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"I WILL”

Thesis: To teach the hearers the surety of God’s word, and to live a life with eternity in view.

Text: Zeph 1:1-6
Zep 1:1 The word of Jehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. Zep 1:2 I will utterly consume all things from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. Zep 1:3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. Zep 1:4 And I will stretch out my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarim with the priests; Zep 1:5 and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam; Zep 1:6 and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.

Introduction,

1. Today we will be looking at the book of Zephaniah; his name means “Jehovah has hidden,” or “Jehovah has treasured.”

a. Zeph 1:1 teaches us that he is the great-great grandson of king Hezekiah, one of the more righteous kings of Judah.

b. Zephaniah worked in the southern kingdom of Judah, specifically in Jerusalem (1:4), during the reign of Josiah (641-610 BC), prior to the fall of Nineveh (612 BC), for he speaks of it to come (2:13), and the reference to the “remnant of Baal” (1:4) implies that it was written after the reforms of Josiah (629 BC), therefore an approximate date for this book is about 625 BC, about 20 years before that southern kingdom was taken into captivity (606 BC).

2. The theme of the book is “the great day of the LORD” (1:14), which is a reference to the judgment of God that “was to” and “did” come upon them shortly by way of the Babylonians.

3. The point of interest that I would like to specifically bring up today is the phrase “I will”; it occurs 6 times in our text alone, and a total of 19 times in this short book, and it refers to the promises of God, (both punishment and blessings), and attests to the fact that God will accomplish that which He has set forth in His word.

4. This phrase is found over 1500 times in the ASV version of the bible.

5. It is plainly set forth as a biblical truth, that according to the conditions He gives, “God always keeps His promises”, for He cannot lie (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18), the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), this is one of the few things which God “cannot do”; of course, this is by His own sovereign choice.

6. Therefore with this in mind we will look a few of the “I wills” in the NT, in order to build our faith and confidence in God and His ever abiding (1 Pet 1:25), living and active word (Heb 4:12); thus we will look into the promises of God, wherein He states . . .
1) “I will” build My church (Mt 16:16-18)
2) “I will” make you fishers of men (Mt 4:19)
3) “I will” set thee over many things (Mt 25:21, 23)

I. “I WILL” BUILD MY CHURCH (Mt 16:18)

Mat 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

A. (Mt 16:18) In this context Jesus had just asked His disciples “who do men say that the Son of man is (v 13)? Various answers were given, yet it is important to note that “Christ” is the topic of this discussion, not Peter, everything that is mentioned in this context centers around Him, God’s Son.

1. And in v 16 Peter states whom he says Jesus is “thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” this was the answer that the Lord was looking for, this is the main topic that the Lord led Peter to.

2. In v 17 Christ states that Peter was blessed because the Father revealed it to him, probably speaking of Peter’s faith that was built upon Christ’s teachings, which came from the Father (John 12:49), along with the miracles that confirmed that teaching, which also originated from the Father (John 3:2).

3. And in verse 18 Christ uses a play on words, “and I also say unto thee” which basically goes thus . . . “Peter you are a pebble, but on this boulder (the fact that I am the Christ) “I will” build my church, a study of the original language (Koine Greek) will affirm this.

a. And “He” did build “His” church, through “His” teachings, “His” death, “His” burial, “His” resurrection, “His” ascension, and the preaching thereof, “His” church was built through these chosen men on the next Pentecost, aided by the power of the Holy Spirit, Whom “He” sent from the Father (John 15:26; Acts 2:33), Peter, and the rest of the apostles used the keys (v 19; Mt 18:18) that opened up the way to heaven, revealing God’s plan of salvation through Christ.

b. It is important to note that this is God’s plan, this is Christ’s church, any other plan, any other church, established at any other time is not of God, there is but one church in which man can be saved.

c. The terms of salvation were laid down by the power of God, and they are not subject to change, nor differing interpretations, one must hear, believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the remission of sins, and thereby the Lord adds the individual to the church (Acts 2:47)

d. These are the terms of entrance into the church that Christ built, the only one for which he shed his blood (Acts 20:28), the only one He promised to save (Eph 5:23).

