Zephaniah

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Zephaniah

• Trouble on the Horizon

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Judahs Failings

• v. 4 - worship mixed with idolatry
• v.4-5 - tolerant of unfaithful spiritual
  leadership
• v. 6 - self-sufficient,
• v. 8 - compromising leadership
• v. 9 - vain worship,
• v.11 - dishonest businessmen
• v. 12 - apathetic toward God,
• v. 13 - materialism

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Nations Also Accountable

• v. 1 - gather i.e. listen,
• v. 3 - repent (in 3 steps)
• Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility
• Included in condemnation are...
• v. 4 - Philistines,
• v. 8 - Moab Ammon
• v. 12 - Egypt,
• v. 13 - Assyria

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Back to the Focus

• v. 1-2 - Complete disregard for the Lord
• v. 3 - evil political leaders,
• v. 4 - evil spiritual leaders
• v. 5 - No shame, 21
• v.7 - no repentance

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What is the Lesson for Us?

• We also live in a decaying culture

1 Corinthians 1011 11 Now these things happened
to them as an example, but they were written down
for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages
has come.
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Can We See Our Own Culture?

• Materialism, dishonesty in business politics
• Worship mixed w/greed, i.e. idolatry, Col. 35
• Unfaithful spiritual leadership
• Not going to God, i.e. biblical ignorance
• Emotion driven worship
• Apathy is so many areas

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2 Peter 317

• 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this
  beforehand, take care that you are not carried
  away with the error of lawless people and lose
  your own stability.

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What is the Lesson for Us?

• We also live in a decaying culture
• It is not just Gods people that must give an
  account

1 Peter 417-18 17 For it is time for judgment to
begin at the household of God and if it begins
with us, what will be the outcome for those who
do not obey the gospel of God? 18 AndIf the
righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of
the ungodly and the sinner?
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What is the Lesson for Us?

• We also live in a decaying culture
• It is not just Gods people that must give an
  account
• We have been warned,

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Zephaniah 36-7

• 6 I have cut off nations their battlements are
  in ruinsI have laid waste their streets so that
  no one walks in them their cities have been made
  desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant.
  7 I said, Surely you will fear me you will
  accept correction. then your dwelling would not
  be cut off according to all that I have appointed
  against you. but all the more they were eager to
  make all their deeds corrupt.

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The Father Hopes For His Children

• v. 12-13 - remnant of noble behavior
• v. 14-15 - rejoicing and joy in forgiveness
• v. 16-17 - no fear,depression- victory and joy
  ahead
• v. 18-20 - Gods kingdom promises
• v. 18 - I will gather the grieving
• v. 19 - I will save the lame, gather the outcast
• ........ I will turn their shame into praise
• v. 20 - I will bring you in, eternal praise
  renown

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• God has always hoped for His children and he has
  hope for you.
• Will you respond?