Giving Thanks in Dark Days | Part 1

We need something to hold on to listen to Adrian Rogers just shall live by faith that keep that in mind, because when these dark days come, you need something to hold you something to live and explain his faith to love finding featuring unchanging truth of the gospel presented in the timeless messages Adrian Rogers today as we celebrate Thanksgiving. We have much to be grateful. Some of us walk through some dark days this year alone. If your listing today with a heavy heart, I want to tell you. You are not alone. God has not forgotten you. We feel today's program will show you exactly that the book of Habakkuk might be the most pertinent scripture in our day and age.

In three short chapters. Habakkuk shows us how to give thanks in dark days. If you have your Bible turn the book of Habakkuk now as Adrian Rogers shares three things to remember about faith as these days grow gloriously, which are final book of Habakkuk's a little difficult to five page 1372 in my Bible, but that may not help you find the book of Habakkuk down the second chapter just a moment where you going to look at the fourth verse in the second chapter of the book of Habakkuk. Let me tell you that the book of the back is one of most pertinent books in the Bible for these desperate days in which we live, the fame of our message today is giving thanks by giving thanks in dark days that is easy to praise the Lord when everything is going well. The sun is shining. We are happy and I helped this good and were prosperous in our families around us, then we can say thank you Lord you been so good. But the Bible says would be giving thanks always for all things and sometimes that is difficult and specially in dark days and dark days are all around us, and I don't discourage you but it may get dark.

We know this. The Bible says in the last days perilous times will come. And that word perilous is only used twice in the Bible one time used about those of those demoniac's who came to Jesus out of the tombs and they were called exceeding fierce that's the same word that is translated perilous well Habakkuk was a prophet and his days like our they were dark days.

He looked around and he saw prime and violence and hatred and debauchery.

Ask God to do something about, and it seemed as though the heavens were brass. Anyone got one here where is God's got too weak to do anything about it but is God simply not care like so many of us today. We been praying and seems like things are getting are getting worse relatively getting better very frankly, this is causing some people to stumble. No is not primarily the problem of science is causing people to stumble, not how the world began, but the problem history how the world is ending. That's what's causing so many people to stumble. I was in this room and I talk with the cure for one of the largest museums that is matter fact it was my guy a very intelligent, brilliant man. I asking do you believe in God, he said no. I don't believe in God. I said why don't you believe in God, he said, because of the Holocaust.

They said it's impossible for me to believe in God that will allow that to happen is the problem of history that is causing so many to stumble and say where is God. Now that's what Habakkuk was facing in his day and very frankly is what we are going to be facing in our day, so I want to learn how to get things to give thanks in dark days.

The three propositions that come out of this book of Habakkuk in an ongoing to bill those three propositions around the three chapters 3 chapters in this book chapter 1B is what I would call a perplexing problem. He looked around and he saw things ain't that perplexed. Chapter 2 deals with the proper perspective.

He finally began to see the situation from God's point of view in chapter 3 deals with a profound Paredes here anything against just to praise God, not in the absence of problems, but in the very midst of these problems because peace is peace that passes understanding, peace is not the subtraction of problems from life.

It's is the addition of power tomatoes problem so let's look in the book of Habakkuk, and admittedly we just going to touch the high points but a look in chapter 1, for example, just beginning now in chapter 1, let me just say even before we get there.

Go to chapter 2 in verse four and look at that Habakkuk is talking about these people who are wicked and it says behold his soul, which is lifted up is not right in him that if you see somebody who's up very high, and is leaning you know is about the fall is so all is lifted up buddies like a man walking a girder on a skyscraper that is being built and is beginning to lean you know is about the fall. That's the way he's describing the wicked, but he says in this verse also but just just shall live by his malaise not matter fact this one verse is quoted three times in the New Testament in the book of Romans. In the book of Galatians in the book of Hebrews is such a key verse that just shall live by his faith.

Now keep that in mind, because when these dark days come in the coming you need something to hold onto you need something to live by an estate is faith. Faith is not smoke and mirrors faith as spiritual steel and concrete in and you need something rocksolid.

You don't need to be walking around on Jell-O and egg shells. You don't need to be blown about by the storms of calamity and the winds of circumstances, and the floods of the stress you need a sure place to stand. You need something to live by, and I I'm telling you, if there were ever book for this day in this age it is the book of Habakkuk that tells us that the just shall live by his faith there three propositions that I have for you from the word of God number one concerning faith. They doesn't live my explanations, but by promises that most of us want God to explain things to us.

