What's Your Problem

��SONG: Blessed Be your Name

CALL TO WORSHIP

This morning, as we come together to worship, I want to read to you from Psalm 6. If you have been searching for God – or felt overwhelmed by circumstances – and felt your soul overcrowded… I would invite you to spend time in the Psalms. It’s rich in its language about God and our relationship with Him. And if you will bury yourself in the Psalms, you’ll emerge knowing God and understanding life.

Psalm 6:11-12 records,

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them sing joyful praises forever.

Spread your protection over them,

that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;

you surround them with your shield of love. [i]

I don’t know what your circumstances are this week. But as we come into this place – we have cause to rejoice. God is our refuge. As we worship Him in spirit and in truth, He surrounds us with a shield of His love.

I invite you to worship God this morning – as the Praise Band leads us in song.

SONG: Days of Elijah

SONG: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

CONFESSION & REPENTANCE:

You may be seated.

The lyrics of the song tell our story:

How deep the Father's love for us; How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son; To make a wretch His treasure

It doesn’t matter how good we are – Scripture is quite clear, all our “righteousness” is like filthy rags before God. We’re sinners all of us. and NONE is good but God.

I invite you to pray with me a prayer of confession and repentance this morning:

PRAYER

Father, we come before you this morning, and we confess our sin to you: our pride, our selfishness, our lack of self-control, our need for control in our lives. In these things, we have not trusted in you, your Word, or your way for our lives.

And in that, we have invited pain, rather than your blessing. Forgive us our sin, our inclination to rely upon ourselves rather than lean into you. And in your love for us, please have compassion on our weaknesses, and send your Spirit to cleanse us and renew a steadfast spirit within us.

May we experience the lyrics of the song for ourselves, that we might boast in Jesus Christ, in His death and resurrection, because we KNOW with all our HEART – that His wounds have paid our ransom.

Lord, we thank you and in Jesus name we pray, Amen.

PEACE OF CHRIST

Friends, the great hope and truth of the Gospel is that as we confess our sins, and turn toward God, He is faithful and just to forgive us.

Chaplain: Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts. To this peace you are called as members of a single body. The peace of Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

(Let’s step outside our pews & share the peace of Christ with one another.)

SONG: Jesus, Lover of My Soul

PRAYER: God please be present in our midst, and may the meditation of our minds be pleasing in your sight. Amen.

SERMON

INTRODUCTION:

Welcome friends, glad to have the opportunity to share from God’s word with you this morning. I want to ask you a question this morning: it’s a loaded question,

“What’s your problem?”

You ever been asked that question? Maybe you were in a grumpy mood, maybe your plan had been interrupted, maybe somebody said something to you, maybe you got overlooked for something, maybe you feedback didn’t go well, maybe____ you fill in the blank.

But whatever our problem was, it affected things, it affected you… and it was evident to the world… you had a problem. Our problems shape our lives.

What’s your problem today? John Ortberg has said, “Tell me what your problem is, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

Some of ya’ll are like, “Chaplain, you just don’t know… I got problem(S). Plural baby.” Yeah, I know, but what’s the big one? The energy sucking, brain draining, emotionally tiring one – that problem?

I want you to highlight that in your head. Underline it. Circle it. That’s your problem. You’ve got it in your cross hairs. Hold it there. We’ll come back to it.

ZECHARIAH 4

Let me turn your attention this morning to the book of Zechariah. Though, it is a relatively short one. Yes, it is a book, for those of you estranged from your Old Testament.

Zechariah was actually one of the minor prophets. A prophet, of course, was someone through whom God spoke to His people, delivering messages of comfort in times of hardship, and affliction in times of their disobedience.

Well, the little book of Zechariah is largely one of comfort… So much so, some have even dubbed him, “the prophet of hope and encouragement in troublesome times.”[ii]

Personally, I really esteem Zechariah. He gets all His messages from God in visions or dreams. Since I like to sleep a lot (particularly during winter), I’ve found Zechariah’s model for connecting to God really appealing to me.

If only, right? But it’s not just the model, it’s the message. See, Zechariah records his visions for us… there are actually 8 in the book. All focusing on God’s people as they seek to rebuild the Temple, and in particular, they highlight the person, Zerubbabel, one of the guys leading the way.

