LESSON #2 CHAPTER 2 HE'S THERE, ADMIT YOUR SIN, EMBRACE HIM

SIN IS RAMPANT----GOD IS THERE HE KNOWS 1. Do you ever wonder if some people will ever get caught in the sin they are committing? Do you continue in sin assuming God doesn't know? OFTEN I CONTEMPLATE OR AM DISCOURAGED BECAUSE SOMEONE I KNOW OR I HAVE BEEN SINNED AGAINST. THE VARIATION OF SIN OFFENSES ARE VAST, BUT SOME ARE VERY HURTFUL AND HAVE LASTING IMPACT ON OTHERS LIFE AND MY OWN. THE SIN MAY BE SIN THAT WE CANNOT EVEN KNOW THE COMPLETE EXTENT OF MM ANOTHER'S SIN. PERHAPS WE SIT FOR YEARS AND WATCH OTHERS TREAT PEOPLE HORRIBLY AND WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR SIN. WHERE IS GOD? DOES HE CARE? WHY DOES HE NOT ANSWER. HAS HE FORGOTTEN ME? SURELY, HE HASN'T.....LET'S EMBARK ON THE HEART OF OUR GOD AND HIS WAYS. WE ALSO MUST SEE WHY GOD RESPONDS THE WAY HE DOES AT TIMES. LET'S LOOK DEEP and HARD AND SEE WHAT OUR SAVIOR WILL REVEAL TO US. REVIEW ON THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK 2. In review, who wrote the book of Habakkuk? Who is the conversation with in the book? What is the dilemma the author is facing? What is going to happen ultimately to Judah? HAB. 1:1 THE ORACLE OF HABAKKUK THE PROPHET 1:2 HOW LONG O LORD WILL I CALL FOR HELP.... 1:6 FOR BEHOLD, I AM RAISING UP THE CHALEDEANS, THAT FIERCE and IMPETEOUS PEOPLE, WHO MARCH THROUGH DWELLING PLACES WHICH ARE NOT THEIRS. 1:11 THEN THEY WILL SWEEP THROUGH LIKE THE WIND AND PASS ON. BUT THEY WILL BE HELD GUILTY, THEY WHOSE STRENGTH IS THEIR GOD. AUTHOR'S HEART IS HEAVY OUR HEART MAY BE HEAVY ALSO 3. What makes your heart heavy? Does our current situation in our country break your heart? Are your appalled by what you see on television? Do you listen to the young people around you and cry for God to change their thinking? Does the state of the church of God alarm you? When you hear Scripture do you consider how far you have fallen from the glory of God? OR Are you comfortable with our moral compass in the United States? Is the biggest concern you have about our economy? Do you consider yourself to a whole lot better than those around you? LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING TOP HEAD LINES OVER THE LAST WEEK.... PORN INDUSTRY PLAGUED WITH HIV, BUT THEY ARE USING CONDOMNS DOOGIE HOWSER AND PARTNER ARE PROUD FATHERS TO TWINS, A BOY AND A GIRL DAVID ARQUETTE DISHES ON HIS MARRIAGE TO COURTNEY COX JESSE JAMES RELATIONSHIP OVER ? 4. How does your thinking give evidence to your spiritual condition? Read Is. 6:3-5 and I Co.7:24

WHEN WE SEE THE HOLINESS OF GOD WE ARE CONVICTED FOR OUR LACK OF HOLINESS And one called out to another and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? WHEN WE LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF WHERE WE ARE AT. WE M DISPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE. WE TAKE WHAT IS SACRED TO GOD and FASHION IT INTO MAN-MADE LAWS (PARTICULARLY MARRIAGE). WE FORSAKE OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR THE IDOL OF MONEY. WE WORRY MORE ABOUT OUR LEISURE AND COMFORT THAN MAKING SACRIFICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. 5. Read Habakkuk 1:2-4 and list the crimes the nation of Judah was committing. As a reminder who was Judah? What were they to be like? Deu. 7:6-10 FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD; THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BE A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLES WHO ARE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. THE LORD DID NOT SET HIS LOVE ON YOU NOR CHOOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE MORE IN NUMBER THAT ANY OF THE PEOPLES, FOR YOU WERE THE FEWEST OF ALL PEOPLES, BUT BECAUSE THE LORD LOVED YOU AND KEPT THE OATH WHICH HE SWORE TO YOUR FOREFATHERS, THE LORD BROUGHT YOU OUT BY A MIGHTY HAND and REDEEMED YOU FROM THE HOUSE OF SLAVERY , FROM THE HAND OF PHAROAH THE KING OF EGYPT. KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD, HE IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL GOD, WHO KEEPS HIS COVENANT and HIS LOVINGKINDNESS TO A THOUSANDTH GENERATION WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; BUT REPAYS THOSE WHO HATE HIM TO THEIR FACES, TO DESTROY THEM; HE WILL NOT DELAY WITH HIM WHO HATES HIM, HE WILL REPAY HIM TO HIS FACE. VIOLENCE INIQUITY WICKEDNESS DESTRUCTION VIOLENCE STRIFE CONTENTION LAW IS IGNORED JUSTICE IS NEVER UPHELD WICKED SURROUND THE RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE COMES OUT PERVERTED

