Glimpses of Glory: Hope and Restoration in Christ
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the concept of "glimpses of glory" as revealed through the prophet Zephaniah. Just as free samples at an ice cream store entice customers to buy more, God gives us glimpses of the future to encourage and comfort us. Bible prophecy is not meant to instill fear but to challenge us to persevere, knowing the amazing future God has planned for us. In a world filled with stress, sin, and societal breakdown, these glimpses of glory help us keep our eyes heavenward.
We delved into Zephaniah 3:9-13, where God promises complete restoration. This restoration involves a return to a pure language and unified worship of the one true God. This is a future where everyone will call on the name of the Lord, and the Jewish people will return to Jerusalem to worship Jesus as the Messiah. This restoration is not just about judgment but also about blessings for those who turn to God.
The second glimpse of glory is that sinners will no longer be ashamed. In the future, there will be no more guilt or shame because God will remove pride and sin from our hearts. This is a powerful reminder that God's heart is one of restoration, not condemnation. The church should be a place where the spiritually broken can find healing and not a place of judgment.
The third glimpse of glory is that the humble will win in the end. In the future, only those who are meek and humble, wholly dependent on God, will remain. This humility is not about feeling inferior but about recognizing our dependence on God. True humility is understanding that apart from God, we can do nothing, but in Him, we can do everything.
The fourth glimpse of glory is perfect peace in our cleansed hearts. In the future, we will have glorified bodies incapable of sinning, leading to perfect peace and security. We will no longer have to worry about hidden sins or fear God's punishment. This peace is a result of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, which has wiped away our sins.
These glimpses of glory encourage us to live a life holy and pleasing to God, steadfast in our Christian faith, knowing that we are sinners saved by grace.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Complete Restoration: God promises a future where everything will be restored to its original, perfect condition. This includes a unified worship of the one true God and the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem to worship Jesus as the Messiah. This restoration is a powerful reminder that God's heart is one of restoration, not condemnation. [04:19]
2. No More Shame for Sinners: In the future, there will be no more guilt or shame because God will remove pride and sin from our hearts. This is a powerful reminder that God's forgiveness in Christ is sufficient for us to no longer feel ashamed. The church should be a place where the spiritually broken can find healing and not a place of judgment. [12:02]
3. The Humble Will Win: In the future, only those who are meek and humble, wholly dependent on God, will remain. True humility is understanding that apart from God, we can do nothing, but in Him, we can do everything. This humility is not about feeling inferior but about recognizing our dependence on God. [20:11]
4. Perfect Peace in Cleansed Hearts: In the future, we will have glorified bodies incapable of sinning, leading to perfect peace and security. We will no longer have to worry about hidden sins or fear God's punishment. This peace is a result of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, which has wiped away our sins. [27:07]
5. Living for Eternity: These glimpses of glory encourage us to live a life holy and pleasing to God, steadfast in our Christian faith. We should not live for what is temporary but for what is eternal, knowing that we are sinners saved by grace. This eternal perspective helps us navigate the challenges of this world with hope and assurance. [33:46]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:35] - Glimpses of Glory
[03:01] - Zephaniah's Prophecy
[04:19] - God's Complete Restoration
[12:02] - No More Shame for Sinners
[20:11] - The Humble Will Win
[27:07] - Perfect Peace in Cleansed Hearts
[33:46] - Living for Eternity
[35:30] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Zephaniah 3:9-13
### Observation Questions
1. What does Zephaniah 3:9-13 promise about the future restoration of God's people? ([04:19])
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of God restoring a "pure language" to the people? ([05:45])
3. How does the sermon describe the future state of sinners in terms of guilt and shame? ([12:02])
4. What does the sermon say about the future of the humble and meek? ([20:11])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise of a "pure language" and unified worship in Zephaniah 3:9-10 reflect God's plan for complete restoration? ([04:19])
2. In what ways does the removal of guilt and shame for sinners, as described in Zephaniah 3:11, impact the way we view God's forgiveness? ([12:02])
3. How does the concept of humility in Zephaniah 3:12 challenge our current understanding of success and dependence on God? ([20:11])
4. What does the promise of perfect peace in Zephaniah 3:13 mean for believers today, and how does it relate to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? ([27:07])
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on God's promise of complete restoration, how can you actively participate in God's work of restoration in your community? ([04:19])
2. Considering the sermon’s message about no more shame for sinners, how can you create a more welcoming and non-judgmental environment in your church? ([12:02])
3. In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride, and how can you practice true humility by recognizing your dependence on God? ([20:11])
4. How can you cultivate a sense of perfect peace in your daily life, knowing that Jesus' sacrifice has cleansed your heart from sin? ([27:07])
5. The sermon encourages living for eternity rather than temporary things. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on eternal values? ([33:46])
6. How can you support someone in your life who feels ashamed of their past, helping them understand God's forgiveness and restoration? ([12:02])
7. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the weight of sin. How did you find peace, and how can you help others experience the same freedom through Christ? ([30:12])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Complete Restoration
In Zephaniah 3:9-13, God promises a future where everything will be restored to its original, perfect condition. This restoration includes a return to a pure language and unified worship of the one true God. It is a future where everyone will call on the name of the Lord, and the Jewish people will return to Jerusalem to worship Jesus as the Messiah. This restoration is not just about judgment but also about blessings for those who turn to God. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's heart is one of restoration, not condemnation. This glimpse of glory encourages us to look forward to a time when all things will be made new and perfect in God's sight. [04:19]
Zephaniah 3:9-10 (ESV): "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed people, shall bring me offerings."
