ASSIGNMENTS

1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day.

3. Find a scripture each day that tells of God's wrath toward someone who deserved it.

4. Pray that you will never wander into the severity of God, but live in such a way to receive His goodness.

5. Write about a time you suffered the consequences of your actions.

6. Plan to tell the class about a time you saw God's severity.

DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: 2 Chron. 24:18; Nahum 1:2 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to always remember that You are God and that You are Jealous.

TUESDAY - VERSES: 2 Chr. 30:8; Ezra 5:12 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master, help me to yield myself to You and not provoke You to wrath.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: 2 Chron. 36:16	PRAYER THOUGHT: Judge of All, help me to know that there are limits to your mercy and grace. Help me to never push those limits.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Psalm 59:13; 78:31	PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, Help me to know that You will even pour out your wrath on your own children if they are disobedient.

FRIDAY - VERSES: John 3:36; Rom. 9:22	PRAYER THOUGHT: Almighty One, help me remember that none can stand against your wrath.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Romans 1:18;2:5 PRAYER THOUGHT: Righteous One, help me be righteous like You to avoid Your severity.

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God's message that Zephaniah delivered in Judah was shockingly severe. God had patiently sent a long string of prophets to warn Judah that their persistent rebellion would be judged, and Zephaniah's message suggests that God's anger had reached a boiling point. Unless they repent, He plans to erase them and any memory of them from the earth. Our future promises another terrible day of judgment for those who fail to heed God's warnings and come to Him on His terms. As the New Testament reminds us, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). https://bible.org/seriespage/gods-judgment-severe-zephaniah-12-6
SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 75

GOD'S SEVERITY - 1-12-14 to 1-18-14

SCRIPTURE - Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

COMMENT – We love to think about God's goodness and avoid thinking about His severity, but we must accept the severity if we want to really understand who God is. God's severity is part of His character and we must understand that in order to please Him.

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SONG - THERE'S A GREAT DAY COMING

1) There's a great day coming, a great day coming, There's a great day coming by and by, When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left,

2) There's a bright day coming, a bright day coming, There's a bright day coming by and by, but its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord,

3) There's a sad day coming, a sad day coming, There's a sad day coming by and by, When the sinner shall hear his doom, "Depart I know ye not,"

CHORUS - Are you ready for that day to come? Are you ready, are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day? Are you ready, are you ready for the judgment day?

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THOUGHTS

Excerpt from Look at the Kindness of God and the Severity of God

By John Piper http://www.biggergod.com/kindandsevere.html

Stand in Faith and Fear (v. 20)

Follow with me how he is thinking from verse 20 through verse 22. Pick it up with me in the middle of verse 20: "You stand fast through faith." In other words, your life, your salvation, your remaining in this tree of covenant and promise and hope, depends on your persevering faith. Then he says, "So do not become proud, but stand in awe [literally, "fear"]." In other words, there is a very important role for fear in the Christians life in relation to maintaining faith to the end. You stand fast through faith. So don't be proud, but fear.

There Is Reason to Fear (v. 21)

Then he continues in verse 21: "For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you." In other words, there is reason to fear. If you give way to unbelief and stop trusting Christ for your life and hope, then you will be cut off. So fear every rise of unbelief in your heart. Or as Paul says in Philippians 2:12, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." When unbelief starts to get the upper hand fear and tremble and fly to Christ.

A Strategy for Having Faith with Fear (v. 22)

Then he continues in verse 22 and gives us a strategy for maintaining faith with a proper use of fear: "Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness." In other words, Paul says that since ongoing faith is utterly indispensable in being saved in the end, and since fear has a key role in helping us maintain faith, therefore, note something. Literally, "look" at something. Look at what? Look at two things: the kindness of God and the severity of God. Or we could say: look at the mercy of God and the wrath of God. Look at the tenderness of God and the toughness of God. Look at the salvation of God and the judgment of God. Look at the assistance of God and the opposition of God. Look at the friendship of God and the fierceness of God. Don't look only at his gentler side. It will be bad for your faith.

