Sermon Central
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Will We Stand For Jesus?
Contributed by Miles Anderson on Jan 12, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: When God destroys all around us will we be able to stand and rejoice.
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
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
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
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.
