Snow, Delays, And A New Vision

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Well hey Lifehouse family, welcome back to our Mondays with Pastor Mark. Man, we we missed a week. I feel like it's been a year, like just still snow everywhere.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

And it's not melting. It's gonna be here forever, I think.

Reading Zechariah 4 Aloud

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Not forever, but it feels that way. I think you do it. It is what it is. Like we're navigating it. As we record this, I don't think it's supposed to get above freezing for like two days. But but anyway, we soldier on. We are so blessed to spend this time with you, still have these resources. Uh appreciate everybody bearing with us, even as we had to miss a week, but God has timing and purposes. And we get to Zechariah 4 this week, a really awesome vision. We'll we'll read it. Preferably many of you were with us Sunday, but Zechariah 4 says, And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep, and he said to me, What do you see? I said, 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 top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl, and the other on its left. 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, 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. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and 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 and the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord which range through the whole earth. 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? And I said, No, my lord. Then he said, These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth. So, man, a lot of vision, and Zechariah's clearly got lots of questions. So I'm sure people we worked, you took us through it yesterday, really starting with you know a portrait of prophecy that we're seeing here. Yeah, a prophetic portrait.

Prophetic Portrait Of A Lampstand

SPEAKER_03 2:57

And this is this vision, and these visions, you know, I mean, this is a completely different context. You know, 2,500 years ago, give or take. And so, like, some of the things that they're familiar with, like lampstands, we're like, what's a lamp stand? Like these candelabra things. I mean, we might have like a an idea of what they are. You know, we have chandeliers and all these different likes, but but this was a vision, again, all these visions together, eight total, this is the fifth, were meant to not just encourage, but encourage in such a way that would motivate and inspire and really incite these people to rise up and be the people of God. They were depressed, they were discouraged as a remnant that like they just felt like their light was about to blow out. And that's what God was showing them. They had repented, he promised, return to me, I will return to you. And so they did repent, they did return to him. And this is God saying, like, man, my plans, my purposes will be fulfilled. You are going, this prophetic portrait, this lampstand is a picture of God's people. They were God's people at the time. And he said, This is a beautiful lampstand. It's hard for us to fathom, to really, Zechariah says, we're to behold, right? Behold what he beheld, to see what he saw. And it's this light shining forth, you know, fueled by the olive trees and the bowl and the and the different channels, like, and so there's perpetual fuel there, and they're shining brightly, profoundly, conspicuously, you know, and that was a complete, you know, different than than how they were feeling at the time. But this is an encouragement to be like, yeah, like let's all right, let's build the temple, right? Let's build the house of God, you know, and let's do it. And that's what it did. History records that this vision, along with the others, like did what it needed to. These people rose up, you know, Zerubbabel led them.

SPEAKER_01 4:50

I think, as you said, contextually, you know, in a tough time, and you mentioned it yesterday, we read the news and it can be tough, right? You know, when you see everything going on in our culture, society, in our world, like I think that's something that can bring us down, and and that's not how it should be. But we can also see that the people here in Israel were experiencing that same thing of like, how's this gonna happen? How is there gonna be change when we try to get worse?

SPEAKER_03 5:15

Yeah, why would we try to rebuild the temple? Like it's been 20 years, and all we could get was the foundation, you know, we don't have the resources, we don't have the ability. Like God doesn't want to hear that. He wants you to hear, he wants us to just trust him. And that's what you know this passage is all about. Our our theme verse for the year as a church is Zechariah chapter four, verse six. This not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. And really, even though he was specifically exhorting them and telling them this in their context, the same is true with us today. Jesus tells his disciples, apart from you, from me, you can do nothing. Like if we are going to do anything, if we're gonna be a lampstand shining forth, like a city set on a hill, like a lamp on a stand for the benefit of all who are in the house, it's gonna be in the power and the strength and the ability of the spirit that indwells us. And so, yeah, like let's be inspired and motivated, encouraged in a profound way today.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Right. I think like you said, the lampstand, which I was trying to think of a modern equivalent, it's probably hard because everything's battery powered and everything that we but are you plugged in to the power source. Right. You know, at that time we didn't have electricity, you know, it had to be fuel, oil, you know, these lights are not just burning from nothing. And so these days, yeah, if you don't have a power source, you know, you're not gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_03 6:32

In their day, it was instructed by God that Aaron and the priests, like there was so they're f they were familiar with the lampstand. It was in the tabernacle in the Temple of Solomon, it was associated with their worship, and the priests of God like were charged, like to continually bring the oil, right? And make sure there's enough oil because the light was never to go out. It was to give forth light both day and night there in the tabernacle. But in this picture, yeah, no, no priests need it, right? Like the oil is coming right from the trees, you know, into the bowl, and then from the bowl into the lights and just continually lighting, like they they had every this light had everything it needed to shine forth profoundly. And so, yeah, we can trust that God will give us what we need.

