Habakkuk 3:19 (MSG)
[Hab 3:19]
Counting on GOD's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I
run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! (For congregational use,
with a full orchestra.)
Habakkuk 3:19 (NLT)
[Hab 3:19]
The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a
deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to
be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
[1Pe 5:7]
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
[1Pe 5:7]
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (TLB)
[1Pe 5:7]
Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking
about you and watching everything that concerns you.
Stop Worrying—God is still in Charge
Scriptures from Habakkuk 1, 2, 3
I. GOD CAN HANDLE YOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS;
BUT YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE ANSWERS
A. We ask, “Why?” God often answers, “Watch.”
B. We live by God’s promises, not His explanations
“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds,
O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
II. BY FAITH YOU CAN MOVE FROM WORRY TO
WORSHIP
“The righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
A. Are you fearful about these uncertain times?
1 Peter 5:7 (GW)
[1Pe 5:7]
Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you.
1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV)
[1Pe 2:21]
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
1 Peter 2:21 (MSG)
[1Pe 2:21]
This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ
lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it
could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
1 Peter 2:21 (GW)
[1Pe 2:21]
God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you.
He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps.
1 Peter 2:21 (NLT)
[1Pe 2:21]
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as
Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
“I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.” Habakkuk
3:16
B. Will you rejoice in the Lord even in bad times?
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the
vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
C. Will you follow Jesus even in scary times?
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the
feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk
3:19
Quote from Ruth Bell Graham
“I lay my ‘whys’ before Your cross in worship kneeling; my mind too numb for thought, my heart beyond
all feeling. And worshipping, I realize that in knowing
You I don’t need a ‘why.’”
Joyful Life Baptist Church
Pastor, Mike McPherson
November 24, 2013
Habakkuk 1:1-6 (NKJV)
[Hab 1:1]
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
[2]
O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You,
"Violence!" And You will not save.
[3]
Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.
[4]
Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the
wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
[5]
"Look among the nations and watch-- Be utterly astounded! For I will
work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told
you.
[6]
For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation
Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
Habakkuk 1:1-6 (NIV)
[Hab 1:1]
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
[2]
How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out
to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
[3]
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict
abounds.
[4]
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked
hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
[5]
"Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going
to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were
told.
[6]
I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own.
Habakkuk 1:1-6 (MSG)
[Hab 1:1]
The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:
[2]
GOD, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How
many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to
the rescue?
[3]
Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after
day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.
[4]
Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.
[5]
"Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself
for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard
to believe.
[6]
I'm about to raise up Babylonians to punish you, Babylonians, fierce and
ferocious— World-conquering Babylon, grabbing up nations right and left,
Habakkuk 1:1-6 (NLT)
[Hab 1:1]
This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a
vision.
[2]
How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
[3]
Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded
by people who love to argue and fight.
[4]
The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become
perverted.
[5]
The LORD replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be
amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you
wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.
[6]
I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They
will march across the world and conquer other lands.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)
[Hab 2:4]
"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just
shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)
[Hab 2:4]
"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith-Habakkuk 2:4 (MSG)
[Hab 2:4]
"Look at that man, bloated by self-importance— full of himself
but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God through
loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
[Hab 2:4]
“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives
are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
Habakkuk 3:16 (NKJV)
[Hab 3:16]
When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the
voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I
might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He
will invade them with his troops.
Habakkuk 3:16 (NIV)
[Hab 3:16]
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.
Habakkuk 3:16 (MSG)
[Hab 3:16]
When I heard it, my stomach did flips. I stammered and stuttered.
My bones turned to water. I staggered and stumbled. I sit back and wait for
Doomsday to descend on our attackers.
Habakkuk 3:16 (NLT)
[Hab 3:16]
I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My
legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the
coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)
[Hab 3:17]
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though
the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-[18]
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
[Hab 3:17]
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the
vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though
there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
[18]
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (MSG)
[Hab 3:17]
Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't
ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,
[18]
I'm singing joyful praise to GOD. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my
Savior God.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)
[Hab 3:17]
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no
grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns
are empty,
[18]
yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
Habakkuk 3:19 (NKJV)
[Hab 3:19]
The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my
stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)
[Hab 3:19]
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet
of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On
my stringed instruments.