Power to Change
- Zephaniah 3:9 – Sept 20, 2009
Intro: I love men
like Zephaniah. Even though he lived at
first in a time when his nation was Godless and immoral he still believed in
God’s power to change. Do we? Today I am sharing on this concept...
1. Today we are
looking at the life, ministry and writings of Zephaniah. From your
Outline, you
discover that at the writing of this book the prophet was facing a corrupt
And godless
nation. The nation was far away from
God. At the time of the writing
Of this book
Zephaniah sees the Lord is just and He will bring judgment.
a. As a descendent of
King Hezekiah he was aware of his descendant’s devotion to God.
How the nation
prospered under his leadership. He
recalled the words of Solomon in
Pr 14:34, which
states, “righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any
People.”
b. He was aware of
just what had happened to
And he was
warning
Repent as
individuals and as a nation.
c. The author decided
to use Godly fear to inspire his hearers to repent. He reminds
Them there will
be a Day of the Lord and He will be vindicated.
2. Zephaniah in his
writings addresses the idolatrous priests that God knows the hidden
Sins and they is
no use trying to hide them him. David
wrote, in Ps 66:18, they if we
Regard iniquity
in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. God wants to cleanse, refine
And save us. If we don’t get rid of our sins eventually
they lead to judgment and
Serious
consequences.
a. Zephaniah also
talks to the merchants who think God will do nothing about their
Dishonesty. He reminds them the wrath of God is a terrible
thing and no matter
What money or power a person
has, these will not deliver people from the wrath of
God.
b. Zephaniah was
deeply concerned about his generation, so he worked tirelessly with
Huldah and
Jeremiah for revival. In 2:3, he
encourages the people to seek God.
3. In the four
distinct message from God, Zephaniah says that the only answer to the
Ills of society is a total
reformation of the heart. Total
repentance. He may have
Been reminded of
2 Chron 7:14 that any total reformation of society begins in the
House of the
Lord.
a. We are called to Humble
ourselves, pray, seek his face and turn from our wicked
Ways, then God hears,
forgives and heals our land. Judgment
and revival begin in
The house of the
Lord.
b. Zephaniah points
out that mercy will come to those who repent and God’s wants to
Deliver. The promise of salvation in universal.
c. Paul stated this
in Ephesians that through Jesus Christ all men have the same access
To salvation and
to God.
4. Zephaniah knew
true reformation brought about lifestyle change, it is reflected in
Our attitudes,
actions, though and speech. That is why
he tells them in 3:9 to purify
Their
speech. They had the same problem many
suffer today. Diariaha of the
Mouth and
constipation of the brain. The
inhabitants of
Of this letter,
obeyed no one, did not trust in God or draw near to Him.
5. The last part of chapter
3, is of praise. God showed Zephaniah in
the future. There
Will be no fear. Talk about how I hate the Spirit of Fear, but
Zephaniah saw a
Time where there will be no
fear. People will be meek, humble, they
will trust God
Be glad and joyful.
a. It will be a time when God will not punish
them in fact there are six things that
Zephaniah closes for us to know from this
chapter.
1. He is
the Mighty God who saves and will be with them.
2. He
takes great delight in His people.
3. He is the God of promise.
4. He will bring back the
scattered.
5. His people are encouraged to
praise and honour God.
6. He will restore.
b. Zephaniah reminds
his audience that there is a power to change us and our situation.
He tells us that
God is bigger than the boogy man and the monsters on T.V.
c. Salvation is that
vehicle of change it brings deliverance and demands praise.
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