What Did You Expect?
Notes
Transcript
Last 3 Prophets
Last 3 Prophets
Emphasizing the last. Last words.
They explain the last actions and reactions of God in the OT.
Which shed light on the beginning of the NT.
When it comes to last words, it means a lifetime of education and experience precede them. Important information.
When God went dark, silent for 400 years, it wasn’t like He didn’t warn them. There was good reason.
Then, when He broke His silence, they didn’t recognize His voice.
He didn’t do what they expected, nor what they wanted.
But, it wasn’t like God didn’t prepare them.
They didn’t trust the source.
Weather
Weather
Media people will tell you that the weather now drives the ratings of local news.
The sports segment now all about high schools and the local universities and pro teams. Loyalties are so divided there’s no strong interest.
We get our sports news online.
Traffic reports, accidents, local crime are of interest to those who are affected. But, again, we get so much more online.
People tune in for the weather.
But, Weather forecasters are getting better. Technology is improving. They are more accurate than ever.
Still, probably all of us have a weather app on our phone.
The local teams subscribe to the same weather services we can check online.
As accurate as they are getting, it’s still not 100%.
I remember 1 Christmas Eve in Indiana.
If you’ve ever lived around the Great Lakes area you know what lake affect show is.
The east side of the lakes gets lake affect snow and feet more than the west side. Buffalo, NY always gets hammered. Cleveland does not.
South Bend gets piled on. Chicago does not.
The front, the system comes thru and it snows like it does here.
But, then you have the low pressure system that rotates counter-clockwise, picks up cold air in the wind from Canada, it comes around and blows over the warmer water in the lake. Then, as the wind comes ashore it dumps feet of snow.
Long, skinny bands of snow that will sit for hours w/out moving and dump a foot per hour.
Once Xmas eve, all the weather forecasters were telling us everything was setting for a record setting dump of lake effect that night in into Christmas day. They were sure.
Many churches canceled their Xmas eve services, especially the later ones. Go home. prepare. Enjoy the holiday.
Santa was going to need Rudolph this night.
We hold our service early. No snow when we’re done, but it’s coming.
We wake up in the morning. Nothing.
The weather people were certain. And the ppl were mad!
No white Xmas. No sledding. Nothing.
They were sure. We wanted it and expected it.
Christmas day we watched the weather to see what they’d say. Every one of them said, “We don’t know.”
They shrugged, chuckled, and we all moved on.
It happens.
Last summer we saw two forecasts about this winter up here.
The Farmer’s Almanac said we’d have a cold, snowy winter.
The Weather Service said we’d have a mild dry winter.
Who was right? Both, sort of.
We had a cold snowy fall and 1st week of winter at Christmas.
Then, it’s been mild and dry since New Years.
When you check the weather, do you dress for the weather you want?
Show up in a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops?
It’s freezing in the morning.
Down parka, ski mask, and heavy boots?
It’s 50, almost 60, in the afternoon.
Do you dress for what you expect? How good is your source?
Are you prepared for what you want? What if that’s not what you get.
Are you prepared for what you expect? How good is your source?
Same questions apply to your next encounter with Jesus.
And, you will encounter Jesus! Are you prepared?
Will He be the God you want?
Will He be the God you expect? How good is your source?
One of the more challenging things in life is to explain to someone who has never had an encounter w/ God what an an encounter w/ God is like.
Or, explain to someone who’s never heard the voice of God what God’s voice is like.
You come to church w/ a set of wants and expectations.
But, it’s different in a different context.
Maybe you heard an athlete say, “I prayed about it and God told me to sign the contract.”
Or, God told me to swing at that pitch. Or was the trash can being banged in the dugout.
There’s a level of skepticism.
Or, if you hear it in the political arena. Mike Pence said he hears from God. There were members in the media and entertainment who said he’s crazy. He’s hearing voices.
So, you probably have one set of expectations sitting here in church, while we’re singing, while we’re praying, or while we’re studying.
And, then, do you have a different set of expectations when you’re not here?
Why do you expect what you do?
What do you want from God? Do you know?
Are you ready? Will He surprise you? Disappoint you? Or, will you miss it altogether?
Here’s the point today:
It’s important to know what you want from God. It’s important to know what you expect of God. So when you encounter God you don’t miss what He has for you.
We’re in Zechariah ch. 6 this morning. It’s the last of the 8 visions. He had all 8 in one night in what would have been Feb of 519 BC.
What does he see?
War Machines
War Machines
I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black, the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful.
He’s seen 4 horses before in his first vision. But they were idling in a meadow of myrtles. They had been out, now they are resting b/c everything was peaceful.
This vision is of 4 chariots all pulled by a team of horses.
Each team was a different color. No mention of the riders.
The first vision was peaceful time in the near future.
But, chariots are war machines. They are not made for transportation. They don’t represent peace. They rep war.
It’s like a tank. Nobody has a tank in their garage, legally.
Nobody cruises around town in a tank. They are not made for simple transportation. They are made for war.
