Victory In Defeat

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Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Pastor James May

VICTORY IN DEFEAT

Wednesday, January 30, 2002

Habakkuk 3:16-19, “When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor 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: 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 in feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

Surely we are living in the last days before the coming of the Lord to call His Bride, the True Church, to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are living in troublesome times. We have nothing to fear even though the world is destined for destruction.

As we face these times it is interesting to note the difference in the attitudes and outlook between those of us who know Jesus as Lord and those who have no hope and those whose hope in anchored in the Lord

Habakkuk, the Prophet, lived in some very troublesome times also. Israel was on the very brink of destruction as God was soon to pour out His judgments upon a sinful and idolatrous nation. They had turned their backs on God and had given God no choice but to punish them so that they would turn back to Him in repentance.

The world trembles in fear at the thought of what tomorrow may bring. There is no hope in them. I know that there are some who believe that man will solve all of his own problems; that man is his own God; and that we will get better and better until we reach Utopia.

Any sane and rational person can quickly see that this just won’t happen. Every day grows more evil. Darkness and the powers of Hell are rampant in the hearts and lives of people everywhere. There is no community nor, is there a single family that is not touched greatly by sickness, disease and death.

The governments of the world are in trouble. They cannot stop economic disaster. Time and again we hear of the possibility of devastating famines and dreadful epidemics around the globe. This little terrestrial ball we call Earth seems to be growing smaller and smaller. It took months to circumnavigate the globe only a hundred years ago and now we can do in only a few hours. Man’s ability to destroy himself and all life on earth has long been a reality.

In the early 60’s the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to very brink of destruction but now we have weapons that are far more powerful and destructive that those of the 60’s. One single bomb can now do more damage than nearly all of those put together in its destructive force. In our warped way of thinking, we have even devised weapons that will kill people but not destroy buildings or other material wealth.

My friend, America doesn’t need an enemy missile to do that. Our own attitudes, our own disregard for what is right, our own black heart of sin will bring us to destruction just as surely as an atom bomb. We don’t need another nation to invade and conquer. We will conquer ourselves by our own actions.

I remember the speech that Mr. Nakita Kruschev, the Russian Premier, made when he said that Communism would prevail without firing a single shot. "We will Bury You ", he proclaimed as he beat the podium of the United Nations Assembly with the heel of his shoe that he held in his hand. Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps not. I’m not totally convinced that Communism is dead yet. All it would take is for a hard-line conservative communist premier to be elected or appointed to Russia and we would be right back where we began. But communism and socialism isn’t our worst enemy. Our worst enemy is the enemy within our own borders. It is the very heart of our people that is shaking its fist in the face of Almighty God.