Building God’s way. Zech 4:1-14. WBC 4/7/4pm
CONTEXT
We’re about 518BC.
- the Mede/Persian empire has taken over from the Babylonian one and Cyrus has given the edict to return and rebuild the temple (538BC)
HAG 1:13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD. 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.
= September 21st 520BC
The history of the time is in Ezra 5:1 ff.
- (Nehemiah’s trip to Jerusalem to do the walls was later- 480BC)
It’s all about building… rebuilding.
- 1:20 picture of horns that destroyed Jerusalem. But now the ‘craftsmen’ are coming to terrify the horns! (oh! Scary!)
- 2:1 emphatically stated- “then I saw a vision of a man with a plumb-line in his hand!”
all the imagery conveys the power, importance and priority of building.
And God draws together a team to make it happen
- = tremendous in itself
o = structural AND spiritual. Both necessary
- = Zechariah the prophet (& haggai) – who enthuse and encourage
o + Joshua (the high priest)
o + Zerubbabel – governor, civic administrator
May God speak to us and provide US with these things….
- people, anointing & power for what we’re building
GOD’S PRESENCE
When God calls us to a task- He says “I am with you”
- over and over in the Bible (do wordsearch!). To Isaac, Moses, Joshua… the disciples Mt 28;19
Here, it’s the same. It’s the FIRST thing God ‘says’ (pictorially)
- “what do you see” (v2). I.e. ‘don’t miss this!’
o = a gold lampstand. Menorah (of the kind placed in tabernacle Ex 25:31), but DIFFERENT in
bowl at top
oil channels to lights (rather than just little bowls & wicks)
olive trees (note= olive trees, like olive oil)
• more on them, later
It’s God’s presence. He assures them “I AM with you”. “I am here”
- like Rev 1:12 – the one like a son of man walking among the lamp stands (churches)
This is necessary- because we so often rely on our feelings which may say ‘he isn’t’, or ‘the HS isn’t doing much, here.’ ‘not much of God’
But God’s statement is: “I AM”. “let’s get this straight from the start”
- 2 or 3 gathered
- where you are about my work… you get my presence
There’s LOTS of work ahead of them.
- in such circumstances- they need to know HE is with them.
- Can cope with anything if know that.
So- that’s OUR starting place:
- to remember, celebrate and touch into God’s presence among us
o presence led. Presence empowered.
o BBC purpose statement: “the Lord Jesus Christ dynamically present at the centre of all we are and do”
GOD’S POWER
But this picture, here, speaks of more
- the bowl and channels speak of God’s HS power flowing, too
- oil: lubricates, illuminates, heals, warms, invigorates, adorns, polishes
o “dynamically present”
This is incredibly important to
o this vision
o God!
- Note it’s flow. Zech asks about the 2 olive trees (v3)
(you’re gagging to know what they are, as well, eh?)
o > “do you not know” (v5)
-> well, (v6f) "THIS is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
ZEC 4:7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of `God bless it! God bless it!’ "
ZEC 4:8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
God interjects! Seemingly, off at a tangent!
- but actually, = main point
- (the prophetic usually answers the question you weren’t asking…. Or were REALLY asking. Cf TB Joshua)
Saying: what you’re doing is a spiritual work
- strength is good… enthusiasm… zeal… encouragement
- BUT THE WORK WILL BE DONE BY MY SPIRIT
How often… at work…in the church- do you
- labour – but not pray
- make big claims- but not trust
- do God’s work… but not in His way, strength
- “I will build my church”
- (get down, you obstacle, in the name of Jesus!)
God’s work starts with His presence and His power
- we need to pray… seek Him. Come this tues!
- Illustr: listen! I’m all for vision and drive and purpose- but I believe in the presence and power of God
o And our drivenness is killing congregations and pastors
o Rob B- 70 hrs per week is TOO much!
- How many people and pastors have we left by the wayside, fallen?
o Another key national leader fallen. God have mercy
- “Mary had a little lamb and it was hers to keep- until it joined the Baptist church and died through lack of sleep”
- there was s season of appointing flashy worship leaders (humanly had all people wanted)- but a few disgraced themselves because their lives were shallow
My work. My way. And we need to learn to burn the oil not the wick
God started His work. He will complete it (v8)
But it’s not all airy-fairy spiritual. Neither is it talking of ‘inactivity’ (Zechariah had to lug big stones! Took 4 years to build!)
Remember I said the team = prophetic, administrative and priestly?
- well, God goes on to show HOW His work will be done (His way)
- He finally answers the Question
o And it shows God’s provision for the task
GOD’S PEOPLE
God does His work through people
- = the 2 olive BRANCHES (v12, now)
o they are branches, showing they are types of THE branch, Jesus – prophesied in 3;12- who will combine the kingly & priestly roles
= Zerubbabel- the governor… civic leader
& Joshua- the high priest…. Spiritual leader
To do God’s work His way we need- STRUCTURAL and SPIRITUAL people.
- we need administrators, builders, engineers, managers. People who make things HAPPEN
o as well as people who just preach (and can’t do much else- like me)
- For Alpha- we need a home! Babysitters! Caterers! Money!
- For our reaching older folks: drivers… someone offered DIY… people who just like to talk and listen (one of my friends takes a talker with him when he ministers)
- For our church- we need financial administration… in fact: Finances!
- Illustr: in a few churches I know of… a manager has taken early retirement and brought his gifts to the ch. Marvellous!
- ALONG WITH: people who will pray and fast.. bring words…. Encourage… disciple… LEAD HGs
BOTH are needed
And neither is more ‘spiritual’ than the other and (here’s the key thing)
- BOTH must be done under the anointing
o The provision, here, is not just PEOPLE- it’s ANOINTED people
- = gift of the HS.
o (next term will cover what a gift of the HS is, but in summary
a gift FROM God
offered TO God
used under His anointing/direction
to HIS glory
… and brings special fruit when used
Note the fact
-1) they are Olive trees
-2) are attached to 2 gold pipes that POUR OUT (v12) golden oil
-> they’re attached to the source! That’s anointing flowing!
As I said- these 2 burn the oil, not the wick
………..
God’s work is prophesied, yes…. But it is done through PEOPLE
- … anointed people
- and it doesn’t take many to make a huge difference
o just 3, here!
o May start small- but ends up huge (v10)
Bring your gifts, get anointed by the HS… learn to do His work His way
… and let’s watch God’s work grow
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Father of creation
Who is there like you
Your eye is on the sparrow
God is our strength and refuge
