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God Builds In A Mysterious Way (Zechariah 4:1-14 February 11, 2018)

Over the past few months we have had multiple meetings planning GBC Logan – our most recent church plant. At one of those meetings – Dave – who pastors the new church – and myself – were talking about the last 25 years here at the church. We reflected on times when someone would say something like – Craig and Dena and Dave and Leanne – have done such a great job building this church. We know what they are saying – and I appreciate their sentiment – but the reality is so, so different. Dave and I talked about our utter amazement that there is any church here at all – let alone three of them – and all relatively healthy. This church was planted by people with very little church experience, no money, no building and no established leaders. Soon after starting, we had a major disagreement with one of the main men in the church. We made a litany of mistakes. We could literally write a book on what not to do in starting a church. As well, so many times we made plans – and the Lord led us in an entirely different direction – which was frustrating but also humbling. The result is that we know full well – without any doubt – no man or woman built this church – God and God alone built it – and every ounce of glory is His and His alone. This is a crucial lesson for us. God built this church despite innumerable obstacles. This morning – what we are going to see is:

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When the obstacles facing the church seem immense, remember – our God is greater. We are working our way through the book of Zechariah. It is one of the last books of the Old Testament. If you haven’t been here for the past few weeks – you need to know – it is a wild book – filled with visions and prophecies. Sometimes a book like this can discourage us from doing the work to find its message. But I want to encourage you that it is very much worth the effort. We have seen that Zechariah is a book with one clear message:

God’s plan is to build a heavenly Zion By destroying every enemy, sharing His glory and making us holy Through His Priest-King We have seen that the book of Zechariah is God’s response to the Jews who returned from exile in Babylon expecting an earthly Zion – a city like David’s Jerusalem only greater – to soon be built. They felt let down when this wonderful earthly kingdom did not spring from the ground. In this book, God had a message for them. He told them to lift their eyes and have a grander vision – to realise He had a greater plan than some earthly metropolis. His plan was to build – a new Jerusalem – a heavenly Zion – a holy place, with holy people dwelling with a holy God.

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That said, God makes it clear – He does plan to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple for these exiles – but lest they put their hope in it – it will not be glorious. It will not compare to the glory of David or Solomon’s Jerusalem. But it will be built as a sign of the real Zion, the heavenly Zion to come. We saw that the first way God chose to convey His glorious plan was through a series of Prophetic Visions. Over the past few weeks, we have looked at these linked visions. One of the reasons that these visions are linked is that the structure is designed to highlight certain sections. It highlights the Summary Vision and the Summary Enactment and also the central vision – the one we are looking at today in chapter 4. This is a crucial vision. In fact, this vision is a pictorial summary of the message of the entire book – the message that Zion will be built – and nothing can stop this from occurring. So, to see this, turn with me to Zechariah 4. Look at verse 1:

And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.

Remember all of these visions occurred in one night. It seems that Zechariah is dozing off. Perhaps he was trying to process what he has just seen. Perhaps he is just exhausted. So, the angel gets his attention – wake up Zechariah – we are not done yet – time to focus. The angel asks – what do you see? Zechariah looks and sees an incredible vision. Verses 2–3:

“I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

Zechariah looks and sees a magnificent golden lampstand flanked on either side by an olive tree. That much is clear, but if you read different Bible translations – the details of the vision seem a little different.

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This is because some words used here are used only here and some can refer to different types of an object. That said, the main area of dispute is how to picture this lamp. There were two styles of lamp used in the day that this might refer to. The first style is more of a bowl with wicks around the circumference. The ESV translation takes this view. Notice that it speaks of seven lips. The idea is that these lips are places to put seven wicks around the edge. In this understanding, the olive trees then fill this bowl lamp directly. However, the Temple context of the whole book of Zechariah make it much more likely that this lamp is the Temple Lamp – the Menorah – the great seven-stemmed lamp placed in the Temple. If this is correct – what Zechariah saw is likely to be something like two olive trees supplying oil into a bowl or bowls which then give an unending supply of fuel to the Menorah. There are other details that can be quibbled about. The word the ESV translates lips is from the verb to pour – so it is almost certainly referring to streams or spouts that the streams come from. This is how the CSB and NIV translate it. As well, it is probable that the Hebrew text describes seven streams flowing into each stem of the Menorah – so 49 streams in total coming from the bowl. The idea is to convey a picture of an unlimited stream of oil to power the lamp. Don’t get hung up on the details. Regardless of exactly what the details are – the main parts of the vision are clear. There are two olive trees that supply oil to the lamp. Now we can begin to put the pieces together.

