WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:44.960 Well, today we'll talk about how Habakkuk rehearsed the mighty acts of God. 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:49.420 We'll see that he recognized the reality of his circumstance, 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:53.679 and then finally he resolved to rejoice in the Lord. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.219 Let's look at that second point. 00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:58.399 Habakkuk rehearsed the mighty acts of God. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:04.340 He rehearsed the mighty acts of God, and we see that in verses 3 through 15. 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:11.539 Consistently throughout the scriptures is the intentional rehearsing of God's actions through history. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:16.920 Over and over, God's people are called to remember the mighty acts of God. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.680 Think about how this is exemplified throughout the scriptures. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:28.480 Remember Moses, he dedicated a huge portion of the book of Deuteronomy to rehearsing for the nation of Israel everything that God had done. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:33.560 We often remember Joshua's famous statement that he made to the nation. 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:38.520 And maybe some of you have this displayed somewhere in your house or maybe outside in your yard. 00:01:38.600 --> 00:01:41.580 The statement, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:01:42.020 --> 00:01:42.600 We've heard that. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:43.160 We understand. 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:45.440 We always remember Joshua for that statement, right? 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:54.079 He says, choose you this day whom you will serve, whether it be the God of heaven, Yahweh, or whether it will be the gods that you carried over from Egypt. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:57.500 But for me and my family, we're going to serve the Lord God. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:05.039 Well, that's coming at the tail end of this long message that Joshua had delivered to the nation, where he did exactly what Moses did. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:07.920 He said, remember the mighty works of God. 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:09.719 Remember how he brought you out of Egypt. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:11.719 Remember how he sustained you in the wilderness. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:14.479 Remember how he gave us this land. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.340 Remember how he sustained us in this land. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:23.280 Even in the midst of judgment, like in places like Jericho, he still provided mercy and grace to his people. 00:02:23.399 --> 00:02:25.399 And he says, now choose who you're going to serve. 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:31.500 But for me, I'm going to choose to serve the God who has proven himself time and time again in his power. 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:35.019 When you come to the Psalms and the prophets, it's the same thing. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:44.240 Many of the Psalms and prophets use a rehearsing of God's mighty acts as a precursor to worship. 00:02:44.820 --> 00:02:53.439 They rehearse the mighty acts of God in order to draw our attention to the mighty acts that are coming from God, which is Habakkuk's intention. 00:02:54.260 --> 00:02:56.160 And it's not just an Old Testament practice. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:57.860 It's a New Testament practice. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:05.500 If you study the sermons in the book of Acts and all throughout the New Testament, you'll see over and over the apostles use this same method. 00:03:05.820 --> 00:03:13.460 They would use the rehearsing of God's mighty acts in history as a precursor to their preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:15.180 This is consistent throughout Scripture. 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:18.520 And it ought to be a consistent part of your life and your worship as well. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:26.000 There ought not be many times through your life where there's a drought of remembrance of what God has done. 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:31.660 Not only what God has done through his word as you reflect on the Scriptures, but what God has done in your life. 00:03:32.420 --> 00:03:34.480 In his moments of provision for you. 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:37.660 In his moments of chastening you even. 00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:45.860 Remembering who God is and who we are in light of that is instrumental to walking with God in a helpful way. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:54.320 Tremendous peace can be brought to our perplexities when we stop to rehearse the acts of God through history. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:04:05.680 And energy can be brought to our waning passions of heart when we take time to recall the character of God as it's revealed to us in the Bible. 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:12.220 Nothing can set our hearts right like remembering the holy judgment of God. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:20.019 And nothing can provide rest to our souls like rehearsing God's steadfast love for his people. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:26.379 And here again, we see the importance of the Bible to our daily lives. 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:33.560 We come to it allowing the revelation of God to overwhelm our thoughts and behavior. 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:35.060 That's really its intention. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:36.879 James Boyce said this, 00:04:36.879 --> 00:05:05.959 And with that we remember the simple answer to the question, what is the Bible? 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:08.539 It is the revelation of God. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:09.899 That's what it is. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:12.459 It contains many great ideas. 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.959 But if we're coming to the scriptures on a daily basis or on a weekly basis, Sunday by Sunday, 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:21.339 if we're coming to the scripture and what we're looking for essentially is ideas. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:29.179 Ideas on how that we can be a better spouse or how we can be a better human being or how we can be more successful in our lives 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:32.439 or how we can make friends and influence people. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.160 If we're coming to the scripture for that sole purpose, we're going to get some ideas, 00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:39.400 but we're going to fall far short of what God's intention is in the Bible. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:43.019 The Bible is primarily a revelation of God. 00:05:43.220 --> 00:05:48.100 It is there to show us who God is, who we are in light of who God is. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:54.220 And then as we acknowledge Him, all of the secondary benefits of the Bible start to fall into place. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:57.260 And we start to follow in success. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:02.760 We start to follow in obedience, not because we've come to the scripture for ideas, 00:06:03.020 --> 00:06:05.020 but because we've seen who God is. 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:08.140 And as we see who God is and we submit to Him, 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:11.560 we follow in obedience, which results in blessing. 00:06:11.840 --> 00:06:14.160 And it results in encouragement. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:25.480 Habakkuk here in chapter 3 uniquely employs metaphoric language, poetic expressions to rehearse God's acts. 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:31.140 And like I said, the connections would have been easier, more easily made in ancient times, 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.240 especially with Eastern people groups. 00:06:33.940 --> 00:06:38.340 But Habakkuk's poem refers to God delivering His people in a few different ways. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:43.620 As you read through it, you'll see connections to the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt. 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:50.579 You'll see connections to God's using them in the conquest of Canaan. 00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:59.019 You'll see evidence and connections of God parting the Red Sea and later the Jordan River in order to accommodate His people. 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:05.240 You'll see connections to God's provision as they wondered aimlessly, it seemed like, 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.199 in the years of being in the wilderness. 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:17.199 But Habakkuk's approach, it's meant to draw our attention to the awesome power and glory of God. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:22.939 In order that, people would view the coming invasion, at least in his context, 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:29.839 the coming Chaldean invasion, in light of God's power and His judgment and His salvation. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:35.879 I think a helpful way to look at these few verses, these poetic verses, 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:40.839 is to look at them through the lens of the three Selahs that are mentioned. 