HOPE IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS \\ ZECH. 5 // 2.14.16 HOPE IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS \\ ZECH. 5 // 2.14.16

The central truth of Zechariah 5: Covenant ______may not The central truth of Zechariah 5: Covenant blessings may not be enjoyed without covenant ______. be enjoyed without covenant obedience.

MAIN Covenant obedience is MAIN Covenant obedience is POINT the ______of hope. POINT the fruit of hope.

I. GOD’S ______IS INESCAPABLE (5:1-4) I. GOD’S LAW IS INESCAPABLE (5:1-4)

“Let us never allow self-_____ to paralyze us in the pursuit of holiness.” “Let us never allow self-pity to paralyze us in the pursuit of holiness.” 4 Truths about God’s Curse 4 Truths about God’s Curse

1) It is ______. (5:3) 1) It is universal. (5:3) 2) It is ______. (5:4a) 2) It is personal. (5:4a) 3) It is ______. (5:4b) 3) It is total. (5:4b) 4) It is ______. (5:3-4) 4) It is undeniable. (5:3-4) The point of the vision of the flying scroll: your sin will be ______. The point of the vision of the flying scroll: your sin will berevealed.

II. GOD’S ______IS INEXHAUSTIBLE (5:5-11) II. GOD’S LOVE IS INEXHAUSTIBLE (5:5-11)

The point of the vision of the woman in the basket: your sin can be The point of the vision of the woman in the basket: your sin can be ______. removed. Babylon (“Shinar”) throughout the represents ______in Babylon (“Shinar”) throughout the Bible represents the world in opposition to God. (5:11) opposition to God. (5:11) “God rescues His people from their sin and He hands a ______“God rescues His people from their sin and He hands a rebel world over to their sin.” (5:11; cf. Rom. 1:26-28) world over to their sin.” (5:11; cf. Rom. 1:26-28) How God’s People Should Respond to Sin How God’s People Should Respond to Sin Repent of sin ______. Repent of sin urgently. Deal with sin ______. Deal with sin seriously. Fight against sin ______. Fight against sin hopefully. QUESTIONS FOR ADULTS QUESTIONS FOR KIDS

1) Jordan stated in his sermon that Zechariah chapter 5 is about God motivating his people Read Zechariah 5:5-11 to covenant obedience. The means of motivation in verses 1-4 is the threat of a curse for the sin of the inhabitants of . How were you challenged by the idea that God uses a 1) In this story we see a dream that Zechariah had about God carrying away the threat as a motivation to holiness? Does God still use such means to motivate his people wickedness, the sin of his people. Who did God send in real life to take away the to obedience? sin of his people? 2) In the sermon we were warned away from self-pity and its power to prevent us from being warned against sin. In your life what kinds of circumstances or defense mechanisms 2) In the dream Zechariah saw a woman in a basket called Wickedness, and she make it difficult for you to receive correction or rebuke for sin in your life? How can you was carried away by the Holy Spirit to a faraway land, far away from God’s people. overcome those hindrances to correction? How did Jesus take away the sins of his people? 3) In the section of the sermon called “4 Truths about God’s Curse”, we saw that the curse of God was universal, personal, total and undeniably necessary because of the sin of God’s 3) Why do we need God to take away our sin? (Because he is holy) people. Under the headings personal and total we talked about the curse of God taking up residence in homes and destroying them for the sin of inhabitants. How have you seen this 4) How can we be forgiven of our sin and become holy like God and live with him truth in your family’s life when there is sin in your life that has gone unconfessed or un-dealt forever? (Repentance from sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ) with? Or, how does your sin affect your family’s life together, even if it isn’t against them directly? (See Joshua 7, and the consequences of Achan’s sin for the whole nation of ) 5) Read Romans 6:23 and 10:13, You can right now be forgiven of your sin and 4) Your sin will be revealed, it will find you out and it will bring curses not blessings. This is saved by God’s grace to be holy just by calling on Jesus, by saying to him that you the truth of Zechariah chapter 5 and the whole bible. How then ought you to live in light trust in him alone to be your rescuer. of this undeniable reality? 5) The Lord provides for the salvation of his people, even as he threatens to curse them. 6) Let’s pray! How can this be? How can God be against the sin of his people in Zechariah’s day, warn them through curses and yet promise to remove sin from them? Read Romans 3:21-26. 6) Often we think of God’s threats of judgment as punishment and it feels harsh. But what did we hear is the true judgment of God with regard to our sin? (see Zech. 5:11, and Rom. 1:26-28) How should this truth change the way you receive the warnings of God against your sin? 7) Jordan quoted Thomas Watson who said that is a scheme of Satan to focus our attention so fully on grace that we deal with sin lightly, so that we see it as no big deal. Have you noticed this tendency in your life? How does a high and serious view of sin actually glorify the grace of God? 8) From this text what about God’s character, God’s word and God’s promises have brought you hope?