1. Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2013 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2013 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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3. Zdravko Stefanovic Principal Contributor “Seek the Lord and Live!” Major Lessons From Minor Prophets

4. “Seek the Lord and Live” Contents 1 Spiritual Adultery Hosea 2 Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma Hosea 3 A Holy and Just GodJoel 4 Lord of All Nations Amos 5 Seek the Lord and Live! Amos 6 Eager to ForgiveJonah 7 God’s Special People Micah 8 Trusting God’s Goodness Habakkuk 9 The Day of the Lord Zephaniah 10 First Things First! Haggai 11 Vision of Hope Zechariah 12 Heaven’s Best Gift Zechariah 13 Lest We Forget! Malachi

5. “Seek the Lord and Live” Our Goal {169} IT’S PRESENT TRUTH— God’s message to us today just as it was a message to those who lived in the time of these twelve writers who, though long gone, still speak. The question is, will we listen?

6. “Seek the Lord and Live” Lesson 11, June 15 “Seek the Lord and Live” Lesson 11, June 15 Visions of Hope (Zechariah)

7. Key Text Zechariah 3:10 NIV “ ‘ “IN THAT DAY each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,” declares the Lord Almighty.’ ”

8. Visions of Hope (Zechariah) Initial Words {291} THROUGH A SERIES of prophetic visions, Zechariah learned God’s plans for the present and the future. God’s eternal kingdom was coming soon, but the prophet called those who live in his time to serve the Lord now. A good portion of the book was centered on how they were to do that.

9. Visions of Hope (Zechariah) Quick Look 1. Hope of God’s Love (Zechariah 1:3) 2. Hope of God’s Forgiveness (Zechariah 3:3, 4) 3. Hope of God’s Empowerment (Zechariah 4:6)

10. Visions of Hope (Zechariah) 1. Hope of God’s Love Zechariah 1:3 NKJV “ ‘THUS SAYS THE Lord of hosts, “Return to Me…and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.’ ”

11. 1. Hope of God’s Love Comforting Words of Life {292} T HE RETURN FROM the exile in Babylon sparked joy in the hearts of the remnant people. But the return also caused anxiety. Would they be safe and secure in their land? Had God forgiven their past unfaithfulness? What did the future hold for God’s chosen people and for the nations?

12. 1. Hope of God’s Love Comforting Words of Life {292} The Lord was very jealous for Jerusalem. Jealousy can have negative connotations, but in the Bible it also can be an expression of God’s love. In contrast the Lord was angry with the nations that had added to the calamity of the divine discipline by going too far in their harsh treatment of captives.

13. 1. Hope of God’s Love The Lord Is Coming {293} Zechariah 2 records a vision of a renewed Jerusalem, so full of people that it overspreads its walls. It will attract countless Gentiles as well. Verse 10 begins with a call to joy, followed by the reason for such jubilation: the personal coming of the Lord to live among His people.

14. 1. Hope of God’s Love The Lord Is Coming {293} Jesus Christ commissioned His church to preach the good news to the whole world of the salvation that is to be found for everyone in Jesus, if they accept it for themselves. The apostle Paul called this plan of the Lord “the mystery hidden for long ages past” (Rom 16:25 NIV).

15. Visions of Hope (Zechariah) 2. Hope of God’s Forgiveness Zechariah 3:3, 4 NKJV “NOW JOSHUA WAS clothed with filthy garments…. Then He answered…’Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’ ”

16. 2. Hope of Forgiveness God’s Readiness to Forgive {294} JOSHUA’S CLOTHES, WHICH which represent people’s sins, are removed. He is cleansed and then given the new festive garments of salvation and righteousness. Finally, Joshua is commissioned to do God’s will and to walk in His ways, an attitude that will result in God’s manifold blessings.

17. 2. Hope of Forgiveness Prophets and Kings 583, 584 {294} “The high priest cannot defend himself or his people from Satan’s accusations. … In filthy garments, symbolizing the sins of the people…he stands before the Angel, confessing their guilt, yet pointing to their repentance and humiliation, and relying upon the mercy of a sin- pardoning Redeemer.”

18. Zechariah 4:6b NKJV “ ‘NOT BY MIGHT nor by power, but My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Visions of Hope (Zechariah) 3. Hope of God’s Empowerment

19. Not by Human Power {295} ZECHARIAH SEES A lampstand fed by two olive trees. The seven lamps are arranged around a large bowl that serves as a reservoir of oil. The bowl symbolizes the fullness of God’s power through His Spirit. The abundant light, a symbol of God’s abiding presence, which dispels all darkness.

20. 3. Hope of God’s Empowerment Not by Human Power {295} Just as the olive oil is conducted directly from the trees to the bowl of oil at the top of the lampstand without any human agency, so the power that comes from God is constant and sufficient and also needs no human agency.

21. 3. Hope of God’s Empowerment Not by Human Power {295} God may call us to difficult tasks, but through the work of His Spirit, He can accomplish His purpose. By the Spirit, God provides the power for us to do His work now as He did then. Therefore, the work is accomplished not by human might or force but by the Lord working through those who are open to be used by Him.

22. 3. Hope of God’s Empowerment Beyond Fasting {296} To fast in order to feel sorry for oneself is a waste of time and effort. Fasting, among other things, should represent the kind of death to self needed in order to be able to put self aside and reach out and minister to the needs of others.

23. Visions of Hope (Zechariah) Final Words {297} “SATAN KNOWS THAT those who ask God for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore he presents their sins…to discourage them. … In his own strength, man cannot meet the charges of the enemy. … But Jesus…pleads their cause, and by the mighty arguments of Calvary, vanquishes their accuser.” PK 586, 587