Sermon Central
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Zechariah: Ready For The King
Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019 (message contributor)
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1. Finding God's Blessing After We've Been Wandering
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
This sermon discusses the need to return to God, not just return to doing good. Is religious activity enough to get God's blessing?
- Background on the book: - Addressed to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in 538 B.C. Two years later they started to work on the temple, but opposition led that to be put aside for 16 years. - This opening statement comes right after the restarting of the temple project. - ...read more
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2. What Jesus Is Doing When He Seems Distant
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
Where is God when He seems distant?
- The Jews here had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. They were surrounded by strong enemies and their attempts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had just gotten restarted. - Here we have eight night visions designed to encourage God’s people. As I noted last week, the theme of Zechariah can ...read more
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3. When The World Becomes Too Enticing
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
Some important reminders for those who are enticed to run with the world.
- This sermon handles the second vision (1:18-21) and the third vision (2:1-13). - It is tempting to spiritualize the truths contained in this passage, but I think there is a larger truth that is well worth our time in focusing on the straightforward, long-term truth shared here. - In some ...read more
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4. A Picture Of Salvation Before Salvation Was Possible
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
An amazing prophecy that points us directly to what Jesus did for us.
A PICTURE OF SALVATION BEFORE SALVATION WAS POSSIBLE: - “Angel of the Lord” generally means pre-incarnate Jesus in OT passages. 1. We are morally filthy. - Zechariah 3:3. - Isaiah 64:6. - The Hebrew for “filthy” literally means “excrement-covered.” 2. Satan (accurately) accuses us. - ...read more
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5. God’s Encouraging Vision For The Spiritually Overwhelmed
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
This vision points us to the great power of the Spirit.
- The last vision concerned cleansing our souls; this vision concerns our work for God. WHAT IS THE SYMBOLISM? 1. The solid gold lampstand symbolizes our work to shine the light to the nations. - Zechariah 4:2, 10b. - 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6-7. - The obvious symbolism of a light points toward ...read more
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6. When The Word Brings The Nuclear Option
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
This vision points us to the destructive power of the Word when people reject it.
WHAT DOES THE VISION MEAN? 1. God’s Word is not hidden and is seeking you out. - Zechariah 5:1-2. - Let’s begin with the vision statement in v. 2 and its three pieces. a. “Scroll.” - This obviously points us to God’s Word. A scroll is parchment with writing, which is how the manuscripts were ...read more
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7. The Downside Of An Economic Upturn
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
We as Americans are consumed with prosperity. This passage points out the place of prosperity in the rise and power of Babylon in the end times.
- To gain the world and lost your (national) soul, that’s indeed a tragedy. - We want to talk about gaining the world tonight and what the tragic cost sometimes is. FOURTH OF JULY CHURCH SERVICE: We praise God for letting us participate in America’s prosperity. - Churches often celebrate God’s ...read more
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8. When The Spirit Can Finally Rest
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
A look at the time when the Spirit can rest because victory has come.
THE FINAL VISION FOR ZECHARIAH: There will come a time when the Spirit can finally rest. - Zechariah 6:1-8. - In v. 8 we find an interesting phrase. I want to start there and then explain how we get there. Earlier in Zechariah prophetic visions we saw the idea of the Spirit restlessly moving to ...read more
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9. Do We Have To Keep Being Extra Faithful?
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
Our religious ritual can make us feel like we are the extra faithful when we are really failing to give God what He wants.
- We had several night visions one after the other in the chapters up to this point in Zechariah. As we come into chapter 7, two years have passed. And there are signs of progress on the temple – the walls are rising! - So is everything great? Not exactly. - The people of Bethel come with a ...read more
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10. An Astounding Picture Of Israel In The Millennium
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
This passage gives us fascinating insights into God's blessing of the Israeli people during the Millennium.
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER IN THE CHURCH AGE: God is not done with Israel yet. - Zechariah 8:2. WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE: 1. God’s presence will dwell in Jerusalem. - Zechariah 8:3a. 2. The Jews will worship and live in truth and holiness. - Zechariah 8:3b. 3. The world will have peace and ...read more
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11. The Part Of The Bible About Alexander The Great – No, Seriously
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
This passage includes prophecy that was fulfilled in Alexander the Great's conquests, as well as a much better known prediction concerning a donkey.
- Context note: this begins a part of Zechariah that is probably written four or five decades after the previous sections. Israel has completed the Temple, but is still vulnerable to foreign powers. TWO AMAZING PROPHECIES IN CHAPTER NINE: 1. Alexander the Great destroys everyone except ...read more
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12. Believing The Great Promises Of God
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
An invitation to expect greater things from God.
- This passage can be taken in at least two ways. One is the proximate interpretation, which involves the return of Israel to their land. A second also concerns Israel’s return to their land, but in a longer timeframe. A third is that the promises here for Israel believing the great promises of ...read more
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13. God’s Response To Our Stubborn Disobedience
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
The destruction of the Temple highlights Israel's disobedience. What can we learn from that?
WHAT IS THIS PROPHECY ABOUT? The destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. - Zechariah 11:1-17. - Verses 1-3 tell us that the destruction is coming. PIECES OF THE PROPHECY: 1. Selfish shepherds. - Zechariah 11:4-5. - Matthew 23:4-7; John 11:48. - Zechariah speaks here as though he is in the ...read more
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14. The More Amazing Thing Than God’s Victory At Armageddon
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
A fascinating passage about the military victory of Israel at Armageddon as well as the even more amazing thing that happens because of that victory.
- Set up Armageddon. - Joel 3:9-16; Zechariah 12:1-9; Zechariah 14:2-3; Revelation 16:16-21. - The great Gentile attack on Israel is called the battle of Armageddon. WHO BRINGS THE MILITARY VICTORY? God is the One making this victory happen. - Zechariah 12:1, 2, 3, 9. a. v. 1 – Three ...read more
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15. Getting Just Enough Truth
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
What would it be like to live in a world where deception was shunned?
AN AMAZING THOUGHT: What would it be like to live in a world where deception was shunned? - Zechariah 13:2-6. PART OF OUR GOAL RIGHT NOW: Passionately pursue truth. - What gets in the way: a. We settle for our comfort over truth. b. We docilely accept the things we’ve been taught. c. We ...read more
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16. God’s Bloody Plan
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
A look at the striking price of the plan that God has.
- Open: - We all love the Christmas season. The lights of the tree, the warm gathering with family, the birth of the Savior. - There is a part of the Christmas story that we don’t like, though. It doesn’t fit with our warm light, soft focus Christmas. - Matthew 2:13-18 tells us of the ...read more
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17. The Moment When Jesus’ Feet Touch The Mount Of Olives
Contributed on Oct 18, 2019
A detailed and compelling vision of the return of Christ. What happens when Jesus' feet touch the Mount of Olives?
[Divide into two parts?] - This passage contains detailed prophecy about the return of Christ – specifically, the moment when Jesus’ feet touch the Mount of Olives. - We are going to cover a lot tonight, but there is so much interesting and compelling details here that I don’t want to ...read more