“The Day of the Lord- How to Find an Escape ”  June 8, 2008

Zephaniah 1:1-2:3

 

630 B.C.- Zephaniah means “hidden of the Lord”

Day of the Lord- a future period of time where God will judge the world in undiluted wrath (Rev 14:10, 15:1) with heat and fire (2 Peter 3:7-10).  It is seven years (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 6-19) destined to test those on earth (Rev 3:10).

 

JUDGMENT IS NOT POPULAR TODAY- Same God of OT/NT- Mt 10:30

ISAIAH 61:1-2

 

POINT 1- The Day of the Lord will come upon those who don’t ESCAPE

 

 

A.   The judgment of God will come upon the RELIGOUS

(priests, astrologers, hypocrites, backsliders; 1 Pet 4:19; Mat 7:21-22; Titus 1:16)

 

B.    The judgment of God will come upon the pagan SOCIAL CUSTOMS

(clothing, TV, lack of discipline, cohabitation, divorce, tolerance- 1 John 2:15-16 )

 

C.   The judgment of God will come upon the greedy MERCHANTS

(Wall street; all who are greedy; 1 Timothy 6:7-10)

 

D.   The judgment of God will come upon the COMPLACENT

(2 Peter 3:3-4; these are those who make no change in their life; Matt 6:33)

1)     When is the last time you shared Jesus? Memorized a verse of the Bible? Invited someone to church? Gave a Bible?

2)     Prayed for 30 minutes? Read a book that was theological in nature? Were broken over sin?

EAGLES NEST ILLUSTRATION

 Going          God wants you to know that judgment is coming and we should be ready.

Deeper          

 

POINT 2- The Day of the Lord will not come upon those who might ESCAPE

 

B.     We need to realize that the day of the Lord is NEAR

(Matthew 16:1-3; we need to be seeing the signs of the times)

 

C.     There is a possible way of escape for those who are SEEKING

(Seeking the LORD, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HUMILITY- Matthew 6:33)

 

 

Going         God expects you to be seeking Him or else risk the consequences.

Deeper

 

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness.” Matthew 6:33

 

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”  Revelation 3:10