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:41.719 Did you notice those? 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:47.000 There's three times in this song that Habakkuk uses the word Selah. 00:07:47.219 --> 00:07:49.620 Now, Selah is not a word to be interpreted. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:52.620 It's a musical or liturgical notation. 00:07:52.620 --> 00:07:56.560 As you see it in the scriptures, it was always in relation to a song, 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:59.379 and it was always meant in the framework of worship, 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:02.540 and it was meant to bring a complete stop to the song. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:07.959 So as Habakkuk says, Selah, he says, take a moment, stop the music, 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:13.800 and take a moment for reflection on what you've just sang or what you've just read 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.639 or what you've just come to understand. 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:19.840 Three different times in this song, Habakkuk uses this liturgical notation, 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:24.259 which means that we're to stop and not so much consider the act 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:27.259 as it is the purpose of the acts that he's just described. 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:29.979 So let's look at those three Selahs just quickly before we move on. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.899 The first one's found in verse number three. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:32.579 Look at it with me. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:38.539 He says, God came from Teman and the Holy One from Mount Paran, Selah. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:41.579 Now, that's not a lot to reflect on there, right? 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:44.419 This one is in relation to God's covenant. 00:08:45.459 --> 00:08:49.360 Teman and Paran are boundaries of the theater of geography 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:53.220 in which God delivered his covenant to the people 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:56.240 where he allowed them to wander in this wilderness. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:59.860 What Habakkuk's doing here is he's drawing right at the very beginning, 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.440 he's drawing the people's attention to the covenant of God. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:09.100 Indicative in this verse, and I believe emphasized in this verse, 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:14.120 is the area of Sinai, which is where Israel camped out before the mountain, 00:09:14.300 --> 00:09:17.560 and Moses went up to the mountain, and he received the Ten Commandments, 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:19.119 and he received the law of God. 00:09:19.339 --> 00:09:23.359 Even before going up into the mountain, God spoke to the nation. 00:09:23.739 --> 00:09:26.279 You remember they trembled at his voice, and they said, 00:09:26.479 --> 00:09:28.199 we don't want to experience that anymore. 00:09:28.619 --> 00:09:31.119 Moses, you go talk to God and just tell us what he says. 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:33.099 They were so fearful in that moment. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:35.939 He's drawing their attention back to that. 00:09:36.199 --> 00:09:38.939 And what's the purpose in drawing their attention of reflection? 00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:40.199 It's on God's covenant. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:41.639 Well, what was God's covenant? 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:47.159 God's covenant was, I am a holy God, and you are sinful people. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:52.199 And because of that sinfulness, you will face my judgment. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:59.759 Unless you follow me in faith, and as you place your faith in me, 00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:04.539 and follow me in obedience, you will receive mercy and salvation. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:08.340 He's drawing their attention to justice and mercy. 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:12.060 Once again, that's to start out, drawing their attention to the covenant. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:13.860 The second one is in verse number 9. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:14.720 Look at it with me there. 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:16.120 Verse 9. 00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:18.720 He says, thy bow was made quite naked. 00:10:18.780 --> 00:10:21.240 It just means that he unsheathed his bow, 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:24.300 and he came forth to provide judgment. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.120 The oaths of the tribes even thy word. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:28.320 Selah. 00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:32.040 And the theme here, and the specific intention of Habakkuk, 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.480 is to emphasize God's justice. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:38.519 The statements leading up to this verse, up to verse 9, 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:40.519 emphasize God's power. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:43.360 He's drawing their attention to God's power, 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:46.920 and then he's connecting that power to the severity of God's judgment, 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:49.379 that everything that they rehearse in history, 00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:53.720 they see the judgment of God being poured out on the wickedness of men. 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:55.720 And so he first draws their attention to the covenant, 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:57.879 and then he draws their attention to justice. 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:02.360 But he finishes on the most blessed of the three, 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.939 and that is in verse 13. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:10.700 He says, you went forth for the salvation of thy people, 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:14.299 even for salvation with thine anointed. 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:17.200 You wounded the head of the house of the wicked 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.759 by discovering the foundation unto the neck. 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:21.840 And then he says, think about that. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:26.919 The verses leading up to this one refer to the conquest of Canaan. 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:29.179 And he makes a reference in verse 11 to Joshua 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:33.599 and a specific act of God's power in Joshua 00:11:33.599 --> 00:11:35.779 in the act of saving his people. 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:41.279 It's a reminder that God will stop at nothing 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:44.939 to not only utilize his power for judgment, 00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:48.379 but his power for mercy and salvation. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:54.700 He'll even go so far as to give his only son 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:58.340 to lay down his perfectly sinless life 00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:00.120 for the sins of mankind. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:04.879 Out of his love, he shows mercy and grace. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:07.179 And when we consider the covenant, 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.580 we see our destiny of judgment, 00:12:09.939 --> 00:12:13.240 but we also see God's provision of mercy 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.740 for all that will follow him. 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:18.019 And that's exactly Habakkuk's intention 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:21.740 in writing this poem, especially this section. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:24.019 Remember the works of God 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:26.019 so that you can see who God is 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:29.940 and be reminded of judgment and mercy. 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:33.100 When Habakkuk wrote this song, 00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:35.919 he didn't intend for it to be a reminder 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.200 of the nation's storied past 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:42.500 in order that the people could take pride in their history. 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.919 That wasn't his purpose. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.340 We could maybe assume that there was a part of that 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:49.740 that Israel might've enjoyed. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.379 Now that they've been carried out of their nation, 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:55.740 they're slaves in Babylon and they sing this song 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:57.019 and they remember what once was, 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:58.919 but that wasn't Habakkuk's intention. 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:03.539 He intended for the nation's history to be relevant 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:06.000 only as it rehearsed the covenant, 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:08.220 justice and salvation of God. