Setting The Stage: Rise Up

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Well, hey, Lifehouse family. Welcome back to our Mondays or whenever you may be watching. For us, it's Monday. Hopefully, for you it's Monday as well. Maybe not, getting through your week, but time with Pastor Mark to spend some time going deeper, reflecting on God's word, everything that we talked about on Sunday morning. We want to not just leave it on Sunday morning, right? We want to like this week talk about rise up. It should continue to encourage us, not just be a Sunday morning thing. So time to think a little bit more. And this week going through Zechariah 6, so opportunity of the last of the visions, though. We're going to move on from visions after this week.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

Yeah, the eighth of eight visions. And yeah, it is kind of one thing to kind of consider is we've been kind of going through these visions slowly. You know, essentially, I think the first week was three visions at one time, which was probably too much in one week. But kind of, but just to think about all of these profound divine visions in one night. Like that, that's just overwhelming, you know, overwhelmingly encouraging because of the content. But yeah, uh, but yeah, this is just the eight, the summary vision of the eight visions.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

I think it brings it all together, and you know, you kind of pointed it, really circles back and ties it all to the first vision of you know, seeing the world at rest and different ways.

Context: Stalled Rebuilding And Discouragement

Application: From Stuck To Sent

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Yeah, and so yeah, essentially, again, to just remind people of the context, like the people of God, Zechariah and his people, like were struggling. You know, they had been back. It was miraculous that they had been captives in captivity, exiles in Babylon, and they returned home to a leveled Jerusalem, to a leveled uh nation, uh, literally, and and so they started rebuilding, they were encouraged, like, yeah, look, God's done this amazing thing, we've returned home. But yet, you know, they faced opposition, they didn't have the resources they needed, and so they quit. And the thing is, when Zechariah was given these visions, they had been quit, or the work had stopped for 16 years. Like, that is a long time. And they wondered, like, God, you know, here you brought us home for what? Like, what's the purpose? Why are we here? Like, we're not rebuilding, we're we're just stagnant, and they were discouraged. And so, really, these visions kind of confront their discouragement. And where I think there's application here is, you know, while you know, most of us have not been in captivity and in exile, I think in the same way that God's people felt stuck, so many believers even feel stuck for whatever reason. Maybe they've been taken advantage of, you know, used and abused in some way. We hear the term church hurt a lot. But even beyond church hurt, just life in general, things that people have been through anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, like whatever it is, sin really immobilizes people, you know, and that's just not who we are. We have been created in Christ Jesus, you know, for works that he prepared beforehand for us to walk in, right? We're to run the race. And so we're not to lay low, we're to rise up. We have work to do. The great commission is not the great suggestion. Like we're to go. And we may not be the specific person that's called to go to Indonesia or, you know, to plant a church or to be a pastor, but but all we are all charged with the great commission. Authority. Jesus says, All authority in heaven and earth have been given to me, and you know, go, you know, and teach people to observe everything I have commanded them, you. And so we're to be about that, somehow like participating in the cause of Christ, not in a casual way, but we're to be committed to that. I think financially, emotionally, spiritually. We pray, you know. I mean, and so that's how that's the application here. Like, I think this vision was encouraging. Uh, and we can talk about, I know you're gonna read it. Maybe we should just stop and let you do that. But really, the charge is for the people of God to not lay low, to not be stuck, but rather to rise up to be who he's created them to be, to be who he's called us to be. And so why don't we read the vision?

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Well, yeah, I think too, just like you said, that's a great point. Not that there's not much, and we talk about it, points so much to Christ with the branch, but I think especially a message to maybe you have been a believer for like 16 years and you used the word yesterday stuck. You know, maybe you feel stuck in your faith, discouraged for whatever reason you've experienced church hurt or you see the brokenness around you that has kind of demotivated you. But Zechariah is telling us here, like, God is still God, God is still on the throne. We all have a purpose, we all have a gifting. Right. You know, maybe that's not being a pastor or anything, but like you all have everybody has gifts, you know, like the church is the church when everybody's serving and working. So I think individually, like you said, the application is so much to rise up. What is God calling you to do? Maybe it's help with kids or help with youth or lead a Bible study, you know, like everybody can do something. You know, not not everybody should be a spectator and just hang out, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:23

Yeah. So well, it's not just everybody can do something. Everyone is called to do something. And so God doesn't call us to do something that he doesn't give us the ability to do. Like he doesn't give us, this isn't a game. He's not dangling a carrot in front of us. Like we have a call, and he gives us the ability to be obedient and to walk in victory and in in and overcome whatever obstacle he says there's going to be trials and tribulations. Again, that's not an excuse because we can we're more than conquerors in Jesus Christ. Like we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. And so, yeah, sitting down, laying low, that's really not an option for us, you know. So why don't we read it? So this is there's a vision, the eighth vision, and then kind of a summary word, a word from the Lord to kind of really, it's not necessarily a vision, but it's very much connected to the eight eight visions. Yeah.