Power Source And Perpetual Oil

SPEAKER_01 7:16

Illustratively, you know, with everything we see going on in our world and the difficulties, but the idea is if we are continually in the spirit, not by our might, not by our power which wanes. You know, we know we I don't know about you, I ain't getting any younger, so you know, it's uh certainly the strength and the might. Don't always feel as much comes from that walking with the Lord by his spirit, is he guiding you absolutely in the direction you are gonna get.

SPEAKER_03 7:40

And so one thing I want to, I think a good thing to talk about. So even with, you know, as the prophecy or the vision continues, the revelation from God, like beyond uh the not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, then the the next rhetorical question is presented, like, oh great mountain, like like what are you, or who are you, O great mountain? And so there's this proverbial mountain, right? This the obstacles in front of the Jews, the Israelites, to to build and rebuild the temple. You know, they didn't have the resources, a mountain. Like they they they were getting older, like Zerebbable now was, you know, the old gray mare ain't what she used to be. Like we can't do what we used to do. Um yeah, they had opposition, obstacles, and and the Lord is acknowledging, yeah, like I know all about the great mountain, like it's there, but remember who I am. And it may be great, but I'm greater, far greater. And the promise here is that great mountain that was there will be leveled, will become plain. And one thing I want to be uh cautious about, like, this isn't prosperity gospel, name it, claim it. Like if we got a mountain in our way, like God's gonna remove it so that we can do what we want to do. No, this is so that the people of God could be obedient and that the people of God could do the things that he was calling them to do, so that they could be who he was calling them to be, all connected to his purposes and his plans. So this isn't like I'm gonna do my thing and I'm gonna trust that if I got some mountains, God's gonna move it, like I'm gonna name it and claim it, you know. No, like this is like Lord, what do you want me to do? Whatever, wherever, whenever. And when he calls us, and the reality is, I myself, even, everybody, all of us, like question, you know, man, like, could I ever do this? No, you can't. Anything that God calls us to do, you can bank on faith being a part of the equation, because without faith, it's impossible to please him. And what he wants us to do is rely on him for ability, for strength, for wisdom, you know. And so just does that make sense? Like, I just want to be careful about like, oh, yeah, we got by the Spirit of the Lord, we can do anything, you know. I mean, kind of in the same way, you know, uh Philippians 4. I can do all things through Christ, you know, who gives me strength. Like he's gonna give me strength to do whatever I want to do. My purpose is my plans. That's kind of the connotation. No, like Paul was saying, like, I'm able to do everything God has called me to, go to the places I've never been before, speak, and minister to the people, like endure, persevere through persecution by the strength of Christ, like by the Spirit of God, really. It's it's a synonymous uh expression.

Facing The Great Mountain

SPEAKER_01 10:25

And so it was a conversation I was having with a guy. We see the bumper stickers, you know, like God is my co-pilot, or Jesus is my co-pilot. He's not the co-pilot, he's the pilot. Right. That's too often we treat him in exactly what you're saying of, well, I'm driving the train, I'm driving the car, he needs to give me that fuel for where I want to go, but we learn so much, it's his purposes. Zerubable's not building his own empire, he's building God's temple, he's doing something that God has called him to. Absolutely. And we have to be so making sure we're praying, discerning. You know, you shared the story of your call into ministry, and that can be very discouraging because it seems like there's mountains and everyone's telling you like you're not the guy, or this isn't the thing. Even your flesh is telling you you're not the guy, right?

