What Choice Do I Have?

Last 3 Prophets

From Christmas to Easter

Last words of the OT before God went dark for 400 years.

No HS, prophets, burning bushes or talking donkeys.

What do you do? You’re not hearing from God.

They had to either, go back to what God had said in the past. Or, they had to make it up as then went.

They did more of the latter than the former.

Let’s not throw stones. When God is silent, either He’s already told us and is waiting for us to do what He said, or we’ve created a distance and can’t hear Him.

Do we go back to what He told us? Or do we just make it up as we go and claim He’s it’s from Him?

We finished Haggai last week. This week we start Zechariah.

Zechariah has more about the bigger picture and what to expect in the end than any other prophet.

Other prophets had some to say, but Zech has the most to say about what’s going to happen in the end.

What we know about the past, present and future affect choices we make eery day.

Choices

There are a few things that I am in charge of that I have to do.

Sara’s husband.

My 3 kids, 2 grand kids.

If I don’t do it, it doesn’t happen.

We have choices like that.

You make choices every day that nobody else can make.

You buy, save, eat, exercise, BS, prayer. parent, spouse, friend, etc.

There are ppl around us who have to make good choices. If they don’t we die.

Sara flew to Dakar. The pilots who flew her planes.

There are surgeons operating on that Mercy ship right now, nurses assisting, technicians working.

Kobe’s helicopter pilot. We trust ppl to make good choices.

There are surgeons operating on that Mercy ship right now, nurses assisting, technicians working.

You trust me as the pastor of the church to make good choices. If I don’t make good choices, will the church die?

Some ppl may think so.

I’ve been in church bsns mtgs where it seemed ppl felt strong that way. They were so intense and emotional it was as if they bel’d if we didn’t do what they thought we should the church would explode.

Of course, what was happening in the way everyone on all sides was handling the issue was causing the church to explode.

It was less about the issue and more about the choices the ppl were making during that time.

We get into those situations and think we have more control than we do and are desperate to make ppl do what we think they need to do.

This church existed long before I got here, it will be here after I’m gone. You, too.

God stirred in the heart of a group of ppl in 1982 to start this church and here we are almost 40 years later and a million human choices later.

The choices that were made and that we all make have an influence on the impact we have in the community for Jesus and how we all get along.

Choices we make affect our relationships, our collective relationship w/ the community, and the community’s collective relationship w/ God.

All that said, I think many of the ppl in Washington DC have lost their collective minds.

They are desperate to make everyone do what they think they need to do and if they don’t the country will be destroyed. Gone. Explode.

And, I’m no expert, but it seems, what’s causing the explosions are not the issues but how people are handling them.

They are tough issues. But, the ppl involved seem to believe they have more power, control, and influence than they really do.

It would be good for all concerned to take a step back and realize this country has been here for a long time. It’s been divided before. Tough issues have been addressed and resolved. And, yet, here we are.

Almost as if there has been a divine influencer who really is in control, while at the same time giving men and women in leadership the opportunity to make daily choices.

One of the most difficult places we land as Christians is coming to understand what is our choice versus what is God’s choice and His influencing our choices.

I don’t all the answers on this one.

But, I do know this; God is in control and setting the stage for how and when things are going to end on earth by influencing influential people as they make their choices every day.

I also know this, we have a lot to do w/ how well our lives go between now and then.

Learn from your past, choose wisely in your present, and trust God for your future.

Quick overview of Zechariah

Zechariah

8 visions in one night. Pictures from God that help explain why Israel is where they are and where they are going in the future.

We’re all better visual learners. Pictures help.

And, help us understand how to avoid the same trouble.

4 messages. To confront them for the bad behavior and beliefs. They were hypocrites in their spiritual lives.

Hypocrites was a Greek actor. He’d wear a mask to play a role on stage but it wasn’t who he was in real life.

The Israelites were wearing spiritual masks playing roles when they were at a worship service but it wasn’t who they really were the rest of the week.

God is sovereign, has dominion, control, power over over the entire earth. But they lived like they believed they controlled Him and they were sovereign.

Here he addressed their insincerity and remind them that their disobedience is why they were disciplined.

This was their agreement w/ God that Moses made. If they live faithfully and obediently then they get to stay in the land, God will protect them and the land will produce.

But, there was always hope in the message as an encouragement. Their long-term future was secure as a nation. God will eventually restore them, always.

Remember, the entire OT was written to a nation w/ individual implications. The NT was written to individuals w/ group implications.

Israel as a nation is going to get their kingdom. It’s going to happen eventually. But, what happens to individuals along the way depends on the choices they make.

For us to understand, too.

2 oracles. An oracle is wise advice based on an accurate prediction of the future.

