Will you praise Jesus?
Introduction: In today’s world we see an overwhelming number of people who will move from one position to another at the drop of hat. When the circumstances get a little tough every body abandons ship. Their are very few who wont run the course. This is true in the Prison where I work. This is true of some Christians today. The Question is if all were to fail us. If all were to betray us. Would we stand in the Gap.
Lets look at the Prophet Habakkuk.
As we look at the Book of Habakkuk we find that the Prophet was in the midst of asking God for judgement on Judah. We also see God answering Habakkuk and telling him that judgement was comming via the Chaldeans (Babylonians). Habakkuk, however, can’t understand how God could take and use a Nation and a people worse than those who he was going to punnish to accomplish this task. It was not up to Habakkuk to question yet we see in the final chapter of this Prophets the terms he came to. Habakkuk came to the conclusion that he was not in the position to question only rejoice in a mighty, wonderful, loving God. The question I want to ask today is that can we in the midst of an overwhelming world can we stand in the Gap?
Hab 3:17-19
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Let us Pray!!!
I. Will you rejoice when circumstances overwhelm you.
A. Habakkuk knew that times were going to get difficult
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
1. The mention of the fig tree, the grapevine, the olive, the grain, and flocks covers the entire range of agricultural produce upon which the nation was dependent.
Presumably the reason for the failure of the crops would be the Chaldean invasion. Enemy troops not only lived off the land but often deliberately destroyed trees and crops. An early Egyptian chronicle boasts that the Egyptian soldiers had ruined the fruit trees in one of the coastal plains of Palestine.(from Wycliffe Commentary)
2. Habakkuk was willing to rejoice in the Lord though God was going to destroy his life to promote His Kingdom.
B. We need to realize things will get bad
1. James wrote to the 12 Tribes
James 1:1-2
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(KJV)
2. Let’s look at the Apostles
Acts 5:17-18
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
(KJV)
a. for their preaching and teaching they Got prison
b. we see though that they were still preaching Jesus though they would suffer
Acts 5:29-33
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
(KJV)
c. We see that the circumstances were going to get worse
C. Are we going to praise him when times get tough.
Who was United States Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas? I suppose you could call him a "Mr. Nobody." No law bears his name. Not a single list of Senate "greats" mentions his service. Yet when Ross entered the Senate in 1866, he was considered the man to watch. He seemed destined to surpass his colleagues, but he tossed it all away by one courageous act of conscience. Let’s set the stage.
Conflict was dividing our government in the wake of the Civil War. President Andrew Johnson was determined to follow Lincoln’s policy of reconciliation toward the defeated South. Congress, however, wanted to rule the downtrodden Confederate states with an iron hand. Congress decided to strike first. Shortly after Senator Ross was seated, the Senate introduced impeachment proceedings against the hated President. The radicals calculated that they needed thirty-six votes, and smiled as they concluded that the thirty-sixth was none other than Ross’.
The new senator listened to the vigilante talk. But to the surprise of many, he declared that the president "deserved as fair a trial as any accused man has ever had on earth." The word immediately went out that his vote was "shaky." Ross received an avalanche of anti-Johnson telegrams from every section of the country. Radical senators badgered him to "come to his senses."
The fateful day of the vote arrived. The courtroom galleries were packed. Tickets for admission were at an enormous premium. As a deathlike stillness fell over the Senate chamber, the vote began. By the time they reached Ross, twenty-four "guilties" had been announced. Eleven more were certain. Only Ross’ vote was needed to impeach the President.
Unable to conceal his emotion, the Chief Justice asked in a trembling voice, "Mr. Senator Ross, how vote you? Is the respondent Andrew Johnson guilty as charged?"
Ross later explained, at that moment, "I looked into my open grave. Friendships, position, fortune, and everything that makes life desirable to an ambitions man were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever." Then, the answer came -- unhesitating, unmistakable: "Not guilty!" With that, the trial was over. And the response was as predicted.
A high public official from Kansas wired Ross to say: "Kansas repudiates you as she does all perjurers and skunks." The "open grave" vision had become a reality. Ross’ political career was in ruins. Extreme ostracism, and even physical attack awaited his family upon their return home.
One gloomy day Ross turned to his faithful wife and said, "Millions cursing me today will bless me tomorrow...though not but God can know the struggle it has cost me." It was a prophetic declaration. Twenty years later Congress and the Supreme Court verified the wisdom of his position, by changing the laws related to impeachment.