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As I mentioned, in the context, it seems we are meant to picture the lamp Zechariah sees as a golden Menorah. The magnificent golden lampstand was a part of the furniture in the Temple placed outside the Holy of Holies. It brought light. The significance seems to be that the light represents the glory of God – the presence of God with His people. When the lamp is lit – God is with His people. The lamp seems to represent Zion as God intends it to be. God dwelling with His people. In fact modern Israel adopted this symbol – the Menorah – to represent Zion. When we come to the book of Revelation – Jesus warns the churches that if they tolerate sin He will remove their lampstand – that the Spirit of God would depart from them. So, the golden lamp signifies the presence and power of the glory of God right at the heart of Zion. It is the essence of Zion. Remember that in the earthly Temple – it was the task of the Priests to fill the Menorah with fresh olive oil every morning and every evening. Here, it is not men but these olive trees that fill the lamp constantly. When we cut through all the noise – this is the heart of the vision. Two olive trees – constantly supplying oil, fuel for the lamp. But what does it signify? If you aren’t sure what this all means – then you are in good company. Zechariah struggled as well. The angel keeps asking him – don’t you know what this means? Zechariah keeps replying – actually I have no idea. Fortunately, this angel is very helpful and unpacks for us what the vision means. What we are going to see is that this vision gives three encouragements. First:

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Do not despair, our God builds Zion by:

Removing every obstacle 4-7 Look at verses 4-6:

And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel.”

The angel asks – Do you know what these are? – Basically, do you know what the meaning of this vision is? Zechariah says – no. The angel then says – This is a message for Zerubbabel. We need to pause for a minute to remember who Zerubbabel was because we spoke of him a few weeks back. Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin. This means he is in the royal line of David. By the time of Zechariah – he was the political leader of the Jews who had returned from Babylon to the Promised Land. When you are the leader – the buck stops with you. The responsibility of rebuilding the Temple and the city would have fallen on his shoulders. This was some task. Humanly speaking – he was entrusting with finishing the near impossible. Imagine moving to a land 1,500 kilometres away – to a city that was nothing but post-war rubble. You get there with little resources, in the midst of a famine, the neighbours oppose your return – and somehow you are supposed to build this awesome city.

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And to make matters worse some of those who returned had seen Jerusalem in all its splendour and they are expecting that type of city only greater to be built. No pressure Zerubbabel. Humanly speaking Zerubbabel faced a mountain of obstacles that seemed impossible to overcome. But here is the message to Zerubbabel – and to us – and it is so encouraging. Verses 6-7:

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!

Zerubbabel, Grace Bible Church, remember – Zion – whether it is the earthly city, the church, or heaven itself – is not built by the might and power of men – but it is built by the power of the Spirit of God Himself – thus says the Lord of hosts – the Lord of the armies of heaven. This is a promise that if God has decreed it – no King, no enemy, no lack of resources, no opposition – not even Satan – nothing can stop God doing what He purposed to come to pass. Yes, Zerubbabel is facing a mountain of opposition. God says – I will remove every obstacle until this mountain of problems before you becomes a plain. Zerubbabel – the Temple will be rebuilt – and when you lay that last stone – the top stone – the people will shout – Grace, grace to it. Because they will know this was accomplished entirely by grace – by the power of God’s Spirit and nothing else. Again and again in Scripture enemies, circumstances, obstacles who oppose the people of God are designated as mountains – impediments that look impossible to overcome humanly. And again and again, God says – I will remove them. As an Old Testament example, consider Jeremiah 51 – Babylon is called a mountain for opposing God’s people and God says – I will stretch out My hand against you and remove you. But perhaps the most significant uses in the New Testament are by Jesus. Jesus uses the metaphor of faith removing every mountainous obstacle a number of times. For example, in Mark 11 – Jesus enters Jerusalem. It is a triumphal entry. But when the people realise He is not the kind of King they are looking for the process of rejection begins.