4. Notice the 2nd part of the verse “And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (v 18b) the Hadean realm could not keep Christ from ascending into heaven (Mt 12:40),

Mat 12:40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

a. Hades is often spoken of as being “in” the earth, and Peter affirmed that He indeed was there, but He wasn’t left there (Acts 2:31), His spirit re-entered His body and He was raised from the dead by the power of God, and after 40 days of appearing to and teaching selected individuals, He ascended into heaven.

b. Thus those who are faithful in the church can in like manner look forward to the resurrection unto life (John 5:29; 1 Cor 15:23),

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.

c. To enter in that intimate fellowship with God which is not available in any other place except heaven itself, pictured as the new heavens and new earth in the NT (2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1)

5. God promised through His Son “I will” build my church, and He did; all one has to do is look into the NT and see the unique characteristics described therein, and one can find that same church today, and enter into it in that same exact fashion;

a. And if you can’t find that church, you can be saved by obeying from the heart, that form of teaching found in the NT (Rom 6:17-18); and start a congregation by following that revealed NT pattern without any additions or subtractions (2 Tim 1:13),

b. For the word is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11), and it produces the wheat, which will be gathered into God’s barn (Heaven) while all other ways, all other churches, all other salvation plans produce “tares” which will be burned in the eternal fire (Mt 13:30), let us be thankful that we have God’s word in order that we can know the “Way”.

II. “I WILL” MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN (Mt 4:19)

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, come ye after me (follow me), and I will make you fishers of men.

A. (Mt 4:19) Now this statement is specifically directed at Simon and Andrew, but the application is to all disciples of Christ, as seen in Christ’s perpetual command given in Mt 28:19-20a (turn there) . . .

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Mat 28:20a teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you

1. And one of the commands given by Christ is what He just stated, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them all things, this is basically a command to go fishing for disciples.

2. The eternal purpose of God, the church, the kingdom was not brought forth, was not built, that man may be ever empowered by the Holy Spirit, those things were temporal, they were to be done away till that perfect Law of liberty was in fully revealed, confirmed and recorded (1 Cor 13:8-10; Eph 4:11-14), we refer to it as the New Testament, that perfect Law of liberty specially designed for imperfect man (Ja 1:25), which is able to make him perfect, complete in the sight of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; Mt 5:48).

3. Nor was the eternal purpose of God, the church, the kingdom brought forth, built that Christ’s followers may be rulers over a physical kingdom on earth for 1,000 years, Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), He stated God’s kingdom is within a person (Luke 17:21).

4. But rather the church was brought forth by God that mankind may be saved from the eternal fires of Gehennah Hell (Luke 19:10). . .

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

5. And as followers, imitators of Christ (1 Cor 11:1), we in like manner are to be fishers of men, each in our God ordained roles,

a. Men who are able, as preachers and teachers,

b. Women who are able, as teachers of women and children, those who have not this ability, they can do their part in sending preachers, whether it be funding them, enabling them to spend more in their preparation (studies), or whatever, for without the Gospel being preached, man will not be saved, as the inspired Paul wrote (Rom 10:13-15; 1 Cor 1:18) . . .

Rom 10:13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Paul himself called upon the name of the Lord in Acts 22:16, Ananias told him) Act 22:16 . . . arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that (are) perish(ing) foolishness; but unto us which are (being) saved it is the power of God. (KJV)

6. And how wonderful it is, when someone we have been studying with, or preaching to, decides to obey the Gospel, that revealed pattern of teaching, from the heart unto salvation (Rom 6:17-18), for even when one soul is moved towards God, the angels of heaven rejoice (Luke 15:10), and likewise ought we.

a. For this is a fervency that is inherent in all the faithful, because of that spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9), that spirit of son ship that is in us (Gal 4:6), because we know the truth of what will take place unto all the accountable outside of Christ, (“the terror of the Lord”; 2 Cor 5:11)

b. Therefore we struggle and strain to persuade men (and women) to lay down themselves unto God through the Gospel of Christ, without which no one can be saved (Rom 1:16).

