Sharing the Light of Christmas

Zechariah 4:1-14

Julian Huxley, a scientist and atheist once said all our science and all of our reason will never be able to answer three questions concerning life: 1. What the purpose of Life is. 2. How human beings got into the mess they are in. 3. How we can get out of it.

All the science and reason can give no answer for the dark world that we live in.

Even so, the world tries the make the world brighter.

Do you remember several years ago, I believe it was 1985, when a group of famous musicians put on a concert called “Live Aid.”

They sang a song that represents the pursuit of a brighter world.

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones to make a brighter day so let’s start giving.

Bob Dylan was one of the singers and he looked uncomfortable sining it. At the press conference he was asked why he looked uncomfortable and he said he felt uncomfortable because humankind can’t save itself.

Christmas in about our in ability to save ourselves from the darkness.

One of the major themes of Christmas is a light to dispell the darkness.

It’s about God sending his Son, the light of the world, into the world, otherwise there would never be no light for the world.

Christmas is the story of God using them most unlikely and unexpected way to bring light into darkness.

The light of Christmas shines into our dark sinful conditions, and the only way we can see it is through the faith.

Ephesians 5:14 ESV

for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

When we experience the light of the world through faith, not only do we come alive in Christ, but also are given the wonderful privilege of sharing the light of Christmas with others.

In chapter four of the book of Zechariah we come to the fifth vision of eight that Zechariah received from the Lord.

This vision was given to encourage the people rebuilding the temple.

If Satan can’t stop God’s people from the work, then he will do all he can to discourage them in the work.

This vision serves as a great encouragement for God’s people to keep our priorities straight when it comes to sharing the light of Christmas.

The first three verses reveal that sharing the light of Christmas is the primary purpose of God’s people.

1. Sharing the Christ is the primary purpose of God’s people.

Zechariah 4:1–3 ESV

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 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.”

Like last week’s vision, we need to understand the symbolism in this vision.

We find the primary purpose of God’s people in the identity of the lampstand.

Most likely, this is referring to the lampstand that was found in the holy place in the temple.

It was the priest responsibility to go into the holy place daily to trim the lights and add special olive oil.

The lampstand in the holy place represented the people of God gathered for worship and shining forth the glory of God to a dark and dismal world.

If the lampstand in the holy place represented God’s people shining the light of God to the world, then it’s safe to say that the lampstand represents the same responsibility.

In the book of Revelation we find the very same symbolism used with the seven churches being represented by seven lampstands.

God’s people under the Old and New Covenants have always had the purpose of shining forth the light of God in a dark world.

The very first time you find the world “light” in the Bible is in the first chapter of the book of Genesis.

The last time you find the world “light” used it is in the last chapter of the book of Revelation.

In between the first and last mentions of “light” in the Bible you have the people of God, both Old and New covenants, responsible for sharing and shining the light of God.

In the middle of the two mentions you have Jesus Christ, the light of the world, appearing in history to bring salvation to the world.

For God’s people during Zechariah’s day, their faithful work in rebuilding the temple of God was a way of sharing the light of God to the Gentile nations all around them.

Today, we shine for God’s light by building God’s temple also, but his temple is not made of stone, but of people. Our primary purpose as God’s people is sharing Jesus with the world.

Fortunately, God gives us what we need to fulfill this purpose.

God’s people empowered by the Holy Spirit is the only way to effectively share Christmas.

2. God empowers us to share Jesus effectively.

Zechariah 4:4–6 ESV

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.

Zechariah begins to ask questions to understand the vision in verse four. It’s a word that God is giving to Zerubbabel because he is the leader at the time, which means it is also a word from God to the people.

We need to remember that verse six is given in the context of rebuilding the temple. Since rebuilding the temple was their way of shining forth the light of God, God is going to show them the only way of being effective in witnessing for God.

Verse six teaches us that you can’t rely on your own strength and power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit to shine the light of God effectively.

1) You can’t rely on your own strength and power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:6 “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.”

Notice the negative of verse 6, “not by might, nor by power…”

The Hebrew word for “might” has the meaning of collective force. It can speak of an army,wealth, strength, or virtue. A good interpretation for might can be “resources.” Not by human resources.

