Be Glad and Rejoice in the Lord
Notes
Transcript
Be Glad and Rejoice in the Lord
Be Glad and Rejoice in the Lord
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach is a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the Lord.
Hope
We are all looking for hope. Some of us have received a temporary hope with the stimulus check. But this is only temporary. We need hope that that endures. I hope that endures and does not changing no matter what our circumstances are.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Civil war had divided Isreal into 2 countries, Israel and Judah. Isreal had already been conquered. Zephaniah is written around the 7th century. It was written during the reign of Josiah, who was a godly king after some very bad kings, who tried to being Judah back into a good relationship with the Lord. Zephaniah contains near and distant prophecies. Zephaniah 2:13 prophecies the destruction of Nineveh, which was fulfilled 13 years later. Zephaniah 3:8 parallels Revelation 16:14,16 describing the battle of Armageddon.
Zephaniah prophesies a great working the Lord will do. To unify all believers from all the nations. God will give a new speech. He will give hope. Those who know the voice of the Lord will have great joy. He will save and give peace. A peace which passes all understanding.
Sermon Illustration
You have been ransomed.
We just celebrated Easter. The resurrection of our Lord. The cross was used to bring everyone together. To break the chains of bondage. To set us free. Zach Williams sings a song called “Chain Breaker”
If you've got pain
He's a pain taker
If you feel lost
He's a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He's a prison-shaking Savior
If you've got chains
He's a chain breaker
Jesus Christ has already ransomed you. Walk out into His glorious light.
2. The Lord is in our midst.
We have probably all heard the poem “Footprints in the Sand”. We want this assurance that the Lord is with us even when we are alone.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
When Jesus Christ is Lord of our life, we are never alone. The Holy Spirit has been sent to comfort, teach, and guide us. This is awesome. This is something to really get excited about. To have hope in something that will stand the test of times. Praise God.
3. The Lord will gather us all together.
vs. 18 - He will gather the broken ones. Those who have been made to fill afflicted, attacked, and full of sorrow. How many today are struggling? There is fear. There is doubt. There is concern. We may have dealt with depression during this quarantine. The cabin fever may have reached its limit. People whom you love maybe stretching that last nerve to the breaking point. This verse is all of us. We are broken and we may feel discarded. The Lord loves us and is not unaware of our struggles.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The Lord is coming back to gather us all who believe unto himself. To give us a mansion and crown. Praise God. There is a lot to be hopeful for. This temporary problems will end. This quarantine will end. This virus will end. Look unto the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith.
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Do you have this hope? Do you have this faith?
If not, you can have it today. It is as simple and knowing your A, B, C’s.
Salvation:
A - Acknowledge
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
B - Believe
Acts 16:31
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
C - Confess
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.