Author: missionspaul

Zechariah 13

Thank you Jesus that you are the fountain opened for me. The fountain of blood.
I cannot have a relationship with you or come into contact with you without my sins being washed away. The closer I get then the spray from the fountain has the immediate effect, the impact is great.
I am determined.
Determined in my faith in your cleansing blood.
Determined in my pursuit of coming closer to you.
Determined in my desire to be cleaner than before.
I have been content to live on the effect of the spray and not the effect of being drenched.
So I stay awhile in this place.
Soak me Lord.

Zechariah 12

This is the prophecy of what will happen to Jerusalem and in response to the coming Messiah.
But it is also a prophecy for you today …

WHAT GOD WILL DO IS WHAT GOD CAN DO.

v2 When under siege He can change us to be of such influence that we disempower the enemy attack.

v3 He can make us as an immovable rock.

v4 He keeps a watchful eye on us.

v6 He can cause leaders to be on fire.

v8 He makes the weak strong.

v9 He attacks those who attack us.

v10 He pours out His Spirit on us.

v10 He pours out grace.

v10 He pours out the desire to pray.

v10 He reveals Himself.

Call on Him to do what He can do for you today.

Zechariah 11

How would you feel if you came into leadership and you knew the guaranteed end result? Would that change the way you led?
But what if the end result was going to be what happened in AD 70 to Jerusalem and what Zechariah prophesies:
Fire devouring, that what was glorious fallen, cut down, wailing, losing everything the people once had, outrage, a roaring sound of lions, v1-3.
Could you lead people with such a fate?
What if you were going to die nearly 40 years before those you were going to lead would face their ruin? This is what Jesus faced. How would you lead?
What would be your message?

1. Just do it. (v4,7)

2. Use Grace and use Harmony. (v7). Operate in undeserved favour and focus on relationships.

3. Disarm those who influence negatively. (v8)

4. Don’t be what people want you to be, be who you are called to be, (v9).

And what Christ experienced was this …

1. Rejection, v8. He was deserted, loathed and the people couldn’t stand him.
There is no pain like a rejected leader. In v12-13 Judas is prophesied. Every one will experience a Judas.

2. Pain for others, v7,11. There will always be those who stand with you and face/experience the pain with you.

3. Watching your work fall. v15-17, the rise of the antichrist destroying all you stood for. Sometimes the successor is not progressive.

And all of this can be summed up as dangerous obedience. It is what Jesus acted on and it is what is set before us today.

Zechariah 10

v1 Even though it’s time for rain we need to ask for rain to come on us.
All around you people are being blessed as the Holy Spirit is poured out. But are you asking for the rain of His presence and power. It can be pouring down and everyone is drenched but you can remain dry.
“Holy Spirit rain down on me”.

v4-5 Even though Christ has come we still need to struggle. Those who struggle shall overcome. For Jesus is our foundation, our support, our warrior and ruler.
“Jesus live in me again and as you do I will tread down the enemy of my soul.”

v7-12 Even though the promise is assured we still need to choose to live in that blessing. To choose to become who God has promised you will be. To embrace and practice joy. To return strong.
“Father thank you for setting me free. Free to survive. Free to return to where you want me. Free to pass through. Free to come back strong. Here I am.”

Zechariah 9

The presence of Jesus brings joy.

For He makes all things right, v9.
Joy.
He brings peace where there was war, v10.
Joy.
He releases hope to those locked in hopelessness, v11.
Joy.
He can return what we lost twice over, v12.
Joy.
He does the fighting for us, not us for Him, v14-17
Joy.

These promises are yours today in the presence of Jesus

Zechariah 8 in the Message

I choose to believe that you care for me, even now.
I choose to believe that you are still involved in my life.
I choose to believe that you in your grace have come back to me and your presence is on me, v2-3.
What I am finding too hard to accept, believe and do is not too much for you, v6.
More than at any time I choose to get a grip on your Word, on the truth, v9.
Incredibly you come to save my reputation, v13.
You pronounce a blessing on my life, a blessing of growth and fruitfulness, v12.
Thank you Lord.

Zechariah 7

70 years of religious activity but all worthless because God’s people were not merciful to the 4 categories of people that mean so much to God:
The widow
The fatherless
The immigrant
The poor.

Any neglect shown to the needs of such people is not called merely a lack of mercy or charity, but a violation of justice. God loves and defends those with the least economic and social power and so should we. That is what it means to ‘do justice’.

Most people who are downtrodden by abusive power are those who had little power to begin with, God gives them particular attention and has a special place in his heart for them.

If God’s character includes zeal for justice that leads him to have the tenderest love and closet involvement with the socially weak then what should God’s people be like? They must be people who are likewise passionately concerned for the weak and vulnerable.

Zechariah 6
V9-15

Look to Me, keep me in your sight continuously for I will grow in the place you set aside for me. Give me my place and I will branch out and build the temple.
As you are trying to build a temple from ruins I will be building a temple inside you.
Because I will come to you, your life will be strong like a majestic king and I will rule through you with authority. I will show through your life that it is possible to be ministering before me and also have the authority to overcome all the power of the evil one.
I will reward your giving and graciousness shown to others.
I am sending people to you so that what you are trying to accomplish will be built. All this will happen as a result of you responding obediently to me.

God in your home

Is He there?
Zechariah 5
The scroll said “Every thief will be banished”.
The home of the thief and the perjurer will be destroyed.
It is part of the curse promised in Moses’ day.

The next vision Zechariah saw the women only as she lifted her head to be seen. In this household container evil was peering out at Zechariah.
It is important for us to see that:
a) it is not the surface that matters but what is underneath. The thief and the perjury act is wrong, but the spirit underneath is worse.
b) the only way to deal with evil is to remove it in order to be totally free.

God has plans for your home. A house of honesty, of worship, of holiness and glory.
Do you and others feel at ease in your home?

Jesus became the curse for our lives and our homes. Let’s now make Him Lord too.

It will happen …

Zechariah 4

It will happen:
The mountain will be removed, v6-9
– whatever God sets before you it will always look too difficult for you.
– but the mountain is not mighty, there is only One who is Mighty.
– the missing ingredient in everything is By My Spirit.

It will happen:
The despising days will be over, v10
– everything starts small.
– common sense often appears like wise men advising caution not courage.
– realistic is what you see now with your own eyes, realism is not always vision.

It will happen:
The anointing is flowing, v2-5, v11-14
– the temple will be built because of the oil.
– how will your church fulfil it’s destiny? The oil.
– how will you see the plans of God for your life come to pass? The oil.

It will happen!