Ross was appointed Territorial Governor of New Mexico. Then, just prior to his death, he was awarded a special pension by Congress. The press and country took this opportunity to honor his courage which, they finally concluded, had saved our country from crisis and division.
1. Circumstances will sometimes overwhelm you
a. Financially
b. in your marriage
c. with your children
d. in the Church
e. in your witness for Jesus
2. Will we still praise Jesus when the circumstances overwhelm us
a. Folks, Circumstances often get worse before they get better
b. The question is are we going to praise Jesus or not
When I answered the call to preach, My Pastor explained to me that the Devil would be on the attack and that times would get rough. It happened. I’m not telling you to pat myself on the back but it’s important to understand that none are immune to the attack.
II. Will you praise him when people turn against you.
A. When the enemy comes to destroy Judah, Habakkuk will be in the number
1. When the enemy comes he would not be spared.
I am reminded of the reign of Hitler. When Evil comes it spares no one Pain
2. When the Chaldeans came Habakkuk knew he would not be spared
a. When Hitler came All were in danger
B. When everyone turns on you will you still Praise Jesus/ You say it wont.
1. It will happen/ focus on children
a. will you follow the crowed.
2. It has happened to me
3. If you have truly given your life to Jesus it has happened you.
C. When the world turns on you will you still praise Jesus
Archaeologists digging in the remains of a school for imperial pages in Rome found a picture dating from the third century. It shows a boy standing, his hand raised, worshiping a figure on a cross, a figure that looks like a man with the head of an ass. Scrawled in the writing of a young person are the words, "Alexamenos worships his God." Nearby in a second inscription: "Alexamenos is faithful." Apparently, a young man who was a Christian was being mocked by his schoolmates for his faithful witness. But he was not ashamed; he was faithful.
1. When your friends won’t have anything to do with you
2. When your family won’t have anything to do with you
3. When the community turns against you
During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted their freedom and life, but that any refusing would be shot. Terribly frightened, the first seven students trampled the cross under their feet and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit the sacrilegious act. Kneeling beside the cross in prayer for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross, and went out to face the firing squad. Strengthened by her example, every one of the remaining ninety-two students followed her to the firing squad.
D. Three things I noticed in this story
1. Some will run in the face of persecution
2. Some will stand for Jesus
3. Some will be strengthened by the example.
III. Will we rejoice in the God who can give us salvation
A. Habakkuk knew that when it was all said and done God was the only real salvation he had.
1. Habakkuk realized that hard times were coming and God was going to deliver them
2. Even though Habakkuk did not do the evil to be judged he would be in the number that would suffer
B. Habakkuk knew that God would be his strength
1. Jesus is our strength
2. He is the Chief Cornerstone of all spiritual buildings
3. If your sitting here today and have accepted Jesus your a building of spiritual things
a. In history the cornerstone was the point from which all was built. If it wasn’t right then the whole building wasn’t right
4. Jesus is the Cornerstone of that building
Eph 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(KJV)
5. You and I can praise him For his strength in our lives and in His Church
a. now if Jesus is the basis for everything in our lives then when it all goes bad we should cast all our problems with this world on him
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
C. Habakkuk knew that God would take him to High Places.
1. This world may tell you that it can take you to high places
a. The world says Sex
b. The world says adultres behavior
c. Drugs
d. Worldly living
e. modern religion
muslim, hinduism, budist
2. Only Jesus can take you to high
3. Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
4. John 14:2-3
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
(KJV)
Conclusion: The Hope College Women’s basketball team had made it to the national playoffs. The final game saw Hope 20 points behind with 10 minutes left to play. The team remained calm and began to narrow the gap. Then with just 5 seconds remaining, a 3 point basket tied the game. The final score was decided by Dina Disney. With no time left on the clock, she sank two free throws to win the game. When television and press interviewers asked her how she stayed calm under so much pressure, Dina said she recited to herself, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Are circumstances overwhelming you today. Are people and the world seem to have turned their back on you today. I want you to know that God has a plan and he can get you through it. The plan though requires Jesus. If your sitting here today and find yourself falling into the worlds deception then reach out to Jesus and call on his help. Praise him for all things. For out of the Bad comes the Good. Think to yourself today what it must have been like for a Savior to suffer for you and I. God says the Angels in Heaven will rejoice over one saved soul. Out of the Bad comes the Good. If your not praising Jesus and you already know him as your Lord and Savior would you start again today.
