It Only Takes Two

O. T. #2290 "It only Takes Two"

Sept. 30, 2022

Zechariah 4-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

Do you ever get weary in doing well, carrying a load, tasks and duties required to get done, pain that won't go away? You are not alone, dear one. I couldn't sleep last night, not able to get comfortable on my hurt shoulder. So after a while, I was up until 3 am studying for this lesson and our women's study at church. It turns out, that was what I needed for my mind and soul. I was able to sleep after that. Imagine that!

Isn't it amazing that one day we will get to meet these Old Testament prophets we have been studying? Also, the disciples and Paul and the servants in the Temple. Most of all, we will meet our Jesus, our Savior, King, Redeemer, Provider, Healer, our Everything!

To finish out the rest of chapter 4, the two olive trees on the sides of the candlestick are representative of Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel the governor and high priest. It was through them that God would manifest His light and the Holy Spirit of God in order to accomplish the work of God in Israel and in the world. The rebuilding of the Temple was completed through those two leaders. (It had stopped for about 10 years.) Keep in mind that Israel was still under the rule of Persia and could not have their own king then.

So we see how important our leaders are, both church and government. We should be praying God's will to be revealed to them and they follow it. Are you in a leadership role, friend? Come to the table and eat from God's Word for your soul. Drink from the fountain of Living Water, Jesus Christ. His supply never ends.  

LET IT GROW

 Zerubbabel was the descendant of King David and Joshua the high priest was a descendant of Eleazar, the high priest. What a blessing the children of Israel had with godly leaders! 

They foreshadowed the coming Messiah, who will reign in both offices-King and High Priest. This will be during the Millennial reign. Israel will rebuild the Temple during this time. (Ezekiel 40-48) They will fulfill their role as a light to the nations as the Messiah rules all on behalf of the Lord of the earth. (Tony Evans)

Revelation 11 tells about two witnesses who prophesy, have power over the rain, yet are killed by the evil ones. God will raise them from the dead and people in the street will see them ascend into heaven. Wow!

Remember, there are no small ministries nor small servants in God's kingdom work. God can empower us who are dedicated to doing His will, His way. He can cleanse us daily in preparation for today's task. So in your corner of the world, keep on keeping on, trusting in Jesus, being filled with the Spirit, loving others, sharing the gospel.

LET IT GO

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me;

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I sees.

Father, bless all who are workers in the field, spreading the seed of Your love.

Lift us up, Lord, as we grow weary in doing well.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Don't Despise Small Things

O. T. #2289  "Don't Despise Small Things"

Sept. 29, 2022 

Zechariah 4-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

I have told the way our previous church built its new sanctuary with classrooms and offices. People donated money and time and skills so we were able to build it debt free. God can do anything.

The two olive trees beside the Menorah represented Zerubbabel and Joshua. The LOED had sent words directly to Zerubbabel in verses 6-10:

• It was not by military power (Israel had no military at that time); it was not by men's power (especially Zerubbabel); but it was by the Spirit of the LORD that enabled them to rebuild the Temple (after 10 years of delay). 
• By God's power, Zerubbabel would level the impossible mountain of the Jews. The unfinished Temple was their problem. The mountain would become a plain.
• When it was accomplished, there would be shouts of joy, "Grace, grace unto it."
• Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation and would finish it.

A child of God on a mission of God is indispensable and indestructible. When it is God's program we are doing, His omniscience and omnipotence will accomplish what is impossible for people. (Luke 1:37)

God tells us, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

LET IT GROW

Who has despised the day of small things? Look at verse 10. A mountain to us is just a small thing to God. 

David Jeremiah tells the story of Hattie May. Her church in Philadelphia, in 1912, was crowded. The pastor, Dr. Conwell told Hattie May that he would love to have buildings large enough for everyone to attend. Hattie had been saving her money to help build a bigger church building. There was 57 cents in her purse. At her funeral, the pastor displayed Hattie's money in pennies. Proceeds came in and the church had enough to buy a nearby house for the children's wing. Eventually, the 57 cents was multiplied and buildings of Temple Baptist Church, Temple University, and Good Samaritan Hospital were built. 

Do you feel your gifts, time, talents, and efforts are too small to make a difference? Have you given them to God completely and asked Him to bless them richly? Our words of witness, our undertakings, and gifts can them be multiplied beyond anything we can ask or imagine. Remember to give God the glory when it happens.

LET IT GO 

Help our faith to grow so You can multiply what we give.

May we hold onto our Hope. for You never fail, nor are late.

Take courage in Jesus. 

Glory to God in the Highest!

