Missions Paul

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!

Who are you listening to?

Zechariah 3

The work on rebuilding the Temple has stopped, it was hard to believe things would ever be like they once were.

Joshua is in rags symbolising the sorry state of the nation. They were not what they used to be.
Our accuser says: The desires of your heart will never come into fruition. You will never reach your potential in God because of who you have become and what you have done. The Temple will never be rebuilt.

Joshua is in new clothes symbolising the past can be removed and a new beginning can be made.
Our defender says: The task in restoring the Temple was not in vain; within its walls, true worship could once again be offered to God.

Zechariah saw what we can now know. He saw what Isaiah and Jeremiah had already seen, he saw the Branch, he saw the Stone- the Messiah to come!
This was and will always be our hope.

So will we listen to the accuser or our defender? I am reminded of the story of the Japanese soldier on Guam who stayed in hiding until 1972 because he could not believe the good news of peace. The war was over in 1945 but he could not believe Japan would have surrendered.
Who are you going to believe?
You will behave what you believe.
You will believe what you listen to the most.
The accuser is out to destroy you. He will remind you continuously of how disqualified you are.
But your defender who has given you new clothes says you are new. You have a new mind, you love people, you are anointed, you go the extra mile, patient, doesn’t fear, is pure, gentle, wise. This is me. This is you. Made like Jesus.
We are clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27).

With that in mind, I can build a Temple. Do you see it?
With that in mind, I can reach my potential.
So I choose to listen to the Defender not the Accuser.

Limitless Blessing

Zechariah 2

The day we got the pews out of the church was a good day indeed.
Then the task began. How many chairs can we fit in this new open space? It was a mathematical exercise and so much fun.The answer was strangely 287.
It was like we were copying this angel, measuring Jerusalem to see how many people God would bring back from exile.
God declared that Jerusalem would be a city without walls. He would bring far more back to the city than the city had capacity for. So He would be the walls for them.
We had the capacity to grow to 287 people on ground level. But that is not the capacity of what God wants to do for that particular church.
Our capacity of what we believe God can do needs to expand to limitless.

He’s got the whole world in His hands

Zechariah 1

* He has His angels (horsemen) reporting to Jesus (the man) who is amongst God’s people (myrtle trees, symbol of Israel).

He doesn’t need the BBC He has the world already covered.

* He knows who has come against His people with strength (the 4 horns).

We may struggle to understand who really is to blame in the world. He knows.

* He sends craftsmen, unleashing them to work hard, determined and with strength against those whom have attacked God’s people.