We begin Zechariah to day and into next week. Praise our Saviour. As we head into Palm Sunday and the Easter week let’s see what the Lord will do through us and our church.
Zechariah 1: A Call to Return to the LORD
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
2 "The LORD was very angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.
4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.' But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.
5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us."
A Vision of a Horseman
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
8 "I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
9 Then I said, 'What are these, my lord?' The angel who talked with me said to me, 'I will show you what they are.'
10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, 'These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.'
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, 'We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.'
12 Then the angel of the LORD said, 'O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?'
13 And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, 'Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion.
15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.
16 Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.
17 Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'"
A Vision of Horns and Craftsmen
18 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns!
19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" And he said to me, "These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.
21 And I said, "What are these coming to do?" He said, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it."
Zechariah 2: A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line
1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand!
2 Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length."
3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him
4 and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.
5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"
6 Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD.
7 Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
9 "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD.
11 And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
12 And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem."
13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Things to think about…
1. Zechariah is preaching at the exact time as Haggai, 520BC which was the second year of Darius the Medo/Persian king. His ministry is slightly different to Haggai’s. Haggai stirred up the builders with an immediate message. Zechariah’s message is more apocalyptic and eschatological (message for the future/end times). The angel and these different coloured horses represent God’s messengers. We see four different coloured horses in Revelation as well. The only difference is that these see peace and the ones in Revelation see and bring war, death and famine.
2. Look at Zech 1:12 “And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.” This described Babylon and Persia at the time of writing, but surely today it describes the west. We are at ease in our abundance. They further disaster upon the oppressed nations, including large parts of the middle east. This is one of the reasons why the numbers of Christians is declining in the west and growing in Africa, Asia, Brazil and India. These parts of the world are being blessed as we decline spiritually. Let’s pray for a mighty reversal of this reality.
3. Before the end, Jerusalem will be built and inhabited, as will the surrounding cities of Judah, 1:17. This happened after the exiles returned from Babylon but we are seeing this in our day from 1948 to the present. Peace deals between the Israelis and Palestinians are often rejected by the Palestinians. Not without reason. Parts of Judea and Samaria are being bought up and rebuilt in our day in fulfilment of these ancient prophesies. But Israel will be refined as we know.
4. What do you think Zech 1:18-20 is about? The four horns could be the four nations that scattered Israel – possibly Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome. The Medo/Persians sent them back. They may also be four nations that gather against Israel in the battle of Armageddon. At any event we know that the craftsman (spiritual re-builders) are designed and ordained by the Lord to pull down those kingdoms. He has done so in the past and he will again in the final battle over Israel before He returns.
5. Zech 2 has an interesting end times focus. It says that the nations will again be joined to Jerusalem and Judah and that the Lord will dwell in its midst. We know Christ is the One who people from all nations are joining to. But is He still in Jerusalem? The Jews follow Judaism rather than Jesus, but one day they will follow Him. This prophecy will be literally fulfilled, possibly in our day. The angel with the measuring line, Zech 2:1, 2 goes on to say that Zechariah was told by another angel to run and go to the angel and say Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls with heaps of people and livestock around and within, vs 4. Why? Because the Lord will be the wall, vs 5. Jerusalem is without a wall today and is indeed inhabited with many people, but they do still have a protection mechanism called “The Iron Dome”. So this is not what the passage is referring to, but a future where peace dwells through the “Prince of Peace”.
6. How is this peace achieved? God will plunder the plunderers, vss 8, 9. Then the Lord will dwell in the midst, vss10, 11. This only happens after Christ’s return and the Millennial temple will be built. Christ indeed will be in the midst. He is their protection and shield. So He must be for us. We know this will happen all in the Lord’s time. It says when “He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling”, vs 13. The Father knows the hour and the Day when He will send His Son down to judge. Let’s proclaim the whole truth to a lost world that needs to hear this message.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sunday’s message – “Prayers of faith that work” – James 5
a. What do you think about the gift of healing and why the Lord heals sometimes and not at others?
b. James brings out a number of requirements when we ask for a prayer of healing. What are they and why are they important?
c. Discuss the mention of Elijah the prophet and his nature and the relevance of James mentioning this man.
d. The greatest healing needed is healing from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. Pray for our outreach on Sunday and the family fun day as well as our Easter services.
Prayer Points
1. QB Conference at SeaWorld this week. Jarrod and Jay will be attending.
2. Pray the CBC reaches our into our community and we see many coming to Christ and added to the church. Please come along and invite others to the Palm Sunday outreach this Sunday and Easter services.
3. That our Kids@Church and Chuwar Youth group grow beyond anyone’s expectations.
4. Pray for Chuwar Youth and Jarrod for Friday’s. Pray as he meets with youth at Westside, Ipswich and Bundamba high schools.
5. How you can serve in ministry this year.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
7. Pray our internet streaming issues get sorted out.
Praise Points
1. Many encouraging things happened at the Baptist Conference this week. Will share a little Sunday.
2. Dan and Melinda’s wedding on Saturday. Pray for the Lord’s blessing over our dear friends.
3. A good number of visitors on Sunday. Pray this increases over time.
4. Kids@Church and Youth ministries are a great blessing. Keep praying for Rosie and Jarrod.
5. Thankyou Ashley, Brian and worship team. Thanks Bec, and Trent for looking after words and sound. Thankyou to all those who serve – you are appreciated and essential for Christ’s work at CBC. Thankyou Jarrod – first sermon of many at CBC. Well done.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Palm Sunday outreach on the 2nd April – please invite people over these next few days. Potjie and food, rises and fun for the kids. The day starts at 11am after church. Goes until 2pm.
2. Chuwar Youth Friday nights – 6:30-8:30pm. Grades 7 to 12. Chat to the Youth Pastor Jarrod for more details 0478 845 123.
3. Easter Sunday service – Good Friday 9am, Easter Sunday 9:30am as usual.
4. Remember to check your duty rosters.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for March...
Q. 7. In how many persons does this one God exist? A. In three persons.
