The Hope and Results of True Worship
Sermon Notes
Review of Habakkuk 3 – The Character and Hope of Worship
• Elements of true worship (1)
• Attitude of true worship (2)
• Focus of true worship (3-15)
• The results of true worship (16-19)
Theme for today:
True worship deepens our faith in God and gives joy and strength even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
1. True worship deepens our faith (16)
- Worship brings me face-to-face in humility with God
I heard and my inward parts trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered.
Decay enters my bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us.
2. True worship brings joy regardless of our circumstances (17-18)
- My praise and my joy are not dependent on my circumstances
Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
- My joy and praise are rooted in the God of my salvation*
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
3. True worship provides our strength for living (19)
- Strength and steadiness to climb the mountains of life
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places (Psalm 18.30-33).
Application
1. Don’t let hardships keep you from God – He is in them.
2. Don’t let hardships keep you from worshipping God.
3. Memorize these verses:
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4.11-13).
4. Learn to trust in and live your life in Jesus - find contentment in Him.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11.28-30).
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
* Some Characteristics of God as seen in Habakkuk 3 – God is ….
• famous – people talk about what He has done for them (2)
• active with deeds that silence people awestruck (2)
• a God of wrath (2,12)
• one who comes to His people from ancient dwelling places (3)
• a glorious one – whose acts bring forth praise that fills the universe (3)
• so splendid that His presence dims the sun (4)
• powerful (4)
• in control of all disease (5)
• in control of all history, all nature, and all people (6-7)
• able to show His anger towards all sinful people – the exodus (8-15)
• in control of all the chaotic waters and deeps (8-10)
• one who uses the heavenly bodies for His purposes (11)
• our Savior and the protector of our anointed leader (13, 16)
• the source of all our strength (19)
* (Taken from Barker and Bailey, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, p.285)