Strength Provided

O. T. #2288 "Strength Provided"

Sept. 28, 2022

Zechariah 4-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Are you in need of strength and supply of something? I am so in need of strength for my neck and shoulder after our car accident. Read on to find out how we can have it.

The fifth vision of Zechariah concerns a golden candlestick and two olive trees. Jesus was speaking to the prophet in this vision, asking him what Zechariah saw. First, he saw a candlestick with a bowl on its top, and 7 lamps on it with 7 pipes on each lamp. This Menorah was one directed to Moses in which the Temple was provided light for the priest to carry out his duties of sacrifices. The high priest kept the lamps burning day and night.

Jesus is our Great High Priest walking in the middle of the lampstands which represented the 7 churches in Asia Minor (in Revelation). He warned the church that if they did not repent of their sins He would remove their lampstands. He did just that. In modern Turkey today not one of those churches is in existence. They all lie in ruins. Christ removed their lampstands. In our own land our Great High Priest has closed the door of many a church which was not giving out the Word of God. (J. Vernon McGee)

In the Bible, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The light represents Christ because He is the Light of the World. Are we quenching the Spirit? Is God's Truth and Word being preached and taught in your church? 

LET IT GROW

The second thing Zechariah saw in this vision was two olive trees. They are situated each beside the candlestick. These two witnesses in Israel during that time were Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. 

What message does Jesus send to Zerubbabel in verse 6? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.

God gave Zerubbabel the strength and supplies to complete his task rebuilding the Temple. However, the work was spiritual and can be accomplished only through the abundant supply of the Spirit of God, which only the Lord of Hosts, our God, can supply.

In Revelation 11, there will be 2 witnesses for God during the Tribulation.

We need the Holy Spirit to guide us and strengthen us as we do God's will. So be encouraged and ask for help. 

My spirit remains among you. Do not fear. (Haggai 2:5)

There are three ways we can do the work of God-trust our own strength and wisdom, borrow the resources of the world, or we can depend on the power of God. (Wiersbe)

LET IT GO

Lord, we need Your strength and wisdom to carry out Your will.

We stand amazed at what You have already done, arose from the grave.

Grace, grace, God's grace; grace that is greater than all our sin. 

Thank You for supplying all we need to do Your will, for Your glory.

The Light of the World

O. T. #2287  "The Light of the World"

Sept. 27, 2022

Zechariah 4

LET IT GLOW

Now Zechariah saw the fifth vision given by Jesus. The details he saw were:

• a golden candlestick
• with a bowl upon the top of it
• his 7 lamps thereon
• 7 pipes on each of the 7 lamps.

The candlestick (Menorah) was familiar to Israel. Moses gave directions for it in Exodus 25 and 37. In the holy place of the Tabernacle, in front of the veil and to the left of the altar of incense, stood a golden candlestick with 7 branches. (You can google Menorah for a picture of it.) At the end of each branch was a golden lamp. The high priest trimmed the wicks and provided the oil needed to keep the lamp burning morning and evening as part of his duty. 

This candlestick which Zechariah saw was different in that there was a bowl at the top into which the olive oil from 2 trees dripped into it. There was a total of 49 pipes from the bowl to each lamp. The provided ample supply of fuel, limitless, kept the lights burning was continuous. 

Zerubbabel was the civic leader in Jerusalem who was to keep the rebuilding work going. Joshua was the high priest responsible for the spiritual things. God was the supplier of all. These two are represented in the two olive trees. 

Who is your supplier of all things and things needed?

LET IT GROW

Biblical history tells us that the second Temple was completed. There are some symbolic meanings provided by Wiersby:

• The Tabernacle candlestick is the nation of Israel, chosen by God to be the spiritual light in a spiritually dark world. (Isaiah 60, 62)
• The Menorah is an official symbol of the modern state of Israel.
• The light was burning very low for the remnant, but Zerubbabel gave Israel enough encouragement to finish the task.
• Today, the church is a light in the dark world, spiritually. The Holy Spirit enables us to bear witness of Jesus in us.
• Local churches are individual lampstands to give the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. 

If we do not what Christ commands us to do, He may take away the lampstand. (Rev. 1-3)

LET IT GO

Thank You, Father, for giving us spiritual light in Jesus.

Oh, what a Savior! Isn't He wonderful!

Christ is risen.

Bow down before Him.

Need a Rock to Stand On?

O. T. #2286 "Need a Rock to Stand On?"

Sept. 26, 2022

Zechariah 3-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

I am still sore from the accident Thursday. (writing this Saturday) Probably I will go to the doctor to get my shoulder and arm checked out. I thank God for His protective hand upon us all. No broken bones. Some way this will turn out for my good and God's glory. 