6. Read how God's people (in this case Israel) responded when confronted with their sin. Je. 2:34-35 How would you describe their attitude towards sin? ALSO ON YOUR SKIRTS IS FOUND THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE INNOCENT POOR; YOU DID NOT FIND THEM BREAKING IN. BUT IN SPITE OF ALL THESE THINGS, YET YOU SAID, 'I AM INNOCENT; SURELY HIS ANGER IS TURNED AWAY FROM ME.' BEHOLD I WILL NOT ENTER INTO JUDGMENT WITH YOU BEAUSE YOU SAY , 'I HAVE NOT SINNED.' How would you describe their attitude towards their sin? 7. Look at the charts that are enclosed in your notes. Look at the chart of the Kings of Judah. Do you remember which king we talked about last week that humbled himself when he had heard the word of God was lost in the house of God? Take a quick glance at the same chart, do you think the nation of Judah had good teaching and leadership and if so, why do you think they would turn away from God? THE PEOPLE HAD THE WORD OF GOD, BUT CHOSE TO LIVE LIFE NOT ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN.

8. Look at God's response to Josiah finding the word of God and compare it with God's reaction to the people of Judah. 2 Ki. 22:18-10 , 2 Ki. 22:16-17 God in response to Josiah: God would gather him to his _________FATHERS, gathered to __________GRAVE in peace, and he would not see the ____________EVIL which God was going to bring upon Judah. Go in response to Judah: v. 17) Because you have ____________FORSAKEN Me and have burned incense to other gods that they may provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my _____________WRATH burns against this place. 9. After listening to the way Israel responded to the chastisement of God, what can you learn from them? In other words, how does God want you to respond to His word or from a rebuke from someone? GOD WOULD WANT ME TO BE SENSITIVE AT ALL TIMES TO HIS WORD, BY BEING IN IT. NOT OVERLOOKING MY OWN SIN, WHICH IS AN EASY HABIT TO GET INTO. HE WANTS ME TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SIN IN MY OWN LIFE. I OUGHT TO ALWAYS REALIZE THAT I AM A SINNER AND THAT I HAVE NOT ARRIVED. I NEED TO HAVE A GRACIOUS APPROACH WITH OTHERS IN REGARDS TO THEIR SIN, ESPECIALLY LOOKING TO MYSELF AND VIEWING SOMEONE ELSE WITH CONTEMPT OR DISDAIN REGARDING THEIR SIN. BE CAREFUL TO GET RID OF THE SIN WITHIN. PROPHETS DURING JUDAH'S LAST TIMES: HABAKKUK, JEREMIAH,