7. The Lord promised “I will” make you fishers of men, and indeed has that come to pass, therefore let us keep on casting out and reeling in the living word of the living God, as long as we have breath and life in our bodies, as unprofitable servants, only doing that which is our duty to do (Luke 17:10).

III. “I WILL” SET THEE OVER MANY THINGS (Mt 25:21)

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

A. (Mt 25:21) These are the sweetest, most desired words that the imitator of Christ could ever hear, and there is the potential for every accountable individual to hear them from the mouth of the Lord, the Word Who became flesh, Who is appointed Judge of the living and the dead, let us set the scene (turn to 2 Pet 3:10) . . .

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (now turn to Rev 20, 2 Pet 3:10 parallels Rev 20:9b “and fire came down out of heaven and devoured them” now look at Rev 20:11ff) . . .

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:13a And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them . . .

1. (Rev 20:13b) . . .

Rev 20:13b and they were judged every man according to their works.

a. Uh oh! Why do I say that? (Rom 3:23) . . .

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

b. Because all need the Gospel, Jew and Gentile alike, as the epistle to the Romans states over and over again, it is that only lifesaver, that only soulsaver, that only transformer (Rom 12:2) which will set us free from the eternal separation from God, “the second death”, which are the wages of sin (Rom 6:23), which again is affirmed in Rev 20:14b-15 . . .

Rev 20:14b This is the second death, even the lake of fire. Rev 20:15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

c. This is certainly not the place that one will want to be for eternity, it is fashioned as a place of weeping, of gnashing of teeth, that outer darkness without light, that light which is God, woe to them that believed not unto the obedience to the faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26)

2. But that wont be in the minds of the redeemed, this will (look at Rev 21:1-7) . . .

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more. Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: Rev 21:4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. Rev 21:5 And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true. Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev 21:7 He that overcometh “shall inherit” “these things”; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

3. So what will heaven be like? Specifically we haven’t been told, though there are many figures to instill hope in the faithful, the text of our verse (Mt 25:21) is a good example (turn back to Mt 25:19-21) . . .

Mat 25:19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. Mat 25:20 And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

a. Note first of all “after a long time” (v 19) the Lord of those servants cometh, those that hold to the AD 70 doctrine (full preterism) have most of the NT to twist to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16), and this is but another example of such.

b. But note that the servant that took his Masters goods (the talents), we will say for our lesson that those goods (talents) were a fishing pole (the Gospel and our ability to propagate it) and some bait (salvation from the damnation that results from sin, and hope of eternity with God).

c. And this servant was able to multiply it (he made more able fishermen), thus he was to be rewarded, but rewarded with what?

d. Would he be ruling on earth in a physical kingdom over many things? No! Remember Rev 21:7a

Rev 21:7a He that overcometh “shall inherit” “these things”

e. This is a figure of speech (the setting of over many things)that the hearers of that time would understand, and make application thereof.

f. In ancient days when a king had a servant that performed a job well done, he, at times, was rewarded for his diligent efforts, many times that reward would be the setting over a part of the kings empire,

g. Yet it is highly unlikely that the Father is going to relinquish His eternal rule of the kingdom handed to him by Christ at the end of time (look at 1 Cor 15:20-24) . . .

1Co 15:20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. 1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.

h. Because as you see authoritative roles, and such structures as we know them, will be abolished in Heaven; no husbands and wives, no elders, no deacons, no governments and subjects, no parents and children, but we (the redeemed) will all be like the angels in heaven (Mt 22:30), all one, under God, that God may be all in all (1 Cor 15:28) for ever and ever, yet we will reign in some sense as depicted in (Rev 22:5).

