GOD'S TWO GIFTS TO THE CHURCH
Zephaniah 3:8-20

GOAL: Teach the church that the poor, and their trust of God, are a gift to the church.
-Change wrong attitudes toward the poor.

The Lord is here describing what he will do for Jerusalem. (Jerusalem is a "type" of the church)


I - THAT WHICH HAS BEEN REMOVED {vs 11} 
-Removing the proud (those who elevate themselves above others) and the haughty (pride expressed)
-The proud and haughty are like a tumor to the church
-{Psa 138:6} The Lord is near to the humble, but is far from the proud
-{Prov 15:25} He will be close to those in their poverty
-{Prov 16:5} Those who are proud are an abomination to the Lord
-{Prov 16:19} It's better to have nothing than to hang with the proud
-{Prov 21:4} A proud heart and a haughty look is sin
-{Prov 28:25} The proud stir up strife
-{Jer 50:31} The Lord will bring the proud to their knees
-{Rom 1:28-32} Pride is listed with sins worthy of death
-{2 Tim 3:1-5}{1 Pet 5:5}


II - THAT WHICH REMAINS {vs 12} 
-An afflicted and poor people - they will trust in the name of the Lord and help others do the same
-{James 2:2-5} To be a respecter of persons because of their wealth is SIN
-{2 Cor 8:9} Christ was rich, but he became poor so that we might be spiritually rich
-{Luke 21:1-4} God looks at what you have after you give
-{Luke 14:7-24} Don't do things for people in the hope of getting something in return, but rather do for those who can't repay you
-{Luke 4:17-18} Christ came to preach to the poor
-{2 Sam 22:28}