We've all been hurt. We all carry scars. We can all overcome these things and be
healed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let's build that relationship
together right here. Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. Hey everybody,
welcome back to the sanctuary. Thank you all for joining us and for those of you
who are new, welcome. It's so good to have you here. Now as normal every so often
we do start with a bit of an update and today is no different. This year the big
focus has been on going through the least preached books of the Bible and
to date we've almost gone through all of them. Out of the ten least preached
books we've actually gone through eight and in the course of it we've actually
gone through nine of the shortest books in the Bible. Now of course studying all
them has taken a little while, however I do encourage all of you to go back and
to read through them on your own. Alright, so one of those things you know even
though you know I'm that type we go through word by word I don't ever want
everybody to just take my word for it. I want everybody to go through and learn
and study for themselves and you'll actually find that you can read through
all of the combined ten books within just you know a few hours. You know for
the average reader I mean I actually looked it up online I believe it said it
takes about two to three hours for the average reader so some of you will get
through it a little bit faster some of you you know maybe a little slower but
not by much. You know and if you need a list of all these books all of them that
we've gone through and what we still need to finish off you know connect with
me send me a message you know maybe send a DM on Facebook you know or even email
of course you know emails right there on the website you know there's there's
plenty of ways to get in touch and I'd be more than happy to provide that list
for you. Now today we're actually going to continue on that journey and we'll be
going into another of the least preached books of the Bible in Zephaniah. Now for
those keeping tabs you'll see that it's in a particularly small section of the
Bible near the end of the Old Testament and it's right behind a couple of books
that we just completed Naum and Habakkuk and before another book that we went
through a little ways back in Haggai. Now it's interesting because these books as
we've been seeing they contain just so much they are a wealth of information
however regularly they're just skim through by the vast majority you know
or they just have little pieces you know taken from them and viewed when really
they need to be studied thoroughly and they need to be read through you know
like I said you know that's what we've been seeing there's just so much that
gets missed here which which is unfortunate because there's no there's
no reason for that you know as we know God's Word the Bible here it's great for
teaching you know and rebuking and you know it's God's Word it's part of how he
talks to us so we need to hear what he has for us. Now interestingly enough the
book of Zephaniah it's chronologically out of order see Zephaniah he was
actually the prophet before Habakkuk but the book comes after and in the book of
Zephaniah was likely written towards the end of Zephaniah's ministry which took
place from approximately 740 BC till about 621 BC which is when Habakkuk
actually became a prophet this was also during the time of King Josiah's reign
and his reforms now King Josiah he rose to power after a couple just really evil
kings Manasseh and Amon and during that time this is also the time that Assyria
was starting to crumble as a world superpower you know their dominance was
just it wasn't there anymore and during during you know Josiah's reign he had
started a revival which we can we can see and learn more about in Second Kings
chapter 22 verse 1 through chapter 23 verse 25 and this is this revival was
actually helped by Zephaniah's writing here so Zephaniah is you know believed
to have actually contributed to it unfortunately this revival was very
short-lived Zephaniah you know he wrote this book to the Israelites you know for
the people of Judah and an attempt to get them to snap out of their complacency
and to turn back to God you know and this is one of those times that we see
in the Bible you know God he'd sent a warning he was like you know hey you
better stop you better stop or this is going to happen there's going to be
consequences you know and it was also it served as a way is basically a guide to
bring his people back to him before it was too late which you know as
Christians as followers of Christ answering the Great Commission that's
something we should all be trying to do is to reach out to people and you know
introduce them so that they can come to know God and you know and be saved you
know so it's our job to make the introduction and then God saves you know
people people make that choice for themselves you know and as we go through
this book there are three themes that we're going to see a day of judgment
which is coming in the very very near future and we're going to see an
indifference to God and thirdly we're going to see a day of joy and
restoration it sounds beautiful doesn't it it's because it will be now as we go
through this book we're also going to find that there are really two overall
sections to it the day of wrath which covers the first two chapters and a
piece of the third and then we're also going to see the day of hope which
covers the remainder there that final chapter so the overall message that
we're going to see is that the day is coming when God's gonna hand out
punishment for all nations all nations everyone we're talking enough is enough
I've had it it's time to lay this mac is down all right and and for those who are