Hummers, or Hum-Vs are a different story. Military Hum-Vs are made to transport troops. Civilians could by a Hum-V. We’d see them around town.
Then, Hummer, built a version specifically for civilian use. In fact the Hummer plant was right behind our church in Indiana. Military factory. And, the civilian factory.
Large church, large auditorium, camera mounted in the back that would broadcast the music and sermon to TVs mounted in the lobby. Large lobby.
Parents w/ restless kids, or people who needed to stand, ushers out in the lobby could still watch and listen to what was going on inside.
That was until they started construction on the civilian factory. They put a pulsating noise on their buried phone lines so they could detect where they were and wouldn’t dig them up or destroy them.
The problem for us was their pulsating bled into our audio feed into those TVs so you couldn’t hear the preacher. All you heard was the pulsating. For 2 years our TVs were useless.
The chariots were war machines. No other purpose. The number 4 represented completeness, or totality.
Completely or totally what?
The explanation came next.
World Domination
World Domination
Zechariah 6:
The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”
They came from between 2 bronze mountains.
Bronze. Strong. Powerful. Meaning, they came from the presence of God and were on their way out.
Picture God meeting w/ His top warriors. In his situation room, then sending them out w/ an assignment.
Each chariot went a different direction. 3 are mentioned specifically. The fourth is implied.
North, South, East, and west. They covered the entire earth.
Powerful horses straining to be allowed to run. The rider, straining to maintain control and with a tight grip on the reins.
4 of them, each in 1 direction, covering the entire earth, completely, totally. God’s best warriors exercising His dominion, His domination over the entire earth.
Every nation, every tribe, every government, every military, every president, prime minister, king and queen forced to submit and subject themselves to God.
The 1st vision was near future. This is distant future.
This is apocalyptic. This is the end. Horses and chariots are common pictures representing the final battle before God’s kingdom is established once and for all.
And, in the end, when God imposes his will and domination on the world, you want to be on God’s side. B/C if you’re not, it’s not going to go well for you.
The one specific mention of the north and peace is to encourage Israel that once and for all they will no longer need to be concerned about Persia or Babylon. They are modern day Iran and Iraq.
Current events will tell you that they still are looking forward to the day when they don’t need t/b concerned about their Muslim neighbors invading.
God will force peace on them.
All this is to encourage Israel. The previous centuries had been hard on them. It was their own fault. But, God had promised them one day it would never again be hard.
Even if their lives came to an end on earth, that day when He installs His kingdom the faithful will rise and occupy it and experience life as God had intended all along forever.
All 8 visions, ch. 1-6, point to a time when God will send His Messiah, our Savior, to save the faithful.
His Messiah, our Savior, to save the faithful.
Parts of these visions were partially fulfilled in the 1st hundred years after he wrote.
Parts would be finally, and completely fulfilled in the very end.
And, part would be fulfilled in about 550 years from then.
What he wrote next was san oracle that concluded all 8 visions, but w/ special application to the 8th that he just wrote.
Remember, an oracle is wise advice based on an accurate predictions.
God made sure they knew what and who to expect when Jesus showed up the first time so they’d be ready when He shows up the 2nd time to finalize everything in His kingdom.
What to Expect
What to Expect
Zechariah 6:
Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’
There are 3 offices, or groups of ppl referenced here. A specific name is mentioned, Joshua the high priest, but the language leads us to understand that he referring to someone in the future.
Joshua is mentioned and his office and official role as high priest is important to the oracle.
Zerubabbel was the king, though not mentioned here, his throne is and the office of king is important to this oracle.
Zechariah was writing this, he was a prophet.
The role of a prophet was to hear from God and speak to the ppl on His behalf.
The role of a priest was to speak to God on behalf of the ppl and atone for the mistakes they made, the actions that violated God’s instructions to them.
Explain:
The role of the king was to hear from God and be in charge of the legislature (enact and retract laws), the judiciary (judge whether ppl had broken the laws and pronounce sentences), the military (Cmdr in Chief, decide who to attack, when to attack and how to defend), and the economy (commerce, construction, and taxation).
Prophet, priest, and king.
All of these offices up to this point and for some time will be occupied by different people.
God told Zechariah to tell the ppl to put a crown on the priest’s head. Priests didn’t wear crown. They wore something on their head, a mitre, not a crown.
Kings wore crowns.
But, what Zechariah the prophet is saying here that he rec’d from God, is that at some point in the future all of these offices will be merged and occupied by one person.
And, when that happens, be ready to do what He says.
God told Zechariah to tell the ppl to put a crown on the priest’s head. Priests didn’t wear crown. They wore something on their head, a mitre, not a crown.
Kings wore crowns.
But, then he says this man is called the Branch. So, not Joshua, but someone who is called the Branch will be the high priest at some point in the future. Put the crown on his head.
He will build the temple. But, priests didn’t build the temple. The king was in charge. Zerubabbel built the temple. Solomon before him built the temple.
The Branch, who is the high priest, who will wear the crown will build the temple.
He will be clothed in majesty, sit and rule on the throne.