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.440 When the people sang this song in captivity, 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.820 he wanted them to remember God, 00:13:14.380 --> 00:13:15.720 not their forefathers. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:19.020 And we use this quote by Martin Lloyd-Jones 00:13:19.020 --> 00:13:20.880 in one of our earlier studies of Habakkuk 00:13:20.880 --> 00:13:22.060 and it's helpful again here. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:24.740 Lloyd-Jones in 1953 said, 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.720 the key to the history of the world 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:28.080 is the kingdom of God. 00:13:28.760 --> 00:13:31.560 The story of other nations mentioned in the Old Testament 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:35.240 is relevant only as it bears upon the destiny of Israel. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:38.659 And ultimately history today is relevant 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:42.279 only as it bears upon the history of the Christian church. 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:46.480 What really matters in the world is God's kingdom 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.740 and that's Habakkuk's intention, 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:51.700 not to look back on what used to be 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:54.399 a wonderfully successful and wealthy nation, 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.220 but to look back and see the mighty acts of God 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:59.480 in order that they may remember who they are 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.940 in light of God and cry out to him for mercy. 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:06.740 So we see Habakkuk rehearses the mighty acts of God. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.380 Thirdly in verse 16, 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.240 we see Habakkuk recognized the reality of his circumstance. 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:16.420 He recognized the reality of his circumstance. 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:18.200 Look with me at verse 16. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:21.800 He has ended his poetry, sort of, 00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:25.720 and now he's addressing again what he's heard from God. 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:27.000 And he says, 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.899 when I heard, my belly trembled, 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:33.759 my lips quivered at the voice, 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:36.720 rottenness entered into my bones, 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:38.120 and I trembled in myself 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.800 that I might rest in the day of trouble. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:44.040 When he comes, that is the Chaldeans at the hand of God, 00:14:44.300 --> 00:14:46.040 when he comes unto the people, 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:49.080 he will invade them with his troops. 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:53.440 As Habakkuk enters into this conclusion, 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.139 he first pulls back the curtain just a bit 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:01.300 and shows us the reality of his own struggle with fear. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.900 And I think this is so important. 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.900 Did you see the ways that he expressed this fear 00:15:07.900 --> 00:15:09.340 in verse 16? 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.980 My belly trembled. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.800 This was a physical fear. 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:16.920 Have you ever been in a situation like that? 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:19.599 Joey's here, I mentioned a while ago, 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.120 we all know him as the pilot, right? 00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.599 And then we've got people like Amy 00:15:22.599 --> 00:15:24.259 who are scared to death to get on a plane, right? 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.419 Amy knows what this is like. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.079 You get on a plane, your belly trembles 00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:28.659 because I'm so scared, right? 00:15:29.099 --> 00:15:30.500 We know that fear. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:34.159 Like you've ever been in a moment of tragedy 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.159 or in a moment of intense fear, 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.379 and you felt that fear, 00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:39.279 you felt that expression in a physical way. 00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:41.439 That's where Habakkuk's at right now. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.259 His belly trembled. 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.719 His lip quivered. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.160 We're seeing one of your kids, 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:48.920 when they get in trouble 00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:51.100 or when they're about to get hurt 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.220 and they start to fall apart emotionally, 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.860 what's the first thing sometimes that starts? 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.360 Is the lip starts to quiver. 00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.740 That's where Habakkuk is at this moment. 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.279 And he emphasizes again 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.060 the physical nature of his fear in this moment. 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.300 He was afraid, 00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:08.700 not only because he has seen the reality 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:11.200 of God's holiness and his own sinfulness, 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.820 but now he's looking ahead 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:14.440 at what God has promised is coming 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.980 in this Chaldean invasion. 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:17.900 And he looks at it and he says, 00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:19.540 this is frightening. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:25.360 I'm scared to death about what is coming 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.400 and what not only me and my family, 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:29.160 but my nation is about to experience. 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:32.100 And I think it's so important to point this out. 00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:36.120 It's not an embellishment on the part of Habakkuk. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:39.940 It's the honest recognition of hardship 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:42.940 and a hardship that he knew was coming. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:47.919 There's a juxtaposition exemplified here 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:50.840 that seems to be ignored, 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:54.759 sometimes even condemned by Christians. 00:16:55.899 --> 00:17:00.879 Some believe that to ignore the true reality 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:03.419 of difficulty is what faith is. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:06.139 They'll be going through a difficult time 00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:08.200 or they'll face a difficult diagnosis 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:11.099 or they'll be going into a season of life 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.379 where there's great tragedy 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.420 or there's great trial, 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.279 there's great burden in their life. 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.220 And instead of really trusting God, 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.220 they just kind of ignore the reality 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.519 of the circumstance around them. 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:22.220 And then they call that faith. 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.039 That's not faith at all. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:27.480 It's not that they're trusting God. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.740 They're just refusing to acknowledge 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.339 the true nature of their trial. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:35.559 The various forms of the prosperity gospel 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:39.799 have robbed us of a biblical theology of suffering, 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:43.259 which in turn has diminished our ability 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:46.519 to effectively point people to Christ in tragedy. 00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:49.819 Think about how this affects our witness sometimes. 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:53.000 When we go through difficulties and trials 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.579 and we ignore the fact of the trial 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:59.519 and we embellish the fruitfulness of life 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.619 or the goodness of life. 