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This nation will not bear fruit so the next day Jesus curses the fig tree – a symbol of Israel – and it withers. He Jesus cleanses the Temple – it was not a house of prayer for the nations. It was not a light of the gospel to the nations. Then they pass by the fig tree again and it is withered. Mark 11:21–24:

And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

The triumphal entry turned to opposition that would lead to the death of Jesus and the persecution of the church. This is not going to be an easy task Jesus left to His church. Facing a mountain like this can be daunting. Jesus says – have faith. The nation and its leaders might oppose Me and My church – but they will not triumph. If you do the work of God to build His church – whatever the obstacle – know that God will remove it – even though it seems like a mountain. In the same way – Zerubbabel was told – have faith that God will remove the mountain of opposition facing you. What God actually did is stunning. You can read about it in the book of Ezra. In chapter 3 the rebuilding of the Temple is begun with incredible fanfare. But straight away there is opposition. The people who were living there threatened the people and found ways to discourage the people from building. They bribed leaders among the exiles to frustrate the effort to rebuild. Then they wrote a letter back to the Persian King Artaxerxes. Basically it said – Dear King Artaxerxes – I am sure you know that Jerusalem has always been rebellious. That is why Babylon had to destroy it. So, we are warning you about allowing them to rebuild.

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This people – the Jews – have always refused to pay tax and tribute and they have always rebelled against the nations who are their rightful authorities. So, be warned O king – if you let them finish rebuilding – they will rebel against you – they will be trouble. The King read the letter sent back a letter of his own ordering work on the Temple to cease and empowering the local authorities to shut all the work down. Humanly speaking – that seemed to be the end. Shut down, commanded to stop by royal edict – all over. But, remember this message given specifically for Zerubbabel that building the Temple is not a matter of worldly might and power – but it rests entirely on the Spirit of God – and God will level every mountain. If God wants that Temple built – not Artaxerxes, not the local authorities, not Satan – no one and nothing will stop it. In Ezra 5 we are told that after Artaxerxes ordered the work on the Temple to stop – the prophets – Zechariah and Haggai went and urged Zerubbabel – get building – God wants it built. It takes faith to obey when the earthly King said don’t build – but Zerubbabel trusted God and set the people to work again. Then we see God Himself orchestrating events. By this time there was a new King on the throne of Persia – King Darius. The local leaders were incensed and wrote a letter back to the new King. Basically, this letter said – Dear King Darius, in case you are not aware your predecessor King Artaxerxes ordered the work on the Temple in Jerusalem to stop. But these recalcitrant Jews, who are rebellious by nature, ignored a royal decree and began building again. We asked them – on whose authority they did this? They said – on the authority of the God of heaven and earth – can you believe that? They also mentioned the authority of King Cyrus – that he had allowed them to build. We are sure you will agree with us and with the former King Artaxerxes and you will crush this rebellion once and for all by any means necessary. Things seemed dire. But, rebuilding the Temple was God’s plan.

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So here is what actually happened. Darius received the letter and said – the Jews claim King Cyrus gave them permission to build the Temple – so search the archives. A search was made and a copy of the decree was found. What is more – Darius wrote back to these local authorities. Here is what his letter said: Dear local authorities – let the Jews build the Temple – not only that but are you to not hinder them in any way – and not only that but you will provide every resource they need from your own treasury – money, animals, food, building supplies – and if you fail to keep this edict – I order that a beam be removed from your house and you be impaled on it and your house turned into a dunghill. Only our God can do something like this. He not only removed the mountain – He made the mountain pay for the work of rebuilding the Temple. This is like us applying to build a new church – the atheist society lodges an objection – and the court rules – not only will the church be built but the atheist society will fund the whole thing. You could not make this stuff up. Humanly speaking the opposition was overwhelming. But the Spirit of God caused the impossible to become possible in a way no one could have anticipated. God destroys every enemy that opposes Him. I remind you – this message was not just for Zerubbabel – it is for you and for me. The church – spiritual Zion – is not built by man’s might – but by God’s Spirit. It is one of the greatest miracles I know of that the Christian church even exists – let alone that it has flourished and is touching every nation. The church has always faced opposition, but our God has levelled every mountain. They killed Jesus – but God raised Him to life and the church was born. They persecuted the church – but God used it to spread His gospel throughout the Empire. They suppressed the truth – but God ordained a Reformation that strengthened His church. Wherever the church has gone – it has faced opposition. Many have died. Many toiled a lifetime with little or no fruit.

