkness to flee.
[3682.20 --> 3691.52] There's something about the church that gathers to sing the praises of Jesus who enters the world in this time that causes the devil to tremble.
[3693.20 --> 3695.64] And that's why we sing in the darkness.
[3696.92 --> 3699.70] That's why we gather on nights like tonight.
[3699.70 --> 3707.28] And so, even as you go, go singing the praises of our good God.
[3707.58 --> 3711.06] Go also with an invitation to continue singing.
[3711.44 --> 3716.12] Now, if you're a member at another church, we want to encourage you to connect with your churches
[3716.12 --> 3720.16] and for whatever they're doing over the Christmas season, whether it's Christmas Eve or Christmas Day,
[3720.72 --> 3724.42] plug in and sing loudly at those gatherings together.
[3724.42 --> 3732.70] If you're looking for a place to gather on Christmas Day, we will be here at 10 a.m. to sing the glories of our good God.
[3732.84 --> 3734.48] And we invite you to join us for that.
[3735.44 --> 3739.24] But before we go, we're going to receive God's blessing.
[3739.96 --> 3741.44] And so I'm going to invite you to stand.
[3741.44 --> 3749.94] As you stand, I invite you to take a posture of receipt, knowing that it is God himself who meets us here in this place.
[3750.30 --> 3753.68] And that as we sing his praises, he fills us with his spirit.
[3753.92 --> 3761.56] As we stand on his word, he gives us a foundation in and from which to step into whatever comes next.
[3761.56 --> 3764.16] And he goes with us.
[3764.58 --> 3767.16] And so receive the blessing of our God.
[3767.24 --> 3772.48] After the blessing, I'm going to have Pastor Kevin come up and the elders who I spoke to beforehand to come up.
[3772.66 --> 3776.28] And then once we get the first candles lit, you guys may start us in singing.
[3777.34 --> 3778.40] The blessing of God.
[3780.68 --> 3783.24] God go before you to lead you.
[3784.38 --> 3786.84] God go behind you to protect you.
[3788.00 --> 3790.14] God go beneath you to support you.
[3790.14 --> 3793.58] God go beside you to befriend you.
[3794.32 --> 3796.36] Do not be afraid.
[3797.02 --> 3799.02] Let the blessing of God come upon you today.
[3799.14 --> 3800.60] Do not be afraid.
[3801.04 --> 3805.60] But go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
[3806.18 --> 3808.38] All God's people said, amen.
[3820.40 --> 3823.30] God, let the blessing of the Lord.
[3823.38 --> 3826.14] Amen.
[3827.14 --> 3828.36] Amen.
[3828.60 --> 3829.14] Amen.
[3829.14 --> 3859.12] Thank you.
[3859.14 --> 3889.12] Thank you.
[3889.14 --> 3919.12] Thank you.
[3919.14 --> 3949.12] Thank you.
[3949.14 --> 3979.12] Thank you.
[3979.14 --> 4009.12] Thank you.
[4009.14 --> 4039.12] Thank you.
[4039.14 --> 4069.12] Thank you.
• Introduction to a new series on Habakkuk
• Reading and interpretation of Habakkuk 1:1-13
• Addressing the problem of evil and suffering in relation to God's goodness and power
• Personal story of crisis of faith and spiritual depression
• Connection between the problem of evil and Habakkuk's experience
• Acknowledging that many people struggle with similar doubts and questions
• Habakkuk's struggle with evil in the world
• The problem of why evil exists
• God's sovereignty and reasons for all things, including evil
• Historical context: the prophet Habakkuk, Judah, and Babylon
• The background to Habakkuk's prophecy: Babylon's rise to power, defeat of Assyria, and conflict with Egypt
• Judah's history with Babylon: from allies to vassal state
• The betrayal felt by Judah towards Babylon
• The local concerns in Judah: corruption and abuse of religious leaders, the paralyzed law, and injustice
• Habakkuk's cry out to God amidst evil and suffering
• Habakkuk's reaction to the abuses of power and exploitation of the poor in his world
• The problem of evil and why God allows suffering and injustice to exist
• The limitation of human perspective and understanding of God's intentions
• The concept of sovereignty and control, with God being in charge of all history
• Humility and trusting that God can be God despite not knowing the reasons for suffering
• The Christian God's sovereignty and plan amidst human suffering
• Peter Kreeft's quote on the Christian God deliberately experiencing pain through Jesus Christ
• Christianity providing resources for facing suffering with hope and courage
• Trusting in God's goodness despite evil and injustice in the world
• Worship as a response to evil, doubts, and hardships, leading to rest for one's soul
• The importance of community in times of crisis and struggle
[0.00 --> 10.38] this morning in our worship we're gonna start a new series together we're gonna
[10.38 --> 20.94] spend the next few weeks looking at the book of Habakkuk Habakkuk Mr. Eric there's one B not
[20.94 --> 28.08] Habakkuk so we're gonna spend our time in Habakkuk and we're gonna read this morning the first 13
[28.08 --> 34.26] verses and so really encourage you as always to open a Bible have that up on your phone whatever