DANIEL, EZEKIEL 10. Briefly surveying the beginning of the book of Jeremiah, we sin the condition of israel/Judah. Listen carefully to this account to the people. Note: Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Can you see why the prophet would be named this? Jer. 2: 1-3 What was the nation's relationship to God like previous to their sinful condition? 2:2 DEVOTION OF YOUR YOUTH D____________EVOTED 2:2 LOVE OF YOUR BETROTHALS L_________OVE 2:2 FOLLOWING ME IN THE WILDERNESS F_____________OLLOWED 2:3 ISRAEL WAS HOLY TO THE LORD H___________OLY The nation of Israel gone astray from the Lord (and then Judah): 2:5 THEY WENT FAR FROM ME 2:5 WALKED AFTER EMPTINESS AND BECAME EMPTY 2:7 YOU CAME AND DEFILED MY LAND 2:7 MY INHERITANCE YOU MADE AN ABOMINATION 2:8 THE PRIESTS DID NOT SAY, WHERE IS THE LORD 2:8 THOSE WHO HANDLE THE LAW DID NOT ____________KNOW ME 2:8 THE LEADERS TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME 2:8 PROPHETS PROPHESIED BY BAAL 2:8 WALKED AFTER THINGS THAT DID NOT PROFIT 2:11 MY PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED THEIR GLORY, FOR THAT WHICH DOES NOT PROFIT 2:13 COMMITTED 2 EVILS: _____________FORSAKEN ME AND HEW FOR THEMSELVES CISTERNS 2:17 HAVE YOU NOT DONE THIS TO YOURSELF BY FORSAKING THE LORD YOUR GOD 2:18 ON THE ROAD TO EGYPT TO DRINK THE WATERS OF THE NILE 2:18 ON THE ROAD TO ASSYRIA TO DRINK THE WATERS OF THE EUPHRATES 2:20 YOU SAID I WILL NOT ____________SERVE 2:20 YOU HAVE LAIN DOWN AS THE HARLOT 2:21 TURNED YOURSELF INTO THE DEGENERATE SHOOTS OF A FOREIGN VINE 2:22 STAIN OF THEIR INIQUITY BEFORE GOD 2:23 SAY THEY ARE NOT DEFILED 2:23 I HAVE NOT GONE AFTER THE BAALS 2:23 A SWIFT YOUNG CAMEL ENTANGLING HER WAYS 2:24 A WILD DONKEY ACCUSTOMED TO THE WILDERNESS 2:25 I HAVE LOVED______________ STRANGERS AND WALK AFTER THEM 2:26 SHAMED 2:27 SAY TO A TREE YOU ARE MY FATHER 2:27 TO A STONE YOU GAVE ME BIRTH 2:27 THEY HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK FROM ME 2:28 GODS YOU HAVE MADE FOR YOURSELF 2:29 CONTENDS WITH GOD

2:29 ______________TRANSGRESSED AGAINST GOD 2:30 SONS ACCEPTED NO CHASTENING 2:30 YOUR SWORD HAS DEVOURED YOUR PROPHETS 2:31 O, GENERATION, HEED THE WORD OF THE LORD. HAVE I BEEN A WILDERNESS TO ISRAEL, OR A LAND OF THICK DARKNESS? WHY DO MY PEOPLE SAY, 'WE ARE FREE TO ROAM; WE WILL NO LONGER COME TO YOU'? 2:32 MY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ME DAYS WITHOUT NUMBER 2:33 TAUGHT WICKED WOMEN YOUR WAYS 2:34 LIFEBLOOD OF THE INNOCENT POOR 2:35 SAY YOU HAVE NOT SINNED 3:1 ______________HARLOT WITH MANY LOVERS 3:6 FAITHLESS ISRAEL 3:6 HARLOT 3:7 I THOUGHT, 'AFTER SHE HAS DONE ALL THESE THINGS SHE WILL RETURN TO ME'; BUT SHE DID NOT RETURN, AND HER TREACHEROUS SISTER JUDAH SAW IT.... 3:8 .. BUT SHE (JUDAH) WENT and WAS A HARLOT ALSO NOTE: 2:13 WHAT DID THE NATION OF JUDAH EXCHANGE? GOD WHO HELD LIVING WATERS FOR BROKEN CISTERNS THAT HOLD NO WATER. 2:19 YOUR OWN WICKEDNESS WILL CORRECT YOU, AND YOUR APOSTASIES WILL REPROVE, YOU: KNOW THEREFORE AND SEE THAT IT IS EVIL AND BITTER FOR YOU TO FORSAKE THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND THE DREAD OF ME IS NOT IN YOU, DECLARES THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS. What can we learn about God and His dealings with Israel/Judah? 2:5 WHAT INJUSTICE DID YOU FIND IN ME? 2:6 BROUGHT US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT 2:6 LED US THROUGH THE WILDERNESS 2:7 BROUGHT YOU INTO THE FRUITFUL LAND = 2:9 THEREFORE, WILL CONTEND WITH YOU, DECLARES THE LORD 2:9 AND WITH YOUR SONS SONS I WILL CONTEND 2:20 I BROKE YOUR YOKE AND TORE YOUR BONDS 2:21 I HAVE PLANTED YOU A CHOICE VINE, A COMPLETELY FAITHFUL SEED 11. What can you learn from your own sinfulness? What does God want from you? Is it any different than what He wanted from Judah? What can you learn from their mistakes? Read 2 Co.7:9-11 Worldly sorrow vs. Genuine sorrow I NOW REJOICE, NOT THAT YOU WERE MADE SORROWFUL, BUT THAT YOU WERE MADE SORROWFUL TO THE POINT OF REPENTANCE; FOR YOU WERE SORROWFUL ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, SO THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SUFFER LOSS IN ANYTHING THROUGH US. FOR THE SORROW THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD PRODUCES REPENTANCE WITHOUT REGRET, LEADING TO SALVATION, BUT THE SORROW OF THE WORLD PRODUCES DEATH. FOR BEHOLD WHAT EARNESTNESS THIS VERY THING, THIS GODLY SORROW, HAS PRODUCED IN YOU; WHAT VINDICATION OF YOURSELVES, WHAT INDIGNATION, WHAT FEAR, WHAT LONGING, WHAT ZEAL, WHAT AVENGING OF WRONG. IN EVERYTHING YOU