Reading Zechariah 6:1–8

SPEAKER_01 6:17

Let's read chapter six. If you're uh watching or listening, if you have your Bible, you can follow along, but we're going to read chapter six starting in verse one. Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses, all of them strong. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said to me, These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes towards the north country, and the white ones go after them, and the dappled one goes to the south country. When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, Go, patrol the earth. So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, Behold, those who go to the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.

War Chariots And God’s Justice

Vengeance Is The Lord’s

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Why don't we stop there? Sure. Like let's just talk about that eighth vision. And so, really, yeah, there's drama here. Like these, in the same way like he saw a scroll in the sixth vision, it wasn't just any old scroll. It was as it was bigger than the Christmas tree than we have in our lobby at Christmas time. And then he sees the basket in the seventh vision. It wasn't just a basket, it was a huge basket. The woman was inside the basket that they took away to the middle of the country. But these aren't just for chariots, and these aren't just for, you know, these aren't just horses, regular horses. These are strong horses, these are war horse horses. And so the picture, like the people of Zechariah's day, like they would know and understand that this is uh tied to war. Like this is tied to, I mean, chariots. We can't we've watched movies, we know what chariots are, but in it was there's an immediate association when they saw chariots, war, battle, like that was just something they would associate. And really, the north country here in this vision is referring to Babylon. That might be lost on us, but that's where Babylon was. They came from the north, they took them to captivity into the north. And so God is basically saying, and this is tied to that first vision, where again there were men on horses that were returning and reporting that all the earth was at rest. Babylon, Egypt was at rest, the enemies of God's people, the oppressors of God's people were at rest. And then the immediate response to that report was the question: how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? Like, because they're not at rest. Like, are they are you gonna punish them forever? Like, they were actually till still technically in exile because the temple, when the temple was finished, was officially when the 70-year exile stopped. And so that question, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem? And then in response to that question, the Lord basically gave encouraging and comforting words and basically said, like, I'm going to, you know, right every wrong. Like they had been taken advantage of, even though it was a part of God's plan for them to be taken into captivity. What's acknowledged there is that they, the the people, the Babylonians took captivity a little too far, and they really enjoyed oppressing God's people. And God basically says, like, I'm gonna cut those nations down, those four horns, Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Assyria, those four horns are gonna be thrown, cast down. That was the second vision. So that's a uh vision number eight is essentially like the Lord saying, like, it's go time. These four chariots were were commissioned, like they were, and I love that description when it said they were impatient to go. Like, and what's pictured there is this readiness. Like these chariots and these horses didn't come trotting casually from between these two bronze mountains, like they were raring and they were ready and they were eager to fulfill the plan and this repayment, this retribution, you know, and it this really is tied to Romans 12, 19, the message there where believers are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to not take vengeance like into their own hands, but but the the truth is, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord of hosts. This is the Lord saying, like, you know, vengeance is going to be repaid. Like I'm gonna take care of Babylon. And even he says in verse 8, he says, Behold, those who go toward the Norse country have set my spirit at rest in the north country. In essence, like my wrath has been poured out. My plan, my purpose, like like your suffering, your exile will come to an end, and Babylon will no longer be at rest. They will cease to exist. I've set my spirit at rest in the north country. And so that's the promise. And that would have absolutely been encouraging to the people of God who were discouraged, thinking God's forgotten us, God's forsaken us, like these Babylonians did all these things to us. They used and abused us, took advantage of us, and God is saying, like, you know, my spirit like is at rest because I have fully repaid, you know, and taken a vengeance on your oppressors. So that's the message. Where that encourages us is that our God is their God. You know?

SPEAKER_01 11:32

So I don't know if you want to talk about or Yeah, no, I think it's a great point and should encourage us in our trust in God and His justice. Sometimes we get, you know, His holiness and justice and His love and mercy. We can go a little bit one way or the other. God's reminding us that He is a just God, He is a holy God. So, you know, those who don't experience, you know, through there's there is a judgment day coming. There will be. And it's hard for us to live, you know, again, thinking about forgiveness and how we walk if we don't trust in God's justice. If there is no justice, then a you know, how do we walk every day with, like you said, being taken advantage of or seeing different things happen. So very important to remind me.

