Prepare for Rejoicing

Prepare for Rejoicing

Zephaniah 3:14-20 

    Some people have a distorted view of God.  Some imagine Him as a grey-haired, weak old man who passes time in His heavenly rocking chair.  They have gotten a hold of the idea that God must be old.  After all, the Bible is full of stories of great things that God did in ages past;  how He brought plagues against Egypt, how He led the Israelites throughout the wilderness, and how He fought for the tribes of Israel.  All of these things happened so long ago.  God must be an old man by know - they say.  These were the exploits of God's youth, and now He is in His reclining years.

    That is not a Biblical view of God.  Scripture shows God not as a Grandfather but as our Father!  

    But even this picture stumbles many people today.  They relate God the Father with their own earthly example.  In so doing, they see, perhaps, a Father who was never there;  a Father who had absented-out either mentally - through drugs or alcohol, or physically through child abandonment.  Or maybe they see a Father who's entire focus was on himself.  His entire reason for living and working was self-gratification.  There may have been periodic moments of interest in the child, but only when it was convenient to the needs of self.

    This too is not the God of the Bible.  As we continue in our Advent series anticipating the Savior's return, let us remember that Scripture shows us - and our Lord Jesus taught us of -  a loving Father.  A God who loves each of us. He loves us with a love that cannot be contained.  He loves us so much that he provides for our every need.  Today, let us examine some of the characteristics of our heavenly Father's love for us.  Turn in your Bible to Zephaniah 3:14.  Follow along as I read and we are reminded that....

God is among His people    

He will save   , and...

He will rejoice over you with gladness and singing   

1. Body
1. God is among His people   
1. He is in the midst of us
1. As we anticipate our Lord's return, we need to remember that our heavenly Father is not an absentee Lord.  He is right here with us.  
1. We know that He is here because He inhabits the praises of His people.  
2. We know that He is here because two or three are gathered together in His name.  
3. But more that that he  is here because we have asked Him into our hearts.  We have made Him LORD of our lives. 
2. Do you realize that if you were the only person here, or if you were ever alone in your apartment, or house or car - God would be there with you.  
3. The child of the heavenly Father is never alone.  He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
2. He is the Mighty One
1. Our Father is not some feeble, old, invalid.  He is not limited in His ability to counter our problems.  
2. Do you know that the recent troubles is our world have not caught God by surprise?  "Gabriel, come over here.  Look, I don't know about what’s been going on lately; the fires in California, and the earthquakes in Alaska - It has just gotten way out of hand."  No!  God is not a man that He should change His mind.  
3. He is able to provide for His children.  
4. Have you ever considered how small your problems appear to an almighty Father?  
1. Not to say that whatever problem you’re thinking about right now isn't *huge* compared to *your* resources and abilities
2. But think of the problem in light of God and His resources and abilities -- then ask Him for His help -- He wants to help you.
5. This word mighty means strong, prevailing and powerful; especially in war or in dominion.  
6. This is your Father.  
7. He is the Mighty One who meets your needs.Illustration of our Father the Mighty One

A group of naturalists who were searching in the Alps for rare  specimens of flowers discovered a beautiful flower on a rock  ledge they could not reach.  Calling to a nearby shepherd boy, they offered him several shining coins if he would allow himself to be let down by them by a rope to secure the flower.

The boy very much wanted to earn the money.  He looked at the  men, all strangers, and he looked at the cliff between them and  the flower and he declined.  Again they persuaded him and he was almost ready to accept their offer.  He looked into the precipice, he looked at the money, but then he looked into the faces of the strangers and again the answer was a negative shake of his head.

Then a bright idea came to him.  "Wait here till I come back," he  said, and he darted away to a mountain cabin.  Soon the lad returned with a giant mountaineer.  "I will get the flower for you," he said, "if you will let my father help hold the rope."

