Zechariah 5 - "Warning Signs”
Zechariah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro
Opening Statement - Warning Signs, are a great way to give you a heads up…for what NOT to do!! I have a few i’d like to show you.
Opening Illustration -
Do NOT place hand in disposal
Trail Unsafe when under water
Texting and Driving? Say it (does this mean text this?): “I’m the problem It’s Me”
Warning: If you think you can run across this pasture in 10 seconds, DON’T!! The BULL can do it in 9!!
If you hit THIS SIGN, you will hit THAT BRIDGE!!
Drive SLOW and see our CITY. Drive FAST and see our JAIL!!
Opening Background - And GOD was kind enough to give us some warning signs for ourselves.
Israel is (themselves) one of these signs.
As God uses Israel as an example for the whole world to see…
So we can learn from them.
From their wisdom.
And from their blunders
And Israel is also on the receiving end of the warning.
Because NO ONE gets a “free pass”
In this case - they have a job to do. A nearly impossible one, to rebuilt the temple, but more importantly, to rebuild their faith in the One True and Living God.
To encourage the people, God has sent them a series of eight visions through their prophet Zechariah - taking place around 520 B.C.
The visions have focused primarily on Israel, but will now start to gradually broaden to the world at large.
And the topic of todays two visions - #6, #7 - is everybody’s FAVORITE….<drum roll please> JUDGMENT!!
Relevance to CCB - Oh, how we love the “blessings” passages of the Bible. About love, grace, forgiveness, and peace….
But we also need to be warned about Judgement.
God’s message about judgment - in it’s current form - today, it’s a communication tool.
God is giving us this information to process because “He is longsuffering, wishing that none would perish.”
That Jesus came into the world, NOT to condemn the world, BUT THAT THE WORLD WOULD BE SAVED THROUGH HIM.
But make no mistake, there IS a rightful place for God’s judgement.
And as “uncool” as JUDGEMENT is (especially in churches today), it’s part of the TRUTH of God’s word.
So let’s understand it as a warning sign…
So that we apply that warning.
And the next best thing for us to do is
WARN OTHERS….in a loving and truthful way.
Today’s passage is going to cover two visions, both having to do with God’s judgement.
His judgement on the world.
His judgement on His people.
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1 - 4) Vision #6 - God’s Judgment on the World.
(v. 1) Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw - Vision #6
(v. 1b) and saw there a flying scroll -
Not a flying squirrel, a flying scroll.
A scroll was their ancient version of a book, a long writing, rolled up.
Some were on leather (animal skin), some papyrus (pulp from reeds)
But this scroll was abnormal for two reasons.
It was flying
It was unrolled
(v. 2) He said to me, “What do you see?
(v. 2b) I answered, “I see a flying scroll. It’s length twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.
it was unraveled - and able to be read on both sides
20 cubits by 10 cubits (each cubit about 18”) equals about 30’x15’
(v. 3) Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth.
This vision doesn’t seem good - it’s a curse
This vision actually will point to judgment - that is coming to the world.
This vision serves as a warning to the world.
This judgment calls out -
(v. 3b) Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll;
This speaks of the eighth commandment - (Exodus 20:15)
(v. 3c) Every perjurer (swears falsely) shall be expelled,” according to that side of it.”
This is the third commandment - (Exodus 20:7)
(v. 4) specifies a little further - the one who swears falsely by My name.
The third and eighth commandments are the center commandments of both tablets.
Effectively, representing the “Law”
This is a picture of man sinning against man - “thief” and God - “perjurer/swears falsely by My name.”
(v. 3) the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth - We’re seeing a shift from Israel to the whole earth. God isn’t just the God of Israel.
The curse that goes out - curse, oath, covenant, or agreement
to be expelled - cut off, desolate, or totally destroyed
This is speaking of judgment.
Judgment is God’s evaluation of human beings according to the standard of his own holy and righteous character. (Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, p 234)
We all have an impending judgment.
And the standard is “how did you live up to the law?”
Specifically, the 10-commandments. The the “Mosaic Law.”
Many people believe they HAVE lived up to the law.
Thinking that avoiding “adultery” and “murder,” etc qualifies you to be accepted before God.
Flip to Matt 19:16-26 - <Read along> “The Rich Young Ruler
The rich young ruler, THOUGHT, he kept the law.
So then Jesus called out his FLAW; which was greed.
When told to “sell all that he had,” (even though there’s nothing in the 10 Commandments about that), he walked away sorrowful…
The real tragedy in the story here, ISN’T that Jesus found sin in his life.