SPEAKER_02 12:14

That's right. Every wrong will eventually be made right. And I just, yeah, so many believers are immobilized today. And that's just not who we are. We're a people that goes forward, we're a people that stands firm, we're a people that rises up in obedience and worships the Lord. We're committed to the cause of Christ, and that cause is for his gospel to go forth into all the earth. We're to make disciples of all nations, teaching people to observe everything Jesus has commanded you. And so, some way we're to be committed to that cause. That's to play out in our lives. We're not to make excuses, we're not to justify disobedience, we're to be obedient, and it's blessed obedience, like to be a part of the cause of Christ, this mission, the salvation of souls, the gospel going forth, God being pleased and worshipped by more people, like that brings us joy, like to see the gospel going forth. And it's a great mission to be a part of, but yeah, so no excuses, no justifications, like be encouraged, right? They this this was effective. These eight visions caused the people of God to rise up. They built the temple in two years after this, so it took a long time. It wasn't just, you know, let's build a temple. Like they still met opposition, right? Yeah, but they finished the task. We are to finish the task. Jesus said, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. Well, we're the church, and so there's opposition. He's acknowledging that in that verse, but we're still to move forward and to be obedient as his church, the body of Christ.

Trusting Justice To Forgive And Move

SPEAKER_01 13:44

Christ tells us we're to build on his foundation, right? Right? Christ is the firm foundation when we build our lives. So you know, our lives should not be leveled off. We should continue to build, continue to serve, whether like we say, that looks many different ways, but maybe you're in a position it kind of feels plateaued. And but no, God is calling you to continue to be faithful, continue to be praying. Absolutely. Trust the Lord.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

Even in and through you being taken advantage of. Let's talk about that for a moment. Because this is not a call for people to be doormats. Sure. Right? I mean, this is not a call for people just to allow yourself to be taken advantage of. No, I that's not what this is, but it's to trust the Lord. You know, it's to to move forward. Let justice like play out, in essence, whether it's in the courts or whether it's in, you know, whether it will be on judgment day, like let justice will be served and before that. Like we're to be for God is a just God. He's a loving God, but he's also a just God. And that should cause us to tremble in fear, you know, in reverence in that regard. But but don't allow whatever's happened and your perspective or perception that you know justice won't be served hinder you from being who's got God has created you to be.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Yeah, I think building on what we talked about last week with sin, you know, call things out. You know, as Christians, we are to call balls and strikes. You know, when something is sin, when we have been hurt, right, you know, just we should, you know, Matthew 18, something with your brother. Like go to him, tell him about it. But that starts the forgiveness process. Like we're we've you know talked about how God forgives us, but he doesn't sweep under the rug our sin. Like it has to be dealt with. That's why the cross of Christ is the amazing combination of God's justice and whole likeness. So God will repay. And if we're in Christ, thank God He took the punishment for us. But we have to understand that and just know that God is a just God and it shouldn't hinder us, like you say, in moving forward in those ways. It's you said it earlier, not excuses. You know, it's we call the truth, we say the truth, but then we move forward. And so a lot of times that taking advantage of, people want to like be discouraged, but we actually don't even flinch or shrink back.

Call To Persevere In Mission

SPEAKER_02 16:02

There's a I love the verse in Hebrews, I think it's 11, where it talks about like we are not of those who shrink back, like we don't hesitate, you know, uh despite opposition, despite hard things. And I love the Apostle Paul's testimony when he talks about how I'm gonna, I can't I don't have it memorized, but struck down but not destroyed, persecuted, but not abandoned, perplexed, but but not like we don't, I don't quite he's basically saying in that, like, yeah, like this is hard. And even in uh 2 Timothy 1.12, where he says, I suffer. Like I have suffered greatly. I mean, thrown in prison, beaten. I mean, we know Paul shipwrecked. I mean, he's talking about trials and tribulations. He says, I suffer, but I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded, I'm convinced that God is able to keep that which I have committed until that day. Like, I know who God is. We know who God is. Zechariah was reminding the people of who God is. Like, God remembers, and there's so much wrapped up in just that phrase. Like, as in, he sees, he knows, he's aware, he's committed, he's devoted, he's loving, he's good, he's just, he's perfect, righteous in all these ways. Yahweh remembers. Like we don't need to doubt his favor and his goodness and his love and his plan and his purposes. You know, Jesus Christ is coming again. He's made that very clear. Like it's been a long time. We don't wonder, like, oh, did he forget what he promised? Like, is he on vacation? Like, did he get distracted? No, he will come exactly like there's precision in the plans and purposes of God. Intentionality. That's what we see in this vision. Readiness. Like this isn't just like, you know, when I get around to it, I'll come again. No, like there's precision here. Those horses were ready. They were eager. What's the word?

