HAPPY ENDINGS
Zephaniah 3:9-14, 20
THE LORD'S MISSION
Because
of their disobedience, the Lord decided to destroy Israel
and send it's
people
into Babylonian captivity for seventy years.
At the same time, the Lord
decided
that their troubles wouldn't last always and He would restore them to
Himself.
God's Grace and Mercy is abounds while
He declines us.
THE LORD'S PLAN
V:9. "Then I will purify the speech of all people, so
that everyone can worship the Lord together."
A. The Lord can fix us.
1. It does not
matter how broken we are or what we have been through, Jesus
can fix it.
2. In deed we are a
very perverse people.
a. Surely our
sins have grieved the Lord.
b. At times our
language has been hurtful to each other and even to ourselves.
c. Jesus gave us
two great commands; Love the Lord with all your heart and
Love your
neighbor as yourself.
d. We find it
difficult to keep these two commands.
e. But the Lord
who loves us, will restores us to the condition where we can keep
these two
important commands..
B. This prophecy will have it's complete fulfillment
at the second coming of Christ.
1. He will
transform our minds to His ways.
2. He will set in
us a pure language; His Word.
a. We will
call on Him and honor His name.
b. We will serve Him and Him only.
b. We will serve Him and Him only.
c. We will all
be on one accord.
d. We must
believe He will do what He said.
3. We will worship
the Lord in spirit and truth.
C. The Good News is He will reform us in spite of our sinful
nature.
1. Our
transformation is not based on us, but God's love for us.
2. We can't earn
His promises or be to bad to receive them.
GOD WILL REFORM US
V:10. " My scattered people who live beyond the rivers
of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings."
A. After the 70 year captivity, the Lord instructed the King
of Persia to
release Israel
and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem . Ezra 1:2-3
1. Through Christ we are all adopted brothers
and sisters. Rom 8:23 , Eph 1:5
2. The true Israel
are all those who believe in Jesus Christ.
B. 70 years After the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, Titus came and destroyed
a. The nation of Israel
was scattered.
b. The temple in Jerusalem
has not been rebuilt.
c. After World War
One, with the help of the United Nations, Israel
was reformed back
into a nation
(around 1948).
d. Israel
as a nation has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.
C. What God wants from us is
living sacrifice: our bodies. Romans 12:1.
1. It takes a
total commitment to God to become a
living sacrifice.
2. Lord create in
us a clean heart so we can be what you created us to be.
THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD
V:11. " On that day you will no longer need to be
ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all proud
and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on my
holy mountain."
A. "That
Day" is the time after the second coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
1. Christ will
come again and take His Church into heaven to reign with Him.
2. There will be a
seven year tribulation when Christ will wage war with Satan.
a. The
destruction upon the earth will be so severe, that if Christ didn't
stop it,
no flesh would survive. Mark 13:19-29,
Matt 24: 22-31
b. Satan will
be bound for a thousands years. Rev 20:2-6
c. We will
reign on earth with Christ during the
thousand years.
B. After the rapture of the Church, only none believers will
be left on earth to go through
the seven years of
tribulation.
1. Those left will
include the none believing Jews. Luke
17:30-36
2. Those who survive
the tribulation will enter into the thousand year reign
of Christ.
GOD'S MERCY
V:12. " Those who are left will be lowly and humble, for it is they who will trust in the name of the Lord."
A. Those who survive the tribulation will be traumatized by
the events and will be poor
in spirit.
1. They will trust
the Lord because He will rule in their presence.
2. God will fulfill
His promise that all Israel
will be saved. Rom 11:26
B. During the thousand year reign of Christ a new nation of
Israelites will
grow up obedient
to Christ. Isa 59:20
1. In this way, God
will fulfill His promise that all Israel
will be saved.
THE ATTITUDE OF REFORMATION
V:13 The remnant of Israel
will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will
eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid."
A. With Satan bound
for a thousand years, there will be no one to deceive Israel .
1. All unbelievers
will have been purged doing the tribulation.
2. The remnant of Israel
who endure the tragedy of the tribulation will be
eye witnesses
to the power and glory of God.
3. They will be a
revived people focused on the righteousness of the Lord.
B. The remnant of Israel
will speak the language of God which is His Word.
1. They will
practice the righteousness of God.
2. They will
speak only the truth
C. They will enjoy the provisions of the Lord.
1. They will
enjoy the protection of the Lord.
2. They will
enjoy the comfort of the Lord.
THE JOY OF THE LORD
V:14 . "Sing, O daughter of Zion ;
shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem !"
A. It will be a happy ending.
1. Everyday in the
Lord ought to be happy endings.
2. We ought to end sadness and began in Joy.
3. We ought to end
worry and began in confidence.
4. We ought to end frustrations and began in peace.
5. We ought to end
envy and jealousy and began in praise.
6. We ought to end
fear and began in the power of the Lord.
7. We ought to end
hate and began in love.
B. Praise and worship ought to be the order of the day.
1. In fact, start
your day with praise and worship.
2. God inhabits
the praise of His people. Psalms 22:3
OUR HOME IN HEAVEN
V:20. " On that day I will gather you together and
bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among
all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very
eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!"
A. This is Good News because we know how our story will end.
1. Our Story will
end in heaven.
2. Our story will
end in the presence of the Lord.
3. Our story will
end in complete redemption.
4. Our story
will end in the righteousness of the
Lord.
B. Our story will end in eternity.
1. Our story will
end in God's Glory.
2. Our story will
in the riches of the Lord.
3. Our story will
end in the joy of the Lord.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO SHOUT
ABOUT
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
"goodnewsrevmit.blogspot.com"
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