Enjoying God (Part 1)

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe

Westminster Shorter Catechism:

“Q. 1. What is the main purpose of mankind? A. Mankind’s main purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Q. 2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.”

God enjoys us.  Let us learn to enjoy Him. The Bible tells us how to enjoy Him.

The prophet Zephaniah foretold a time when the day of the Lord would bring great judgment on the sins of the world. His prophecy speaks of the destruction of life on earth and is especially pointed at false religions. Our time parallels the time of Zephaniah. He mentions the fertility cults of Baal. The perverse sexuality of our world is nothing more than the worship of Baal. The prophet condemns those who worship the “hosts of heaven.” Astrology and reliance on zodiac predictions were rampant in ancient cultures and are just as rampant today.

Zephaniah decries the worship of Milcom who is also called Molech and Chemosh. The worship of Milcom included the sacrifice of children. God spoke to Israel in Leviticus 18:21, “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. (NKJV).”

Milcom is often associated with the Greek god Cronus, whose Roman name is Saturn. Cronus/Saturn, fearing one of his children would overthrow him, swallowed them at birth. Milcom, under several names and guises, has long been a destroyer of children. Abortion is, in reality, sacrifice to Molech.

This is our context.

The purpose of God’s judgment is always to eradicate sin and to bring forth His mercy. We cannot enjoy God while living in sin, doubt and unbelief. 

Zephaniah chapter 3 is an anthem to the restorative mercy of our God. There is a process.

The process begins in our commitment to the Lord, continues in our reformed minds, in our new hearts and is expressed in our speech and actions.

Romans 12:1-2:  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

We are to be living, breathing, functioning proof of what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

Zephaniah 3:12 “I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD. (NKJV)"  ( a people who do not trust in their own abilities alone but who desire strength and direction from the Lord).

Zephaniah 3:9:"For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. (NKJV)”

Our culture is truly in need of a pure language.  Even if we don’t use “cuss words”, our language can often express hurt, doubt and unbelief.  Our language can express our lack of joy.  Joy is a fruit of the spirit.  When we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, joy resides within us.  We must learn to call forth our joy and practice walking in it.  Our God Is a joyful God and when we are walking in Him, He rejoices over us.

Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (NKJV)"

What a delight to know that even in the midst of perverse and troubled times, the Lord our God is in our midst. He saves His people. He comes against those who come against us. He quiets us with His love. He rejoices over us with singing.

When I was a small child, my daddy often held me in his arms and sang over me, and I was quieted in my spirit. I can so easily picture my heavenly Father doing the same thing, and I am, likewise, quieted in my spirit.

In ancient times, God gave His people plenty of time to repent before judgment came. He has done the same in modern times. In spite of the seasons of judgment, those, who are faithful, experience deliverance, forgiveness, joy and peace in the most difficult of times.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! What a message for today!