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.420 And then we go and we try to share Christ 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:06.019 with an unbelieving friend or family member 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.720 who's going through the same kind of trial, 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.720 the same kind of burden. 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.839 And they just don't understand. 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:11.180 They think that you're out of your mind 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.619 because you just refuse to acknowledge 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:16.099 that life is real and life is hard. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.200 And we really do go through difficult times 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.420 and we try to mask that 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:21.599 and we try to blame God for why we're masking it. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.720 But that's not faith at all. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:26.059 Faith is not ignoring the reality of the situation. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:29.700 Faith is trusting God in spite of the reality of the situation. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:33.159 And Habakkuk is a great reminder of that. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:39.559 And we would do well to develop a strong theology of suffering 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:42.339 because suffering is a reality of life. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:46.039 Habakkuk's transparency here does the opposite 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:48.859 of what we are tempted to do. 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:52.299 And it shows the true strength of his faith 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:55.879 and serves as a backdrop for his resolve to rejoice 00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:57.779 in verses 17 to 19. 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.379 Let's talk about it just a little bit further. 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:04.839 Habakkuk was clearly affected by fear in verse 16. 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:09.180 But in verses 18 and 19, 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:13.059 he proves that he was a man full of faith. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:17.259 And this is the juxtaposition that seems to be ignored. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:21.879 We're often told that fear is the absence of faith, 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:25.060 but Habakkuk's testimony actually tells a different story 00:19:25.060 --> 00:19:27.860 because existing in a matter of four verses 00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:31.460 is a fear that's causing him physical discomfort. 00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:34.540 And yet there is a resolve to rejoice in the Lord 00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:37.260 in a way that none of us have probably experienced. 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.880 How can that be so? 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:43.340 I wanna suggest to you today 00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:46.320 that faith is not the absence of fear. 00:19:47.020 --> 00:19:50.440 It's the absence of a certain kind of fear. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:55.080 If I were to be diagnosed today with terminal cancer 00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:56.480 and my life would be on the line, 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.559 I can fear what's coming 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:04.019 as far as the experience of pain and discomfort and grief 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:06.920 and simultaneously trust completely 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:10.140 in God's plan for my life and in eternity. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:14.400 Fear does not automatically equate to sin, 00:20:14.580 --> 00:20:18.080 but there is a kind of fear that certainly does. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.200 Let me explain. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:23.880 Jesus helps us to understand how this can be true. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:26.000 When he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.799 you remember this, on the night of his arrest, 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:31.840 he instructs his disciples to stay awake. 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.759 It's the middle of the night. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:35.539 He instructs them to stay awake and pray. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:39.259 And then he adds in Matthew 24 and I think Mark 13, 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.740 he adds in this additional phrase. 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.740 And he says, 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:45.039 the spirit truly is willing, 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.980 but the flesh is weak. 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.299 And it's so helpful here. 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:54.339 Essentially, Jesus said there's two parts of a man. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:58.400 There's his spirit and there's his flesh. 00:20:58.579 --> 00:21:02.380 There's this weakness that we live in in this life. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:09.520 Just because you're a believer doesn't mean that you now look at life with a superhuman perspective. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:13.960 Though our spirit is full of faith, 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.660 we are still prone to weaknesses of the flesh. 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:21.160 And while Habakkuk trusted the Lord's plan, 00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:23.860 the thought of the coming invasion, 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:29.620 the thought of the coming invasion left him physically exhausted and overwhelmed, 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:31.460 all in one person. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.160 Why? 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:34.040 Because there's two parts of a man. 00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:37.259 There's our spirit and there's our flesh. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:41.160 Do you think that Daniel faced any kind of fear 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.540 when he was thrown into the den of lions? 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.680 Of course. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:51.820 Do you think that the three Hebrew men felt any kind of fear 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:55.480 when Nebuchadnezzar goes to toss them into the fiery furnace? 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.980 Of course they did. 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:04.680 What about Gideon when he went to fight against the armies of Midian with just 300 people? 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:08.680 What about David when he ran for his life from Saul 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:11.220 and then later on his own son, Absalom? 00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:15.400 Or what about Stephen as he watched the Pharisees 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:17.480 pick which stones they were going to hurl at him 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:19.480 to kill him in the streets of Jerusalem 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:21.820 just for preaching the gospel of Christ? 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.140 Do you think they sensed fear? 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.580 Absolutely they sensed fear. 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:30.380 The strength of these individuals was not in the absence of fear, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:34.380 but in the presence of faith in spite of their fear. 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:37.700 And when we go through trials in life, 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:41.140 we don't prove any faith by ignoring reality, 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:46.820 but by trusting God through the painful acknowledgement of that reality. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.260 And what a great witness of the glorious gospel that can be. 00:22:52.260 --> 00:22:55.200 Rather than ignore the fact that life is difficult, 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.020 we praise the Lord in spite of the difficulty. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:02.839 And we follow him faithfully no matter how hard it gets. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:06.639 But then inevitably, our question then becomes, 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.119 what about 2 Timothy 1.7? 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:11.460 It says, God has not given us a spirit of fear, 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:14.259 but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.839 That's a popular verse right now. 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:19.279 When all the coronavirus stuff first started happening, 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:21.119 you really had kind of two divisions of people. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.799 You probably got all kinds of divisions of people now, 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:24.839 but you really had two in the very beginning. 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.359 And there was the people that were really nervous about it and concerned. 