Priests didn’t sit on and rule from the throne. Kings did.
God is communicating thru Zechariah the prophet to Israel, telling them who and what to expect when God is ready to exercise His authority over the entire earth.
He will send His chariots in all directions when it’s time to establish the kingdom. And, in preparation to govern in the kingdom, there will be one person who brings these offices together. A high priest who rules from the throne. A king who speaks to God on behalf of the ppl and atones for their sin.
When you see this one who brings these two offices together, recognize He is from God and will reign in His kingdom.
Who might that be?
Prophet, Priest, and King
Prophet, Priest, and King
One person in history has brought all this together.
A prophet speaks to the ppl on behalf of God.
Prophet
Prophet
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Jesus never spoke on His own behalf. He only spoke on behalf of His Father making Him a Prophet.
Priest
Priest
A priest speaks to God on behalf of the ppl
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
John 17:
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
John 17:
And, Jesus prayed for you and me.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:
A priest also atones for, makes payment for the cost of mistakes ppl make.
In the OT, the priest would kill the lamb and burn it on the alter.
Jesus didn’t kill a lamb, He is the Lamb. He climbed up on the cross allowing the Romans to crucify him as an atonement for everyone else’s sins.
He was the last to lose His life for our sins because the payment He made w/ His life lasts for all eternity and covers every sin ever committed by everyone who ever lived.
No more blood was shed, not more lives were taken b/c Jesus paid it all and covered our debt to God.
Jesus also came as King
King
King
Luke
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Kings were too important for their bums to sit directly on the animal. And, the animal that carried the king was too important for its hooves to touch the ground so they put their coats and palm fronds on the animal and then the ground ready to make Him their king.
Kings are legislative. But Jesus didn’t come to enact more laws. He came to fulfill the law and lift the burden of obeying so many pointless laws.
Kings are judicial. Jesus will judge whether or not every individual has kept the necessary laws and what their sentence will be.
Of course, he’s already served the sentence for anyone who wants to let Him pay for them.
Kings are military.
And, kings are in charge of the economy, commerce and construction.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
He came to clean out the temple and made the merchants mad. His response was that he would rebuild the temple.
When they heard him say this they should have been immediately reminded of what Zechariah wrote.
This should have been a clue. The king will build the temple.
But Jesus was not who or what they expected.
They expected the military leader to come and free them from the oppressive Roman govt.
But, that’s what Jesus will do the next time he comes. He will come on a war horse when it’s time to finally establish His kingdom.
The first time he came, he came on a beast of burden to fulfill the law and merge the offices of prophet, priest, and king.
He atoned for our sin so all who accept His payment on their behalf, by faith, now know Him.
So, when He comes the next time, as a warrior, sending the 4 chariots around the world, and establishes His kingdom, and only allows the ppl He knows into His kingdom we are ready.
Israel missed Him. He wasn’t who they expected. He didn’t do what they expected nor what they wanted.
They wanted Him to exalt them, tell the whole world what a great job they had done in developing and keeping the law.
They wanted to be the ruling party of the middle east in the c1.
But, b/c they expected the wrong thing and wanted the wrong thing they missed the main thing.
Don’t dress for the weather you want. Dress for the weather you expect. And, make sure your source is reliable.
Don’t dress for the god you want. Dress for the God you expect. And, make sure your source is reliable. Like Zechariah.
Applications
Applications
Prophet
Prophet
We have a prophet who hears from God and speaks to us.
When Jesus left He sent the HS and one of His jobs is to tell us what we need know and help us when we need to go.
We worship a God who is alive and speaks to us. Take the time and learn to how to ask, what to ask for, and how to listen.
Priest
Priest
You have a high priest who speaks to God on your behalf.
As Christians, we are all priests. We don’t need a go-between. But, there are times when we don’t know what to say, what to ask for, or what to do.
In those time the HS speaks on our behalf. When we don’t have the words, He does.
Be encouraged when you don’t know what to questions to ask God, the HS is asking for you and God will answer.
God will answer questions and give directions even when you didn’t know what to ask for.
Be encouraged and don’t be surprised when God answers a question you didn’t ask.
He’s also paid all the fines you owe God. That is, if you want to accept the gift of Him paying for them.
1st, let Him. Accept the gift. Then, thank Him, again.
King
King
You have a king who has legislated only 2 laws you have to obey.
Love God above everything else. And love everyone else as much as you love yourself.
He will judge you according to how you did.
Obeying these 2 laws begins w/ believing in Him and His program.
His game, his rules. There are only 2.
Relax and enjoy the grace under which you have the freedom to live.
What can you do today, this week, to affirm your commitment to these 2 laws?
What do you expect of God? What do you expect your next encounter will be w/ Him?
What do you want from Him?
Are you ready? Will He surprise you? Disappoint you? Or, will you miss it altogether?
It’s important to know what you want from God. It’s important to know what you expect of God. So when you encounter God you don’t miss what He has for you.
Don’t dress for the god you want or the god you expect unless you’re dressed for the God Zechariah and the other bible authors reveals to you.
What does that look like to you?