RETURN TO ME: ZEPHANIAH

• The theme of each book: there is a sin problem, God’s wrath is coming, and I (the prophet) have come to tell you to repent of your sin.
• Were there false prophets? Of course. The false prophets then and the false preachers today are motivated by what they can GET from people, rather than what they can GIVE to the people.
• Zephaniah 1:4-5 4 I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. 5 For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too.
• A faithful shepherd loves, protects, cares for, and guides the sheep.
• John 10:11-15 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

• What kept people stuck in their sin in Zephaniah’s day, and what keeps us stuck in ours today? PRIDE. Zephaniah repeatedly contrasts the proud, complacent, and self-absorbed.
• Zephaniah 1:12 I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.
• How does complacency Happen?
  • The influence of a negative influence.
  • Too much time alone without the spiritual nourishment from others.
  • Having the temptation setting on “repeat.”
  • Infrequent, meaningful times of quiet with the Lord and His Word. (Malnourished).
• Zephaniah, this bold prophet, urges the people of Judah to examine their hearts. Examining our hearts is a good practice.
• Psalm 139:1-5 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
• We may not openly reject God, but we can gradually stop listening to Him.

• Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.
• Being a follower of Jesus requires us to come to terms with our pride.
• Pride shows when:
• • We seek validation from others.
  • We do things to be noticed by others.
  • We look down on others.
  • We refuse correction
  • We envy and engage in unhealthy comparisons.
  • We live with entitlement and ingratitude
  • We want to control others.
  • We become critical.
• God promises to preserve humble people who trust Him.
• Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
• The Living God confronted their complacency and unfaithfulness and now promises to be with them.
• Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
• God’s restoration of His people demonstrates His love.
• Zephaniah 3:18-20 I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. 19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. 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!
• Zephaniah’s Call To Us:
  1. If God exposes something in us, let’s not ignore it.
  2. If God is calling us to surrender in life, don’t rationalize it away.
  3. If God exposes a nagging sin and calls for repentance, view this as an act of His patient love.

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life. In Jesus, name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.