Learn & Turn

Introduction

Illustration: “Do as I say, not as I do...”

Illustration: Growing up in our parents house and the day we realized our parents were not perfect i.e. they make mistakes

Illustration: All Women’s Talk article “7 Things To Learn From Your Parents’ Mistakes That Can Make You Stronger...” by Heather

It’s Okay To Be Mad At Them

No One Is Perfect

Do Not Make The Same Choices

Don’t Hold A Grudge

Learn To Talk About It

Learn To Forgive

Think Before You Act

Transition To Body

Body

Reflect Retrospectively

Learn From The Past

Illustration: Retro- relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned

The plural address indicates that these words are intended for the people. YHWH offers the current generation a chance to change the situation that has reigned since Jerusalem’s destruction.

Return Repentantly

Turn to the LORD- expressive of repentance

These rhetorical questions drive home the point that the previous generations did not repent. They had their chance to change, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

Whereas Zechariah himself picks up the message of exilic prophecy in promising without qualification that Yahweh will once again turn to Jerusalem with compassion (Zech. 1:16) and return to Zion (8:3), the secondary framework (1:1–16) makes this promise dependent on the people’s own return to Yahweh: “Return to me … and I will return to you” (v. 3). In so doing, it no longer grounds the summons to return in the message of salvation itself, something characterizing the prophets from Hosea to Trito-Isaiah as well as their schools.

Imperishable Purpose Working Word

LORD’s Word Will accomplish its purpose

i.e.- God’s Word still works

Isaiah 55:10–11 ESV

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Transition To Close- Learn, Turn, & Be Reunited

Reunited 1978 hit by Peaches & Herb

… I was a fool to ever leave your side

Me minus you is such a lonely ride

The breakup we had has made me lonesome and sad

I realize I love you 'cause I want you bad, hey, hey

… I spent the evening with the radio

Regret the moment that I let you go

Our quarrel was such a way of learnin' so much

I know now that I love you 'cause I need your touch, hey, hey

… Reunited, and it feels so good

Reunited 'cause we understood

There's one perfect fit

And, sugar, this one is it

We both are so excited 'cause we're reunited, hey, hey

And for my sanctimonious saints...

I was sinking deep in sin Far from the peaceful shore Very deeply stained within Sinking to rise no more

But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry From the waters lifted me Now safe am I

Love lifted me Love lifted me When nothing else could help Love lifted me

Luke 15:20–24 ESV

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

There Is Joy Before The Angels of God Over...

Luke 15:10 ESV

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Close- God’s Kindness Ought Lead to Repentance

Romans 2:3 ESV

3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Romans 2:4 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Hebrews 6:1 ESV

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

The LORD is not Slow (Slack)

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Revelation 3:3 ESV

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Those Whom the LORD Loves He Reproves

Revelation 3:19 ESV

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Fruit of Repentance

Matthew 3:2 ESV

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 3:8 ESV

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 3:11 ESV

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus Miracles Ought Lead Others To Repentance

Matthew 4:17 ESV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:20–21 ESV

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Disciples Proclaim Repentance

Mark 6:12 ESV

12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

The Church Gently Proclaims Repentance

Acts 2:38 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 ESV

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

2 Timothy 2:24–25 ESV

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So...

Reflect Retrospectively

Return Repentantly

Imperishable Purpose Wonder Working Word of the LORD God

In The Beginning....

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9–14 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:5 ESV

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Because Jesus is the Son of the Living God....

Jesus is the Word of God Incarnated In Flesh

Jesus Mary’s Little Baby

Jesus Is the Bright And Morning Star

Jesus is the Light of the World

Jesus is the Bread of Life

Jesus is the True Vine- abide in Jesus and you will...

Jesus is the Door to your salvation

Jesus is the Way and the Truth, and the Life

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus Is The Alpha & the Omega- the beginning & the end

John 1:16–18 ESV

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.