Relationship and Fellowship

O. T. #2271 "Relationship and Fellowship"

September 2, 2022

Zechariah 1-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

The Lord wants to have fellowship with us, but He will not force a relationship upon us. We can't expect God to remain near us if we reject fellowship with Him. We are not to treat Him like a servant who should wait upon us. God relates to us on His terms, not ours. He desires a close walk with us. If it is our desire, God will make His presence real. If we repent of our sin and seek God on His terms, we can look forward to intimate fellowship with Him. (James 4:8-10) If our actions reveal we genuinely seek God, then He promises that we will find Him. (Matt. 7:7) (Blackaby)

What was God telling the remnant Jews through Zechariah? Turn to God and He will turn to them. Their fathers heard that same message earlier through other prophets turn from their evil ways and from doing evil things. Yet they did not hearken to the messages. (verse 4)

Hearken means to prick up the ears; attend; give heed; regard.

Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. All that God said would happen did happen to them. They would not hear and heed the words of the prophets. The people wasted their opportunity as a nation to see the mighty power of the Lord and experience His blessings. They went into captivity. As a result, some repented when the Babylonian army was at the Eastern Gate; some repented while in the foreign land. However, their repentance came too late. God kept His Word. The Jews admitted their punishment was deserved and that God is just. (Lam. 2:17)

Isaiah said that people are grass. It withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God remains forever. (Isa. 40:7-8)

Spiritual problems are always easily solved; just do what God wants! (Falwell)

Dare I say that most of our problems are spiritual ones?

Put God first and get on with the building was God's instructions to the Jews in Jerusalem. So the remnant repented and obeyed God. 

The first step to following god's kingdom agenda is kingdom repentance. (Tony Evans)

Is there personal sin that we need to repent of so we can get on with God's work?

The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2)

LET IT GROW

How good is our hearing? Unless our hearts are right with God, we can't hear His Word with true spiritual comprehension. (Wiersbe)

What are our ears entuned to? The world has so many crazy and evil messages. They lead us along our own path instead of the path God has for us to walk. 

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:7)

Question: Are we listening to false prophets/preachers or are we listening to those who preach the True, Living Word of God? We must be careful and discerning. (Also, be careful of which version of the Bible we read.)

Having rejected the truth, the Jews fell prey to lies, especially false prophets. Jeremiah and Elijah had to battle the false prophets in their day. They will abound in the end times, too.  (Matthew 24)

Not only are lost sinners to be called to repent of their sins, so should God's people repent. Time after time we hear of preachers who fall into sin, but do we hear of the lay person? We all must be careful, for sin lurks at the door desiring to make us stumble and fall into sin. Let's be careful, for when we point at another, 4 fingers point back at us.

LET IT GO

Open my eyes Lord, to see what You see in my heart and life.

Please forgive my sins, my failures, my judging others, my questioning Your will.

Help us surrender our all in all, for You, Jesus gave Your all on the cross for us.

Make our hearts anew, preparing us for the day. 

May we seek Your will today and obey, not our will.

He gets sweeter as the days go by.