TIMELINE

To understand the message for Zerubbabel, you’ve got to understand the context.

The visions that Zechariah records in this book, are received around 520 BC.

What we know from history books, is that… the people of Israel had a hard time of it leading up to this point.

Always the promise of God had been the stuff of Genesis 12: "[God] will make [them] into a great nation and I will bless [them]… and all peoples on earth [would] be blessed through [them].” [iii]

But that’s was always conditional upon their worshipping God, and God alone… AND fulfilling their role in God’s redemptive plan to reveal Him to the world, and thus become a blessing.

Unfortunately, Israel was proned to wander from God’s blessing into His judgment:

1. In 722BC – Northern Israel falls to Assyrian invaders

2. In 586BC – Judah, or Southern Israel, falls to Babylonian Invaders

The people of Israel are conquered. It’s said that they sought to stamp them out, so they scatter them across the known world.

In 538BC – After that period of 70+ years of exile… Approximately fifty thousand former exiles make their way back to Jerusalem and the nearby towns, with high hopes of resettling the land and rebuilding the temple (Ezra 2).

Of taking up again their place as God’s people to reveal God to the world.

In 536BC - The people then laid the foundation of the temple…

But then they’re met with opposition. Attacks and threats from surrounding people groups (Ezra 4:1–5; Hag 1:6–11). So the reconstruction of the temple ground to a halt… For 15 years…

Until 520BC – At which point, the chief purpose of Zechariah was to rebuke the people and motivate and encourage them to complete the rebuilding of the temple (Zech 4:9–10, Hag 1–2), and commit themselves to serving God.[iv]

Ultimately, what we encounter in the book of Zechariah, is this: the people of God have a problem. And we see God’s encouragement in the midst of their problem.

SCRIPTURE

Now, finally, let’s read together, Zechariah 4:6-10a

6 So 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 Almighty.

7 “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

10 “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DOES GOD GET BEHIND?

IT’s encouraging isn’t it? Now, have you ever had a problem… and gone to the Scriptures, and found something that just absolutely spoke to you.

Earlier, I asked you to bring your problem into the crosshairs. One would think, this is where I tell you this verse applies to your problem. That we should say, “Oh, not by might, or by power but by God’s spirit” That would be encouraging?

I don’t know. Honest, it might smack of more positive thinking, than faith. We’d know, in our heart of hearts, that doesn’t ring true.

Has God, by His spirit, resolved all your problems?

- solved your debt?

- set straight that annoying co-worker?

- miraculously healed your marriage?

- removed you from temptations?

No, in fact, so very many problems – haven’t been solved by God.

So, what should be encouraging here… leads us to a dilemma… doesn’t it? Either verses like these are completely irrelevant for our lives – b/c God doesn’t solve our problems, OR… it speaks to a specific kind of problem… And if so, what kind?

God is clearly at work in Zerubbabel’s problems. It begs the question, what kind of problems does God get behind?

3 KINDS OF PROBLEMS

To understand what problems God flattens before us… We’ve got to understand the problems that actually stand before us. I submit to you… there are at least 3 kinds of problems we encounter:

1. First, there are NON-PROBLEMS THAT AREN’T REALLY PROBLEMS. These are generally our first world problems. Examples:

a. Meme

b. Meme

c. Meme

d. Meme

These are first world problems. Not REAL problems.

For the record: God is NOT concerned with these problems.

2. Next, that brings us to SECONDARY PROBLEMS. Typically, these are problems that have gone on for a long time, without remedy. And though we’ve prayed for God to “level the mountain” they still stand before us, looming as large as ever.

Believe it or not, God is LESS concerned with SECONDARY problems.

