Our King's Restoring Work

Thank you for your son Jesus for his work on the cross. in his resurrection Maury thank you. for all the things that we even forget to take advantage of

in your son Jesus name

Like I said turn to book of Zephaniah. popular of a book probably for most of us Zephaniah is in the Old Testament in the Minor Prophets again minor not meeting. Lesser, but just shorter.

the third chapter

verse 14

Odor of Zion shout Israel rejoice and exalt with all your heart or daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord has taken away the judgements against you. He has cleared away your enemies. The king is real the Lord is in your mints. You shall never again. See your evil. Shelby said Jerusalem fear not let not your hands for a week. The Lord your God is in your midst a mighty one who will say he will rejoice over you with loud singing. I will gather those who mourn for the festival. So that you will no longer suffer reproach. The whole time I will deal with all your oppressors. I will say and gather the outcasts and I will change their shame and to praise and Renown in all the Earth. At that time I will bring you in. That time I will gather you together. For I will make you Renown and praised among all the peoples of Europe. When I restore your fortunes before your eyes. Says the Lord.

Other again, we ask that your spirit would be known to our hearts. Zoo teachers from your word

we believe in your spirit. Jesus name

So again third Sunday of another prophet.

Getting another minor Prophet mentioned in a different time. So brief context Northern Kingdom Israel Southern Kingdom Judah after Solomon Israel kind of splits into two Nations and tribes North to try to sow Judah is where the temple in Jerusalem. It's kind of the primary focus of the Old Testament. Yes, there is a lot of stuff rest to Israel the north northern kingdom, but really as you study it and makes more sense that while it's being addressed to Northern Kingdom Israel. It's also kind of secondarily being addressed to Southern Kingdom Judah mostly because Southern kingdoms you to last longer it's where the temple is Ken has a little bit stronger case for this is what should be happening. totally different conversation in around 7:11 Assyria comes in conkers the northern kingdom and then comes knocking at the door of Judah Southern Kingdom. and when this happens the people of Israel

They make some changes correct the errors and because of the word of God to the prophets were speaking to do that at this time. They realize that the reason why is Syria is here. The reason. Going to conquer us is because we have turned away from our God. So they can turn back turn back to God. They only partial way. for about another hundred and thirty years

Judith kind of survive a kind of because they don't really ever get back on their feet that kind of stick in this weird place of sort of following God sort of Because of that God raises up the Babylonian Empire rescues the people of Judah Empire advance and then Babylon conquered Assyria, and then goes and conquer the rest of the world including Judah again in about 580.

He speaks in the middle around 40 to 6:10. So he's he's pretty much right smack in the middle of both of these conquests a threat. He sends eight another Nation another Nations Army to Cup of Wrath as Jeremiah and Isaiah.

Later parts of the Old Testament Syria is called to Judgment at the hands of Babylon Babylon for two purposes one to stop the advance of the sea Road from defeating Judah and also to punish Syria for all the wickedness. They did in conquering the world. God's plans are complicated and we're thankful for that. rights of the people of Judah

sort living their lives, right?

I'm just kind of happens.

Baal worship altars in what the Old Testament calls high place is basically just places that you can see from a distance. There's Alters there where you going you the Bales in the Acura? and then after monastic a different King Josiah a king who is in the ranks of the kings of Judah a good King. Now he's not the greatest but he's a good kid would like the Book of Kells a little bit more sleep as you see this the Sevenfold is up and down of good king in Israel who who let the people to worship God in them and then after him a bad King and he and he leaves the people in the worship of fails and he allows allows all this bad stuff to happen, right and then another fourth of false gods and worship before Zephaniah answers.

Manassas in there and Jeff and I are really actually write it as as this transition happens.

Your change all this stuff or judgment is coming. Remember Assyria and Israel northern kingdom. They thought they were good. It would just do it. They were defeated.

This gets Josiah's attention and he does make changes.

God's work. I already said that it was say it again.

They're not simple like probably we would. How much more complex plan and he can use his many different methods and means to to bring about discipline in correction even judgement. Sometimes God sends a foreign power Assyria Babylon.

evil Nations guy uses

also uses other means we can maybe call them common memes.

In Eastern religions observe how the world works and they call it karma. I'm not saying that karma is right I'm saying this is what a false religion would recognize God's common uses common judgments as many of us that does happen. Is that by and large? In most cases over the course of a person's life good people live better maybe better is not the right word. But Schaefer more productive lives that people of what a good person isn't versus a what a bad person is, but their observation of what would be called karma. If you live a life decency. Good behavior and you help the poor you tent 10. To have things a little bit better when they give you an extreme example is not very good argument. And I know it's not a very good argument. I've never done drugs my whole life. I never smoked marijuana never done cocaine or heroin or anything like that have such little experience in this area that I don't even know what to say on how to write a fuse.

