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 9, June 1 “Seek the Lord and Live” Lesson 9, June 1 The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah)

7. Key Text Zephaniah 2:11 NKJV “T HE L ORD WILL be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations.”

8. The day of the Lord (Zephaniah) Initial Words {267} ZEPHANIAH’S PREACHING CONDEMNED the hopeless corruption found in Judea. His message was twofold: there is a threat of an imminent and universal judgment, which will include God’s people; yet, there is also a promise that the saved from all nations will join the remnant of Israel in serving God and enjoying His blessings.

9. The day of the Lord (Zephaniah) Quick Look 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1 and 2) 2. Salvation in the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 3:17) 3. Judgment of Nineveh (Nahum 1—3)

10. The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah) 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord Zephaniah 1, 2 NKJV “ ‘I WILL UTTERLY consume all things from the face of the land…. I will cut off man from the face of the land,’ Says the Lord. For Gaza shall be forsaken…. Moab shall be like Sodom …and Ammon like Gomorrah…. Ethiopians…shall be slain…. Destroy Assyria and…Nineveh a desolation.”

11. 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord The Whole Earth {268} T HE FOCAL POINT of Zephaniah’s message is the “day of the Lord”, a specific period of time in which God intervenes in human affairs in order both to save and to judge. Most people believed that on this day the Lord would save and exalt Israel while the enemy nations would be destroyed forever.

12. 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord The Whole Earth {268} To the great surprise of those who listened, the prophet declared that the day of the Lord would be a day of doom, even for God’s people because they had sinned against Him.

13. 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord City of Jerusalem {270} The capital city of Judah lies at the heart of Zephaniah’s concern. He indicts its leaders concerning the city’s moral degradation. The corruption stems directly from the failure of its leaders to live up to their designated roles and responsibilities.

14. 1. Judgment in the Day of the Lord City of Jerusalem {270} Zephaniah likens the corrupt court officials to “roaring lions,” and the judges as “evening wolves.” And the temple, he states, fares no better because the priests do not teach God’s Word, nor do the prophets speak the truth.

15. The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah) 2. Salvation in the Day of the Lord Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV “ ‘T HE L ORD YOUR God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.’ ”

16. 1. Salvation in the Day of the Lord God’s Greatest Delight {268} Z EPHANIAH MAKES IT clear that God’s judgment is not only punitive but corrective, and that the Lord holds out a promise of shelter for those who seek Him. Thus, the day of the Lord is more than the end of the world. It is the beginning of the future establishment of God’s rule, which will last forever.

17. 1. Salvation in the Day of the Lord God’s Greatest Delight {268} Beyond the judgment, we come to God’s ultimate goals. When the nations have been disciplined, they will together call on the Lord and serve Him cordially. A small, yet humble and faithful remnant will survive in Judah and will take the place of the proud leaders.

18. 1. Salvation in the Day of the Lord God’s Greatest Delight {268} Most important, God will dwell among His people, and He will make past wrongs right. No longer will His people need to live in fear, because the Lord will be with them, dwelling in their midst. He will be their Deliverer and Savior. “ ‘They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid’ ” (Zeph. 3:13, NIV).

19. The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah) 3. Judgment of Nineveh Nahum 1-3 NKJV T HE BURDEN AGAINST Nineveh. … ‘Behold, I am against you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will burn your chariots to smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.’ “

20. 3. Judgment of Nineveh God’s Answer to Injustice {272} T HE A SSYRIANS HAD plundered many nations and had an insatiable lust for power. Their cruelty was notorious. As God’s “razor”, they eagerly had shorn their neighbors. Now it was time for the razor to be broken.

21. 3. Judgment of Nineveh God’s Answer to Injustice {272} Instruments of God’s judgment are not exempt from judgment. Nineveh exists no more, but the prophetic testimony lives on. It reminds us that though God’s justice seems slow, nothing ultimately can stop it.

22. Prophets and Kings 364 Final Words {349} “WITH UNERRING ACCURACY the Infinite One still keeps account with the nations. While His mercy is tendered… this account remains open; but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the ministry of His wrath begins. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. Mercy no longer pleads in their behalf.”