1.1.25 ~ Happy New Year

Good morning!

The fiscal year 2025 has arrived. We had an amazing service last night here in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We took a non-traditional look at Enoch (Gen. 5:21-24), identified the reason why most don't keep New Year's resolutions, how to hear God's voice (Gen. 3:8), how to walk by faith (Rom. 10:17), how to bring forth fruit that lasts (Jn. 15:7; 2 Kings 2:19-22) and four traps that will hinder every relationship (spiritually and physically; Zeph. 3:2).

In our study last night, I did not go into all the background of Zephaniah, but in reading the short book, it's easy to see that he speaks out against the oppressing city.  His words are harsh, convicting, condemning and filled with the finality of judgment; no turning back (Zeph. 3:1).  Oddly enough, everything that he says about the ancient society is true of mankind today in 2025.

In Zephaniah 3:2 there are four things they weren't doing.

She did not hear/lo shamah his voice/kol
She did not accept correction/lo lacha musar
She did not trust/lo batach in the Lord
She did not draw near/lo kareva to her God
(Zeph. 3:2)

God's people are looked at as feminine; like a bride or wife. Zepheniah's warning is like a flash of lightning before the thunder! Judgment's coming and you're not going to be able to stop it.

Enquiring minds want to know, 'What did she do that was so horrible'? Am I like her?

Let's begin with Lo shamah/did not hear and obey His voice.  God’s instructions were clearly given.  Every person heard them and agreed to follow them throughout the generations (Ex. 19:8; 24:3,7). There is no excuse.  They rejected His word/Torah and everything that was associated with His presence in their lives. We did not listen. Ugh!

Lo lacha musar. We did not grasp; we did not seize; we did not want it; we did not take on the correction of the Lord and readjust our course in spite of His consistent love to give it to us.  He did everything possible to get us on the right path from a simple reminder to orchestrating circumstances to give us a wake up call. But we refused.  At every crossroad of opportunity, we chose proud independence rather than repentant humility. We did not take it. Double Ugh!

Lo batacha. We did not trust. Like so many of us, speaking of me, myself and I, we allow the difficult and devastating events of our life to shake our confidence, our reliance and security in Him to be replaced with fear and doubt through our obsession with retirement accounts, bank balances, insurance, security alarms, body guards, job guarantees and anything else that becomes the foundation of our perceived security. In a world demon-possessed by fears of the future, God offers safety.  But we preferred the man made systems (1 Tim. 6:10).  We did not trust in Him. Triple Ugh!

Finally, the last of the progressive four: Lo kareva. We did not draw near.  There is a daily procedure for drawing near that begins with laying our lives down as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:2; 8:36,37; Ex. 29:38-42; Num. 28:2-8).  We have ignored it and created our own approach.  In backwards fashion, we invite His Spirit into our presence, rather than approaching His presence His way. Across the land we act as if God draws near at our invitation while we summarily dismiss His.  We did not draw near. Quadruple Ugh!

Today, January 1, 2025, is a great day to be alive. With the Trump administration coming in 19 days, there's greater optimism than ever before. And with the great hope before us, the temptation may be greater than ever to be self-reliant and live out the 'four ugh's'. God's Word has shed light on four areas that enquiring minds will evaluate heading into 2025.  Before judgment, there is re-collection. We have the chance to recollect our fruit from 2024 and course correct. While at the same time, reach out to those who are part of the 'quadruple ugh' system society thrives on.

Happy New Year and last day of Hanukkah!
Shalom!

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