* 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!
Zechariah 4:1-14 (12/30/21)
Doing Good Business
December 30, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Zechariah 4
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 4:8-10 (12/24/17)
December 24, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you’ve given me to do.” John 17:4 * The Israelites were back from captivity and the temple had already begun. * But it stopped for several years for fear of persecution. * The elder Haggai had rebuked them for stopping and told them to get going again. * Zechariah encouraged them to keep up the work. * vs 8-10 - God is pleased with the process. * Our work is our primary form of worship. * ** Work is everything we do. ** * ** Worship is our attempt to make God SMILE! ** * Anything we do to make God smile is worship to Him. * Enter - little drummer boy. * He was recruited by the three wise men to go see Jesus. * But he instantly thought about his lack - what he din’t have to offer instead of what he did. * This is how Satan keeps us from our work. * WISE MEN to the boy: * Come they told me * A new born King to see * Our finest gifts we bring * To lay before the kIng * So to honor Him * When we come * LITTLE BOY to Jesus: * Little baby * I am a poor boy too * I have no gift to bring * That's fit to give our King * LITTLE BOY to Mary: * Shall I play for you * On my drum * Mary nodded * The ox and lamb kept time * I played my drum for Him * I played my best for Him * Then He smiled at me * Me and my drum * Luke 2:14 (NASB) - “http://.....peace among men with whom He is pleased!” * God is pleased with those who do their work “for Him,” like the little drummer boy.