Believer, do you realize that our God is always watching over us?

The LORD thy God in the midst (nearest part; heart; thought) of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 2:17)

Friend, if you do not feel the Lord God with you, trust Jesus as your Savior, believe He is God's Son, the One who died on the cross to take away your sins, that He arose from the dead and lives forever more. 

If He seems distant, then your sins are keeping a gulf between you and the Savior. Confess them and obey His Word. Then you will feel God in your midst, in your heart, in your mind. What a blessing it is to know we are not alone.

LET IT GROW

A good preacher friend of ours, gone onto heaven, wrote these words describing Jesus Christ:

• Jesus is the Capstone, Headstone. 
• Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. (Acts 4:10-12)
• Jesus is the Stone. (Matt. 21:42)
• Jesus is the Rock. (Matt. 16:13)
• Jesus is the Stone of Heaven. (Daniel 12:14; 2:34-35)

Jesus is rock solid. When the winds of life blow hard against us, when the floods of trials try to drown us, like Peter, when we need something to uphold us from sinking into sin, Jesus is the answer, our Rock and Stone. When we stand on Him, we will not fall down, drown, be defeated.  

LET IT GO

Great is Your love, grace, and mercy, Jesus!

Remember us in our hard times, O God.

Your grace is enough for me.

 Good morning,

Just to let you know I will not be writing  today. We were in a car accident last night and my right arm is sore. A teenage boy hit my side of the car after not stopping at a stop sign. I am ok, just sore. 

God had his hand on us. My husband was able to turn the car so we hit the ditch. Glad they were not hurt. Only his pickup. And he had to tell his dad about it.

Check back Monday for another study. Have a blessed day and weekend. 

Linda

Peace and Security

 O. T. #2285   "Peace and Security"

Sept. 22, 2022

Zechariah 3-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

If you ever get a chance to see the production by the Sight and Sound company "Jesus," I highly encourage it. It highlights some of the miracles He did for people because of love. Then to see some of the things He endured before the cross. It will touch your heart and make you thankful for His endurance. (A purchase of the viewing of the film is also available.)

Shall we dig a little deeper into verses 8-9? Jesus is referred to as God's Servant the Branch. As the prophet depicts the Messiah Jesus, he speaks of His complete obedience and His humble estate. Certainly, all that Jesus did was because He loved the people and had compassion on them as He healed so many diseases and infirmities.

In Isaiah 42:1, the Servant is none other than Christ Jesus Himself. He is the elect (chosen or set apart for a definite purpose). God put His Spirit upon Jesus. God was delighted in Jesus. He will bring judgment to the Gentiles, and salvation to the believers.

The Branch points to the Messiah, His humble beginnings and His fruitfulness. Jeremiah 23:5 we read, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

The Branch was not a twig or branch of a tree, but a sprout from a fallen tree or a sprout directly out of the ground from a root, forming a second tree. 

Jesus is the rejected Stone, a stone of stumbling, a stone of refuge, a destroying stone, and a foundation stone. this Stone is depicted as having 7 eyes, a symbol of omniscience and infinite intelligence. Christ is the Living Stone who sees all; is a perfect, divine Person; a gracious Mediator. (Rev. 5:6)

Is Jesus your King? Does He reign on the throne of your heart, mind, soul? Or do other things, or even you? Are we His servant?

[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary]

LET IT GROW

Friend, are you in need of peace and security? Turn to Jesus. do you need cleansing from sins, turn to Jesus. Come as you are. He loves you so much that Jesus gave up His very life so you can have eternal life in heaven with Him. He paid the price so we would not have to pay for our sins. Call out to Jesus and He will hear your cry for salvation and forgiveness. He can heal broken hearts, too.

Verse 10 says, In that day, saith the LORD of Hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vines and under the fig tree.

In the Millennium time, Israel will experience:

• There will be no enemies, only neighbors.
• Their sins will be removed.
• There will be no danger, warfare, nor violence.
• No poverty will exist, only prosperity.
• Peace and security will be experienced.

Every man will have piece under the vine and fig tree. (1 Kings 4:25) What a day that will be! Truly, the Israelites needed to get busy rebuilding the Temple where they could worship God and experience His presence with them. Certainly, their future will be marvelous when Jesus returns to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

LET IT GO

Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, the Life; this I believe.

Your are my Rock of salvation upon which I can stand.

You are our hope. Take away our fears and doubts. 

May we be Your servant today.