faithful however there is hope see for Christians for followers of Christ those
of us who are faithful through thick and thin the Lord will be merciful so to
all the you know those who are doing evil the bad and all that the wicked you
know what hey they're gonna push that hand and they're gonna and judgments
gonna come down on them all right but for those of us who are faithful and
doing the things that we're supposed to there's hope because God's going to be
merciful you know essentially think of it like this get back to a time in your
youth when you messed up when you're told those famous words go to your room
and then you're in there and you're waiting for that come to Jesus talk and
you know there's a good chance there's probably gonna be a whooping afterwards
you know that's just the way it is that's that's essentially how this book
is being played out all right and you know you think of it you know it's kind
of you know if you tell me the truth it's gonna be better for you than if you
don't if you keep on lying to me it's gonna get rough it that's exactly what
we're looking at here all right so let's get started with our reading for those
of you with your Bible and those of you who are taking notes we're going to go
in now so join me in Zephaniah chapter 1 and we're going to start with verses 1
through 3 the Bible says the word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushy
the son of Gedalia the son of Amariah the son of Hezekiah during the reign of
Josiah son of Amon king of Judah I will sweep away everything from the face of
the earth declares the Lord I will sweep away both man and beast I will sweep
away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea and the idols that cause the
wicked to stumble when I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth declares
the Lord now Judah had been warned you know God had said it out hey you better
knock it off or else however they chose not to listen now it's unclear if they
didn't listen because they didn't believe in the prophet that was in front
of them or if they questioned God or just plain doubt of God anyway you know in
any case we need to remember that God is the same yesterday today and forever and
because of that so is this word he doesn't go back on his promises all
right now if we allow ourselves to become arrogant like the people of Judah
well just like them the day is going to come when we're standing tall on the day
of judgment and we're going to have to answer for our sins now as we're seeing
this is calling things into the big picture going all the way back to
creation because I mean you look at it it talks about you know man and the beast
you know it's it's going all the way back and you know God has blessed the
world with all these wonderful creations however on that day of judgment when it
when it's when justice is handed down you know keep in mind it's because we
force his hand as disobedient children it's not because he wants to it's not
something he's looking forward to you know just like any parent you know he
doesn't want to have to punish you know the children but it is because of our
disobedience and he's going to take it all away all of it every little piece of
it he's gonna wipe that slate clean just like when you know you got in trouble
growing up you know many of us you know we got in trouble and your parents took
things away from me those of you who are parents now you know I'm sure you've
taken things away from your kids TVs video game systems you know I'm dating
myself a little bit you know stereos you know I recall a number of years back one
of my kids decided he wanted to slam the door to his room and lock it well that
didn't happen again because he didn't have a door after that it was quickly
taken off the hinges and relocated to the garage where it stayed for a
significant amount of time you know and that's mild that is very mild compared
to what the father is going to do when it's time to hand down justice you know
when judgment comes now continuing on in a Zephaniah chapter 1 we're gonna look
at verses 4 through 6 now the Bible says I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all who live in Jerusalem I will destroy every remnant of Baal
worship in this place the very names of the idolatrous priest those who bowed
down on roofs to worship the starry host those who bowed down and swear by the
Lord and who also swear by Malik the Hebrew of that is Malcolm those who
turned back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him
so obviously idols were a huge issue here and much like today they were
prominent they were everywhere as was the worship of them you know and I'll
remind you an idol is anything that is mired or loved more than God let me say
that again an idol is anything that is admired or loved more than God much like
when people can tell you all about an athlete stats but when it comes to the
scripture they're a blank slate you know they they can they can maybe come up with
some garbage that they found on social media or some false teaching that was
handed out that people believe is in the Bible and isn't but when it comes to
actual scripture they've got nothing for you you know and people they'll go for
beyond that you know they'll make themselves idols for that matter you know
and that's when you trust in yourself more than you trust in God you know
money politicians cars houses careers social media social status cell phones
video games TV and radio programs for that matter you know movie experiences
you know these are all just examples of the multitudes of idols that exist today
some of the most common you know and people you know people don't know exactly
what an actor is up to or when a musical artist is coming to town but they can't
tell you what the Pentateuch is or the books of the gospel anything that comes
before God in your life is an idol guys anything God needs to be first and