SPEAKER_01 17:46

Uh they were uh impatient to go and patrol the earth.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

Like they were, there was a readiness there. And so God, Jesus will come when it's time. We need to be ready.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

So if we're being called, we should sort of be patient but impatient. Like if God's gonna be like, hey, let's let's go. We wait on God's timing, but we should be ready when you know that mountain gets flattened. You know, we'll see the mountains like we talked about. But when God flattens the mountain, we're ready to roll, you know. So God works things out for his timing.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

We could talk about more, but why don't we move on to this final word?

SPEAKER_01 18:22

But starting picking up in verse 9, seeing the crown and the temple, and the word of the Lord came to me. Take from the exiles, we'll get oh, you did a great job on this.

SPEAKER_02 18:32

You want me to say their names?

Reading Zechariah 6:9–15

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Help I Tobajah, Tobash, Tobijah. Tobaih and Jediah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehosedak, the high priest, and say to him, Thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, the man whose name is the branch, for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord, and shall bear royal honor, and it shall sit and rule on his throne, and there shall be a priest on his throne, and the council of peace shall be between them, both, and the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord, as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jediah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you, and this shall come to pass, if if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God. So much to be said here about the rain, and I know you touched on like very much a uh change in seeing the priestly and the kingly come together, which we know will foreshadow Christ, but this was a real difference to them based on what they were used to.

The Branch: Priest And King United

SPEAKER_02 19:53

Yeah, I mean, really, yeah. So ultimately, this word is pointing forward to the coronation of the Messiah in his millennial kingdom, and the Lord Jesus Christ is priest and king, king and priest, and the best priest and the best king, like all at the same time. But throughout Israel's history, yeah, the priest and the king, like the priest was to do what the priests were supposed to do, and the king was supposed to do what the king was supposed to do, and they weren't supposed to mix duties. And we even see, you know, when kings, for instance, cross that line, King Uzziah is the example I gave yesterday, and he decided he wanted to burn incense in the in the sanctuary, and everyone was up in arms, the priests were like, No, King Uzziah, like that's for the priest, Aaron and his sons, the Levites to do. Well, he didn't want them to tell him not to do something. Pride rose up and he did it. He burned the incense, and leprosy broke out, right? A horrible disease. And so, uh, yeah, uh there was a curse associated with him crossing that line. Um, but right here, this is pointing forward to, and and you know, the branch, like we know this is ultimately, even though uh this uh drama that that they were to make these crowns, not a crown, but the Hebrew originally is crowns, which is fascinating. You think about Revelation chapter 19, 12, where it talks about Jesus coming back and he will be wearing many crowns, not just one crown. So it's tying it back to this promise and the branch, right? Uh these people knew who the branch, capital B, branch was. That was the Messiah. This is all pointing forward to the Messiah, and they were to be encouraged, like in a very so it's easy to forget. So these visions happened. Zechariah told them the visions, and so one way, one helpful grace that the Lord was providing them was this tangible crown. They were to make many crowns with the silver and gold and set it in the temple as a reminder. And every time they saw that crown, they were to be reminded yeah, like our king will come and he will rule and reign. Right now, there was no one on the throne, like that they could see. Now, ultimately, we know in what these visions revealed is that he is in control. He is King of Kings, He is Lord of Lords, He is sovereign. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. It's just not as tangible or as obvious to us now in a way that it will be when Christ returns. And that's what this is pointing forward to.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

I even think in our modern context, we think very much, you know, separation of church and state. So even that idea carries where we know normally if religion and government mix, often that does not go well. You know, if the people in charge, you know, historically it becomes more state and not church. And so only in Christ. You might even think of Isaiah, you know, the government's on his shoulders. Only when it's truly Christ, you know, in control of the powers that be and the authority, that's the only time that's going to go well. And that's like you say, foreshadowing that Jesus brings all that together. Absolutely. Historically, man can't make that work, but through Christ, that works. Absolutely. In an amazing way.

SPEAKER_02 23:04

And the way this played out, and I can't even remember, I wish I did. I should have my notes before me today, but those names mean very specific things. Names were very symbolic. They were encouraging, you know, words specifically tied to those names that are there, the exiles that he was to take the silver and the gold from. Um the crowns, again, tied to Revelation chapter 19. It's not a crown, it's make crowns and set it on the head of Joshua. Um, behold the man. Uh, I can't help but think of Pontius Pilas, Pilates, when Jesus was about to be crucified and he was wearing that crown of thorns and the purple robe. Uh Pontius Pilate said, Behold the man. And I don't think that's a coincidence. I mean, it makes me think, behold the man, whose name is the branch. Don't behold Joshua, don't behold Zerebabel, behold the branch. Like no one understands the branch is coming, he will rule and reign. This is this is the Messiah, right? Um, and he shall branch out from his place. There's a verse in Isaiah that talks about Isaiah chapter 53, verse 2 a tender shoot shall, you know, come out. And it's I think it's referring to how Jesus, you know, he was born in a manger, you know, uh meek and lowly, and yet he stepped out, you know, and revealed himself as the Son of God. Um, he shall branch out from his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord. I think that could be referring to the church. Jesus said, I will build my church, but also the millennial temple that will be glorious. Yeah. There's just so much, it's so fascinating.