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But God is building His kingdom. The blood of the martyrs became the seed of the church. The church started as a mustard seed but it is growing to touch every nation and tribe and tongue and nothing will stop it. Only God can do this. Here today in Australia, we face mountains. Materialism, secularism, Islam, governments hostile to the faith – let alone facing a society intolerant of a gospel that says there is a God and we must obey Him. We preach a gospel the world does not want to hear. Nor do we have the money, the attractions, the glitz of the world. I look at our arsenal and all I see is that we have the preaching of Jesus and Him crucified. We seem weak. Then, you have days like today. I feel sick as a dog. We have had sound issues and other behind the scenes problems – and you think – maybe I should have stayed in bed this morning. But God works in our weakness. The wonderful reality is that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh – they are spiritual – and they have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). I need to remember this because there is a part of me that often finds itself frustrated and feeling like throwing up my hands and saying – if the gospel is to go forth we need a little worldly might and power. We need more money, better music, maybe greater miracles. We more muscle, glitz and money to compete with the world. We need some billionaires and celebrities. As well we need to infiltrate the ranks of the powerful in the world. We need to convince John Piper or Mat Chandler to run for President in America. We need to convince Peter Jensen or Gary Millar to run for Prime Minister here. But this is not how God works.

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Truth is sometimes my faith waivers and it seems to me that the mountains are too big – but it is then that I hear the whisper of Jesus – O you of little faith – and I hear the voice of the angel – Craig, it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Remember Craig, you have the promise that you go in the full authority of heaven itself, that Jesus will be with you to the end of the age and that He will build His church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. What more do you need? It doesn’t depend on you – it depends on Him – so it cannot fail. Just get out and preach Christ and Him crucified – and let Him move the mountains. There is a second encouragement:

Do not despair, our God builds Zion by:

Working through weakness 8-10 This may not sound like much of an encouragement – but I assure you it is. Last year Dena and I were travelling through central England and we stopped in York. We found ourselves outside York Minster – the world famous medieval cathedral. If you have been there, you know it inspires awe and reverence. It was begun in 1220 and took 252 years to finish. It is stunning. Huge, architecturally magnificent, with incredible stonework, carvings, paintings, frescoes and stained-glass windows. I was standing there looking up at this wonder – and I have to confess that unfortunately my pastoral envy flared up. I found myself wishing Grace Bible Church had a building like that. I’m sorry to admit it – but I began to have cathedral lust.

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And I entered into some far from sanctified speculation. What if someone in our church led a tech billionaire to Christ and they happened to drop a spare ten billion or so to build a church building in Brisbane to the glory of God? We could hire the greatest architects and builders. We could use the great painters and sculptors of our day. We could build … Grace Minster. And the unsaved would come and marvel at this wonder and the splendor of our God. We could have people stationed all throughout the building sharing the gospel and singing praise to God. This was awesome – why hadn’t God thought of it? Perhaps because God has other plans concerning how He will build His kingdom. The message to Zechariah is that God works through weakness not through power. Why? So the One who gets the glory is Him not us. As I reflected on my vision of Grace Minster – it struck me that I had visited many cathedrals and very few seemed to be a beacon to the glory of God. People visit them to marvel at how great man is in building such an object of human genius not to marvel at the glory God. Look at verses 8-10:

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”

Over the years – I have heard many Christians quote verse 6 to me:

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Unfortunately, what this was often twisted to mean is – God says we don’t need human might and power – so what we need is Holy Ghost might and power. We need miracles and wonders to break through the hard shells of unbelief. But, I don’t think I ever heard a message that went on to put this verse in its context.

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This is crucial because the context is that – God works through the day of small things – God works through weakness – not by making the church mighty in a worldly way. Here in these verses – God says – the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. The Temple will be finished. Not the great edifice you hoped for – but it will be finished. And when it is – you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you – that this was the work of God and not man – and God will get the glory. But the crucial part of these verses is the next statement. There were some who had despised the day of small things. They weren’t happy with a small Temple and city. In Ezra 3 we find that when the foundation for the Temple was laid there were a number of older Jews who had been alive and seen Solomon’s magnificent Temple – so when they saw this small, pitiful foundation – most were cheering but they were weeping. However, in Ezra 6 when the Temple is finally finished – all of the returned exiles – every one of them celebrated with joy. The ones who once despised the day of small things – saw God level every mountain – knew He was at work – so they cheered. In Haggai 2 the Lord spoke as the foundation of the Temple was being laid and said – I know there are some here who saw this house in its former glory – and I know that in your eyes this is nothing. But, the day will come when I will fill this house with glory – and the latter glory of this house will be greater that the former – and this house will give peace. As we have seen this is fulfilled in the church and in the new heavens and earth. But the point is this – there are some who for a time – despise the day of small things. A small Temple and a city that was not impressive. Not what they wanted. But God is working through these things. These are merely a sign that God will do something greater – build His ultimate Zion. And even the hard hearted had to rejoice when they saw God bring about the miracle of getting this small Temple built despite every obstacle. They rejoiced when they saw the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel as the final stone was set in place to finish the Temple.