If it’s going to snow we should wear a jacket; as if weather predicting is accurate.

Zechariah says the Messiah, Jesus, is going to come twice. Get to know Him the 1st time He comes so that the 2nd time He comes He knows you.

Israel is going to get scattered throughout the world b/c they are going to reject Him the 1st time. Accurate prediction?

This was written to Jews. There are still lessons for us.

Then, at his 2nd coming; the individuals who know Him, not just know about Him, but believe in and have rec’d Him as Savior, therefore He knows them, they get assigned to live forever in His kingdom.

Wise advice based on an accurate prediction of the future.

Today we’re going to look at the first 2 visions in the 1st chapter of his book.

Before he gets into the visions, he gives us and introduction of where his book is going.

Introduction

Zechariah 1:1–6 NIV

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ”

The time frame was Oct./Nov. of 520 BC. Actually, before Haggai’s 3rd and 4th messages that I talked last week.

These guys lived at the exact same time and wrote similar messages to the ppl.

Based on the Mosaic covenant, that ended when Jesus died on the cross, God wasn’t going to let them get too comfortable if they persist w/ unrepentant hearts.

According to Haggai, they had had a change of heart by now. But, would it last? Were they sorry for the bad they had done to God, or were they sorry their lives were messed up ?

About God or about them? Selfless, or selfish?

Learn from the mistakes of your ancestors. Don’t repeat them or you’ll face the same discipline.

It’s always better to learn from others’ mistakes.

Repent and return to me and I will return to you. It’s personal. It’s relational.

The offer to repent and return is born of grace and generosity. God would have justified to squish them for their bad actions.

Their ancestors failed to listen to their prophets. Will you listen to yours?

They are all long-since dead. But, their predictions all came to pass as did their warnings.

At the time the prohets were written off as pessimistic nay-sayers; not speakers on behalf of God. Ooops.

Would have been a good idea to pay heed. Are we?

He wasn’t confronting them on the occasional lapse. Ways and practices are lifestyle and habitual actions. It was prolonged, drawn out, outright rebellion.

God is more concerned about the movie of our lives than the snapshots in our lives.

God had dealt w/ previous generations and that dealing was coming to an end. But, now, they falling into the same patterns of belief and behavior evidenced by the delay in construction of the temple.

The word “overtake” is a hunting term. A hunter overtakes its prey. It doesn’t escape even though it things it might get away. God overtook the previous generations and He will this one too if that’s what’s called for..

Those that came before them failed to respond to the warnings of the old prophets and now they’re dead. This generation will be, too, if they fail to heed these last 3 prophets.

Don’t doubt the seriousness of the warning.Don’t doubt the importance of His command to change beliefs and behaviors. And, don’t doubt that God is in ultimate control.

If they want to experience everything that is available from God then they need to surrender everything to God.

Peace and Hope

Zechariah 1:7–17 NIV

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.” Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.” And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.” Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty. “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’ ”

Now it’s February, 519 BC. All 8 visions come this night.

Zecharian 1:7-1

This is his first vision. A calm, peaceful, pleasant picture of powerful horses and 1 rider in a beautiful valley surrounded by blooming myrtles.

Like so many parks and clearings we see on our rough-rider rides through out the forest.

Smell the flowers, feel the warm sun and calm breeze, see the powerful horses, but at rest.

It’s as if they’ve been on a long, hard ride, but everyone is rested and ready for whatever comes next.

What does it mean? God, thru an angel and the rider explained to Zech what He wanted him to understand about the picture.

The fast and powerful horses represent God’s irresistible dominion over then entire earth. They had just returned from exercising that dominion.

Culturally, 4 represented completeness, totality. North, South, East, and West. The horses traveled over every nation and land mass on earth.

No individual, nation, collection of nations, even the entire population could not come together to dominate God.

He dominates everything and everyone.

The Hebrew word for walk is, halak. It mean to walk in or walk around exercising dominion, power, and authority.

Just like those toddlers, playing, coloring on the walls thinking mom isn’t looking and will never figure out who did it. Just then she walks in and exercises her dominion, power, and authority on the kids.

Those kids combined strength and intellect are no match for and angry mom.

Once her wrath has eased and the punishment comes to an end there is peace in the house. No crying, no tears, just hugs and the smell of a strong cleanser that washed the marker off the walls.

That’s the picture. God wrath easing. The discipline coming to an end. Restoring the relationship w/ His ppl and they are now eager to please Him w/ faithful obedience and receive his grace and mercy once again.

4 cavalry charges announcing He is Lord of all. No wars. Everything is peaceful. This was a good time for God to undo the 70-year exile and have compassion on His ppl.

It’s happening even as Zech is writing this.

