Fellowships of the Heart

Are you ready for the Zepher? Zephaniah 3:1-20 Tuesday 12/14/04. I was not really ready for what is in this Chapter. But then I don’t know any one who would be?
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! City is the Church the visible one at least. The city itself is both filthy and polluted as well is by nature an oppressor.
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Here is the process of Salvation and Revelation. This is the Kingdom Message.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Greedy and viscous as wolves that consume the people in one sitting.
4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. Light as one who does not consider the deep things of God. The priests have preached foul things to the people and have violated the love of Christ… love God and your neighbor.
5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. The people of God will be in Him and He in them. The walk of the 60 fold… beginning in the mourning… is one of continual duty, dedication and discipline. The Lord will show the judgment or the truth of who and what we are. Exposure of wrong thinking, attitudes and beliefs are the first step to the glory or the approval of God and the making of a son… Revelation… Repentance… Residence. However the unjust those who will not seek the Truth of Christ will never be brought to His presence in order for the process to begin.
6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. Nations… groups of people who are centered on anti-Christ. Towers… high and lofty systems of wrong thinking, attitudes and beliefs. Streets… the paths of walking are brought to naught so that they are indistinguishable as a viable manner to walk. There is no man… man of might and valor. Not Adam or mankind… but an ish; a man of nobility…a husband married to the body. One that lays down his life for the Brethren.
7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. The word of the Lord is fear… Reverence honor respect etc. The fear of the Lord is only attained through being in His presence. Humbled… Humble… Meekness. Here is the place of instruction. One must be taught by Him in order to dwell with / in Him. Punishment for not seeking instruction and understanding will be cut off from His presence. Hence the why in, “Why hast thou forsaken me”. Even with out the presence of the Lord, fleshly ministry of the apostate will continue and all day do that which is corrupted and therefore corrupting.
8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. Judge not with your own eyes… waiteth for the judgment of the Lord to consume the high towers and nations… Judgment brings deliverance…Joel 2: 1-whatever
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. Pure language… John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water… May call upon the name of the Lord… John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. *With one consent…Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering… Ethiopia signifying way far off… Isa 66:20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD… They themselves are the offering. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Presentation of the body is the end of the work.
11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. Take away out of the mist of you as well as out of His Body. Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The way up is down… They have no where else to go.
13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid… Wow. They have attained that which they have been apprehended for. They have walked perfectly in… James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem… Why… because of the next verse…
15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more… They are walking with a single eye.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack… perfect love casts out all fear… Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. What could you do if love was the motivating factor of your life?
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. He will rest in His love because you are resting in His love.
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden… The burden will become the blessing when what you see is seen by all… Isa 45:23-25 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame… Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel… Isa 62:6-7 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth… Jer 33:9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. Amen Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed… there is a message that are not lame… make sure that you path is easy and plain to follow so that those that are lame may follow plainly an easily.