foremost before anything and everything and those idols well they might provide
some sense of immediate gratification now you know they keep you occupied now
ultimately they're going to prove to be insufficient empty worthless and
disappointing and the times going to come for many of us that we're going to
regret the fact that we've wasted as much time as we have with them and let
them in you know the fact that we let them infringe on that time that we
could have been spending with Jesus Matthew 6 verse 33 the Bible says but
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will
be given to you as well when God comes first everything else is icing on the
cake things fall into place so much better and your successes and you will
have them they're a gift and a testament to God's glory so going back
when the Israelites had a ride you know it's a to this territory when they moved
into the to this land God had told them to go and completely get rid of all the
pagans that had been there but they didn't and because of this they were
influenced you know by them and by their idols they greatly so there was a lot of
influence you know the people their idols you know their ways you know the
Israelites had questions and they dug into them instead of listening to God and
in so much so you know that they started to worship the idols themselves that's
how wrapped up they got you know and we see that with a lot of the the ancient
mythologies you know coming into today's you know society you know someone dies
you know especially in the military or in first response like law enforcement
or the fire you know fire rescue and all that stuff someone dies and there's
always some idiot that's like till Valhalla but they want to say they're a
Christian you know if you're a Christian stop doing and saying un-Christian
things that is so you know till Valhalla guess what you know it's it's a slogan
it's a catchphrase you know these days and it's very much put out there before
God was there even a consideration like you know what hey you know we need to
bring God into this picture you know pray for the families and everything were
they a Christian you know all that kind of you know were they a believer or
whatever no it's right oh it's all about Haller brother we'll see you at the
table and all you know all that garbage and nonsense no it needs to stop it
needs to stop and a lot of us as Christians we don't think of that we
just fall right into it's like yeah yeah that's that's a great thing it's a
mighty thing yeah they're at the great feast now and I know that we need to
stop that see pagans that were already there they had a God for anything and
everything you know just like the Greeks just like the Romans did just like the
Norse did and so many others you know and as the Israelites began to include
those in their lives and include those people in their lives they began to turn
away from God and it was a very quick turn you know in the process they began
to turn on those who were poor and vulnerable poor and vulnerable we see
that a lot today don't we our veterans and our first responders who are put on
just this high pedestal when we're in uniform but then quickly discarded as
damaged goods that are better off forgotten when that time of service ends
and that uniform comes off you know we see that daily and you know we need to
be careful and evaluate how we turn from God in our own lives you know how we
start giving preference to other things in our lives that take us away from the
father not only that but we need to ensure that we don't become polytheistic
now for you know for those who don't know what polytheistic is or a polytheism
is that is the worship of many gods now the Bible makes it very clear and I'm
here to tell you you cannot worship the father and other idols at the same time
it doesn't work in Leviticus we've even been warned not to do this as Christians
we only worship the one true God anything else is a sin period end of
story you know idolatry that that is the devil's work that is the devil's
playground that's how he turns us away from God so we have to be especially
careful now let's pick back up in Zephaniah chapter 1 here verses 7 through
9 the Bible says be silent before the Sovereign Lord for the day of the Lord
is near the Lord has prepared a sacrifice he has consecrated those he has
invited on the day of the Lord's sacrifice I will punish the officials
and the king's sons and all those clad in foreign clothes on that day I will
punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold this is a reference to 1st
Samuel chapter 5 verse 5 for those who want to look at that so on that day I
will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold who fill the temple with
their gods with violence and deceit in other words judgments coming and justice
is coming with it now the prophet is Zephaniah saw what was to come he knew
it was coming and he knew you know what he knew without a doubt that it was
coming but what he didn't know was when it was going to come or you know he
basically he just he knew what was up that was it it was what he did know was
it was going to be in their lifetime and it was going to be at the hands of the
Babylonians now we see he doesn't mention them by name though and most
likely this was to keep the focus on God and not the pagans that were going to be
a tool of God's judgment upon them all right the focus needed to be on God just
like today and as we see in verses 8 through 9 it wasn't a matter of just
following local trends you know because leaders who just like
today should have been setting the best examples instead they were doing you
know they were engaged in adopting the pagan practices the fashions of the day
you know falling in line with what's cool you know they were woke to the