1. He will quiet you with His love
1. Have you ever gotten so tense and strung out over something that you just can't relax?  Sometimes you can't even sleep, you're so tense and jittery.  
2. God will quiet you with His love.  
3. His love will bind your broken heart.  
4. He will lift you out of the depths of depression.  
2. He will redeem your loss.
1. The imagery in the Hebrew text is that of a mother comforting her baby.  
2. Some of you know that mothers go to great lengths to tend to their babies.  A mother will change and feed and burp and cuddle, console, and caress her baby to keep it satisfied.  This is the image of our God.  He is right here with us, able to meet our needs, and comforting us with His love.He Will Save  
3. God has promised salvation to all who believe
1. Like a truly loving Father, God cares for his children even to the  point of sacrifice.  Remember, the birth in the manger anticipated the sacrifice on the Cross.
2. God so loved this world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes on Him will not die but have everlasting life.  
3. He gave of himself, even unto death, so that many, many more might find life in Christ.  
4. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
4. Saint Augustine said that God loves us every one as though there were but one of us to love.  Think about that…
1. Imagine ALL of God’s love directed towards you.  
2. You see, an all-powerful Father does not have to ration his love as earthly Fathers do.  
3. His love is endless, and so He can freely give all of his love to you, and you, and you - to all of us.  All at the same time.  Of course he will save us.  He loves us.
5. God has provided the way for us to be saved
6. It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that God  has provided for us to be saved.  
7. But this salvation is not only from future judgment.  
8. Father God wants to save us from present temptations and tribulations as well.  
9. The word save means to deliver, to help, and to be victorious;  it includes the removal of evil and misery and the restoration of good and happiness.  
10. Do you need victory today?  
1. Do you need deliverance or help? 
2. God is there.  
3. A translation of the Hebrew word for save is to give  something width and breadth - to push out the boundaries that  are closing in.  Are the walls of hopelessness and despair closing  around you today?  
4. Do you feel the pressure as they are closing  tighter and tighter?  God wants to save you.  He wants to push the boundaries out.He will rejoice over you with gladness and singing  
11. The words rejoice and gladness are used many times in this passage.  If your idea of God is that of a sour, judgmental character, then these verses are not for you.  This shows us a happy heavenly Father.  Remember the words of the angels at Jesus' birth?  They proclaimed, "Joy to the World!"
12. God is going to rejoice over you
1. Now, this is a problem for some.  Some of us have self-image problems.  
1. We don't love ourselves  and we can't see how anyone else can love us.  
2. In fact, we  probably don't even want them to.  
3. Here us the cure for that self-image problem.  
1. (a) God is going to rejoice over you.  
2. (b) In fact,  His joy is so full that once you begin to understand it, you can't  help but share in that joy.  
2. This word rejoice means to exult, to  be glad, the idea is that of springing and leaping with joy.   
1. The word joy means a joy which expresses itself in the gestures of  the body.  
2. It comes from a root word meaning to spin around.  
13. Our Father will sing and dance over us
1. His joy will be so full that words can't begin to describe it.  
2. Have you ever been so happy that you just can't stay still?  
1. You  just want to get up and move around and let that joy feeling  move all over your body.  
2. This is what God is going to be feeling  for us when we finally make it through our journey.
3. He is going to be jumping and singing and shouting and praising.  
3. All of heaven will be celebrating the day we make it home.  
1. Luke 15:10; Jesus said, “There is joy before the angles of God over one sinner who repents.”
4. The Father will take great delight in you.
1. Isaiah 62:5 - “…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”
2. Isaiah 65:19 - I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people…”
1. Conclusion 
1. Look again over the description given here of your Heavenly Father. In this season of Advent, we anticipate our Lord's return to this Earth, but we needn't wait until then.  Do you find Him in your midst?  Have you allowed him into your heart?  
1. Have you surrendered your life to Him?
2. Do you know Him as one who saves?
3. If you need salvation, come to Him right now.
2. Others, do you see the Father as One who is mighty to save in every  situation?  
1. Maybe you are holding something back from Him - there is  something bothering you and you haven't brought it to the Father.  
2. It doesn't matter if it is great or small - He is waiting for you.

Whatever your trouble, whatever your fear; 

Your Heavenly father is waiting to hear.

No sorrow to great to extend past His might;

No trouble or issue so small He would slight.

Whatever your problem, or trouble, or care;

Just take it to Jesus, your burden He'll bear.