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Sometimes it is hard to see the hand of God at work when you clean the toilets or mow the lawns or visit the sick – it feels more like slave labour than building Zion. But this is how God works and we should rejoice. God uses the day of small things to build His Zion.

“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” As we saw last week, this phrase – the seven eyes – is used in Scripture of the fact that God is sovereign. He sees everything – He plans everything – He decrees everything – and nothing can stop His plans. The Temple will be built because God decreed it will come – so it will come. Spiritual Zion will be built because God decreed it will come – so it will come. Nothing can stop it! I want to suggest that is a crucial lesson for us. It is so easy to despise the day of small things. It is so easy to forget God works through weakness. Something inside us wants to see God to work through worldly might and power. We want to be part of something big. Something inside us wants God to raise up mega-churches and mega-ministries – and sit in church with men and women of wealth and political might and power. But this is just not how God regularly chooses to work. In 1 Kings 19 – the prophet Elijah was told Queen Jezebel is going to kill you. So he up and ran for his life. He calls out and says – God I just want to die. I am the only one left who serves you. God comes to this whimpering prophet and says go stand on the mountain – I’ll show you power. God gives several displays of incredible power:

• A mighty wind that tore into the mountain and broke rocks in pieces – but God was not in the wind.

• Then a powerful earthquake – but God was not in the earthquake. • Then a mighty fire – but God was not in the fire.

Where was God? – He was in a low whisper. God came in weakness not worldly power.

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He then told Elijah His plan was not one of mighty conquest. His plan was not to come in might against Jezebel. God said – I have a plan – go anoint the men I tell you – and know you are not alone – I have 7,000 how have not bowed to Baal. I am going to work My will in this whisper. God works through worldly weakness not power. Why? So all the glory is His. If He worked through men and women of power – they would get the glory. In every city in Australia there are some large well-known churches. But I remind you – the average congregation size in Australia is 60-65. And the vast majority of those who come to Christ – come to Christ in these small churches. And I remind you in any church there are only a few leaders – most of the people in churches are unseen – cutting out characters for Sunday School, setting up chairs, cooking food for the evening service, making coffee, greeting newcomers – but God works His will through them – so rejoice – God is using you to build Zion. Most of you will not become an Elder or a women’s leader – but as we learn in 1 Corinthians 12 – don’t despise any task – no church can function without every member. God delights to use the less seemly gifts to build His church. Sometimes it can look like God is not doing much – not many conversions, not many baptisms, families struggling, church shrinking – and it can be hard to see the hand of God – we can despise the day of small things. But God is at work in these times of weakness – building His church His way. We need to know that this is how God builds – that God will finish what He started – and we need to rejoice in this. We might want big, exciting, ministries. We might want impressive church buildings. We might want congregations filled with those who are mighty in the world. But then God would not get the glory. God hates it when a man or woman becomes bigger than His ministry. God specifically chooses to use us – weak and flawed – so that He gets the glory. 1 Corinthians 1:21–2:5 sums up the heart of this point:

In the wisdom of God, … it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, … For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling,

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brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. … I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The fate of spiritual Zion rests entirely with the power of the Spirit – not with our might. God uses the day of small things so He gets the glory. God’s kingdom is different. The first are last – and the last are first. It is an upside down kingdom. I tell you this – when we do reach Zion – we will be stunned at those who are praised as great in the kingdom. Men and women no one ever heard of – but those who were faithful in small things – the ones who said I am but a servant – I only did my job – I didn’t think God really used me – but if He did – all the glory is His. So, put your hand up – take any task He gives you and rejoice that He might use you to His glory. This brings us to the third and final encouragement:

Do not despair, our God builds Zion by:

Sending His Messiah 11-14 Verses 11–14:

Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

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The olive trees each have a branch which provides the oil, the power for the Menorah – the lamp – Zion. While that much is clear – exactly what these two trees represent is not straightforward. There are many views. Among the more widely accepted are that these olive trees represent:

The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Law and Grace. The Prophets – Zechariah and Haggai.

However, I believe that the most likely interpretation and it is also the one that is most widely accepted is that these represent:

Zerubbabel and Joshua – but it is the office of these men – the High Priest and the one from the line of the King – these offices are signs pointing to the Messiah – the Priest-King to come.