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:29.699 And then there were the people in the Christian realm, 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:32.459 there were the people that were constantly throwing out this verse. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.639 God's not giving us a spirit of fear. 00:23:33.699 --> 00:23:34.740 God's not giving us a spirit of fear. 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.259 And that's true. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:39.419 But what they were leaning into was not a helpful doctrine of suffering. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:43.059 They were ignoring the reality of a circumstance 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:48.039 rather than give glory to God in the difficulty of the circumstance. 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:50.019 What does that verse mean? 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.579 Paul's writing to Timothy 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:56.159 at a time when the church was facing severe persecution. 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.419 Severe. 00:23:58.659 --> 00:24:00.079 Paul's at the end of his life. 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:03.839 He's about to be beheaded for preaching the gospel. 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:07.399 And there's a part in this book where he says that 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:09.839 most people had forsaken him. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:13.759 People that at one time had served with him in the gospel, 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:16.240 churches that had supported him in the gospel, 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.740 had now forsaken him 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:20.500 because of this persecution that was coming against them. 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:22.279 They had begun to deny the gospel. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:27.059 They had begun to be disobedient to God's commands on their life. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:31.079 And Paul writes to Timothy, his right-hand man, 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.720 as he's passing the torch, so to speak, off to Timothy. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.680 And he says, 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.359 God has not given us a spirit of fear, 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.119 but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:49.479 The fact that Paul or Timothy or anyone else would have felt anxiety over the fact 00:24:49.479 --> 00:24:53.219 that the government could come into our worship service today 00:24:53.219 --> 00:24:55.919 and literally take our lives for worship, 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.199 that's what they were facing. 00:24:57.459 --> 00:25:00.759 The fact that he wouldn't have any kind of anxiety about that is ludicrous. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.400 That's not what Paul's saying. 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:05.680 He's not saying that you can't fear. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:10.599 There's a distinction between sensing fear in a troubling circumstance 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:16.740 and allowing that fear to lead you to disbelief and disobedience. 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:22.380 It would have been sinful had Timothy looked at his anxiety 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:27.539 and rejected the gospel and rejected his ministry in light of that fear. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.240 That would have been sinful. 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:33.740 But just sensing fear in and of itself, there's no sin in that. 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.519 It means that he was... 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:39.559 This verse doesn't mean that God is angered when we have anxiety. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:44.139 It just means that he's displeased when the fear that's present 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:47.839 keeps us from trusting him and obeying him. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.299 When Paul said that God has not given us a spirit of fear, 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:54.059 but of power and love and of sound mind, 00:25:54.659 --> 00:26:00.440 he was emphasizing more of what God does provide than what he doesn't provide. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:07.559 He was calling Timothy to tap into the divine resources of God 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:11.440 whenever the persecution came and it was inevitable that it was going to come. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:16.480 Those resources would provide Timothy with perseverance 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:21.119 and anything that would pull him away from faith and obedience 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:23.639 wouldn't be a spirit that was from God. 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.779 That was the point of that passage. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:31.379 So existent in one believer can be a spirit that is full of faith, 00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:36.599 but also a flesh that is weak and fearful and anxious 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:41.579 because life really is hard and we really do suffer. 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:47.679 And having a mindset that ignores that doesn't glorify the Lord. 00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:52.599 It's trusting God through that where the Lord is pleased 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:54.119 and our life can be used. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.419 Well, let's look at the final one and we'll be finished. 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:59.819 Habakkuk resolved to rejoice in the Lord. 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:02.240 We've seen his reaction to the word of God. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:06.059 We've seen that he rehearsed the mighty acts of God. 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:09.539 He recognized the reality of his circumstance. 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:15.859 And finally, he resolves in his heart to rejoice in the Lord. 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:20.779 My favorite preacher in the whole world is a man named Alistair Begg. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.599 He said this a few weeks ago. 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:24.140 I was listening to a sermon that he preached. 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.539 He said, 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:28.180 The key to a great sermon is a great beginning and a great ending 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:31.500 and to keep the two of those things as close together as you possibly can. 00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:33.839 I don't know that I've accomplished that today, 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.200 but we are at the end nonetheless. 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.779 And not only are we at the end of the sermon for today, 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.940 we're at the end of this book. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:43.519 And this is what makes this passage even much more significant to our understanding. 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:46.460 What does Habakkuk say? 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.460 Look at verse 17. 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:50.700 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.559 neither shall fruit be in the vines. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:56.299 The labor of the olive shall fail, 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:58.920 and the field shall yield no meat. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:01.920 The flock shall be cut off from the fold, 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:04.220 and there shall be no herd in the stalls. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:07.700 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:11.940 I will joy in the God of my salvation. 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:14.519 The Lord God is my strength. 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:16.620 He will make my feet like deer's feet. 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:19.659 He will make me to walk upon mine high places. 00:28:19.719 --> 00:28:22.299 He's going to be walking on the clouds, he says. 00:28:23.219 --> 00:28:25.439 Not because he's not facing difficulty, 00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:29.259 but because he's trusting the Lord in his difficulty. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:35.459 The backdrop to Habakkuk's resolve to rejoice is the reality of his suffering. 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:39.219 Have you ever been to a jewelry store 00:28:39.219 --> 00:28:41.959 and looking for maybe an engagement ring? 00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.159 I don't know. 00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:43.939 That might be the last time I was in a jewelry store. 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:47.000 It was 12 years ago or so looking for an engagement ring. 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:49.660 And what an intimidating process that is, right guys? 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.680 That's terrible. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:55.120 I went to Jared in Raleigh. 