The word “power” means force, but not in the collective sense. It speaks of a firm and resolute force. A good interpretation of “power” can be “resolve.”

God wants to stress to his people that kingdom work cannot be done by human means.

It can be done by human resources or human resolve. Therefore, God’s people must refuse to try to do God’s work in their own strength.

Instead, God’s people must rely on the Spirit of God. Notice the positive of verse six, “Not by might, nor by power, but my My Spirit, says the Lord of host.”

Only by God’s Spirit can we effectively do kingdom work and shine forth the light of God.

In the first chapter of the book of Acts the Lord promised the disciples that they would receive power to be his witnesses and shine forth the good news of Christmas.

Last year, Christianity Today interviewed J.D. Greear about the Holy Spirit. When asked, “How would you characterize your relationship with the Holy Spirit?,” he replied, “I began to discover that an understanding of our relationship with the Holy Spirit helps to soothe these anxieties. Instead of saying, “Look at all that God needs me to do for him,” the Spirit reminds us to say, “Look at what God is empowering me to do.”

God’s people empowered by the Holy Spirit is the only way to be effective in shining forth the light of the world, Jesus Christ.

When we are empowered by God’s Spirit he promises victory.

2) God promises victory when you trust his power.

Zechariah 4:7 ESV

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!’ ”

The great mountain is referring to the immediate difficulty of rebuilding the temple, possibly the pile of ruble they had to work with.

In a wider sense, the great mountain speaks of any and every difficulty God’s people face when shining forth the light of God’s kingdom. God tells them that the mountain will become a plain, if they rely on his grace and Spirit to do the work.

Zechariah 4:8–9 ESV

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.

The work will be complete.

There will be victory over bad attitudes.

Zechariah 4:10 ESV

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.”

Those who thought the work of rebuilding was insignificant compared to the first temple would end up rejoicing.

Furthermore, “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth” means that the Lord takes pleasure in his people when they fully rely on his Spirit to do kingdom work.

The primary purpose of God’s people sharing the good news of Jesus is only effective when God’s people are empowered by God’s Spirit.

God doesn’t ask us to do anything that he won’t enable us to do.

You see, God wants to use you to share the good news of Christmas to a dark and dismal world.

3. God wants to use you to share the light of Christmas in a dark and dismal world.

Zechariah 4:11–14 ESV

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.”

The olive trees on the right and left represent the two anointed ones. T

he two anointed ones are Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince.

They were God’s anointed leaders who drew their authority and strength from the Lord.

It’s interesting that God’s anointed leaders become the source of oil for the light. God uses leaders to nourish and strengthen his people.

Here is where we need to be real careful.

For this is an area where we often trust in human resources and resolve at it relates to leaders and leadership.

In verse 6 the Lord did not say that he would do the work by Spirit-anointed leaders.

Instead, he says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Host.”

God is the one who does the work, and his people are the agents in which he does the work by His Spirit.

You can have chocolate in milk and yet not have a glass of chocolate milk. Let’s compare a glass of milk to a person and the chocolate to the Spirit given to that person when they receive Christ as their Savior. If you pour the chocolate in the milk and let it set, the chocolate stays on the bottom. A person is given the indwelling of the Spirit when they received Christ and are justified before God. Now take that same milk with the chocolate at the bottom and stir it. The milk and chocolate blend together and you have chocolate milk that tastes delicious. The stirring is the believer allowing the Holy Spirit to change and transform the soul. Through prayer, reading Scripture, confession of sin, and many spiritual disciplines spiritual transformation occurs.

The primary purpose of God’s people is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

God’s people empowered by the Holy Spirit is the only way to be effective in doing the work of God.

God wants to use you! Are you a part of God’s people? Then rely on God’s Spirit to share the good news of Christmas with those around you. If you are not a part of God’s people, then come to Jesus today.

If you need Jesus today, then in faith call out to the Lord to save you.

If you are a part of God’s people make this your prayer: Oh, Lord, in whatever ministry I am involved, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would be present with His controlling power. Amen.