SPEAKER_03 11:12

You know, but you gotta listen to the spirit. Yeah. One thing uh that's encouraging, even just with you know, the last part of the vision and the two olive trees that represented Zerubbabel and Joshua, they stood by the Lord. What was it in verse 14? These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth. And really the picture there, the idea is that these two anointed men that God had raised up, like his chosen, not just anointed, but appointed, like God had raised these two specific leaders. This is why it encouraged the whole people. Like sometimes we question, like, man, should that person be in charge? It's God who raises up and God who removes leaders from you know their positions. But he's saying, like, yeah, like they're standing by the Lord. In other words, these two men as leaders are trusting the Lord, connected to the Lord, receiving direction, strength, wisdom, all from the Lord. And so that was encouraging and should have been encouraging to the people to know that these leaders are hearing from God, from Yahweh, as they move forward and lead the people.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Absolutely. Our our leaders who we choose to follow in any you know avenue of our following God, if it's our lead pastor, anybody at your church, like they need to be God-fearing, humble people. Because too often we've you know talked about we see unfortunately leaders fall, you know, falling into sin, probably because they're getting prideful, trying to do it in their spirit, their power, you know, not by God's spirit. And so that's when we get off track when we're not having that humility.

Obedience Over Prosperity Promises

SPEAKER_03 12:48

Absolutely. We need to remember it's a good thing. Like we know that we're dependent, you know. I mean, apart from me, you can do nothing, Jesus says. And, you know, Jesus is in charge. Like everything that we are, everything we have, like all things are from him, through him, and to him. And so we need to give credit, give glory to whom glory is due. And we need to steward well the things that we have been given and use them not to promote ourselves or to serve ourselves, but to serve him, right? He's worthy of worship, not ourselves, not we aren't. He is, and so that that's an important thing to remember, you know. Like our church, this isn't my church, this is his church. Jesus is the head of the church, he can take me out at any moment. Like I'm well aware of that. And so I must, as the lead pastor of Lifehouse, I must seek and do my best and be held accountable for standing by the Lord, looking to the Lord, and not looking to or relying on my own strength. God forbid that I could, and it's a temptation. I think it's helpful and profitable to kind of be aware of our weaknesses. Pride is is a temptation for all of us. God hates pride. He does not, he will not, he will share his glory with no one. And so it's important to kind of know uh knowing is half the battle, and knowing that weak spot of vulnerable vulnerability, being held accountable to it, and and opening, inviting other people into your lives to hold you accountable in that way, and simply pray, like God, I want to be faithful. Please help me put to death the flesh with its passions and desires, you know, and continue walking by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit for the glory of God.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

So, what do you think are some good application? You know, I know not everybody, you know, majority is not necessarily called to plan a church, but we're all called to something. We all have a ministry, God has a purpose, you know, plan for our life. How would you encourage people? How do you discern that? Is he calling you maybe to serve, to lead, you know, to plug in more? Like, how would you encourage people to be praying through this, you know, thinking through what, you know, like we talked about, the hand and the foot? Yeah, need everybody in the Lifehouse family following and being obedient to that calling.

Leaders Who Stand By The Lord

SPEAKER_03 15:05

So I think in as I spent time, and oh man, what a joy to just spend time in scripture in preparation for sermons. I just feel so blessed. But I feel that there's really two avenues of application, you know, and relevance for believers today. And one would be individual, like each of us, individual as believers, and then the other one would be corporately. Like this message was delivered to a people, like not even just zerebables, it's the word of the Lord to zerebbable for but for the benefit of the people corporately. So let's just talk about individually first, and then we'll do corporately. So individuals, you know, I think about like the mountains of, you know, marital strife and problems, and like where, you know, a couple might be completely on the different page, and it just seems like there's no way that they can come back to and be unified again because of something that someone has done. I think about the mountain of addiction, you know, and people who maybe feel like they're just a hopeless case, like they've tried to overcome these addictions, and they just, no matter what they do, they can't, they try to get out of the pit, they try, but they can't get out of the pit. They're just stuck in the muck and the mire of the pit. Um, financial problems, obstacles, you know, like you feel like you need to get to the mission field. You're feeling called to the mission field, but you got to raise like a ton of money because nothing's cheap anymore, like so that you can support yourself and live on the mission field. And so that seems like a mountain. And so, really, what we as believers can trust the Lord as we move forward by faith to reconcile our marriage, to be set free from addiction, uh, to receive the provisions necessary to get to the mission field. Like we can trust that God removes those mountains. Like he is a mountain-moving God, and and we can look to him and trust him to do those things in our lives. So don't be discouraged. Uh, a lot of times people get discouraged thinking like I'm here, but I need to be like there, right? So this is the small beginnings. Zerubbabel and the people of God, the foundation of the temple was laid. Some of them actually remembered Solomon's temple in its glory, and they're like, we'll never get that, we'll never achieve that. Why even try, right? But the pro the word is don't despise the small beginnings for for the those you will rejoice. Like as you move forward, as the Lord provides, reveals himself, as he protects, like you will rejoice, you know, and I can just so that's encouragement, right? So I would say anything you have to say about that on an individual level in verse applications.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