Don't God, why did you let this happen. Why do you do it this way, but faith does not live my explanations by promises of development. Let me assure the problem that Habakkuk had why you want to got to explain a few things to him. He says in verses one and two, chapter 1 verses one to the burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see all how long shall I cry and I will not hear even cried out onto the of violence, and thou wilt not say what a special mimic what he calls me to the whole grievance for spoiling and violence are before me, and there are that raise up strife and contention God, look at all this just so God look at violence look at the spoiling look at the strife. Look at the contention God I prayed I prayed I prayed I prayed. I pray you will hear on the Lord shall I cry under you. By the way that he uses the word cry there twice and that one verse, verse two, the first cries like a cry for help. If you use anything you say say that's the first cries. The second word cry is is a shout almost a screen he likes and God where are you ever shouted to God. I did one time so perplexed. Not not out of not out of the reverence, a lack of respect. No matter the time of writing. I was shouted. Why where that's where Habakkuk walls. There was heavens's's in heaven.

Silence was compounded by Earth's sin look in verses three and four. Why does not show me iniquity and cause me to the whole grievance for spoiling violence are before me, and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore, the law is slacked and judgment does never go full/BC living with more judges more courts, more jails, more prisons than ever before, and yet there is no justice in the land and Habakkuk's day was like our day. By the way Jeremiah was a contemporary of Habakkuk, Jeremiah said in Jeremiah chapter 8 and verse 12 were they ashamed when they committed abomination may shame. Neither could they blush.

Send today is absolutely arrogant as this dog to the land with generation of unblushing moves son is incredible is not incredible what people get on television saying the incredible they blush like great-grandson Abner said, sin used to sling down back alleys, now struts down Main Street and Habakkuk's is God where are you, by the way, this is the last stage of any civilization when a civilization begins to boast of his sin heaven silence earth sin and hell success. It just seem like the devil was having a heyday.

Verses five and six, God says to Habakkuk you want to know something behold be among the heathen, and regarding one or marvelously brought. I will work a work in your days, which he will not believe in, even though they told you want me to give you an answer. Sandoval would give you an answer, you would believe it could not understand that I want to do something hello.

I will raise up a child in a child is with the Babylonians of accrual fears, ungodly pagan nation that hasty nation which of March through the breadth of the land possessed the dwelling places that are not there.

Your day what's going to happen.

Habakkuk's going to get worse is going to get worse is looking for relief and release and he sees heaven silence earth sin and hell success.

Good night Laurel, what is happening where are you God do I care for you and feel the same way. In these days.

This book of Habakkuk is written for you. Now, folks, I'm telling you we do not live by exclamation we will God explain to us a friend if if if you and I had have everything.

Explain that we enjoy, we wouldn't we would do anything I would've had milk on my cereal this morning.

How can a brown Kelly green grass get white milk which are in jail about I don't understand that the simplest things you don't understand I can the phone on the airplane last week.

I don't understand all that what what makes that work. Don't ask God to explain things to you. Don't ask God to cram his plan into your puny little mind, because then God would be limited by your understanding Jesus said in John 16 verse 12. I have many things to tell you which are not able to bear them as you will have the capacity to understand the staying. Thomas Watson said were reason cannot way faith must swim must swim that the things we just don't understand the idea because it does make sense to you.

It doesn't make sense. God said Habakkuk.

I will assure your model and one in verse five you will believe it. If I tell you why because my ways are above your ways my thoughts about your thoughts. The apostle Paul got into this this thing of reason. The apostle Paul finally had to ride and he just threw up his hands in Romans 11. Hiking seems of writing is up his hand is the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the Lord who had been his counselor if God did explain to you. It's a mellow limitation about the way who's going to counsel God is going to tell God what to do or how to do it, no tears Habakkuk. He is a problem I heaven silence earth sin, hell, success basis, God, I just don't understand. And then he's gone when he does get the answer God's as I'm a raise of the Babylonians leg on March the land you think is bad now son is going to get worse. Bacchus is no way to minute Lord look in verse 12 are thou not from everlasting. O Lord my God mine holy one, we shall not die. God has ordained for judgment as God is the Babylonian and Almighty God, and hast established for correction of the guys that need to get it in the night, thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and guess not look on iniquity. Wherefore, look is now on them. That is the Babylonians which deal treacherously and hold aside time when the wicked know what's this about our command that is more righteous than he is God away to God.

I will listen to God not listen. Your site is not God.

We may be bad but we like them you see here that is God grades on the curve may be bad, like my neighbor.

We love to lie out in the gutter and stretch ourselves alongside some hypocrite measure ourselves by that hypocrite to say what we are little longer than he is. So therefore we must be all right. God where we not as bad as they are very frankly that is the hope of America.

We also we print own God we trust our money and had me first in our hearts and we think that somehow God just don't overlook our sin.