Jesus can easily find sin in all of our lives.
But was that this “rich young ruler,” thought that he could make it on his own.
Jesus further teaches the “real 10 commandments”
Regarding Adultery
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Meaning - if you’ve ever lusted, YOU are guilty of breaking the seventh commandment.
But wait, there’s more - regarding Murder
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
Meaning - if you’ve ever had unrighteous anger, YOU are guilty of breaking the sixth commandment.
But wait, there’s more -
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Meaning - if you’ve broken a single commandment, YOU are guilty of breaking the entire law.
It’s not looking so good now, is it?
So if the passing grade is perfection (100%); What is the punishment for failing?
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We’re used to “do-overs,” second-chances, and “oop’s I didn’t know”…
You might think - A single solitary sin is deserving of death?!?! That’s ludicrous
But should you not be thankful that Jesus will ENSURE that there is an ACCOUNTING for EVERY SIN?
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
AND, the atmosphere of heaven is literally HOLINESS…sinless perfection. Where ALL things exists in-line with God’s purposes, and NO single thing there goes against God in ANY way.
That’s why EVERY sin must be accounted for.
And thankfully, He gave us a way
After looking at the Rich Young Ruler walk away sorrowful because couldn’t please God by his own efforts, Jesus looked at his (equally astonished disciples) and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”
This is why the flying scroll, which reflects the entire law - curses, expels, and banishes ALL
A Spiritual Concept Worth Remembering is - The Law Condemns but the Spirit gives life, backed up by Rom 8:2, 2 Cor 3:6, Gal 3:24.
You could say, to put it simply, Zechariah’s 6th Vision - is that “the law condemns”
It goes out over the face of the whole earth (no one is too far, geographically, ethnically, culturally, or across any time period….for God’s reach) and
The end of every thief and perjurer (or anyone who is judged by the law) … “It (the curse) shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name (blaspheming the name of God). It (the curse) shall remain in the mist of his house and consume (completely destroy) it, with its timber and stones.
The judgment of living by the law is that you will burn up in your own house.
This includes Jews and Gentiles. No one get’s a free pass.
Vision #6 speaks of God’s Judgment on the World.
You could say, this Flying Scroll serves as a Warning sign - DO NOT TRY TO LIVE BY THE LAW!!!
Read along (vv. 5 - 11) Vision #7 - God’s Judgment on His People.
(v. 5) Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is…
(vv. 6-8) This vision includes a basket, a woman inside, and a lead disc/cover -
We just saw how terrible sin is...it renders you completely unacceptable before God and subject to His judgement.
(vv. 7b) and now…the basket, the woman, and the lead disc, (v. 8) this is wickedness! (guilt or sin)
In the Bible, when women are used as symbols, they represent a religious system.
Israel (Rev 12). The Church (Eph 5; Rev 19)
False religious systems - Of the Antichrist (Rev 17), etc.
The basket is is an lit. ephah - a measuring basket for grain. About a bushel in size, or about 38 quarts. It represents the economy/commerce.
The lead disc is a talent of lead - a unit of measurement, used as a counterweight on the scales to buy/sell things.
It is most commonly understood that this basket, woman, lead scene here represents -the sin of Materialism.
Prior to being exiled. The Jew’s were largely guilty of idol worship (false gods)
During exile, the Jew’s FINALLY abandoned false gods...and never went back to them - YAY!!
However, AFTER the exile - they picked up materialism (commercialism, living in luxury, living selfishly, greedily, even turning to usury)
Why and at what point does it become a sin?
Why? Because there comes a point where we are consumed with the desire for the “thing” rather than God. And when that happens, it has become and idol…(But I thought Israel had just removed idols?).
Materialism is really just a sneaky form of Idol worship.
It acknowledges God outwardly…with your lips. These people still go to church.
But replaces God inwardly with a new god.
God needs to be our #1 top concern in life…nothing else.
Matthew 22:37–38 “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
ALL the commandments could be summed up into that ONE.
And the clothes, car, or investment account gives us a “false sense of security,” because we feel good for a time.
Mark 4:19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
True happiness is is joy, which is totally disconnected from your circumstances.
I would even say - a good litmus test for “materialism” is if your happiness rises and falls with the acquisition of your stuff or your bank or investment account…you may have a problem.
When does materialism becomes a sin?
That is like asking, “How much can I drink without getting drunk?”
In both cases, if you’re asking how far you can go with it before its a problem, you’re probably too far.