Crowns, Remembrance, And Hope

SPEAKER_01 24:37

You know, even in verse 15, you know, those far off, you know, things come from unexpected places that will encourage, you know, whatever we're in and walking through, you know, Christ is our Savior, and when we trust by the Spirit that moves. And but it says all of this comes back to, it will come to pass. But diligently obey, you know, follow, and trust that God will bring the resources. A lot of times, whatever God may be calling you to may seem daunting, but that was far off. It'll it's always amazing where God's got to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_02 25:08

Well, there's two things that hit me with that. Uh, so I think in the immediate context of Zechariah's day, it was encouraged encouragement to know that there were still like family members that were still in Babylon, far off. But the promise here was that eventually, like many, like the many of those who are far off shall come and they will help and be a part of the rebuilding of this nation that took place. But I also can't help but think of my own testimony in Ephesians chapter 2, where it talks about how we who were far from God in sin and sinfulness, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. It goes on to say we were who were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, the people of God. We've been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ. And so I believe that we're fulfillment. And so this just fills my soul with such gratitude. I was far off, but I've been brought near, not just to chill, but to help build. There's a purpose to do the work, you know, the work that Jesus started. Like he passed the baton to his church. We're the hands and the feet of Jesus today, doing and building and serving and loving and giving and living in a way that testifies of his glory and his truth. And so that is such an encouraging promise. And yes, we know that he, the Lord of the hosts, has sent uh the angel Lord Jesus. That that's this is a Christophany, I believe, or or at least a vision of Christ. And this is such an encouragement.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

He sent his son to make that way, and we continue the work like we talked about. He will continue to, he has sent his spirit, so he will continue to provide in whatever he's calling us to. It will definitely, God will make those ways. You know, that's I think the consistent theme. So any kind of final closing thoughts as we apply it, bring it to home? Maybe some listeners who were maybe struggling, you know, with being stuck, what God's calling you to.

Those Far Off Brought Near

SPEAKER_02 27:02

And listen, I know the battle's real. And I know that situations are hard. I don't want to just diminish and just say, suck it up, buttercup, rise up. Forget not, leading up to this is the promise, not by my, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. And in the immediate context, it was to specifically rebuild the temple. But I would say the application is for us. You know, like in Christ, we can endure all things. He gives us strength. Our God shall supply all our needs according to his riches and glory. Our needs specifically tied to us being obedient and serving him in obedience. We have the word of God, we have the Spirit of God, we have the body of Christ, like we have all these resources, the graces of God, like at our fingertips, so to speak. We we can come boldly before the throne of grace and obtain mercy to find grace in our time of need because of the blood of Jesus Christ. And so we just need to remember and not allow the enemy to lie to us or not to believe the lies that keep us immobilized, but simply open our eyes and by the Spirit move forward one step at a time in obedience in and literally just simply be who he has created us to be. Again, he's not playing games. He wants us to be who he has created us to be. He gives us what we need to be who he has created us to be. And so just be encouraged, you know, to just rise up little by little or just all at once and move forward. Lean in. Don't lay low. That's not who we're called to be. Understand that, know that, don't make excuses, don't think you you can justify disobedience. We don't see any of God's people doing that in a way that pleases God. What we see people doing in spite of challenges, obstacles, trials, and tribulations, by the Spirit rising up, moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 28:57

Lean in, take that next step, right? You know, if you're stuck, it means take the next step, the next thing that God is calling you to do that. It's a faith journey will be amazed how God provides and lowers those mountains. So hope everyone is encouraged. You know, again, if you're feeling called, you know, we're always here, you know, thoughts, questions, discussions. We want to walk with you. Uh, whatever God may be working out in your life, take that next step. Don't be stuck. Know that the Lord reigns and he does repay. Whatever you've been through, he's walking with you, and you can trust the Lord in all of these things. So well, thanks for joining us, Lifehouse Family. We'll look forward to seeing you next week as we continue through Zechariah. Let's do it. All right, have a great week. We'll see you next time.