00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:57.860 And I remember going into the store, 00:28:58.080 --> 00:29:00.980 and I knew that Julie liked Teardrop. 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.259 Is that right? 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.059 Teardrop diamond. 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.220 And that's all I knew. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:06.180 And so I asked for the jeweler, 00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:08.339 if I can see what you have in this, 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.480 and for $300 or $400 would be great. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:15.100 And what does the jeweler do when you go and you ask to look at it? 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:17.559 They carefully remove the jewel from the case, 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:19.600 but before they set it out, what do they do? 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:21.339 They lay down something on the glass. 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.759 It's usually black. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.759 Sometimes it's like a velvet board or something. 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:26.120 Something that will protect it, 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:28.380 but it serves as a backdrop for that diamond. 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:30.460 So they got the bright lights above the counter 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:32.160 that shine down on the jewel, 00:29:32.260 --> 00:29:34.300 and then they got this dark backdrop behind it 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:37.480 that actually makes the jewel sparkle and shine brilliantly, right? 00:29:37.780 --> 00:29:39.740 And they want to sell you this jewel. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.840 And so they lay it on this backdrop 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:43.540 so that it will shine brilliantly. 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:45.200 In Habakkuk's life, 00:29:45.280 --> 00:29:47.460 what makes his resolve to rejoice 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:49.900 shine so brilliantly in this passage 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:52.420 is the fact of verses 16 and 17. 00:29:53.020 --> 00:29:54.880 It's the reality of his suffering. 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:57.200 It's his acknowledgement of the suffering 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:01.519 that actually makes his statement of rejoicing so significant. 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:04.440 It's one thing to say, I trust the Lord. 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:06.480 It's another thing to say that I trust the Lord 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:08.640 in the midst of intense suffering 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.080 and devastating seasons of life. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:12.860 And that's exactly what Habakkuk's doing. 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:17.860 The scene described in verse 17 is absolutely devastating. 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:22.160 It's a complete deconstruction of society. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:25.140 And it's one that God had promised would happen to Israel 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:27.500 in Deuteronomy chapter 28 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:30.140 if they would turn away from him 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:32.200 and worship other gods. 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:34.900 What did Habakkuk say? 00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.320 Think about it. 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.200 The fig tree shall not blossom. 00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:40.800 No fruit's gonna be available for us to eat. 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.980 No fruit will be on the vine. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:46.360 That means we're not gonna have wine to drink 00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.540 in their day. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:50.899 The labor of the olive is gonna fail. 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:53.359 The field shall yield no meat. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.359 There's no grain. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:57.819 The flock will be cut off from the fold 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:00.019 and there shall be no herd in the stalls. 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.920 There's no protein. 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.379 There's no meat to eat. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:06.019 This is the complete devastation of their society. 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:08.319 All the basic necessities of life 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.720 are gonna be stripped away. 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.339 And he says, 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:13.019 even though all of these necessities are stripped away, 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:15.860 I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:19.620 The coming Chaldean army meant 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:21.759 that it pictured for Habakkuk 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:24.620 the burning of the city of Jerusalem, 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.940 which included the temple, 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.700 the place of worship. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:32.140 The corpses of hundreds of thousands of people 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:35.000 would be thrown about the nation. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:38.680 It meant the captivity of the remnant. 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:41.759 It meant the desolation of the land of promise. 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.619 It meant the loss of all their wealth. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:46.380 And anyone that survived would now live as slaves 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.519 in a foreign land. 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:50.220 That's the reality of Habakkuk's circumstance. 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.759 And set against that backdrop, 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:55.819 Habakkuk's joy shines like a diamond, doesn't it? 00:31:57.539 --> 00:32:00.279 Let's take verse 17 and just substitute the phrases 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.960 to fit our culture a little bit. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.819 And we can't even do it justice 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.939 based on what Habakkuk was facing, 00:32:06.179 --> 00:32:07.240 but we'll do our best. 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.700 What if it read like this? 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:11.720 Although the grocery store shelves 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:13.500 be emptied of daily necessities, 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:17.619 a worldwide pandemic take the lives 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:19.179 of hundreds of thousands of people. 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:22.700 Those sworn to protect us 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.399 carelessly murder instead. 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:28.319 Though the looters steal all that I own, 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:31.059 though major cities be burned in the night, 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:33.799 wealth be threatened by a failing economy, 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.859 and leaders politicize everything 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:37.240 to the detriment of the nation. 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.980 What if it read like that? 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.759 How would you respond? 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:44.559 Better, how have you responded? 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:49.200 Most of us would find bitterness and despair 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:52.039 to be the prevailing attitude of our heart. 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:55.500 But if our suffering is the backdrop 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:58.119 that causes the glorious gospel of Christ 00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.159 to shine through us, 00:32:59.379 --> 00:33:03.079 shouldn't we instead be thankful and rejoice? 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.279 Now Habakkuk says, 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.759 though everything is stripped away from me, 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:09.740 I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.460 Well, how is that possible? 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.599 It is possible for him, 00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.859 and it's possible for you too. 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.480 And it's possible in two ways 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.059 according to verse 18 and 19. 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:21.240 The first way is this. 00:33:22.139 --> 00:33:24.399 It's when we understand that joy 00:33:24.399 --> 00:33:26.159 is an act of the will. 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.819 Joy is an act of the will. 