The sin of excessive indulgence - will become Israels new stumbling block. We know from Nehemiah and Malachi - they become a self-centered, materialistic, society…
It’s like someone quitting smoking (idols) by picking up vaping (materialism).
Counter-point - there is nothing wrong with enjoying within reason some of the luxuries and comforts of the world…only up until the point that it begins to take your eyes off Jesus.
What is so dangerous about this sin, is how easy it is to creep into the church.
Materialism is a sneaky sin - that can easily infect EVEN God’s children…so be careful
Consider this another WARNING SIGN, to NOT fall into the dangerous sin of MATERIALISM.
God’s Judgement on Materialism. (vv. 8-9) And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.
These two women are most likely evil (not angels)
No where in the Bible do we see female angels.
Storks are seen as “protectors” as they protect this women and set her safely in Shinar.
(vv. 10-11) God will rid Israel materialism - God will send this basket of sin to Babylon (Shinar). Ultimately in the last days. So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?” And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”
God will rid His nation of materialism - by removing the people
Or by removing the sin from the people
Either way…God’s end state for His people is to have NO SIN among them.
Shinar has been a city representing godlessness from the very beginning with Nimrod in Gen 10.
Shinar (Gen 11) became home to the worlds first religion of “self-worship,” where the people built a tower to reach the heavens themselves…because they didn’t need God. Nor were they obeying His command to scatter and multiply.
So God did it Himself….and confused their languages. The place became known as Babel (AKA Babylon).
Babylon and Shinar is virtually synonymous in the Bible.
Babylon (the city of evil) is the second most mentioned city in the Bible (insert stat), behind Jerusalem (God’s city).
The fact that this contraption that represents excessive indulgence and materialism being returned to Babylon, is very interesting. Because….
At the end of the Tribulation, excessive materialism will return to Babylon…which (among other reasons), she will ultimately be judged/destroyed for…(Rev 18)
What do we need to know?
God has given us a warning sign; DO NOT LET RICHES EVER COME BETWEEN YOU AND GOD!
Closing
Closing Application
God has given us warning signs.
DO NOT TRY TO LIVE BY THE LAW.
DO NOT LET RICHES TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF GOD.
Closure - Judgement is a tough topic to accept. But if it’s true, it SHOULD be talked about.
The Bible teaches that All sin MUST be paid for,
To be paid either by YOU
Or Jesus
How much does it cost?
The cost is infinite…
So if you decide to pay you’ll be paying for an eternity.
But God - has unlimited resources (Zech 4:6), even including a way to pay for our sin.
How much exactly? Romans 5:20 “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
And that Grace was purchased at the cross.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Jesus died for you, so that you can have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
He paid the cost already, by His Life/Blood,
So that you can be approved by God, NOT because you’re good
But because He’s good…and when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are signed, sealed, and delivered, by His Blood.
Because when God see’s YOU, He sees Him.
To accept, all you have to do is make a faith decision.
I’ll help you to do that if you’d like, during our prayer!
Let’s Pray
For salvation -
I pray for forgiveness of that person who has tried to “make it on their own.”
Pray with me - Lord, thank you for showing me that I CAN’T make it on my own. PLEASE, forgive me… “be merciful to me, a sinner!”
I acknowledge that in order to rescue me from myself, you sent Jesus Christ Your Son to this world, a perfect man, to die on the cross…to be buried for three days…and to defeat death as He rose again!
I pray for your faith to come into and renew their heart - to take that heart of stone and turn it back into a heart of flesh.
Pray with me - Lord, my heart has turned hardened…I don’t feel like I should. PLEASE, do heart surgery on me…and convert this stony heart into a soft heart full of love, joy, and peace!
I pray for you to be the LORD of their life. That as YOU died, giving up your life for THEM…that THEY would die to self, and give over what remains of THEIR life to YOU.
Pray with me - I want EVERYTHING You have for me Father God. I TRUST YOU with my whole life.
For sanctification -
May we heed your warnings:
By sharing with others - By “spreading the Word,” that have found the way…out of damnation!
By not “buying in” to this materialistic world of excessive indulgence, hurting our relationship with You!
May we personally grow in our faith, by the power of your Spirit!
Benediction - “May the Lord bless you, and keep you, and make His face shine upon you this week!
Notes -
Please come up if you accepted Christ or if you would like prayer!
We want to fully equip you!
In about 10 minutes we’ll start to move chairs and setup tables for fellowship meal
If you want to help with that, please see Keith!