God is jealous for his ppl. Not jealous of his ppl.

I am jealous for Sara, not of her. I’m not jealous of anything she has or does. I am jealous for her in that I want her to reserve her intimate love for only me. And if she lets another in where only I should be then we will have a problem.

That’s what Israel did. They welcomed another in where only God should have been. Thus, the exile.

In that exile, in that punishment of Israel, Babylon and Persia went farther than God wanted them to go.

He used them for His purposes but gave them the freedom make their own choices for their purposes and they went too far on Israel.

Now, the Persians had conquered all other world powers and imposed their peace on the region. Peace, nonetheless.

God was at work in the world, even among non-believing and hostile nations to set the stage for Israel’s return to the PL.

God was no longer angry at Judah or Israel. He turned His anger toward to nations he used to punish them.

That brought them hope for the present and the future. Many were still dispersed throughout the area and they were a beat-down ppl.

But, they had turned the corner. Many had survived. Though in poverty, paying taxes to the Persian king, they were back in the PL and God was promising to restore their prominence and prosperity.

They had learned their lesson, their hearts had changed, the temple would be rebuilt, and a new age of prosperity had begun.

The picture of the future was beautiful, peaceful, serene. Protected and provided for by a powerful God.

How did it all happen? How did they get there?

Vision #2 that night.

How’d It Happen?

Zechariah 1:18–21 NIV

Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

Zechariah 1:

4, again represents completeness, totality.

In the bible, a horn represents power, authority, prestige, and influence.

Then, 4 craftsmen cut off the horns. One craftsman for each horn.

The horns represented 4 world powers who successively and successfully oppressed and scattered the Jews away from the PL during this ear.

There had been a civil war in the midst of Israel’s time of rebellion. The north kept the name Israel and the south took the name Judah.

The 1st horn was the Assyrians who conquered the northern tribes 200 years before Judah fell.

The 2nd horn was the Babylonians who conquered the Assyrians and then Judah.

The 3rd horn was Egypt who became a world power again and conquered much of the Babylonian empire.

The 4th horn was Persia who conquered all of Babylon and Egyptians.

Each had its craftsman. And the Greeks were the craftsman that took down the Persians.

All this set the stage for Israel to be able to return to God, return to the PL, return to prominence and prosperity in the region.

And, they would have been able to remain had they just been faithful and obedient to God while they lived there.

But then their disobedience once again set the stage for Jesus to appear the 1st time as the sacrificial lamb who put an end to all other animal sacrifice and usher in the age of grace and the time of the Gentiles we now live in.

So, you see how God has a plan. He has had it since the beginning of time. It allows for individuals to choose their daily beliefs and behaviors.

And it allows for Him to direct our steps to get us where He wants us to be as He sets the stage for the end.

How does it all work. I don’t know. But I know it does.

God has shown us pictures of the end. We know how it’s going to end. We don’t know how we’re going to get there or when it’s going to happen. But, we are and it is.

In the meantime, how do we live our lives. Live as if God is sovereign and has dominion over the entire earth.

Make your daily beliefs and behaviors based on God having ultimate control over everything while giving you the opportunity choose what you want to do.

And don’t lose you mind when things don’t go exactly the way you think they should.

Applications

Doubt

Don’t doubt the seriousness of God’s commands, warnings, offers of life and blessings, nor question whether or not He is really in control.

Even though things may not be going the way you think they should, or you’d like them to go; God has a bigger plan than just you. It involves you. But, it’s not just about you.

Don’t doubt. Have faith that you will be part of the group that wins in the end.

Learn

Learn from past mistakes and don’t repeat them.

Learn from your own and learn from others.

If it hurt you in the past it will hurt you again in the future.

We’re not dogs, these aren’t tricks. We can still learn to do new things even at our age.

Pay attention and pay heed to the life-lessons you continue to learn.

Relax

Know the limits of your abilities and responsibilities and don’t try to live beyond them.

See the bigger picture.Believe in a sovereign God who has dominion over every nation, land mass, and individual in the world.

God is setting the stage for the end and it does not matter who is in the oval office.

No president, king, queen, prime minister, ayatollah, or prince can mess up God’s plan. We can only mess up our own lives and the lives of those we touch.

Please let that be reflected in your political discussions in person and on FB.

This country has been around long before this president and the last one. And, it will be around until God says it isn’t.

There is no reference in the bible to any nation resembling the US in the end times. Our influence as a world power is going to come to an end when and only when it fits into God’s plan for the end.

Relax and only do what you can.

Surrender everything to God.

Vote.

Get involved in this community and represent Jesus to everyone you come in contact w/. When ppl see you, and see the way you treat them, they should see Jesus and expect t/b treated the same if He were here to do it himself.