1. THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUS
When the Alaskan Pipeline was being built, there were many Texans who went to Alaska and found work on the pipeline. The Texans could only work a few hours in the frigid weather, yet the Eskimos, the native Alaskans, could work indefinitely in the cold.
They decided to do a study to find out why the Eskimos could withstand the weather. After much study they found that there were no physiological differences between the Eskimos and the Texans. There was nothing in skin thickness, blood, or any other thing physically that would explain the differences in the ability to withstand the temperatures. The solution came when they did a psychological study. The difference was the Eskimo said, "He knows it was cold but there was a job to be done." In other words, his focus was on the job and obtaining results rather than on the weather. The Texan focused on the weather and this kept him from focusing on the job at hand. (Taken from the Movie 5th Quarter).
You and I will focus on one of two things this week. We will either focus on how bad things are, the trials, and temptations or we will focus on Christ and His Word. Godly faith can help us to face and overcome the world we live. Whatever our troubles are: with family, loneliness, things that seem impossible, dealing with death, sin or whatever it is.
2. A similar situation occurred for the Jews returning from Babylonian Captivity in the 6th Century BC
a. Zerubbabel and about 50K refugees returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls; restore the temple; the priesthood; the religion of the Jewish people
b. They laid the foundation for the temple, met obstacles and stopped building for about 16 years
c. God raised up the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to stir the hearts of the people to resume the building.
d. They did their jobs, focusing on the work, not the obstacles.
3. Zechariah 4.1-10
And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.”
I. The Presence of Overwhelming Obstacles
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere."
Everything worthwhile has some obstacle. Note some things that confronted the Jewish Builders:
A. Obstacle #1 – Confusion
1. Confusion about God’s Revelation – Zechariah did not understand what he saw
a. Ethiopian
b. Our Prayers – “God, what do you want?”
2. Confusion about THEIR MISSION
a. Sidetracked with selfish interests (Haggai 1 – wages/houses)
b. They forgot their mission –Do we?
George Shultz, when Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, "You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country." They would always go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent.
BUT when former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan and was put to the test, Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: "That's my country."
Shultz says: "I've told that story to all the ambassadors going out. 'Never forget you're over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You're there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you're representing the best country in the world.'"
B. Obstacle #2 – Limited Abilities (4.10)
10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
1. Their BIG task required: Money; Labor (time & Energy); Sacrificial Leadership; Determined Following; Unity of Purpose
So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4.6
2. We do, too – How will we proceed? $24K to EEM!!!!!
C. Obstacle #3 – A Persistent Enemy
1. Heathen/Samaritans of the Land
2. Satan – Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5.8
Enemies of God – Voltaire, the 18th Century French atheist, was one of the great writers of his time. He once wrote, “In twenty years Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear.” His arrogance was swallowed up in death. He died, in his own words, “abandoned by God and man.” Shortly after his death, the very house in which he wrote was made into a depot for the Geneva Bible Society.
II. The Power to Overcome the Obstacles (4.6)
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
A. Power Is Not:
1. Our Numbers –
a. What would happen if we did not count attendance?
b. Extremes: Small Churches feel Inadequate; Large Churches feel overconfident
2. Our Wealth
a. It is God’s – Haggai 2.8
‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
b. It is useless
When Titanic was sinking about a century ago, wealthy men tried to purchase seats in the lifeboats from members of the crew who knew that they would go down with the ship. The money had no value to them. Instead of being rich and strong they became poor and weak. Those perceived to be weak (women and children) were now in positions of strength in the boats.
3. Our Abilities – God uses ‘earthen vessels’ to do his work – dependent on HIS abilities
B. Power IS – God’s Spirit
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13.20-21
1. God’s Ability (Ephesians 3.20-21) – immeasurably more than we ask or think
2. Trust in selves – We lose – we rise no higher than our level of incompetence
3. God is present to lead us by his Spirit – Romans 8.14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
HS and Dove –
A certain guide in the deserts of Arabia never lost his way. He carried a homing pigeon with a fine cord attached to his leg. If he doubted which path to take or if he was caught in a sand storm, he would release the bird. The pigeon would fly in the direction of home. The guide was always able to return safely. God also directs us home by means of his “Dove,” the Holy Spirit. When we follow his direction we will arrive safely as well.
1. Zerubbabel did finish his task. The second temple was completed.
2. This was not an ending, it was a beginning of a new era in the history of Israel. [Graduations
3. We are not so different today.
Quote: As much as 77% of everything we think is negative and counterproductive and works against us. People who grow up in an average household hear "No" or are told what they can’t do more than 148,000 times by the time they reach age 18.
Result: Unintentional negative programming that must be overcome or we will become a victim of defeatism. Shad Helmstetter in Homemade, January 1987.
4. Overwhelming Obstacles are present; power to overcome is there as well.