Unless that changes at some point in my life, which I don't plan on it unless I am murdered in the tool of murder is overdosing truck. I will not overdose on heroin. And all of you go well duh course you won't cuz you don't use heroin. This is why this is the extremity of the case right? I'm trying to make a point you if you if you Jewish heroin You're an idiot Lee more likely than somebody who doesn't. To have a bad outcome. Write this is obvious. Again. This is not this is not an argument. I'm not trying to my trying to win a case you I'm trying to make a point. Let's go to something maybe a little bit more difficult to wrap our minds around and it'll make sense in a moment and in just follow me. marriage Freeman What happens to a culture when when marriage is devalued? A million different ways million. We're going to talk about one particular. We're going to talk about when we devalue marriage by moving the proper place for sex outside of the marriage relationship. We live in a culture that is telling us right now that whoever you have sex with in his many way in his many times and place than with this is totally and completely fine. In fact, it's right in healthy. This is a total and complete lie.

Some of you may be know this. healthiest intimate relationship that you can have

Is in a single monogamous relationship. The most pleasure is dried insects. When it's consensual with one partner. scientific

because our culture doesn't work.

In fact, it's good. I don't care and I don't care that is also a lie. It's a lie, because it doesn't fit with any reality. So you stand on evolution is the way we got to the point where at right Evolution tells you that you that this is not right. I'm not suggesting this is right. But this is the pattern thought we evolved to be raised in family units in family units don't work because of jealousy and the realization that are our chemical makeup doesn't tell us this is right way to go to being right we're supposed to be in single-family. shingle relationships

Now what happens? literally witnessing

Call Trish.

With whoever you want.

They're being value.

Nothing valued in about 50,000 other ways, but this is the primary one.

When you start to devalue marriage culture starts to be corrupted and starts to break down. It starts to break down in unusual ways namely we start to care about everybody else. Families are designed to teach us how to care about everybody else. Healthy Families

Healthy Families selfishness becomes a minimum when marriages and family start to be pulled apart, you know about the people who are suffering or less fortunate.

Actually much more terrifying.

in this instance when we care about that. Is this have anything to do with Zephaniah?

What was happening during Manassas?

You might know who the Bales are in painting Bales are the fertility God. I think I'll share this before. I'm going to share it again cuz I want you to

You know when you have sex with the temple prostitute. Let's worship.

No. Whenever a culture starts to be okay with this. And sex outside of marriage becomes perfectly fine.

The culture starts to be deteriorated in this is God's judgement. Or bad things really actually to start happening to bad people and bad. I know God has called by the way your fans in the widows in the soldiers in the land. Those who are less fortunate than ourselves you every single person in this room. Every person in this room right now is in the top 1% of human history. You are you are in the top 1% of the most wealthiest people make more than $75,000 a year. You're in the 1% of the nation. You are so far above everybody else in human history. It's astronomical. It's actually silly.

And you know what we do as a culture for the poor and orphans and widows.

That's a blanket statement. It's really very harsh for many of the people who are even in this church who help out a great deal of great now. But as a culture ass as it makes more sense as a Christian culture. Frost in the church, we do not do a very good job.

Cuz that was what was happening. Prostitution is on the rise and everybody says do whatever is right in your own eyes. You know who suffers?

the people who are suffering before

in the Here Comes Josiah King Josiah comes on the scene he goes this

This is not how it should be unselfish to care for those who are less fortunate. By the way that that starts in Genesis and goes all the way through the Revelation James tells his true religion is to care for the orphans and widows.

Start to finish in the Bible That's how God's love manifested. So.

Besides like that. We got to change this. We got to we got to shake this we got to figure this out. And so what does he do? He starts to clean things up. He gets rid of the bail altars in temples. because the people

He starts cleaning things.

real lasting change real lasting change one man make a decision.

Getting this is now common. Judgment, but on the other side. common grace, mercy Where is before whenever you start to be corrupted in Twisted in in in God's hand of judgement discipline naturally starts to happen. Whenever we start to clean things up and to make changes into the follow after him start start to sit back together properly. This is what your science starts to do. He sees the pain in the suffering in his culture and he makes a decision that the right of their God.

first 14

Sheena Daughter of Zion Choucho Israel rejoice in exhaust with all your heart o daughter of Jerusalem.

Let me clean this up a little bit so that we understand what's going on. This is poetry or Daughter of Zion Israel or daughter of Jerusalem. That's all the same thing people of God what he saying? You know, I was on a little while but two or three months ago. I was on a Kik saying you know, what the most the number one command in scripture is praise and worship your God.

I feel like I should rest my case you with this. Praise God and he allowed right Sing It Loud.

There's no music. So it's really bad. Not that it would have been any better any other time.

Is singing in fattic Lee without a care cuz I don't care much if you think I was.

shingles

Yahoo

has taken away the judgements against you. Is cleaned away your enemies?

Enemies both Nations coming in judgment and enemies common.

Certain things are changing. This point is this question.

Am I really doing anything?

Miss you sponsored.

from Nicaragua For like seven or eight years through World Vision. We spend $36 a month.

school year by Jesus and you know how my brain works? Cuz we get stuff from World Vision 4 5 6 times a year, you know. Christmas cards Easter things send more money He's like that. You know what I do. I go. I wonder how much of that $36 is actually going to Boise ponson. Isn't that silly of me to say $36 is it very much? Is it really doing anything?