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:32.159 Often we consider joy 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:33.720 to be an emotional sensation, 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.960 when in reality, 00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:37.200 it's a matter of resolve. 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.000 Look at verse 18. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.379 Twice he says, I will. 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:45.079 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:49.500 I will joy in the God of my salvation. 00:33:50.419 --> 00:33:52.000 Joy doesn't just happen. 00:33:52.859 --> 00:33:53.839 Joy is chosen. 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.559 And though God is sovereign 00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:58.419 in providing us with the capacity 00:33:58.419 --> 00:34:00.179 to experience joy, 00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:03.119 his divine work does not negate 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:04.980 the responsibility of our will 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:07.339 in actively choosing to rejoice. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.500 We're to thank God for the freedom of joy, 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:13.519 and then we are to pursue that joy 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:15.139 with all of our hearts. 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.099 Joy is an act of the will. 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:20.440 Secondly, joy is related to its object. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.460 It's related to its object. 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:25.039 What is he rejoicing in? 00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.480 Nothing about his circumstance. 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.920 There was nothing there to rejoice in. 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:32.400 He says, I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:36.619 I will joy in the God of my salvation. 00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:41.559 The Lord God, he says, is my strength. 00:34:43.319 --> 00:34:45.500 This is not the power of positive thinking. 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:48.239 It's not like he was sitting there. 00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:49.859 He was thinking, this is not that bad. 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.639 This is not that bad. 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:51.239 I will rejoice. 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:51.819 I will rejoice. 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.400 I will rejoice. 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:52.960 I will rejoice. 00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:54.559 No, there was nothing about his circumstance 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.599 that made that possible. 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:59.500 It's our joy is directly related to its object. 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:02.839 And our object as a believer is Jesus Christ. 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:09.220 Everything in life has the potential for loss 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:11.340 except for Christ. 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:15.700 And had Habakkuk's focus been on the pleasures of this life, 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:18.559 then he would have been utterly devastated. 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:21.800 But because his primary concern 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:24.039 was the glory and purposes of God, 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:26.039 he could rejoice no matter what. 00:35:26.620 --> 00:35:28.519 Remember what he said at the beginning of this prayer? 00:35:29.200 --> 00:35:31.600 Revive thy work, Lord, in the midst of the years. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:32.940 Lord, if this is what you've got to do 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.799 to accomplish your work, do it. 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:38.019 And because that was the nature of his heart, 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:39.219 when he came to the end 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:41.319 and he recognized exactly what God's work was, 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:44.000 he could legitimately say, I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:49.299 If your life is wrapped up in the successes of your business, 00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:52.739 that business can be quickly taken away 00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.639 in a matter of a moment. 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:56.400 And all of your joy dissipate. 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:59.940 If it's wrapped up in a person, 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.920 that person can be taken away in a moment. 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:06.039 That marriage can fall apart. 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:09.860 Death and tragedy can come into play for your family 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.920 and for your friendships. 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:13.220 And then all of that joy dissipates. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:19.039 Unless your joy is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:23.380 you will be utterly devastated at suffering. 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:26.220 But Jesus never fails. 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:29.460 He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.660 He's the everlasting God. 00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.200 He's immutable. 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.140 He never changes. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.720 When you place your faith in him, 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:36.320 when you follow him in obedience, 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:39.400 when you love him, he never changes. 00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:41.460 All of our circumstances will change, 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.720 but Christ will never change. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:47.119 And his love and his mercy and his grace will remain. 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:49.159 That's why Habakkuk could say, 00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:50.159 I'll rejoice in the Lord. 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:54.440 Because I know what he's doing is for the good of his people. 00:36:54.759 --> 00:36:57.619 And I know it's for my good. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:00.400 The coronavirus can take your life, 00:37:00.839 --> 00:37:02.940 but it can't take your soul. 00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:08.159 The riots can destroy your business, 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.900 but they can't separate you from God. 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:14.659 Politicians can hinder your freedoms, 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:17.679 but they'll never be able to stop you from worshiping. 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:21.059 The economy can take your wealth, 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:24.920 but it can't steal the treasure that you have in Christ. 00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:28.879 Paul said in Romans 8, 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.980 I am sure that neither death nor life, 00:37:31.839 --> 00:37:34.139 nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:36.279 nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:39.299 nor death, nor anything else in all creation 00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:41.839 will be able to separate us from the love of God 00:37:41.839 --> 00:37:43.119 in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:46.779 Habakkuk wasn't callous or unaffected. 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:48.139 He suffered greatly. 00:37:48.259 --> 00:37:49.900 It's likely he died in this invasion. 00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:52.980 But he was able to suffer joyfully 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:55.739 because his faith and focus was on the Lord. 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:58.199 And we too can suffer joyfully 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:01.859 so long as our faith and focus is on Christ Jesus. 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.859 And that's the answer. 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:05.219 Jesus is the answer. 00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:10.139 In what's known as the Olivet Discourse 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:12.079 in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, 00:38:12.819 --> 00:38:14.779 the disciples asked Jesus 00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:17.699 what would be the signs of his coming 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:19.599 when he would establish his kingdom on earth. 00:38:20.779 --> 00:38:24.459 And he reveals to them really a devastating scene. 00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:26.459 Wars and rumors of wars, 00:38:26.819 --> 00:38:28.839 famines, pestilence, disease, 00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:32.339 natural disasters, corrupt, demonic politicians 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:34.579 and government leaders, world leaders really. 00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:37.280 And in the midst of this description, 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.720 Jesus tells his disciples, 00:38:39.200 --> 00:38:40.280 when all of this is happening, 00:38:40.740 --> 00:38:41.840 do not be troubled. 