The Searching of the Lord

Zephaniah 1:4-7,8,12

4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

 5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

 6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

 7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath;

I. Them that are turned back from the Lord: them that are turned back from the Lord indicates those that no longer are pursuing a relationship with God. They in fact had turned to worship idols and false Gods..many times we turn to substitutes for God in relationships and possessions. Seeking to find fulfillment in the world in the place of God…God indicates that these individuals had turned their back from God or from the source of their life inspiration. We are to seek the Lord and search for him with all our Hearts…scripture states to Love the Lord thy God with all they heart, soul and mind. We are to worship the Lord and in Him we find completeness and the answers we search for. Don’t allow loneliness and the desire to follow the world to pull you away from your relationship hips with the Lord… Why would you want to turn back from following the Lord and the Paths of Righteousness. It is true that sometimes sin will appeal to us to forsake our Love for the Lord but we are to not turn back from the Lord. If you were to sin and you will …you should turn to the Lord and ask his Love and Forgiveness to forgive your mistakes.  Romans 1. 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

II. The Lord hath prepared a sacrifice and invited his Guest….The Lord reminds us that he has prepared a sacrifice for us when we follow our own paths and find sin. That in its place he has placed his Son on the Cross for us to believe in Him. We are to trust in Him and we have been invited to partake in his gift of Mercy and Love. As far as the Heavens area above the earth so is his Mercy and Love to us. It is great, it is grand and God desires and invites… calls you to be a partaker of his kingdom of His dear Son in the Light , the Lord of the Light the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13 states he has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his Dear Son. Today follow his path, follow his goal, find his Love and heed the Calling of God. Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be on it but narrow is the way to leads to life…but once you enter in you will not be disappointed you will not be ashamed. Follow the lord you are his invited guest….why decline the invitation…What better thing do you have to put in His place?

III. The Lord will do an extensive search. The Lord will do an extensive search, it states with candles. This is an unusual statement in that God will actually seek out those that have lived against him and transgressed his Holy law. No human is exempt from this search of the Lord. But it also indicated the compassionate side of the Lord in that he looks and searches for you. You may have thought you were lost in this part of the city or world or in this place on 3^rd street. But the Lord searches for you and can and will find you. You will not want the Lord to find you and you not possess a relationship with God. This search turns up both the Good and the Bad. Jesus stated will he Find Faith when he comes? The Lord is the Judge of the Living and the Dead, the Righteous and the unrighteous obey him and you shall live follow his obedience to Life.

IV. They say the Lord will do neither evil or good…These are people that have a misconception of God. They believe the Lord will neither do Good or Bad or there is no consequence for our sin. That God is almost non existent or does to hold us in accountability with him. They are not able to discern the truth and believe God is not active in the human race…they are in for a shock. The Lord can bless you with Good or he will punish our Sins…scripture even states receiving double for our sins. These individuals no longer had a respect or fear for the Lord. They felt God was absent from their midst and they felt a false sense of security in their own security. The Bible states it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God. God does respond to humanity and is responsive to those that do good and those that do evil. Don’t be deceived God will do something.

V. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them from his wrath. This tells us that the rich of the world and the foolish of the world will never be able to purchase happiness or purchase forgiveness with their silver or Gold. God is not moved by mans influence. He is moved by mans heart. Those that seek evil God will punish those that come to his calling and invitation and do righteousness he does Love. Your silver can never by Gods love or exempt you from his Justice. These are but elements of the earth and have nothing to do with Gods Justice….only the Blood of the Divine Christ can deliver you.

Today let us not turn away from our Lord but let us pursue his Presence , Love and Forgiveness.

May his Grace and Mercy Guide us today.

Amen