That's great, you know, because you may feel like you're facing a mountain of addiction, or your marriage may feel like it's falling apart. Like those can feel like mountains to getting to that walk. And some people might be maybe in a good place, but God's calling you to lead a group or help a ministry, be a leader in church, and you feel like I'm not qualified, even if it's not a pastor, like it ain't about just a few people. We are the people of God. And so all of that will feel daunting. And like you said, the small things though, like we shouldn't be satisfied with just little things for God. We should be seeking, we worship a big God, he can do these things. So individually, seek God's face. And I would say if it feels like just a little molehill, like God can do so much greater, so pray, you know, for Him to reveal. But again, like we talked about, it needs to be God is called.

Dependence, Pride, And Accountability

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Yeah, be thankful for where you are, take note of where you are in the beginning, like at the front end of a journey to wherever, recovery, reconciliation. Know that God sees. Like, and so when I think about my own life and the things that I've overcome, you know, some of the things I'm ashamed of, like sin struggles and different things. Like I can remember where I was in sin far from Christ. I'm not thankful for those times, but I'm excuse me, uh, yeah, I'm not necessarily thankful, but but I for being in that place, but I'm thankful as I think about like where God has taken me, you know, like from that to this and being where I am now, not that I've arrived, you know, but but just thinking about where I was, you know, it really makes me appreciate that much more where I am, you know. And so I think that that's an idea. Like it just really elicits joy in my heart, gratitude, rejoicing in my heart when I think about the work of God. And I know that I am where I am when I think about where I was, only by the grace of God, by the Spirit of God, right? And so I think that that's a good thing to consider and remember. Like, like trust the process, trust God's timing, and really be grateful for where you are, knowing that that's not where you're supposed to be eventually, but like God sees and he has not forgotten or forsaken you in the place that you are. He's with you, you know, if that makes sense. I like 100%.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

He's with you on the whole journey, wherever you are, you know, like always reminded of Joseph. He was in a pit, he was in prison, he was in tough times.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

Pits are a part of the process. They are, and you're God used it all.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

All the people of the Bible went through hard things. They were in places they didn't want to be, but God was with them through those times.

SPEAKER_03 20:17

And it was preparation. Think about Joseph's testimony. Like God put him in charge, like second under Pharaoh in all of Egypt. But through, I mean, it was sanctification, sanctification, right? Through the suffering, through the trials and the things that he did, it was all preparing him for God's ultimate plan. And and through him and being in that position, many were saved and delivered from famine and and hunger. And so, yeah, absolutely. Pit pits are a part of the process, considerate preparation.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

You got the peas rolling.

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Yeah, hey, you gotta write that down. But let's move to corporately.

SPEAKER_01 20:52

You know, we are individually, there's mountains, but every church has a purpose. God brings a people together for a purpose, for a direction that we are called to fulfill.

Individual Mountains And Small Beginnings

SPEAKER_03 21:03

And so I think that the corporate application is primary, right? Another P even more than the individual. I think that we are prone to think always in our culture and context individually. But I really want our church to grow out of that, you know, and I think it's important. Like, like I think contextually, the people of God in Zechariah's day were more prone to think corporately. We need to be thinking more corporately about our responsibility and our role and our function within the body of Christ, right? The hand cannot say to the foot, I have no need of you. Like we're all different members of one body working together, right, to fulfill the purposes and plans of God. Like we are to be a light, like a city set on a hill, corporately, yes, individually. This little light of mine, I'm not gonna, I'm gonna let it shine. But really corporately, right? We are to shine as a candle, like a candlest hand. Revelation refers to the churches in uh Asia as uh lampstands. And that's what we are to be, like together corporately, shining our light in a profound, impactful way. And so I think that we should receive when we think about mountains, when we think about struggles, obstacles, opposition, like we should think about facing these things together. Like this is our church, this is our responsibility, this is our role, like to fulfill the Great Commission. And I may not be the one going, you know, to Tim Buck too, but I have a responsibility to that person and support them in getting there. Or I may not, you know, there's just different roles. And so I think it's important to just understand and know, like, we're a part of like something greater, the body of Christ. And yeah, like I have a responsibility with my church family within the body to fulfill and be obedient to what God has called us to do in fulfilling the Great Commission, you know, and shining the light of Christ in a dark world.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Yeah, he's not gonna call you to something that's all about you, it's gonna be about the people. And I do agree, you know, like you said, in in this time there was more of a corporate feeling as a national identity. We have shifted, we are in the United States. Individualistic, right? Yeah. We are hyper-individualistic. Modernity, you find your truth, you find your thing. So too often we'll see whatever, you know, oh, God's calling me, so this is what I'm doing. I would say it's probably counter to his will that he would ever call you to do something by yourself, he would call you to do it within the context of the church, you know, and he'll call you, have a local church body that will come around you and maybe again to lead something, or maybe you need to serve something, somebody needs your help to participate in that, or somebody needs support. They just need your care to shine the light of Christ in their life. And so all of that involves being the body, not just the individual, but living that individual plan out within the church. So for us, and I know you said like we could be so much more as a church if we all would be more individually following the calling together.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

