Temple Baptist Church - 5-22-2022
Habakkuk 3:1-19
Introduction:
A. In verse one of the “prayer of Habakkuk,” we see that it was a hard time for both Israel and God’s man. It was a time of affliction and chastening of God’s Israel and not a pleasant time. Because of the continued rebellion of Israel, God brought the Chaldeans to spoil the people and the land.
B. In our text, the Holy Ghost bursts our perception of what joy is all about. Times were hard and certainly not happy for Habakkuk, but there was in his heart a settled peace of God that passeth all understanding. There is a vast difference between happiness and joy. His unhappiness with his situation did not dictate the joy in his heart!
C. The Christian life should be one of joy instead of fear and drudgery. Many erroneously equate joy with happiness. Happiness is something that comes and goes. I believe that God wants the child of God happy, but life is often hard and hard to understand.
1. Happiness is like a bubbling stream. It is greatly affected by each little bump or rock in the bed over which the water flows. This world causes sorrow and people try to find happiness in the abundance of their possessions.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
2. Joy is like the depths of the ocean. Calm even when the surface is greatly disturbed by the storm. Christian joy is a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost and has nothing to do with things.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
D. First, let me say that Joy is a choice that we make. Not one of us (including this pastor) enjoys sickness, hardship, trials, etc. but we often have no choice but to endure these things. I have often said that, when these times come: and they will, we can come out bitter or better.
E. I want to look at four examples of joy.
1. THE FATHER’S JOY – The death of His Son!
Isaiah 53:10-12 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
WHY JOY?
a. It was not the circumstances that brought God the Father joy! This was the brutal death of His only begotten Son!
2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
b. It was because of His great love for sinful man! I will never understand a love like this: the love of God that sacrificed His only begotten Son for sinners like you and me! Oh, what love!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. THE SAVIOUR’S JOY – The sacrifice that He made!
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
WHY JOY?
a. It was not the circumstances that brought God the Son joy!
1) He was facing the cruel cross.
2) He who knew no sin would become sin for us!
b. It was because of His great love for you and me! It was because of His great love for the Church, His Bride! He was not looking forward to Calvary; He was looking beyond Calvary!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
3. THE SINNER’S JOY – The cross of Calvary!
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
WHY JOY!
a. It is not the circumstances of Christ’s death that brings the sinner joy. I am sorry that He had to take my shame and disgrace. I am sorry that my sin nailed Him to Calvary! I am glad but I am sad.
b. What brings the sinner Joy is the blessed result of Calvary! Because of his great load of sin that is gone. Because his sin’s penalty was paid at Calvary! Because his life was changed completely at Calvary!
4. THE SAINT’S JOY – The soon appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
WHY JOY?
a. It is not the circumstances of life that brings the saint joy.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
b. What brings the saint joy is the great longing to see his face! It is his great longing for home! It is his great longing to spend an eternity with the One who loved us and gave Himself for us! It is his great longing to see the One who died for him. Face to face with Christ for "we shall see Him as He is!" Oh that will be glory for me!
Conclusion: As a sinner, you will never find joy in the things of this world. The only joy and peace that you will find will be in Christ and His great salvation. As a saint, you will never find joy in the things of this world either. It is not the world that I love. How I hate it and how it affects me! You and I that are saved will only find joy and peace in serving the Lord. Our hearts should cry, “Even so come, Lord Jesus!”
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