movement you know all that kind of stuff you know it's very much like today's
pressure you know to accept all those unbiblical things you know if you're not
supportive and you're not encouraging you know then you know you're you're a
bad person you know and it's which is garbage you know it that just like back
then that was a slap in the face of God just like today it's a slap in the face
of God it is a display of just utter contempt towards him have you ever
thought of that you know when when you're like oh I don't you know I don't
want to alienate anybody I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or any that well
you know what when it comes to the truth if the truth hurts so be it because the
truth is what needs to be put out there you know as the Bible tells us the truth
is what sets people free the truth is not always going to be a comfortable
thing that's what our conviction is after all right it's not comfortable
sometimes that's what people need actually oftentimes that's what people
need you know when we go out and we support things that we know promote sin
we're effectively spitting in the face of Jesus going to parades wearing
clothing putting stickers on things allowing for our kids to be told this is
a good thing that this is how we show love no we're showing contempt for what
Jesus has done for us you know you get all these groups and they go out there
and they like to say love is love love love as if you don't love someone when
you tell them that they're wrong about something that in itself is contrary to
what Jesus has taught us if you love someone then you need to tell them when
they're wrong and by telling them that they're wrong that in itself is a show
of love that is a display of love you know and it's the same thing at work
even none of us like getting in trouble none of us like to be the one who's
messing something up however if we are messing something up if we are doing
something incorrectly then we want to know so that we can fix it and if
someone loves you they're going to say hey you need to stop doing that and you
need to start doing this instead it is not an insult it is not something to take
offense of it is a loving gesture from one person to another to ensure that the
wrong things are stopped and the right things are started okay that's all it is
that is a loving gesture to correct somebody or to help someone to correct
something that they're doing that is a sign of love do you go into surgery and
just get you know put under for the doc to go in and do their thing and then
sent on your way no a checklist has gone through what's being done where it's
being done you know your clothing is getting changed medications are discussed
allergies are discussed expectations are set emergency contacts and so on and so
forth there's so much put into place a lot of things happen and there's a
process to make sure that the right thing is done for the right reason with
the right person why because at some point someone messed up and it's just
what they're doing is to make sure that doesn't happen again so to take care of
people certain processes have been implemented for everyone in fault
addressing people sin is no different if you love someone and they're messing up
you need to tell them that they're messing up you know and well that's just
one example there's so many out there think of flight checklist right camping
checklist you know there's so many checklists out there why is to make sure
that the right things are done to take care of people all right continuing on
now join me now in Zephaniah 1 we're gonna look at verses 10 through 13 now
the Bible says on that day declares the Lord a cry will go up from the fish gate
wailing from the new quarter and a loud crash from the hills wail you who live
in the market district depending on your translation that might say mortar all
your merchants will be wiped out all who trade with or in silver will be destroyed
at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are
complacent who were like wine left on its dregs who think the Lord will do
nothing either good or bad their wealth will be plundered their houses demolished
though they build the houses they will not live in them though they plant
vineyards they will not drink the wine God was going to go through and weed out
everyone who tried to excuse their own sins that's what this is saying here the
the people who not only didn't examine themselves and what was in their hearts
but sat around on their laurels watching the moral chaos that was going on in the
world around them you know those people that were complacent and you know we all
know the type those I think oh it doesn't impact me so you know so what
it's not my battle I don't need it they could care less they don't think that
God would get involved you know or you know that he could care less you know
little did they they realized that within the next 20 years the Babylonians
not only would come in but they were literally going to drag people out of
hiding they're going to enslave people and kill others not a single person was
going to make it out unscathed and for us today a lot of people are complacent
they're comfortable in their lives you know and they don't see how the things
going on around them can impact them you know it's one of Satan's better tricks
isn't it they feel like ah I'm doing all right I've got a pretty decent life I'm a
good person so they don't feel like they need God or really believe in him for
their mat that matter like oh I don't need religion I don't need you know any
of that stuff you know others like to think of him you know you know that that
do believe that there's a God they tend to think that you know he's like that
uncle or that grandfather that just kind of they hang around but they don't
really do anything they don't really have anything to offer you know anybody
