Zechariah 4 v 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 1. THE MISSION REHEARSED. 1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, Intro. Difficult Situation Jerusalem, is in ashes and in ruins. There are enemies around the walls and there is discouragement within! And they say, Where shall we restore true religion - pure religion?" Restoration of the temple was symbolic of worshipping God 'in spirit and in truth'. Only a very small percentage of Jews came along. And their motives were mixed 2. THE MAN RESTORED.1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, God Awakened Him To The :- (a) National Need (b) Material Need (c) Spiritual Need (d) His Personnal Need 3. THE MYSTERY REVEALED.
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. Note that Zerubbabel represents kingship and Joshua the priesthood. - the two 'olive trees', these two 'anointed ones' - the Priesthood - the Kingship. They are filled with the 'oil of the Spirit' and they will tackle the vast task that they have before them. In Jesus Christ we have Him as King AND as Priest as well. 14 Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. There will be a constant flow, but these two they shall be my anointed ones, and there will be no limit to their resources." God’s temple cannot be finished, we cannot be saved apart from… · The Effectual Purpose of God the Father! behold a candlestick all of gold, · The Effectual Purchase of God the Son! with a bowl upon the top of it · And the Effectual Power of God the Holy Spirit! seven pipes to the seven lamps I. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SINNER IS EXPOSED John 16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. A. The Pollution Of Sin is exposed - "of sin" B. The Problem Of Sin is exposed - "of righteousness" All Have Sinned C. The Penalty Of Sin is exposed - "of judgment"
II. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SAVIOUR IS EXALTED John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A. In our minds we will say of the Lord Jesus Christ, as did John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). B. In our manner We should live in such a way as to best glorify CHRIST (Matt. 5:16). Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. We should talk in such a way as to best magnify JESUS (Acts 4:13). Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. C. In our message We don't preach a "plan of salvation." We preach the MAN of salvation! Philip preached CHRIST to the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5). Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. He preached JESUS to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35). Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Saul, later called Paul, preached CHRIST in the synagogues as soon as he was saved (Acts 9:20). And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Paul preached JESUS to the heathen at Athens (Acts 17:18). Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. Paul preached Christ's Death & Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-4) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: III. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT SERVICE IS EMPOWERED Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; A. He helps us to find and do the will of God B. He helps us do the work of God He gives gifts for the work of every believer. C. He helps us obtain the wisdom of God IV. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE EXPLAINED 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. A. The Spirit composed the Bible B. The Spirit comprehends the Bible C. The Spirit clarifies the Bible V. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT SORROW IS ERASED John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; A. His presence brings comfort B. His peace brings comfort This is the fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. C. His promises bring comfort The promise of salvation, of security, of strength,of the Second Coming 4. THE MESSENGERS REVIVED. 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. "That the 'eye' of God is on His church!"
Ezra 5 v 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. So we have activity there! And there is opposition here.
But the 'eye' of the Lord is upon Zerubbabel. Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. Nothing could stop them so they go on. 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Not by might, of man - The Might Of The Many Is Impotent - Nor by power, - The Power Of Personality Is Irrelevent But by my Spirit, - The Stirring Of The Spirit Is Omnipotent 5. THE MOUNTAINS REMOVED! 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
I. THE PRESENTATION OF THE VISION: Similar candlesticks are mentioned in reference to the Tabernacle and Temple, but one of the primary differences is the automatic, non human operation of Zechariah's candlestick. This is a picture of the divine intervention in Israel. II. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISION (4,5): God wanted Zechariah to know that in spite of the failures of Israel a day was coming when they would be a shining light to the nations (Matthew 5:14). III. THE PROMISE OF THE VISION (6-10): A. The Temple will be completed by divine power (vs. 6) - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. B. Every obstacle to the work shall be removed (vs. 7) - Who art thou, O great mountain? Mountains have long stood for difficulties (Matthew 17:20). In this case the mountain could be a reference to Babylon (Jeremiah 51:25). It seems certain that Zerubbabel is a type of Christ (Isaiah 40:4,5.) C. The Temple shall be successfully and joyfully completed (vs. 7-9) - before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. The headstone is the finishing or gable stone which marked the completion of the building. Psalms 118:22; The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Luke 20:17,18 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. D. God's wisdom and care will be magnified (vs. 10) - For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. The plummet in Zerubbabel's hand was a symbol of his being busy in the superintending and construction of the temple. The seven eyes are really the subject of the verse and refer back to 3:9. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