DEMONSTRATED YOURSELVES TO BE INNOCENT IN THE MANNER. 12.What has the Holy Spirit taught you today? What hope do we have or can others have? Why should we fear God? What would God have you to do? Take a moment and write down what you need to do.

LESSON #2 CHAPTER 2 HE'S THERE, ADMIT YOUR SIN, EMBRACE HIM

1. Do you ever wonder if some people will ever get caught in the sin they are committing? Do you continue in sin assuming God doesn't know? 2. In review, who wrote the book of Habakkuk? Who is the conversation with in the book? What is the dilemma the author is facing? What is going to happen ultimately to Judah?

3. What makes your heart heavy? Does our current situation in our country break your heart? Are your appalled by what you see on television? Do you listen to the young people around you and cry for God to change their thinking? Does the state of the church of God alarm you? When you hear Scripture do you consider how far you have fallen from the glory of God? OR Are you comfortable with our moral compass in the United States? Is the biggest concern you have about our economy? Do you consider yourself to a whole lot better than those around you? 4. How does your thinking give evidence to your spiritual condition? Read Is. 6:3-5 and I Co.7:24

5. Read Habakkuk 1:2-4 and list the crimes the nation of Judah was committing. As a reminder who was Judah? What were they to be like? Deu. 7:6-10

6. Read how God's people (in this case Israel) responded when confronted with their sin. Je. 2:34-35 How would you describe their attitude towards sin?

7. Look at the charts that are enclosed in your notes. Look at the chart of the Kings of Judah. Do you remember which king we talked about last week that humbled himself when he had heard the word of God was lost in the house of God? Take a quick glance at the same chart, do you think the nation of Judah had good teaching and leadership and if so, why do you think they would turn away from God?

8. Look at God's response to Josiah finding the word of God and compare it with God's reaction to the people of Judah. 2 Ki. 22:18-10 , 2 Ki. 22:16-17 God in response to Josiah: God would gather him to his _________, gathered to __________ in peace, and he would not see the ____________ which God was going to bring upon Judah. God in response to Judah: v. 17) Because you have ____________ and have burned incense to other gods that they may provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my _____________ burns against this place. 9. After listening to the way Israel responded to the chastisement of God, what can you learn from them? In other words, how does God want you to respond to His word or from a rebuke from someone? GOD WOULD WANT ME TO BE SENSITIVE AT ALL TIMES TO HIS WORD, BY BEING IN IT. NOT OVERLOOKING MY OWN SIN, WHICH IS AN EASY HABIT TO GET INTO. HE WANTS ME TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SIN IN MY OWN LIFE. I OUGHT TO ALWAYS REALIZE THAT I AM A SINNER AND THAT I HAVE NOT ARRIVED. I NEED TO HAVE A GRACIOUS APPROACH WITH OTHERS IN REGARDS TO THEIR SIN, ESPECIALLY LOOKING TO MYSELF AND VIEWING SOMEONE ELSE WITH CONTEMPT OR DISDAIN REGARDING THEIR SIN. BE CAREFUL TO GET RID OF THE SIN WITHIN. PROPHETS DURING JUDAH'S LAST TIMES: HABAKKUK, JEREMIAH, DANIEL, EZEKIEL