I mean, you think about that proverb or saying, you know, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, you know. And I do, you know, I just think that like if everybody was all in and everybody was immersed within the body and connected to the body and committed to the body of Christ, not to Mark Lacey, you know, but to Jesus as a part of the body of Christ, I just think, man, we could truly be that burning and shining light, right? John the Baptist, John 5.35, Jesus said he was a burning and shining light. Yeah, that was an individual, but like that golden lampstand shining, burning, upset ablaze, right, lighting up the night sky, like you know, I just think that that is possible, right? Like what's impossible with man is possible with Christ. Because it is, it can be seemingly like a great mountain. Like, how are we gonna get like these people, this family, everybody to understand like the importance of uh being a lampstand together? Well, it seems impossible, really, because of our culture, because of hyper-individualism and the way people think. But I'm not gonna say, oh, that's just where our culture is today. No, I'm gonna trust the spirit of God. And really, that's what this is all about. That's what our theme verse, being Zechariah 4-6, is all about, is we want to trust the Lord for more, uh, specifically in relation to experience the power of the Spirit to move us together to be that golden lampstand for his glory.

Gratitude, Process, And Timing

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Yeah, I'm reminded playing football, you know, I grew up playing football. I had a coach I remember saying, he's like, every play is really designed to score a touchdown. If everybody does what they're supposed to do, and I guess there may be a sec uh exception, Philadelphia Eagles fans like fourth and one, the tush-push, whatever. But generally, if you draw up a plan, you're gonna block all of the defense so that you know it's all and we all need to fulfill our role. The plays break down because somebody misses a block. Almost the receiver doesn't run their route, or you know, those are the things where you know football, all 11 players need to be doing what they're doing for a play to be successful. So I think that's just applicable to us corporately.

SPEAKER_03 26:34

I can't help but think of us. Jesus says, I will build my church. They were gonna build the temple, like uh in Zechariah's day, but we're Jesus said, I will build my church. That's what he wants to do in such a way that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But I think about Ephesians 5 and thinking about what you were just saying, where it says, when each member of the body of Christ is working properly, right, when they are where they're supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to be doing, using the gifts that he's given them by the spirit, the spiritual gifts, it makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Jesus said, I will build my church. This is the plan, right? This is the game plan, you know. The and so everybody needs to be where they're supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to be doing, working properly so we can fulfill what he wants us to do by his spirit. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 27:23

Definitely Lifehouse Family. If you're working through discerning in your life, I know we'd love to walk alongside of you if you're feeling called to something and reach out. You know, I know anybody here at church would love to talk through that with you. If it's a mountain of sin, if it's a mountain of getting over, like that's what we're called to do together, uh, just to encourage and continue to be faithful here. So well, any last thoughts or looking ahead to next week?

Corporate Calling Over Individualism

SPEAKER_03 27:47

I'm excited about this next week. So I'm thinking that the last three visions, so eight total, Zechariah actually continues beyond the visions, but the vision, I think I'm gonna be able to uh to fit all three of those last in a final sermon. They're kind of brief visions, and they they connect. So uh really excited. I mean, uh, this has been such a growing, encouraging, uh motivating journey for me specifically. What a blessing to get to spend time in God's word. And then not just by myself, but with the community of faith that God has called me to be a part of. And so I look forward to this Sunday. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

Well, Lifehouse family, thanks for joining us. We look forward to seeing you Sunday as well as we continue through Zechariah and taking you deeper and further. So thanks for joining us. We'll see you guys next time.