So that is the point of today's message: "Look—really look!—at the kindness and the severity of God." Look at both . This is my answer today to the question: How do we maintain our faith? How do we fight the fight of faith? How do we keep on believing?

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Excerpt from The Kindness and Severity of God by Bob Deffinbaugh bible.org/seriespage/27-kindness-and-severity-god-romans-1113-24

When I was in the sixth grade, I learned the hard way the difference between being privileged and being favored. My friend Ricky and I were projectionists. It was a position of privilege; it was also a privilege because we got out of class to run the projector for other classes. However, Ricky and I did not live up to our position of privilege. We raced the projection cart, with the projector, down the empty halls of the school while everyone else was in class.

On one occasion, just as I was banking a curve with the skill of Andy Granatelli and making record time down the hallways, I collided with one of the teachers. Unfortunately for me, the teacher was my father. Although I was his son, this did not make things easier for me; in fact, it made things much worse. Because I was his son, he gave me a double dose of discipline. My racing days were over, at least in the school halls where my father might be encountered.

The nation Israel was God's "son" in the sense that God had chosen this people to be the source of blessing to all the world (see Exodus 4:23; Hosea 11:1). The Jews quickly began to forget that God's blessings and their privileged status were gifts of God's grace, something for which they could take no credit. They began to presume on God's grace, supposing that because they were privileged they were exempt from God's chastening. They believed in the "kindness and severity of God." They also believed they deserved and were assured of God's kindness, and that the Gentile heathen deserved God's severity. Israel's pride became her downfall.

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GOD REVEALS HIS _________________

INTRODUCTION - ROMANS 11:22; REVELATION 14:9-11

L. S. - THE GOODNESS OF GOD CAN BE SEEN . . .

I. IN _________________ - LEVITICUS 26:21-22

II. IN THE LAWS OF NATURE - ____________ 1:26-27

III. IN HIS ___________ - NUMBERS 14:33-37; 2 PETER 3:9-10

IV. IN HIS WARNINGS - _______________ 11:7; EZEKIEL 33:2-5

V. IN THE ____________________ - EXODUS 20:5;34:7;

NUMBERS 14:18; DEUTERONOMY 5:9

VI. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN - 1 ________________ 6:9-10

VII. IN THE EXISTENCE OF __________ - MATTHEW 25:41, 46

VIII. IN THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON - __________ 3:18-19;

HEBREWS 10:28-31

IX. IN HIS PLAN FOR HIS ________________ -	ROMANS 9:30-33;

MATTHEW 21:42-44

X. IN HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN - 1 ___________ 4:17-18;

REVELATION 2:5

XI. IN ________________ - JAMES 1:2-4; HEBREWS 4:15

CONCLUSION

GOD REVEALS HIS SEVERITY

INTRODUCTION:

A. ROMANS 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

B. REVELATION 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

L. S. - THE SEVERITY OF GOD CAN BE SEEN . . .

I. IN CREATION - LEVITICUS 26:21-22 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. (22) I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

II. IN THE LAWS OF NATURE - ROMANS 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

III. IN HIS PROMISES - NUMBERS 14:33-37 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. (34) After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. (35) I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. (36) And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, (37) Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

2 PETER 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

IV. IN HIS WARNINGS - HEBREWS 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

EZEKIEL 33:2-5 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: (3) If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; (4) Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. (5) He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

V. IN THE BIBLE - EXODUS 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

EXODUS 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

NUMBERS 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

DEUTERONOMY 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

VI. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN - 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

VII. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HELL - MATTHEW 25:41, 46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

VIII. IN THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON - JOHN 3:18-19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

HEBREWS 10:28-31 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

IX. IN HIS PLAN FOR HIS CHURCH - ROMANS 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (31) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

MATTHEW 21:42-44 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (43) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (44) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

X. IN HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN - 1 PETER 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

REVELATION 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

XI. IN TEMPTATION - JAMES 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

HEBREWS 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

CONCLUSION:

A. SUMMARY

B. INVITATION

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.