Rejoice In The Lord
Text: Hab. 3:17-19
Habakkuk was a man of great faith. He had the right perspective on things. He knew what was most important.
It is easy to have a big pep rally when everything is going right, but Hab describes a time when everything around him is desolate. There is nothing to be harvested......no blooms on the fig trees.....no olives to be gathered......the flocks have been destroyed.....yet he says......
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 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.
Psa 31:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice ye righteous: and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart !
Psa 63:8 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Phil 4:4, 1 Thess. 5:16
Story: There was a little old lady who was quite happy about her salvation, and on Sun. morning she would shout ocassionally. But things changed when a new more dignified preacher came to the church. He let it be known to the little old lady that he didn’t care for her shouting. But the next service she let out a few amens, and a couple of “praise the Lord’s”......after the service the preacher met with the deacons, and told them if it happened in the next service that he wanted two of them to escort the lady out of the church. At first they protested, but then agreed.
At the next service.....the little lady got happy again ! She hollered.....”Praise The Lord”. The preacher motioned to the deacons and they got the little lady.....one on each side, picked her up and proceeded to carry her from the sanctuary.........near the back she let out one more loud “Hallelujah !”. The preacher hollered back......”What are you shouting about now ?” Her reply......”When Jesus rode into Jerusalem he didn’t have but one donkey, and I’ve got two of em !”
Can I tell you a secret ? God doesn’t mind if we enjoy our relationship ! He wants us to be joyful ! I see some folks who profess Christ, and I believe if they were to grin.....their face would break ! Come on folks.....the Bible says that we should........Rejoice !!!!
And if you’ve forgotten why.....I’ll remind you !
I. The Salvation Of The Lord Should Cause Us To Rejoice.
Psa 35:8 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation !
Luk 10:20 ........”but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
a. Saved Forever !
Praise the Lord.....rejoice ! If we have been saved by his grace, then we are saved forever ! We are securely in the arms of Jesus ! Sealed by his Spirit ! His Forevermore !
b. Set Free !
We should rejoice as a captive set free !
Kidnapped by the devil......the ransom paid by the precious blood of Jesus....and in the family of God !
c. Sins Forgiven !
Wouldn’t you rejoice if someone paid off all your debt ! Man....let me tell you......I’d kiss’em ! We can rejoice because our sin debt has been paid !
Across the tab God has written in the blood of his Son.........”Paid in Full !”
d. Secured Future !
Our sins forgiven......our future secured ! Heaven is our eternal home ! He’s preparing us a place ! If you’re ready....then REJOICE
II. The Seeking Of The Lord Should Cause Us To Rejoice.
1 Chron. 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Psa 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Seek is “searching out, striving out....spec. in worship & in prayer !
We should rejoice in our opportunity to pray, and worship.....and rejoice when we pray and worship !
Quotes:
When one recalls that we are to rejoice in the Lord always-and then looks in on the average Sunday congregation, he realizes that something has happened to us since Pentecost ! Vance Havner
Today the same church member who yells like a Comanche Indian at a football game sits like a wooden Indian in the house of God on Sunday.
Vance Havner
III. The Sight Of The Lord Should Cause Us To Rejoice
Psa 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities.
We should rejoice because the Lord has no vision problems ! He is able to see, and know our troubles.....
Psa 107:41-42 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice.........”
He knows our
a. adversary
No one knows Satan better than the Lord because he created him in the beginning.
b. anxiety
.The Lord knows when we
c. affliction
The Lord knows our state of mind. He knows our emotionally state !
d. anguish
When we are facing bitterness in our spirit, the Lord sees....knows......and understands !
IV. The Shadow Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice !
Psa 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
a. Shadow speaks of his presence.
When you see the shadow of someone, you know they must be close by....not only is God with the believer, but he is in the believer !
Illust. Footprints
b. Shadow speaks of his protection.
As the mother hen shelters her chicks with her wings, the believer can find the shelter of protection in the Almighty.
c. Shadow speaks of his pursuit.
The Lord is like a shadow which follows us.....pursuing us longing to save those which are lost, and desiring to keep the believer close to him !
V. The Satisfying Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice !
Psa 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Satisfy means......”have enough...have plenty of to the point of weariness ! “
Psa 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
God’s mercy and goodness is overwhelmingly satisfying !
VI. The Soverignty Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice !
Psa 97:1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
a. God reigns over the heathen.
Psa 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen:
b. God reigns over the heavens.
God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
c. God reigns over the habitations.
Psa 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Does God reign in our homes ?
VII. The Sacredness Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice
Psa 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Because he is holy.....
a. We should bow in his presence.
b. We should bestow upon him praises.
c. We can believe in his promises.
d. We can behave by his principles.
In a world sinful world which sometimes seems to have gone mad.....we can rejoice because the Lord is HOLY ! He is sacred !
VIII. The Scripture Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice.
a. His Word Is True.
Psa 108:7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice........”
2 Sam. 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true......”
Psa 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning:........
b. His Word Is Timeless.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.
c. His Word Is Transforming.
Psa 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
IX. The Soon Coming Of The Lord should cause us to rejoice.
a. He’s Coming To Remove Us.
b. He’s Coming To Receive Us.
Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
c. He’s Coming To Reshape Us.
1 Cor 15: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
d. He’s Coming To Reunite Us.
We hoop & holler and get carried away at ball games.....but hardly ever get excited about the Lord. The child of God has reason to shout ! Come on folks......let’s Rejoice In The Lord !
