Thanksgiving Anyhow!

Habakkuk 3:16–19 NIV

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. 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. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Preach for a Year #2 Thanksgiving Anyhow!

I. Introduction

A. Remembering the First Thanksgiving

1. The Pilgrims and their new land

2. The good harvest … and many since

3. But we must also remember the many hardships

4. In spite of losing half their number they gave thanks

B. Habbakkuk: A Prophet Who Vowed to Be Thankful in Hard times

1. One who loved God enough to thank Him in distress

2. How can one be thankful when things are difficult?

II. Body

A. When the Provision of God Changes Be Thankful He Is Unchanged (v.17)

1. Habbakkuk envisions losing things vital to their economy

a. The fig tree will not blossom

b. No fruit on the vines

c. Olive trees do not produce

d. Fields yield no harvests

e. Cattle and sheep are lost

2. This prophet says he will be thankful anyhow

3. Economic conditions change

a. They changed in Egypt (seven poor years)

b. They changed for Job (he lost his wealth)

c. Changed during the Great Depression

d. May change due to loss of health or even bad investments

4. God does not change (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8) … so be thankful

B. When Suffering Be Thankful for His Salvation (v.18)

1. We are never far from problems in this life

a. Everything about us is fragile

b. Life itself is uncertain

2. Salvation provides eternal life

a. Eternal life promised (John 3:16, 5:24; 1 John 5:11–13)

b. We are not limited to these few years of tears

3. Heaven is ahead (John 14:1–6)

4. The best is yet to come (1 Peter 1:3–4)

C. When Passing Through Trials We Can Triumph in Christ (v. 19)

1. The Lord is my strength (Ps. 27:1; Isa. 40:31; Phil. 4:13)

2. He will make my feet like hinds’ feet (swift and graceful)

3. He will make me to walk on high places … HIGHER GROUND

4. He is always up to the occasion (Jer. 32:27)

III. Conclusion

A. The Pulpit Commentary on This Text: “This passage contains the most beautiful exhibition of the power of true religion found in the Bible. The language is that of a mind weaned from earthly enjoyments, and habituated to find the highest fruition of its desires in God”

B. In Everything Give Thanks (1 Thess. 5:18)

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I. Introduction

VIDEO

A Sign of maturity in our Christ-life is giving thanks in tough times.

We find that it is difficult to be thankful when our lives are hard, because our thoughts are centered on our problems.

God asks us to keep our thoughts centered on Him, so He can guide us through tough times in peace and joy.

Let’s look at a man who had plenty to worry about, but gave thanks in the midst of a huge life-storm.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 NIV

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. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 NIV

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. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

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The Pilgrims and their new land

The good harvest … and many since

3. But we must also remember the many hardships

But we must also remember the many hardships

In spite of losing half their number they gave thanks.

Habakkuk is a prophet who vowed to be thankful in tough times.

Habbakkuk: A Prophet Who Vowed to Be Thankful in Hard times

B. Habbakkuk: A Prophet Who Vowed to Be Thankful in Hard times

One who loved God enough to thank Him in distress.

How can one be thankful when things are difficult?

II. Bod

A. When the Provision of God Changes Be Thankful He Is Unchanged (v.17)

When the Provision of God Changes Be Thankful He Is Unchanged (v.17)

Habakkuk 3:17 NIV

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,

Habakkuk envisions losing things vital to their economy.

1. Habbakkuk envisions losing things vital to their economy

The fig tree will not blossom.

a. The fig tree will not blossom

No fruit on the vines

No fruit on the vines

Olive trees do not produce

Fields yield no harvests

Cattle and sheep are lost.

This prophet says he will be thankful anyhow

2. This prophet says he will be thankful anyhow

Job 13:15 NIV

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Economic conditions change

3. Economic conditions change

They changed in Egypt (seven poor years)

They changed for Job (he lost his wealth)

Changed during the Great Depression

May change due to loss of health or even bad investments.

God does not change

4. God does not change

Malachi 3:6 NIV

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Hebrews 13:8 NIV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

) … so be thankful

When Suffering Be Thankful for His Salvation (v.18)

B. When Suffering Be Thankful for His Salvation (v.18)

Habakkuk 3:18 NIV

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:18 NIV

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

1. We are never far from problems in this life

We are never far from problems in this life

We are never far from problems in this life

1. We are never far from problems in this life

Everything about us is fragile

Life itself is uncertain

Salvation provides eternal life

Eternal life promised

John 5:24 NIV

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

We are not limited to these few years of tears

We are not limited to these few years of tears

Heaven is ahead

The best is yet to come

1 Peter 1:3–4 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

C. When Passing Through Trials We Can Triumph in Christ (v. 19)

When Passing Through Trials We Can Triumph in Christ (v. 19)

Habakkuk 3:19 NIV

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

The Lord is my strength

1. The Lord is my strength

Psalm 27:1 NIV

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

; ; )

Isaiah 40:31 NIV

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

; )

Philippians 4:13 NIV

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

)

He will make my feet like hinds’ feet (swift and graceful)

He will make my feet like hinds’ feet (swift and graceful)

3. He will make me to walk on high places … HIGHER GROUND

He will make me to walk on high places … HIGHER GROUND

He is always up to the occasion .

Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

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Take this with you...

III. Conclusion

Right now would you say your thoughts and concerns are mostly on your issues or on God and how great he is?

Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to take control of your thoughts and place them on God and his greatness?

Will you ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of one thing for which you can express gratitude to God?

In everything give thanks.

B. In Everything Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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