Good News | Bad News (An Advent Message)
12 DECEMBER 2021 | PRAYER & PRAISE SERVICEs
Ps Clement Ong
Scripture Passage: Zephaniah 3:14-20 (NIV)
WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)
READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | Knowing the Bad News consequences of our inherent sinfulness makes knowing the Good News of redemption and restoration precious! Christmas time easily distracts with its ‘decorations’ around us. How can we keep our focus on the reason for celebrating Christmas? What’s JOYFUL about Christmas?
Bad News
King Josiah, having discovered the Book of God’s Law which revealed God’s holiness, had remorsefully led God’s people through a season of reformation. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left (2 Kings 22:2). He removed idols in the high places, condemned the priests of idolatry, and rid the land of every kind of spiritual distraction — where there was a god for everything including riches, love, power, and longevity.
Despite the reformation, people were still pinning their hopes on false gods. God warned His people through the prophet Zephaniah of the coming judgment against their wickedness and unrepentance. God would sweep away everything from the face of the earth — man, beast, birds, fish, and the idols that caused the wicked to stumble. He would destroy every remnant of Baal worship and wipe out all idolatry. Harsh is the judgment from a pure holy God who does not take sin lightly. Tragically, God’s people did not heed the prophet’s warning. They did not fear or accept God’s correction but were “still eager to act corruptly in all they did” (Zephaniah 3:7). Jerusalem was eventually destroyed and her people exiled to Babylon. It is man’s sinful tendency towards wicked unrepentance, being inclined towards the ways of the world, which constitutes bad news.
Good News
In God’s mercy, however, there is Hope for His people, a cause for Joy instead of judgment. They will be restored and forgiven. Today, we have the joyful privilege of seeing God’s promises fulfilled in Christ as we shift our focus to adore Jesus as LORD of our lives.
1. God acts on our behalf through Christ Jesus. Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, for “the LORD has taken away your punishment, turned back your enemy… Never again will you fear any harm. (Zephaniah 3:14-15) God gave us His one and only Son that first Christmas, not to condemn the world but to redeem and restore mankind back to Him, so that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Whether Jew or Gentile, all have fallen short of the glory of God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ are we made righteous by His precious blood spilt as atonement for our sins (Romans 3:22). Only by walking in God’s Spirit can we find strength to overcome worldly temptations that lure us away from the LORD. Good Christian men and women rejoice, for God’s work of redemption and restoration has begun!
2. God delights over us! Is God happy or angry with me? V17 of Zephaniah 3 assures us that the LORD our God is with us — the mighty warrior who saves, delights greatly and rejoices over His children with singing. Holy God who is passionate about uprooting sin is the same God who loves us. What we think of God determines how we live. When we seek God in contrite brokenness, He gathers us to Him and forgives our sins. He quiets us in His love, and restores us to Him again and again. Such is the Good News!
3. God is our blessed assurance through life! Because of His great love, the LORD promises that He will gather and bring His children home, restore those who are lost, last and least with honour and praise (Zephaniah 3:20). What are we preoccupied with and striving for? Blessed is our assurance when we make Christ our top-of-mind awareness. CHRISTmas is joyful when we:
(M) Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2)
(A) Adore Christ by prioritising Him every day in every way
(S) Surrender self obediently to Christ’s lordship and be watchful for His return
Christmas happens when we celebrate Christ alive in our hearts. Not holding on to life’s decorative trimmings but treasuring the true JOY that this third Sunday in Advent represents. May the JOY of Christmas be palpably felt in every Christian heart that hopes enduringly in Christ.
(Sermon Notes by Marjorie Tan.)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What excites you about Christmas? Take the opportunity to share with your small group or faith community how you prepare for Christmas with your loved ones and in the season of Advent.
2. Take some time to read the first two chapters of Zephaniah. What was the bad news that Zephaniah was warning God’s people about? And why? (Zeph 1:1-6)
3. What is the good news and what difference does it make to your Christian walk? (Zeph 3:14-16)
4. What is God saying to you through today’s passage? Take some time to pray about it and commit to the Lord’s work in our lives.