January 12, 2020

Zechariah 2

Preacher:
Passage: Zechariah 2:1-13
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Summary of previous sermons - Knowing God together
    • Without faith and repentance - one cannot know God
    • Vision 1 - God has a people very near to His heart
    • Vision 2 - A Sovereign God
  • When meditating on God's word - ask 'What does this passage tell us about God'
  • Zech 2
    • Focusing on God's promises v4-5
  • Zechariah's third vision
    • A prophetic vision - debate over when/how it would be fulfilled
    • A message for all of God's people - then and now
  • The third vision
    • A man with a measuring line - the restored community of Zechariah's day
      • The work not just limited to rebuilding the Temple
      • The city of Jerusalem had to be rebuilt
    • An angel - the Angel of the Lord (the Lord Jesus)
      • An urgent message
        • Looking at its application for us today
      • A divine promise
  • God is calling His people to pay attention to His promise and rejoice
    • Fulfilled a few years later in Nehemiah
    • Also a future fulfillment - Heb 12:22, Rev 21:10
    • Thus, the message still speaks to us today
      • 'Western' Christianity may be declining - but Jesus is still building His Church
      • All the promises of God and 'yes' and 'amen' in Him
    • "I will be a wall of fire all around her and I will be the glory in her midst"
  • 3 promises: extension, protection and divine indwelling

A Promise of Extension

  • Previous promises that the land would be restored - but the people had limited expectations
    • The city could not be measured with a line
    • The city cannot be contained by walls
      • Not vulnerable to danger and attacks
      • Wall-lessness - because it would contain a great multitude of people
    • Intentions beyond the Jewish community
  • Application: do not put limits where God has not intended them
    • Do not think as the Jews who rejected the Messiah because of their limited view/understanding
    • Do churches today place limits - examples
      • Do not impede those who come to worship
    • The Church is not confined to boundaries
    • God will still protect us - we do need to construct walls for protection
    • Have we put up limits?

A Promise of Protection

  • "I will be a wall of fire all around her"
  • The city was looking for physical protection from a wall
    • Yet God Himself will be their protector
    • A wall of fire all around Jerusalem
      • Examples of God as Protector
  • Application:
    • Let God be our protection
    • God is building His Church - 'if God is for us, who can be against us?'
    • Consider the promise of Jesus to never leave nor forsake us
    • Heb 13:6
    • The forces against the Christian are mighty and strong - we cannot protect ourselves
    • Rev 21:27

A Promise of Divine Indwelling

  • "I will be the glory in her midst"
  • Application:
    • As a Christian - do not forsake the potential of God's Divine indwelling
      • Putting up limits and protections will reduce God's indwelling in us
    • Only in His presence is fullness of joy

The Need of Separation

  • v6
  • Separate yourself - respond to this great promise
    • Separate yourself from the things that defile - do not put up walls
    • Do not become too comfortable with what you know
    • Do not conform to the world around you
  • This call to separation continues today - to holiness
    • 2 Cor 6:17
    • Psalm 1:1-2
    • Eph 5:11

Conclusion

  • God cares for His people - they are the apple of His eye - v8-9
    • This verse speaks of Jesus (v9b)
    • Sing and rejoice - v10
    • God is aroused from His holy habitation - v13
  • What is our perception of the Church?
    • Do we fail to know God's indwelling presence?
    • We must align ourselves to God's way