NEVER A REASON NOT TO REJOICE
In the late 1960’s the Charismatic Renewal was starting to impact local churches here in the Southern hemisphere, and Charismatic groups and Pentecostal churches began to sing songs and choruses composed by anointed singers and musicians taken directly from the Scriptures, there was a rich anointing upon these myriad of songs and choruses, I think one reason they were so anointed was simply because it was the Word of God.
Sadly, the singing of Scriptures was basically for a “season” and by the 1990″s they faded out. Personally this has disappointed me, and I believe there should still be a place for them in our worship services.
One chorus that was sung and loved for a number of years is from Habakkuk 3:17-18
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—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
I love the MESSAGE Bible that says:
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,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
As we take these verses and pass them through the Cross and apply New Covenant truth to them, the Prophet is saying “even though we are in a winter season whether personally or corporately as a local church, when there is no manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, when things (sins) are stopping the flow of the Spirit, where there seems to be no obvious spiritual growth in Believers lives, when there seems no one is getting saved, still I will sing and rejoice and thank the Lord for His continued goodness and blessing.
This sure isn’t an easy thing to do, and we can sure see those going through such a difficult season both in many Believers lives and many local churches. Some of my readers may also be currently going through such a season.
As I have written recently, we must be convinced and declare GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, and even though we don’t know why things are the way they are, ALL THINGS ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. Rom.. 8:28.
Let us look at the next verse 19 NLT.
The SOVEREIGN Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk had a revelation, that God is sovereign, and we need to take our eyes of the negative situations or we will start to stumble and could fall, but as we look to the Lord, we can declare the words from the MESSAGE:
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.
Our Sovereign Lord is ALWAYS worthy of our praise and worship and thanksgiving, just think about the “horrible pit” and the “miry clay” for a few minutes, and there will bubble up in your spirit a song of praise and this can set your feet a dancing amen.