Reflection: Think about an area in your life that feels broken or in need of restoration. How can you invite God into that space to begin His work of restoration today?
Day 2: No More Shame for Sinners
In the future, there will be no more guilt or shame because God will remove pride and sin from our hearts. This is a powerful reminder that God's forgiveness in Christ is sufficient for us to no longer feel ashamed. The church should be a place where the spiritually broken can find healing and not a place of judgment. This glimpse of glory reassures us that God's heart is one of restoration and healing, not condemnation. It encourages us to create a community where people can come as they are and find the grace and love of God. [12:02]
Isaiah 54:4 (ESV): "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more."
Reflection: Is there a past mistake or sin that you still feel ashamed of? How can you embrace God's forgiveness and let go of that shame today?
Day 3: The Humble Will Win
In the future, only those who are meek and humble, wholly dependent on God, will remain. True humility is understanding that apart from God, we can do nothing, but in Him, we can do everything. This humility is not about feeling inferior but about recognizing our dependence on God. This glimpse of glory teaches us that humility is a virtue that God values highly and that it is the humble who will ultimately prevail. It challenges us to cultivate a heart of humility and dependence on God in our daily lives. [20:11]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? How can you practice humility and dependence on God in those areas today?
Day 4: Perfect Peace in Cleansed Hearts
In the future, we will have glorified bodies incapable of sinning, leading to perfect peace and security. We will no longer have to worry about hidden sins or fear God's punishment. This peace is a result of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, which has wiped away our sins. This glimpse of glory gives us hope for a future where we will experience perfect peace and security in God's presence. It encourages us to live in the peace that Jesus has already provided for us through His sacrifice. [27:07]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: What are the anxieties or fears that disrupt your peace? How can you focus your mind on God and trust in His promise of perfect peace today?
Day 5: Living for Eternity
These glimpses of glory encourage us to live a life holy and pleasing to God, steadfast in our Christian faith. We should not live for what is temporary but for what is eternal, knowing that we are sinners saved by grace. This eternal perspective helps us navigate the challenges of this world with hope and assurance. It reminds us that our ultimate goal is to be with God forever and that our lives should reflect that eternal hope. [33:46]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What are some temporary things you find yourself focusing on? How can you shift your focus to what is eternal and live with an eternal perspective today?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "You see, Bible prophecy is not to cause us to fear more or to become confused. It should serve to challenge us to persevere and press on in whatever we are experiencing, knowing, anticipating, and looking forward to the amazing future God has planned for those who are in a relationship with Him." [02:00] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "My friends, God is a God of restoration. Whatever you have done, you have done it. You have done it. You have done it. You have done it. You have done it. Whatever you are going through, whoever you are in your spiritual life, the promise of glory is that God will restore you to a perfect relationship with Him because of Jesus." [09:04] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The hope of glory is that one day, perhaps soon, God will return and restore everything the way it should be, where those who worship and serve the one true God will be honored and rewarded. And serving Him will be the highest of honors, nothing else. You can't wait for that time. I hope you can't wait for that time as well." [10:35] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So my friends, if you're going through something in your life, if you've messed up, if you've fallen to sin, there is hope. There is forgiveness. There's salvation through Jesus Christ. But step one, you have to acknowledge that it is sin. Nothing to be ashamed of because Jesus Christ has forgiven you." [17:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "To live with perfect peace and security in our hearts is such a wonderful glimpse of glory. Not a worry in the world because sin has no hold over us, can't get to us. We can sleep in perfect peace because our eternity is secured and our past sins cannot be used to condemn us." [31:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "You see, my friends, knowing God's plan for the future teaches us how to live in the future. If you have your Bibles, I'd like you to turn with me to the book of Zephaniah, chapter 3. We're going to take a look at verses 9 to 13. The book of Zephaniah, after the book of Haggai, excuse me, after the book of Habakkuk and before the book of Haggai. It's in the minor prophet section of your Bible." [03:01] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "My friends, getting a glimpse of glory and knowing of God's complete restoration plan, we then remember as believers in Jesus Christ, we too will be able to experience the greatness of the restored new heavens and new earth as described in Revelations chapter 21 and 22. You see, God is all about restoration. He has been wanting to redeem the world ever since man fell. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of mankind." [07:16] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The glimpse of glory, knowing that we will all stand before the Lord for all eternity as forgiven and redeemed people means we don't have to be ashamed that we are sinners and are not perfect. And so once we identify these areas, we struggle with, then we deal with it for God's glory." [17:09] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Humility is understanding that apart from God, we can do nothing. In Him, everything. In myself, nothing. A few weeks ago, I was preaching at a church in New York City, I met an African man named Solomon, who served me in every possible way as I first stepped into that church. Perhaps he was assigned to help me. I asked if I needed anything, if I needed coffee or water, even to have a seat. I thought to myself, what a humble man." [21:55] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus' death on the cross allows us to live in peace and security, knowing that the life of sin we live can no longer be used to condemn us. And that's our fourth glimpse of glory, perfect peace in our cleansed hearts. Perfect peace in our cleansed heart. My friends, today you and I don't have to live with unsettled hearts or have sleepless nights worried about the weight of our sins, because God's forgiveness through Jesus' death lifts our burden. Our sins have been wiped away by the blood of Jesus." [28:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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