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.880 But how is that possible? 00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:48.620 As C.S. Lewis said, 00:38:48.740 --> 00:38:49.600 in those moments, 00:38:49.720 --> 00:38:51.079 you cannot be indifferent 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:52.920 to the person of Jesus Christ. 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:56.619 When you see a moment like that in the scriptures, 00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:59.139 you cannot say that Jesus is just a good man 00:38:59.139 --> 00:39:00.260 or that he was a good prophet 00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:02.880 or that he was a moral teacher. 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:03.400 Any of those, 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:05.200 he cannot be that. 00:39:05.300 --> 00:39:07.039 There cannot be indifference towards him. 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:09.500 In a moment like that, 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.599 he's either a lunatic, 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.159 a liar, 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:14.039 or he's the Lord, 00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:15.740 the Lord of all. 00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.960 How can he say, 00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:18.920 do not be troubled? 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:21.019 Because he is the answer. 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:24.579 James Boyce again said, 00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:26.119 then came the answer, 00:39:26.280 --> 00:39:27.619 Jesus Christ is God. 00:39:28.539 --> 00:39:30.480 Jesus Christ is the Lord of history. 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:34.239 Jesus Christ is the God of detailed circumstance. 00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:36.599 Nothing has ever happened 00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:39.860 that did not flow in the channel God dug for it. 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:43.659 No event has ever flamed up in spite of God 00:39:43.659 --> 00:39:46.880 or left him astonished, bewildered, or confused. 00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:48.579 He is our God. 00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:51.340 The sin of man has reduced the world 00:39:51.340 --> 00:39:53.460 to an arena of passion and fury. 00:39:53.920 --> 00:39:55.259 Like wild beasts, 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.900 men tear at each other's throats, 00:39:57.239 --> 00:39:58.980 yet in the midst of the history 00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:01.119 of which Jesus Christ is Lord, 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:04.559 each individual who has believed in him 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:07.000 as the Savior and as the Lord of life 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:09.360 will know the power of his resurrection 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:11.259 and will learn that events, 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.119 however terrible, 00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:17.059 cannot separate us from the love of God. 00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:19.259 Jesus is the answer. 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:21.820 I believe that with all my heart. 00:40:23.239 --> 00:40:25.579 Suffering and death is inevitable for all of us. 00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:28.099 The only hope and joy we have 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:29.480 is found in Jesus Christ. 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:31.699 He's conquered our death. 00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:35.900 He's forgiven and paid for our sin. 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:38.700 And he says, follow me. 00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:43.160 Turn from your own way and follow me. 00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:47.240 Doesn't mean that life never has difficulty. 00:40:48.280 --> 00:40:49.059 That's clear. 00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:52.639 But there can be true joy in spite of that difficulty 00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:55.160 because we don't live for this life. 00:40:55.720 --> 00:40:57.059 We live for the one to come, 00:40:57.160 --> 00:40:59.740 the one that he has prepared for us in his presence. 00:40:59.739 --> 00:41:02.679 William Cowper, in closing, 00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:07.000 was an English poet and hymn writer in the 1700s. 00:41:07.139 --> 00:41:08.959 You'll know a couple of his hymns probably. 00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:09.659 One is, 00:41:10.279 --> 00:41:11.739 There is a Fountain Filled with Blood. 00:41:11.819 --> 00:41:12.659 Maybe you know that one. 00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:16.159 Or, Oh, For a Closer Walk with God is a beautiful hymn. 00:41:17.439 --> 00:41:19.539 William Cowper struggled his entire life 00:41:19.539 --> 00:41:22.739 with severe bouts of depression and anxiety. 00:41:23.399 --> 00:41:25.939 There was a time where before his conversion, 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:27.339 he had even attempted suicide 00:41:27.340 --> 00:41:29.519 and he was put into an insane asylum. 00:41:29.620 --> 00:41:31.600 And while he was in this insane asylum, 00:41:31.720 --> 00:41:33.019 he was confronted with the gospel. 00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:35.539 And he became a believer in Jesus Christ. 00:41:35.680 --> 00:41:37.340 But that didn't mean that he didn't continue 00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:39.000 to suffer with depression and struggles. 00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:40.220 He still did that. 00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:41.780 The rest of his life, he battled this. 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:44.079 He battled suicidal thoughts. 00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:45.760 I don't know that he ever made another attempt, 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:47.240 but he continued to battle these thoughts. 00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:49.600 And he struggled in his life 00:41:49.600 --> 00:41:51.620 with the weakness of his flesh. 00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:54.360 He became a great hymn writer. 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:56.480 He befriended John Newton, 00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:58.300 who was a former slave trader, 00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:00.500 wrote Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, 00:42:00.860 --> 00:42:03.940 and was instrumental in helping John Newton 00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:04.980 write some of his hymnals. 00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:07.980 Even though he suffered greatly, 00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:10.519 he demonstrated in his writings 00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:12.559 how it's possible to suffer like that 00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:14.380 and still have the joy of God in your life. 00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:15.880 In fact, 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:19.679 Cowper's life shows the reality of sin's effect, 00:42:19.740 --> 00:42:20.619 even on the Christian, 00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:24.199 but also the unbelievable comfort of God's strength. 00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:26.799 And that's summed up, I think, 00:42:26.899 --> 00:42:28.559 best in his hymn, 00:42:28.699 --> 00:42:30.199 Sometimes a Light Surprises, 00:42:30.859 --> 00:42:33.359 where the final stanza is based on this song 00:42:33.359 --> 00:42:34.559 in Habakkuk chapter three. 00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:36.559 And here's what Cowper writes. 00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:39.439 Though vine nor fig tree neither, 00:42:40.379 --> 00:42:42.139 their wanted fruits should bear. 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:45.039 Though all the fields should wither, 00:42:45.699 --> 00:42:47.639 nor flocks nor herds be there. 00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:50.639 Yet God the same abiding, 00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:54.699 His praise shall tune my voice. 00:42:55.379 --> 00:42:57.400 For while in Him confiding, 00:42:57.879 --> 00:43:00.119 I cannot but rejoice. 00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:02.699 Thank you for listening to this sermon 00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:04.679 made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:06.779 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:43:07.319 --> 00:43:08.679 Please do not charge for it 00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:10.019 or alter it in any way 00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:11.679 without express written consent 00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:13.079 from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:15.239 Don't forget to visit us online 00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:16.759 at lakesidebible.church 00:43:16.759 --> 00:43:19.000 or find us on Facebook and Instagram 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:21.399 by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:23.279 If you live in the Charlotte 00:43:23.279 --> 00:43:24.119 or Lake Norman area, 00:43:24.279 --> 00:43:25.319 we'd love for you to attend 00:43:25.319 --> 00:43:26.500 one of our worship services. 00:43:26.919 --> 00:43:28.899 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:43:28.899 --> 00:43:30.239 We'd love to meet you. 00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:35.559 NINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNING