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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">March 31, 2013</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>OCT
9 - ZEPHANIAH: THROUGH JUDGMENT TO BLESSING</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
1:4 (1:1-6, ESV) ZEPHANIAH: PROPHESIES BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY. <font size="3">“</font><font size="3">I
will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from i</font><font size="3">t</font><font size="3">s
place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests
along with the priests.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">After
much clear warning, with much longsuffering and patience, You let
judgment come, Father. You </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
a God Who sees both good and evil, and punishes the evil! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
1:12 (1:7-18) DAY OF JEHOVAH: CLASSES TO BE PUNISHED. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“At
that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the
men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD
will not do good, nor will he do ill.’” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">You
will not have Your people like ‘Christian Science’, Father. You
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
a God Who sees both good and evil, and punishes the evil. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
2:3 (2:1-3) JUDAH: EXHORTED TO SEEK GOD. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Seek
the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek
righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of
the anger of the LORD. </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">King
Manasseh delayed judgment because of repentance. Noah, Daniel and Job
could be hidden because of </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">their</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
righteousness. You are a righteous Father: You do not punish the
righteous with the wicked. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
2:7 (2:4-15) JUDGMENT: ON FIVE NATIONS. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">The
seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of
Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they
shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of
them and restore their fortunes. </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Forgive
us Father, for failing to understand Your nature: A God of
Righteousness and Holiness, Jehovah of Truth and Equity. Purge us
from humanistic thinking, for the bleeding-heart liberal! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
3:5 (3:1-7) JUDAH: BAD MORAL STATE. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he
shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust
knows no shame.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
we bless You that You are in the midst of the city, </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">our
particular city church</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Burn it on our
hearts</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Anoint our eyes to
see</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
We root out </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">all</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
3:13 (3:8-13) ARMAGEDDON: RESTORATION RESULTS. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Those
who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they
shall gra</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">z</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">e
and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
see and understand Your Restoration power on behalf of Your remnant!
We bless You Father, for Your power to cleanse and keep Your people.
</span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And bring us
not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
3:17 (3:14-20) MESSIAH AND RESTORATION. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will
rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he
will exult over you with loud singing.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Following
judgment, cleansing, chastisement, and discipline; comes rest, joy,
reconciliation and fellowship with You, Father! Hosanna! And </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
work it all out! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
3:20 (3:14-20) </b></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">RESTORATION
PROMISED! </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“At
that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you
together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the
peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before you</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">r</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
eyes,” says the LORD. </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">O
blessed be Your Name for evermore, Father; for </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
have declared it, and </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
will also do it!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the Day: 99:6-8 (99) THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY! </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Moses
and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who
called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
</span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">7
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">In the
pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and
the statute that he gave them. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">8
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">O LORD
our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an
avenger of their wrongdoings.” </span></font></b></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">This
may be called the Sanctus, or “The Holy, Holy, Holy Psalm,” for
the word “holy” is the conclusion and the refrain of its three
main divisions. Its subject is the holiness of the divine government,
the sanctity of the mediatorial reign.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">99:1.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Let the people
tremble.</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none"> Saints
quiver with devout emotion and sinners quiver with terror when the
rule of Jehovah is fully perceived and felt. It is not a light or
trifling matter; it is a truth which, above all others, should stir
the depths of our nature.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">99:2.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>And He is high
above all the people; </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">towering
above their highest thoughts and loftiest conceptions. The highest
are not high to Him yet, blessed be His name, the lowliest are not
despised by Him. In such a God we rejoice. His greatness and
loftiness are exceedingly delightful in our esteem. The more He is
honored and exalted in the hearts of men, the more exultant are His
people. The more He is honored and exalted in the hearts of men, the
more exultant are His people. If Israel delighted in Saul because
he was head and shoulders above the people, how much more should we
exult in our God and King, Who is as high above us as the heavens are
above the earth?</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">99:3.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Let them praise
Your great and terrible name.</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
Many profess to admire the milder beams of the sun of righteousness
but burn with rebellion against its more flaming radiance: so it
ought not to be: we are bound to praise a terrible God and worship
Him Who casts the wicked down to hell. Did not Israel praise Him
“Who overthrew Pharaoh and his hosts in the Red Sea, for His mercy
endures forever”! The terrible Avenger is to be raised as well as
the loving Redeemer. Against this, the sympathy of man’s evil heart
with sin rebels; it cries out for an effeminate God in whom pity has
strangled Justice</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">99:5.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>For He is holy</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">.
Holiness is the harmony of all the virtues. The Lord has not one
glorious attribute alone, or in excess, but all glories are in Him as
a whole; this is the crown of His honor and the honor of His crown.
His power is not His choicest jewel, nor His sovereignty, but His
holiness. The gods of the heathen were, according to their own
votaries, lustful, cruel, and brutish; their only claim to reverence
lay in their supposed potency over human destinies; who would not far
rather adore Jehovah, Whose character is unsullied purity, unswerving
justice, unbending truth, unbounded love, in a word, perfect
holiness? </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>For
He is holy. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">Holiness
is the harmony of all virtues. The Lord a virtue all too rare in
these our days; men run after their own views and </span><span style="text-decoration:none">opinions
and make light of the truth of God; hence it is that they fail in
prayer, and scoffers have even dared to say that prayer avails not at
all. May the good Lord bring back His people to reverence His Word,
and then will He also have respect unto the voice of their cry.
</span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>(From “The Treasury
of David” by C.H. Spurgeon, abridged by D.O. Fuller)</b></span></font></font></p>
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