10. Briefly surveying the beginning of the book of Jeremiah, we sin the condition of israel/Judah. Listen carefully to this account to the people. Note: Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Can you see why the prophet would be named this? Jer. 2: 1-3 What was the nation's relationship to God like previous to their sinful condition? 2:2 D____________ 2:2 L_________ 2:2 F_____________ 2:3 H___________ The nation of Israel gone astray from the Lord (and then Judah): 2:5 THEY WENT FAR FROM ME 2:5 WALKED AFTER EMPTINESS AND BECAME EMPTY 2:7 YOU CAME AND DEFILED MY LAND 2:7 MY INHERITANCE YOU MADE AN ABOMINATION 2:8 THE PRIESTS DID NOT SAY, WHERE IS THE LORD 2:8 THOSE WHO HANDLE THE LAW DID NOT ____________ ME 2:8 THE LEADERS TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME 2:8 PROPHETS PROPHESIED BY BAAL 2:8 WALKED AFTER THINGS THAT DID NOT PROFIT 2:11 MY PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED THEIR GLORY, FOR THAT WHICH DOES NOT PROFIT 2:13 COMMITTED 2 EVILS: _____________ ME AND HEW FOR THEMSELVES CISTERNS 2:17 HAVE YOU NOT DONE THIS TO YOURSELF BY FORSAKING THE LORD YOUR GOD 2:18 ON THE ROAD TO EGYPT TO DRINK THE WATERS OF THE NILE 2:18 ON THE ROAD TO ASSYRIA TO DRINK THE WATERS OF THE EUPHRATES 2:20 YOU SAID I WILL NOT ____________ 2:20 YOU HAVE LAIN DOWN AS THE HARLOT 2:21 TURNED YOURSELF INTO THE DEGENERATE SHOOTS OF A FOREIGN VINE 2:22 STAIN OF THEIR INIQUITY BEFORE GOD 2:23 SAY THEY ARE NOT DEFILED 2:23 I HAVE NOT GONE AFTER THE BAALS 2:23 A SWIFT YOUNG CAMEL ENTANGLING HER WAYS 2:24 A WILD DONKEY ACCUSTOMED TO THE WILDERNESS 2:25 I HAVE ______________ AND WALK AFTER THEM 2:26 SHAMED 2:27 SAY TO A TREE YOU ARE MY FATHER 2:27 TO A STONE YOU GAVE ME BIRTH 2:27 THEY HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK FROM ME 2:28 GODS YOU HAVE MADE FOR YOURSELF 2:29 CONTENDS WITH GOD 2:29 ______________ GOD

2:30 SONS ACCEPTED NO CHASTENING 2:30 YOUR SWORD HAS DEVOURED YOUR PROPHETS 2:31 O, GENERATION, HEED THE WORD OF THE LORD. HAVE I BEEN A WILDERNESS TO ISRAEL, OR A LAND OF THICK DARKNESS? WHY DO MY PEOPLE SAY, 'WE ARE FREE TO ROAM; WE WILL NO LONGER COME TO YOU'? 2:32 MY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ME DAYS WITHOUT NUMBER 2:33 TAUGHT WICKED WOMEN YOUR WAYS 2:34 LIFEBLOOD OF THE INNOCENT POOR 2:35 SAY YOU HAVE NOT SINNED 3:1 ______________ WITH MANY LOVERS 3:6 FAITHLESS ISRAEL 3:6 HARLOT 3:7 I THOUGHT, 'AFTER SHE HAS DONE ALL THESE THINGS SHE WILL RETURN TO ME'; BUT SHE DID NOT RETURN, AND HER TREACHEROUS SISTER JUDAH SAW IT.... 3:8 .. BUT SHE (JUDAH) WENT and WAS A HARLOT ALSO 2:5 2:6 2:6 2:7 What can we learn about God and His dealings with Israel/Judah? WHAT INJUSTICE DID YOU FIND IN ME? BROUGHT US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT LED US THROUGH THE WILDERNESS BROUGHT YOU INTO THE FRUITFUL LAND

2:9 THEREFORE, WILL CONTEND WITH YOU, DECLARES THE LORD 2:9 AND WITH YOUR SONS SONS I WILL CONTEND 2:20 I BROKE YOUR YOKE AND TORE YOUR BONDS 2:21 I HAVE PLANTED YOU A CHOICE VINE, A COMPLETELY FAITHFUL SEED 11. What can you learn from your own sinfulness? What does God want from you? Is it any different than what He wanted from Judah? What can you learn from their mistakes? Read 2 Co.7:9-11 Worldly sorrow vs. Genuine sorrow

12.What has the Holy Spirit taught you today? What hope do we have or can others have? Why should we fear God? What would God have you to do? Take a moment and write down what you need to do.