I told our Bible study on Wednesday night that I felt very scolded that's cold and continue to happen into Thursday and Friday this week as I was going over this passage because you know what, I realize this week. What time I get one of those little notes are cards whatever information about the boy. I sponsor there's very few times that I can remember where I immediately went to my knees and pray for. $36 it's not doing anything. And yet the one thing that maybe what do something?

What about what about homeless shelters or or food banks or things of that nature? Maybe I could go for a couple hours on Saturday. I could pass out. You know what my brain does still do it.

Because the places that help the poor orphans widows soldiers and when are bursting forth with church?

I know that I can't do everything but I would do something.

And by the way, if you if you just said yourself, yeah, but he was the king of Israel. He had a pretty large influence. I'm going to guess that you have a bigger influence. I know I do. Yet what do I do? I make Justified things that I don't do. And I know I should.

Are you ready for some really neat though? Guess the text goes on. Second-half verse 15. He says he says the king the king of Israel.

No. That's not what it says. the king of Israel yokwe

He's out there making the physical action. She's the one.

Well, you might go and serve the homeless. It's not your work to do it's gone.

In the same breath. We say that we also must recognize that it's through his power.

We send $36 to a boy in a country far away. I've never met him. I never I never talk to him. I sent him letters.

But it's not my work to do. Let's go. scripture promises scripture

after God tells us to go and do this and help go and feed and give drink to and clothes don't have what you have immediately. Every time we are told that we will be what we need.

Josiah was given.

Saw this happening. He looked at King Josiah and said that's not him. That's God. That showing at work and he says this is going to be in your mix. You said your b****? And you shall never again easel?

I'm not dead. Shelby said to Jerusalem. fear, not of Zion Your hands grow weed. The Lord your God is in your midst a mighty one. Who will save?

I mention the last couple weeks what prophecy looks like. Can I use a picture illustration talks about the Rocky Mountains drive up to the Rocky Mountains you're off in the distance. You see the Rocky Mountains mountain range on a singular Mountain many mountains. What is your office at a distance of mountains and they blur together too far away to distinguish the individual. and all that kind of stuff, Michigan

Distinguish difference we live in is very weird place.

Never again. Will you see your evil? You know who comes after Josiah backing at the backing up backing after that battle on? Nations it is ever rules on the Earth, by the way. What is what is F&I heat? What is even talking about? He's talking about this further Mountain. But when we do this ever ever.

Learn something about our own existence. We learned we are in this already but not yet. What is this reality that Zephaniah has been talking about and it was fulfilled in part in his lifetime through King Josiah?

And is yet to be completed even after us 2500 years later.

Is it we live in this already but not yet.

And by the way, what is she doing?

You know what other truth fine from Genesis chapter 1 all the way to Revelation chapter 22 or whatever. Is that God? Is the god of Salvation until the end? This is his work. This is the manifestation of his presence on the earth. And what I realized this work is the Lord's work.

Both from the enemies that are attacked and from the common enemies of judgement. Is Josiah starts to work? Everybody else starts working anybody else and salvation comes to them?

We look around at all the suffering and live the life of luxury. I know this and all of you probably know it's you I grew up in a home where both of my parents were there. Both of them work Sports school and probably in less than five fingers on my hand. How many times before I graduated high school? I didn't go to church not counting sickness. including vacation my parents thought it was necessary. It's a mandatory.

I have never suffered. I've never been punched in the face. never once I am a preacher of the gospel of Christ. By the way is one of the most offencive things of this world because the world hates price and I have never once ever.

I know people who have And you know what? I do justify mean

because I'm horny.

the first 17

Will Rejoice over you with gladness over you with loud rumor that scripture to praise, you know, it's just said in this world. You know, what God's doing in heaven Praises about God

If you're worthy of that. I'm not.

That's how much he cares about his greatness.

So you will no longer suffer your oppressors. I will save the lanes and I will change their changed into the other four. I will make you Renown in phrase among all the people when I restore your fortunes before your eyes shares. Yahweh

you are not the Agent of Change in this world. God is it's called you to that you just step out in America. We say the president is supposed to look like his people in the rest of the world. We live our lives out sacrificially and through the power of the Spirit by the way Wells and you change what happened?

Now, can you imagine for just a moment? What's up?

if one man changes the the people imagine if Church started doing this even really.

astronomical

change policy new president money

Serve God.

worship values

and don't make excuses.

Change WhatsApp.

God will gather those who are broken.

It will restore those who are hurting. those who suffer

and we will live in this reality of the already but not yet. Where we see change happening. We see the kingdom of God be coming. a real Kingdom

Knowing all the while. but soon it will find its fullness.

We will praise the day when I have.

Father in heaven

Lord and King Jesus

Spirit who moves

Thank you. We praise you. for your work Do you work with restoration? We ask that you would strengthen each of us. to be your citizen to be your priesthood in this world. After I thank you, and I praise you. The who has invited us to be par.

Do the instruments of your work?

Or seen your precious and holy son, Jesus name that we play.

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