Well, what you have to understand is this about faith and folks.

It is so very very important that we understand this, that they doesn't live by explanations but by promises does not explain everything.

If he did explain to you can understand and if you could understand your problem wouldn't agree with you better get some promises to get some promises and get a bulldog grip on those promises. That's what chapter 1 is all about that faith does not live by explanations but by promises. Now here's the second thing I want you to see faith doesn't live by appearances, but by Providence this evening to see the promises of God and look beyond explanations and you need to see the providence of God and look beyond appearances because if you put your eyes on things as they appear you and get awfully confused. Chapter 2. This is chapter 2.

Habakkuk says I will stand upon my watch and set me up on the tower and will watch to see what he was saying to me.

I wore that's he's finally coming to some cents now and what I shall answer when I am reproved with people get on the me and say Habakkuk onto his profit. Why these things happening is that have an answer. And the Lord answered me and said write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reading it for the vision is yet for an appointed time will I love that an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak and not lie though it wait for will shortly, it will not tear now Habakkuk says look, I've been shouting at God I've been arguing with God, I've been telling God how to do it. I'm going to shut up. I want to sit still.

I'm going to listen. Habakkuk had a printout.

He caught up in his prayer tower is all right. I'm going to watch. I would listen. I wish God so you can speak so many of us will pray, say, listen, Lord, your servant speaks brothers. I speak Lord, your servant listens the invoice read along with God, do you you up to we just be quiet they still and know that I'm God and when Habakkuk got quiet.

He began to see the providence of God, not things as they appear. Things are not as they appear to be.

He saw God working providentially in the following ways. Number one the reliability of Scripture write it down. The reliability of Scripture like if you will, in verse two and the Lord answered me and said write the vision make it plain upon tables, that he may run that read when he said, write the vision as I write the book of a backup. This is where he got his commission to write the book of Habakkuk is all right now.

Back right vision. I want to give you vision, write it down so he may run the rate it was me when rates you need to get your instructions and so you can run problem many preachers is that they they run before the rain and many Bible students so-called Bible students were talking about things we don't understand because we've not gotten the vision that is been written upon tables, tablets, that is the recording instruments so that we can read it and notice what he says about the reliability of the Scripture in verse three for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end they shall speak and not lie though it Terry wait for what he saying is this, I want to give you something Habakkuk that people in later years can use. I want to give you something to those people in Memphis Tennessee need so write it, make it clear for these people that they can trust the word of God, that in these shaky days in which we live. Listen the past. You better get a grip on the world. You better get a grip on the word of God.

What is happening today as we are going off into subjectivism and emotional feelings and ecstasies in and thoughts and philosophies rather than standing all the word of God used to be a time when preachers would say the Bible says that they start saying the church says another just scratch the head and say well it seems to me now. The reliability of the Scripture. Godliness, providence has given us were we'll have to stumble like a ship at sea without a master writer in a dark and stormy night and no compass. When the skies can be seen. We have a shoehorn a word from God. But not only did he give him the reliability descriptions but he gave him what I'm going to call the resource of the same, which is faith look in verse four. The last part of that verse. The Jost shall live by his faith that in these dark days when you have faith you look beyond the physical to the spiritual.

You look beyond the present to the future you look beyond the temporary to the eternal. Don't judge things my parents live by faith. Faith is really the only resource that we going to have in these days and it is so important that you live by faith, the most powerful force on earth is batteries when the apostle Paul quoted this person. I quoted it Romans chapter 1B says so as much is in me is I'm ready to preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God and the salvation of everyone. They believe it to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written as it is written as Habakkuk said just shall live faith. That's the verse that convicted Martin Luther because the Protestant Reformation, faith in dark times in the dark ages. Martin Luther read the Scripture, the just shall live by faith, and in these days and these in time you need to live by faith, it will transform coming up tomorrow will your part two of this important lesson but as we conclude today you have questions about who Jesus is or what he means to you. How to begin a relationship with God through Christ anywhere discover Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you'll find resources and materials that will answer questions you may have about your faith again go to LWF.org/radio and click discover Jesus if you'd like to order a copy of today's message in its entirety. You can call us at 1877 love God mention the title giving thanks in dark days or order online@lwf.org/radio or you can write us that love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 from all of us that love worth finding happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for you and so glad you joined us for a study in God's word. Join us tomorrow for the powerful conclusion giving thanks in dark days, right on love worth buying that we treasure the testimonies and notes of encouragement we received from listeners like you and like this mother who wrote and said my daddy was saved listening to love worth finding my daughter was saved listening to love worth finding Jesus saves. We've all been blessed by brother Adrian Rogers sermons world keep on keeping on that beautiful message.

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