by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TWO PRONOUNCEMENTS OF JUDGMENT MERGED TOGETHER IN A DENUNCIATION OF IDOLATROUS TRANSGRESSIONS(:1) INTRODUCTION: PROPHECY OF THE DAY OF THE LORDA. The Message “The word of the Lord”B. The Messenger “which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PERSEVERING PERSPECTIVE COMBINES THE SHORT TERM PAIN OF DISCIPLINE WITH THE TRIUMPHANT RESOLVE TO REJOICE IN GOD’S LONG TERM DELIVERANCEREVIEW: – We have seen the prophet wrestle honestly with the perplexing paradox of How could a righteous God use...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PERPLEXITY REGARDING GOD’S WAYS AND GOD’S TIMING SHOULD NEVER SHAKE OUR FAITH IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS OR FAITHFULNESS TO HIS PROMISES(:1) INTRODUCTION: THE PROPHET WAITS FOR A RESPONSE “I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart;...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROPHET WRESTLES WITH THE APPROPRIATENESS OF GOD USING THE WICKED CHALDEANS TO JUDGE HIS OWN PEOPLE –DIVINE DISCIPLINE CAN BE PACKAGED IN STRANGE WAYS(:1) INTRODUCTION:A. The Message – Description of the Content “The oracle”B. The Messenger —...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA:THE DIVINE HUMILIATON AND DEVASTATION OF NINEVEH IS DESERVED, INEVITABLE AND UNAVOIDABLEINTRODUCTION:We like to encourage believers with the assurance that “God is on our side” – with the corresponding benefits of peace and security and blessing. However, we...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHEN THE SOVEREIGN LORD TARGETS NINEVEH FOR DESTRUCTION,THE DEVASTATION IS SWIFT AND TERRIFYINGINTRODUCTION: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when He is unleashing the power of His wrath. Those who imagine themselves to be...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE AWESOME ALL-CONSUMING WRATH OF THE ANGRY AVENGING GOD (WHO PROVIDES SECURITY ONLY TO HIS OWN PEOPLE)“The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Pet....
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A FORGIVING GOD LIKE YOU – COMPASSIONATE IN LOYAL LOVE?DESPITE THE PRESENT SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY, THE PROPHET EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S FUTURE BESTOWAL OF FORGIVENESS, RESTORATION AND BLESSINGINTRODUCTION:The prophet has the perfect balance between...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A GOD TO BE FEARED LIKE YOU – RIGHTEOUS IN JUDGMENT?THE LORD BRINGS INDICTMENT AGAINST HIS PEOPLE FOR UNJUSTIFIED PERSISTENCE IN WICKEDNESS AND EXPLOITATION AND VIOLENCEINTRODUCTION:I. (:1-5) ISRAEL’S OFFENSE IS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS IN LIGHT OF THE...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE COMING OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH BRINGS DIVINE DELIVERANCE AND RIGHTEOUS RULERSHIP FROM SURPRISING ORIGINSINTRODUCTION:Everybody likes surprises for Christmas. It seems like Christmas gifts hold the greatest excitement for children. They might have asked...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS AN ETERNAL GOD LIKE YOU – WORKING OUT YOUR PLAN OF DELIVERANCE ACCORDING TO YOUR PROVIDENTIAL TIMETABLE?THE GOD OF PEACE WILL PURIFY HIS PEOPLE, SHEPHERD HIS FLOCK AND EXECUTE VENGEANCEI. (:1-3) PROMISE OF DELAYED DELIVERANCE THROUGH GOD’S APPOINTED...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A RIGHTEOUS GOD LIKE YOU – IMPLEMENTING JUSTICE?AFTER PULVERIZING HER ENEMIES, JERUSALEM WILL REIGN SUPREME IN THE END TIMES AND ADMINISTER JUSTICEI. (:1-8) JUSTICE WILL CHARACTERIZE THE DOMINION OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM IN THE END TIMESA. (:1-5) The...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A HOLY GOD LIKE YOU – AWESOME IN JUDGMENT?THE LORD WILL TURN HIS BACK ON HIS EVIL HOLY CITY WITH ITS EVIL RULERS AND FALSE PROPHETSINTRODUCTION: Remember what Jerusalem representsI. (:1-4) CONDEMNATION OF EVIL RULERS – THE LORD WILL HIDE HIS FACE AND...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A HOLY GOD LIKE YOU – AWESOME IN JUDGMENT?THE SOVEREIGN GOD JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY AND WILL ULTIMATELY BRING RESTORATION AS THE SHEPHERD-KINGI. (2:1-5) EXPLOITATION BY THE RICH WILL BE JUDGED – TAKING THE LAND AWAY FROM THE LAND GRABBERSA. (:1-2)...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHO IS A HOLY GOD LIKE YOU — AWESOME IN JUDGMENT?THE SOVEREIGN LORD JUDGES IDOLATRY(:1) INTRODUCTION: THE BURDEN OF THE PROPHETAllen: An editorial introduction to the book briefly gives four fundamental pieces of information: the divine source of the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM GOD’S COMPASSION HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN AGAINST THE SOVEREIGN EXTENSION OF MERCY TO OTHERS (NO MATTER HOW UNDESERVING)INTRODUCTION:Jonah’s ministry “success” was really “failure” when you examine his heart motivation. Here God takes...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PREACHING OF GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSAGE OF IMMINENT JUDGMENT CAN CHANGE MEN’S HEARTS AND TURN AWAY THE IMPENDING WRATH OF GODINTRODUCTION:Cf. a mulligan in golf; oppty to replay the shotJonah still doesn’t have the right attitude and heart of compassion –...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE HEARS OUR DESPERATE CRIES DESPITE THE DEPTHS OF OUR DISTRESS(GOD’S DELIVERANCE IS NOT CONSTRAINED BY THE DEPTHS OF OUR DISTRESS)INTRODUCTION:Do you ever feel that your situation is so hopeless and entangled that God could never...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD NEVER WORKS –IT ONLY EXPOSES A HEART THAT IS OPPOSED TO GOD’S SOVEREIGN AGENDAINTRODUCTION:People try to run away from God for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways:1) Run away from His Presence – Desire to Hide from God2) Run...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD CAN RESCUE HIS FAITHFUL SERVANTS FROM TREACHEROUS ENEMIES – EVEN FROM THE MOUTHS OF LIONSINTRODUCTION:Peter tells us “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). But as we see in the famous story...
