* Everything in creation points to a Creator.
* The fact that it “just so happens” to rain each Spring when the farmers need it the most points to God.
* The fact rain comes from the direction of heaven points to God.
* The fact that water has life-giving principles inside it points to God.
* In these verses God is showing that He is our provider and has set up the earth to produce for us only when two things happen:
* 1) We do our part - we cultivate the ground.
* 2) He does His part - He sends the rain.
* But here’s the key - even though the rain does come God still wants us to ask for it.
* Why?
* So that we can remind ourselves that we must fully rely on Him.
* So that we don’t forget God’s part in the process.
* So that we don’t forget that HE is our provider, and apart from Him we can do nothing.
Zechariah 10:1 (12/28/17)
Ask God
December 28, 2017 • Benham Brothers
Zechariah 2:1-5 (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* vs 1-2 - Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down and God gave Zach a vision of an angel measuring the length and width of Jerusalem. * This was showing ownership. * In real estate we measure the houses we buy - this shows ownership. * This discovers whether or not the house “measures up” to the specifications it’s supposed to. * vs 3-5 - God was not going to build a physical wall but a spiritual one. * This wall showed protection. * God was essentially saying, “Jerusalem is mine and I will protect it.” * We can apply this to our own lives. * Walls represent security. * We don’t need to find our security in anything other than God. * We are His and He will provide for and protect us.
Zechariah 3:1-4 (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* In this vision God is holding court and Satan is bringing accusations against Joshua the High Priest. * Joshua wasn’t “measuring up” - that was true. * But then God rebukes the accuser. * Satan is a deceiver in the role of an accuser. * We need to recognize this and deal with it. * When we see the 3 A’s of Satan we can defeat him: * 1) Adversary - Satan is our adversary - he stands against everything God stands for. * When we make peace with God the devil declares war on us. * 2) Accusation - Satan brings accusations to us because we are made in God’s image. * He accuses us about our own sin (like Joshua) so we'll be paralyzed by guilt. * He accuses others about their sin so we become bitter toward them. * 3) Agreement - the only way Satan can defeat us is for us to agree with his accusations (against us and/or against others). * The way to win is to NEVER AGREE WITH THE ACCUSER!
Zechariah 4:1-14 (12/30/21)
December 30, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Zechariah 4
* When we treat our work as worship God gets involved in the process. * BACKSTORY - Israel’s leader, Zerubbabel, had the responsibility of rebuilding the Temple that had been destroyed. * It would not look anything like the former Temple. * But God wanted the job done, and so he sent a few prophets (Haggai and Zechariah) to encourage him to keep up the good work. * This chapter was specific to Zerubbabel. * How would God encourage this leader to keep up the good work he was doing of rebuilding the temple? * He would show him a picture of what’s happening in the spiritual world while he was busy working in the physical world. * As Zerubbabel was working on the Temple, here’s what was happening: * Vs 1-3 - God was pouring the oil of the Spirit upon him to strengthen him for the task. * Olive trees fed the oil so the priest didn’t have to. * Vs 4-5 - Zechariah didn’t recognize what was happening at first. * Vs 6 - the secret to accomplishing what God wants you to accomplish is by the SPIRIT doing it through you! * Vs 7 - when the Spirit is involved you can do the impossible. * Vs 8-9 - w/God’s help, Zerubbabel will complete the task - “you can do it!” * Encouragement is to “make courageous.” (Terri Furr with Tori - “you can do this!”) * Vs 10a - how you handle the small things can make those things sacred!! * Vs 10b - God is watching! * Vs 11-14 - the two branches represent the king and priest. * As we operate as Kings in the marketplace led by the heart of a Priest, we will accomplish all God wants us to accomplish!