Habakkuk: Rejoice in the LORD becuase of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Open to Habakkuk 3:17-19 this evening.
Jesus is King and he will crush those that resist him.
This is not the Jesus you hear about today.
He is the one that grants repentance to Ninivah and 80 years later pronounces judgment on them.
We see that God has a purpose for all things and that even the wicked nation of the world are there for God purposes,
He uses them to “O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.” (Hab 1:12, ESV)
The Lord Establishes the Wicked for Reproof and he will also judge them for their wickedness.
What you intended for Evil
No one can say, well God wanted me to be evil.
We also saw how “the man more righteous than he?” (Hab 1:13, ESV)
There are those more righteous,
Noah, Daniel, Job, Zachariah
No one is holy.
There is no one so righteous that they are right rightfully under God’s Judgment.
Being in Adam.
Federal headship is a consept so few understand.
“Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God. 43% of believe” [1]
If you don't know Jesus is God there is no way you can have the confidence we will see in Habakkuk closing words.
Please Stand for the reading of God’s Word
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible, and Sufficient Word
Lets Pray
Transition
Transition
Habakkuk says, “fig tree should not blossom” take a look at verse 17.
Body
Body
The Down Fall of the Wicked is Costly to all
The Down Fall of the Wicked is Costly to all
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
Fig tree is the consistence source
Vines
Olives
Fields
Flock and Heard
All of living lost
The reality that God will judge the wicked and that judgment often means loss of livelihood even for believers.
No one is holy. No one.
Even Zachariah fell into disbelief
This is a very real reality that we will most likely face here
how long can evil run a country before its falls apart.
How long can a company stay on course and make good difference when the leaders cannot tell the difference between a man and a woman?
How long will a nation stand when every year 1,000,000 babies are murdered, there goes the work force, there goes the next generation.
There are many more examples, but the point is that a wicked nation cannot stand, and just like Babylon, Medoprusia, greece, rome, and many many other nations before, the US will fall if it continues to be the exporter of wickedness to the world.
On a note Dr Mohlor had a some very good observations concerning this this week.
And when it fall, its will be costly, lively hoods will be removed either by economic claps or war.
Transition
Transition
Habakkuk see this unfolding.
He said in Ch 1, Lords you have appointed the the Chaldeian as a judgment on Israel and you have said you will judge the Chaldeian
What is the response? See verse 18.
God is My Salvation
God is My Salvation
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
I want you to think about how counter cultural this is.
I am not talking about counter secular culture, I am talk about counter to christian culture.
When you are facing a hard time, what is it you hear most?
You can slay that Goliath
No weapon formed against you will prosper
God has good plans for you
God would never let one of his children suffer
And there are many many more.
No more figs, grapes, olives, grain, goats, cows, its gone. God has justly judged it all.
But me I will rejoice, I will take joy.
Again lets think about this for a moment.
You lost, job, car, health, house, all of it.
how other to Christians look at each other rejoice, have joy.
Calvin says it like this, “The Prophet declares now at large what that rest would be of which he had spoken; it would be even this—that he would not cease to rejoice in God, even in the greatest afflictions. He indeed foresees how grievous the impending punishment would be, and he warns also and arouses the faithful, that they might perceive the approaching judgment of God.” [2]
This is where we are at Brothers and sisters
The very real relative is the this nation and indeed most the world is on a coalition course with catastrophe.
“Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.” (2 Co 3:10, ESV)
“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19, ESV)
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Php 3:8, ESV)
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Php 4:7, ESV)
You cannot have the peace, this knowledge of Christ on your own.
Saturate you mind in the word, Prayer constantly, and relay on the Holy Spirit to enliven those things.
Transition
Transition
See what Habakkuk says in version 19.
What Does the Salvation of God Look Like
What Does the Salvation of God Look Like
19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
The Lord is my Strength,
“he makes my feet like the deer’s”
“he makes me tread on my high places”
He does it, He give you strength, he give you assurance.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Remember Sunday's exhortation, do not doubt what God can do.
He is the one that will bring you peace and he will do that.
Jesus said I will never leave you, never, do you believe that.
Benediction
Benediction
24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
References
References
[1] https://thestateoftheology.com/data-explorer/2022/7?AGE=30&MF=14®ION=30&DENSITY=62&EDUCATION=62&INCOME=254&MARITAL=126ÐNICITY=62&RELTRAD=62&EVB=2&ATTENDANCE=254
[2] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 4 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 173.
Bibliography
Bibliography