Rev 22:5 And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

i. So in eternity there will be a reign, but probably not over “others” but over many “things” but what? Well Christians are reigning “upon earth” at this present time as affirmed in Rev 5:10.

Rev 5:10 and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.

j. Thus it is possible to reign without being “over” some one or thing, a reign of harmony, and that could be the case here, likened to our reign on earth, a reign of righteousness “over” sin and death, reigning “in life” as described in Rom 5:17 . . .

Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.

k. Therefore this description (the setting over many things) is put in contrast to (“a few things”) is likely a reference to the blessings given through the gospel while on this earth, and thus are probably figurative of blessings that will be at our disposal in heaven, innumerable, indescribable, and unimaginable for the finite mind, simply put as “the joy of thy Lord” as also seen in Psalm (Ps 16:11b) . . .

Psa 16:11b In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

l. No physical streets of gold, cities made of jewels, no seas, rivers, trees, and so on, these are no more than physical figures for spiritual, heavenly truths;

m. But rather there will be “fullness of joy” and “pleasures for evermore” things that are spiritual in nature, that which we, on that Last Day, in our newly given spiritual, incorruptible bodies (1 Cor 15:42, 44), that will be then possessed by our renewed souls which are ever changing away from the physical and to that which is spiritual, heavenly in nature, will then be able to partake of deeply, fully, actually being with God, likened unto God, for ever and ever.

4. But, like always, there is that first step unto eternity with God, God’s eternal purpose has come to fruition;

a. The Gospel plan of salvation was revealed, those keys that unlocked that way to heaven,

b. Through the church, which was built,

c. Both the Gospel and the church, are in perfect working order,

d. God said “I will”, and “He did” as promised by Him Who cannot lie (Tit 1:2),

e. And that entrance by those keys, into God’s kingdom, the church (Heb 12:23, 28) are the same as they have been since that Pentecost day, some 2,000 years ago . . .

f. And these terms must be cast out as we go fishing for souls, for that good ground, those with good and honest hearts (Luke 8:15)

One must . . .

Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17)

Rom 10:17 . . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is how the Father plants His Word, the seed of the kingdom, Jesus said . . .

Mat 15:13 . . . Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up.

One must . . .

Believe that Jesus is the crucified and resurrected Divine Christ (John 8:24); and believe that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6), Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection unto eternal life, we must believe that we will follow, that blessed Hope (1 Pet 1:3)

One must . . .

Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5) Jesus stated . . .

Luk 13:3 . . . except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

And He meant exactly what He said

One must . . .

Confess Jesus as the Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), the eunuch said . . .

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So must you

And you must also confess Him through the means of your life of service to Him unto others According to the revealed will of God, we need to always be about the work of the Lord, it is never in vain (1 Cor 15:58)

One must . . .

Be baptized (immersed), which doth now save us (Mk 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21), it washes away our sins (Acts 22:16) immersed into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34) unto “eis” (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); At which point God adds you to the one and only church (Acts 2:47), translates you into the kingdom (Col 1:13) adds you to that one body (1 Cor 12:13), and writes your name in the Lambs book of life (Rev 20:12).

And finally one must . . .

Live a life that is holy, set apart in every aspect (1 Pet 1:15) according to the gospel,

Not perfect, for none but Christ is perfect, yet ever striving to be so (Luke 13:24), working out our salvation with trembling and fear (Phili 2:12), for it’s a fearful thing to be found unfaithful to the living God (Heb 10:31)

Being renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16), through study and application of God’s ever abiding word (1 Pet 2:2)

Putting off that old man, and putting on the new, being constantly in a state of spiritual growth,

Showing forth God’s love and light through our lives as a Christian (only), as the Bible teaches . . .

Following the Holy Spirit delivered word of God to the best of our ability in order that we won’t have our names blotted out of the Lambs Book of life,

So that you may be granted entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:11)

And hearing those sweetest of words “enter thou, into the joy of thy Lord”


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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