Extra Strength; The Path to Praise is Sometimes Through Our Problems

SERIES TITLE

EXTRA STRENGTH

 

THE PATH TO PRAISE IS SOMETIMES THROUGH OUR PROBLEMS

HABAKKUK 3: 17-19

January 12, 2020 PM

Habakkuk 3: 17-19 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—18Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. This means it is a song and Luke will play it on the guitar

 

 

 

Sometimes we arrive at praise through our problems.

 

You don’t have a story until something goes wrong.

 

We don’t really understand faith until something goes wrong.

He did not understand but he did know where to turn.

 

 

 

Let’s see how to process our problems and arrive at praise.

 

1. PROCESSING THE PROBLEM

 

 

Habakkuk 1:2-4 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear?

Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.3Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

 

 

He was overwhelmed with the breakdown of morality in his day.

 

Barna reported in 2016 that a majority of American adults across age group, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and political ideology expresses concern about the nation’s moral condition—eight in 10 overall (80%). 

 

 

“The highest good, according to our society, is ‘finding yourself’ and then living by ‘what’s right for you,” says David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group

 

 

Habakkuk 1:6-7 Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded!

For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.

 

 

 

 

 

Habakkuk 1:13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,

And cannot look on wickedness.

Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,

And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours

A person more righteous than he?

 

 

 

Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

 

 

 

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.

 

 

 

 

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

 

 

 

Galatians 5:6, 14  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  

 

 

 

I’d rather be in the hands of Him who has all the answers than to have all the answers.  Robert J. Morgan

 

 

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

 

 

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple.

Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

 

 

 

 

2.PROCEEDING TO PRAISE

 

 

Habakkuk 3:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.

 

 

 

 

Habakkuk 3: 17-19 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 pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

    he enables me to tread on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. (means Luke will play it on the guitar)

 

 

 

Habakkuk 3: 17 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 pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

 

 

Habakkuk 3: 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

 

We rejoice that we still have

• God’s presence

• God’s promises 

• God’s protection

• God’s provision

• God’s providence

 

 

 

Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

    he enables me to tread on the heights.

 

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

I'm so glad I learned to trust Him,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend

And I know that He is with me,

Will be with me to the end.