in life you know they're cool to hang out with you know maybe they have some
cool stories but you know when when when something happens and you need someone
you could depend on they're not the person you call you know here's the
thing though God is real God is real and he's only going to let us push that line
so far we can't afford to be indifferent you may feel that you're safe out there
but you're not you know Revelation chapter 3 verses 15 and 16 the Bible says
I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot I wish you were either one
or the other so because you were lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about
to spit you out of my mouth by being indifferent you're still turning your
back on God and because of it you're giving up that gift of salvation that
he's trying to give to you he's giving us time so that we had the chance to
choose to stand for him but that time is not infinite there's no place that we
can hide so we have to look inwards and we have to examine ourselves before it's
too late this is something that we need to do now so if you haven't and even if
you think you have I still encourage take it take a moment take a look inside
figure out where you were where you are and what you need to do to get into
alignment with God's Word you know and with God's will because when judgment
comes and justice is handed out it's gonna be too late so we need to act now
you know what are the things I'm doing that I need to stop you know it's like I
do I believe in God or don't I because your actions are going to dictate that
and your actions those are things that we need to change right now remind you
know don't don't take this out of context I'm not saying your deeds get
you into heaven but your deeds do speak to what you truly believe in you know
just you know Jesus is our way you know he is he has said it himself he is the
way he is the light that is the way that we get in there by believing in Jesus
however because we believe in him that in itself should make all of us as
believers want to change things in our lives to start trying to root the sin
out let's see what the rest of this chapter has for us today so continuing
on back in as F and I a chapter 1 and we're going through verses 14 through 18
now the Bible says the great day of the Lord is near near and coming quickly the
cry on the day of the Lord is bitter the mighty warrior shouts his battle cry
that day will be the day of wrath a day of distress and anguish a day of trouble
and ruin a day of darkness and gloom a day of clouds and blackness a day of
trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner
towers I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like
those who are blind because they have sinned against the Lord their blood will
be poured out like dust and their entrails and dung like dung excuse me
there let me say let me go back there their blood will be poured out like dust
and their entrails like dung excuse me a little tongue-tied there all right
neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the
Lord's wrath in the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed for he
will make a sudden end of all who live on earth so for Judah it was a dark day
indeed that they're coming up on that finish line real quick and for us it's
not going to be any different if we don't turn from our sin now and you know
raise our voices ups the Lord every second that goes by you know we're
closer and closer to judgment we're closer to justice you know and if you
look at the way we're just seeing you know it's talking about the end you know
because he's talking about trumpets and battle right on the day that God's
judgment is going to rain down it is going to be without mercy for the
unfaithful he's promised worldwide destruction and it will be cleansed of
all sin there's not going to be anything left nothing when the day comes if you
haven't already giving yourself to the Lord you're not going to have anyone to
blame but yourself it's going to be that moment when Jesus says I told you I
warned you why didn't you listen now I know this sounds pretty grim and to the
believer I'm sorry to the unbelievers and to the unfaithful it is and it's
going to be for Christians though for true believers God's children for you
for me there's hope Jesus sacrificed himself for us he's paved the way for us
he's standing at the door waiting for us and in Revelation chapters 20 and 21 God
has promised us that there will be a new earth and that we will have new bodies
that he has forgiven us and in his mercy will not reject us because of our
faithfulness if you haven't already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior
the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings now is the time Jesus has told us it
only takes a mustard seed size of faith doesn't take a lot just a mustard seed
size of piece of faith and if that's all that you have that is enough because the
Lord is going to help it grow so give yourself over to him and know that you
receive his mercy and his love because he does love you he loves us all and
that's why he's given us this morning so that when the day comes we're not the
ones in trouble we're the ones who is he's saying you've done well my good and
faithful servant
all right that's all we had time for today next time we're gonna pick back up
and we're gonna keep on going through this series and we're gonna we're gonna
see what else you know the word has for us and we know what's going to be great
you're loved you are blessed so go and be a blessing go and go and be the
church I want to thank you for joining us today if you have any questions prayer
requests or would like to know more about our ministry you can find us on
our website at be the light sanctuary org or on Facebook at be the light
sanctuary we'll catch you next time God bless