14/03/12

These will be punished

Zephaniah 1:6 - And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.


In today's message among other people who will be punished on the Day of the Lord are these 3 categories:

1) Them that are turned back from the Lord - speaks of those who know God and having accepted Him as Lord and Master yet have forsaken Him and turned away from Him. They may have gone to worship other gods or may have even become atheist.

2) Those that have not sought after the Lord - it speaks of those who have heard of the Lord or have heard His Gospel, known Him but have not given importance to have relationship with Him nor desired to seek refuge in the Lord.

3) Those that have not enquired for Him - this category speaks of the remaining lot of unbelievers who have not sought the Lord or have not desired to know Him. We may think how can they be held to account, who have not heard the Gospel? In the book of Job, Job shows how he understood of the Kingdom of God from things of nature. A child does not need to be thought of how to breastfeed nor does an animal's just born need to be told where to find its mothers mammary glands. When God created man He put it into man to have relationship with his Creator for life comes from the Creator.

We need to understand the severity of punishment would vary from the first being highest and the third being the lowest. Even the least does receive death but the first receives great sorrow along with death. The first includes those who have known God, have experienced His glory and yet turn away from Him are punished the most, then comes those who have heard His message or Gospel or know Him and yet did not care to build a relationship with Him. Lastly and least come those to whom no messenger has come and shared about the Lord and they themselves have not cared to find Him.

We need to take care if we are one among the above three. Surely we cannot be among the last category and if are on the list we can only be among the first or second, mostly in the first.

Let us have fear of the Lord and not falling into the hands of an angry Living God let us seek Him, build a relationship with Him and not be among these.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are creator and giver of life. All things are created by You. Like you said the grass will be cut and thrown in the fire but the fruit bearing trees will remain and prosper in your Garden for ever. Lord it is only with You and through You that we can bear fruit. Help us Lord to bear Fruit for we want to dwell with You forever...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Isaiah 40:6-8
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


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