Why do I think this? Throughout this book it is clear that it is God Himself who powers Zion. This vision is clear – it is not by human might of power but by the power of the Spirit of God that Zion is built and empowered. Also, this book is very clear – Zion is built by the work of the coming Priest-King.

This is at the heart of this book. Next week in chapter 6 we will see this very clearly. Notice as well that these trees represent two anointed ones. Although this is not the usual word for anointing – it literally reads – two sons of the new oil – most translations use the term anointed ones – and I think this is correct. These Anointed Ones point to the coming Anointed One – the Messiah – Jesus the Priest-King. We will see this next week – Joshua the Priest and Zerubbabel in the line of the King – point to the Priest-King to come – Jesus.

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Jesus builds His church. Jesus builds heavenly Zion. Not by our power and might – but by His. I have to confess that I would give up tomorrow if I didn’t believe this truth with all my soul. Someone said to me this week – isn’t it great how we did the church plant and Holland Park didn’t miss a beat. I felt like fainting. It is great that it looks that way – but the truth is that there are dozens of people with fingers desperately jammed in the dyke wondering how long they can last. Well, humanly – they won’t last. But by the power of God they will. And God will raise up someone to say – take your finger out and let me put mine in. But God wills all of us to put up our hands – God designed the church to function using every member. All your gifts. All your talents. All your resources. At times you will think – I’m not making a difference. But God works in the whispers and weakness and small things. Don’t despise the day of small things. At times you will say – nothing much is happening. If you look at the church in the dark ages – it looked like not much was happening. If you look at the church in countries like Japan – it seems like not much is happening. If you look at some small country towns – you might ask – where is God? I remind you – God builds His church and He builds it in mysterious ways.

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God built His church from nothing. When it pleased Him, God removed every obstacle opposing His church. Against every shred of rationality – the gospel is going out with power into every land. God will finish what He started. Not one person He chose will be lost. But He works in mysterious ways. He worked through a Messiah who is a Priest-King. Humble, poor, despised. Paul says Jesus is a mystery hidden until the time Messiah was revealed. How much of a mystery? Born of a virgin. A man who is God. A king whose kingdom is not of this world. A Messiah who has to die to save His people. He works in weakness not worldly majesty. He works though weak, frail, flawed, cracked vessels like you and me. No one would ever think to build a kingdom this way – but God did. And nothing – absolutely nothing can stand in His way. His church will be built. So join Him. Serve Him. Take the small roles. And do it all to the glory of God. I don’t know how many churches God might use us to plant. I don’t know how many souls God might use us to reach. I don’t know if your role will be behind the scenes or up front. Here is what I do know – when the last trump sounds – whatever our part in building Zion is – we will cry, “Grace, grace to it.” It is all of grace – God did it all – to God be the glory.

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God Builds In A Mysterious Way (Zechariah 4:1-14 February 11, 2018)

Main Point: When the obstacles facing the church seem immense, remember – our God is greater. Please pick a few relevant questions from each section and ensure the majority of the time is focussed on application. General Questions: 1. Read Zechariah 4:2-3. What is the basic picture Zechariah sees?

2. What does the lamp represent? What do the olive trees represent? What does this

vision mean to convey?

3. Why do men and women default to trying to build the kingdom by our power and might?

4. Why is God so opposed to building through human might and power?

5. How do you know whether the opposition we face as a church (or personally) is

something God will remove or something God will use to refine us?

6. Can you give examples from the Bible or church history of God moving mountains from before His people?

7. In what ways does God build through weakness?

8. How does God work through fallible, flawed men and women to build His kingdom? 9. How do you know that God will actually finish what He started using these ways of

weakness? 10. How does the vision of the empowering Priest-King help you trust the work of God

in building His kingdom?

11. In what ways did Christ come in mysterious weak ways? Application Questions: 1. What mountains does GBC Holland Park face in building God’s Kingdom in

Brisbane? 2. What types of mountains can we face personally in building God’s Kingdom within

us?

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3. How can we develop faith that knows God will remove these mountains of opposition if that is His will?

4. How do you develop faith that says if those mountains are not removed – then God

does not need them removed to build His kingdom? 5. Have you seen ways in which God has worked to move mountains before His

church or in your own life? 6. Do you ever have Grace Minster dreams? Thinking of how God could do something

powerful with the church – or do something powerful through you? What might happen if God did work that way?

7. Do you ever despise the day of small things? How do get from this to rejoicing in

what God does in the day of small things?

8. Are there areas you can ask God to use you in?

9. How does this vision lead to confidence in the work of God in you, in our church, in the world?