Let me tell you why. It’s ‘cause we’ve actually “confused the problem.” These “problems” aren’t the main problem. They may, indeed, be problematic. But that’s because they’re generally either:

1. SYMPTOMS – caused by a larger problem that God IS concerned with.

2. Or they’re TRIGGERS – circumstances and events that God allows to lead us into greater connection with Him.

Some examples of when we’ve “confused the problem” might include:

a. Our TIME… Perhaps you identified TIME as your problem.

i. There’s never enough time in the day…

ii. Now, assuming you’re not diffusing a bomb, it’s possible, we’ve confused the problem.

iii. From God’s vantage point, perhaps the bigger problem is you haven’t got your priorities straight. That you’re not living within your limits. That you’re Seek Him first and ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS we want in our time would be added to you as well.

iv. It’s possible too… that what you’re unable to accomplish where God wants to be at work!

b. Or maybe you thought your problem was: MONEY

i. Maybe you’ve confused the problem.

ii. From God’s vantage point, it may be our (1) pride, or (2) lack of self-control, or even (3) priorities…

c. Perhaps you’ve thought your problem is: LUST

i. Temptation everywhere. But maybe you’ve confused the problem.

ii. From God’s vantage point: it’s not hormones, or the sexually charged culture we live in; it’s that we haven’t taken seriously the spiritual discipline of meditating on His word day & night. (2) Or that we haven’t truly fled from sexual immorality… (3) or that we’re going it alone, rather than leaning on each other… And therefore haven’t experienced the stuff of Romans 12 - you haven’t been transformed by the renewing of your mind.

d. You think you problem is: YOUR AGE

i. …From God’s vantage point, it’s your attitude.

e. You think your problem is: YOUR HEALTH

i. From God’s vantage point, it’s trusting in Him in spite of all circumstances

f. You think your problem is: A PERSON

i. From God’s vantage point – He’s interested in a conversation about YOU with you. That you might (1) consider the needs of others before yourself, (2) forgive as you’ve been forgiven, and even (3) LEARN to love your enemies.

g. You think your problem is: _______. You fill in the blank.

I wonder if you may have confused the problem?

Whether your problem is a symptom or a trigger… in both cases – our experienced “problem” is confused for the actual problem.

You might say, “Phil, how do you know?” Well, hello. God, in His sovereignty and wisdom has chosen NOT to deal with it – therefore “IT” must not be “IT” at all.

So what are actual problems?

3. ACTUAL PROBLEMS include:

a. Leveraging our Finances in support of the Kingdom purposes

b. Redeeming the Time with and for God

c. Honoring God in our Relationships

d. Serving God in Our Purpose

e. Trusting in God in times of uncertainty

f. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth

g. & Revealing God to the World

And to this you say, Phil… you’ve taken it all and made it all about God. No, friends, therein lies the problem. You see - everything IS about God – our world’s just been busy confusing the matter.

And THESE are the kinds of mountainous problems that God deals with and promises to reduce to rubble. And why is that the case? Because they’re problems that bring God glory.

CONTEXT OF ZECHARIAH – Underscores God’s Kind of Problems

Think again about the context of Zechariah – an initiative to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the Temple, to once again take up their responsibility as the people of God to reveal to the world the one true God.

It’s all about God. And when we connect our problem to Him – He’s glad to flatten it before us.

SO WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM AGAIN?

So let’s go back to your problem.. the one you highlighted in your mind earlier. How does that problem bring glory to God?

And if it doesn’t… then it might not be the actual problem in your life.

So often, we’re concerned with one thing… but it’s not the thing that’s eroding our soul, and destroying our lives. We need to ask God to reveal to us real problem, the actual problem, under which shadow we’ve lived under, and we need to ask God to flatten that.

So, let me ask again, what’s your problem?

Is it still the thing you’ve made it – or is there another something else that God really wants to deal with?

We don’t do ourselves any favor by adopting the “easier to deal with” human problem. I wouldn’t exactly tell you you’re making mountains out of molehills. Certainly, many of our adopted problems are mountainous…. BUT if our problem doesn’t bring glory to God, you can be sure you’ll end up climbing the mountain, rather than seeing God flatten it before you.

ILLUSTRATION

Have you ever watched the movie Everest? Friends, there’s a depressing film. Spoiler alert: everybody dies… mountain wins.

Having watched the film, I can guarantee you - I am not the kind of person to climb a mountain. No interest. However, I talk to a lot of people to whom it’s an exciting prospect & challenge.

Why is it, we, as humans seek pain? … I recall this quote from the film, “Human beings simply aren't built to function at the cruising altitude of a 747… Our bodies will be literally dying. And I mean literally dying. It's not called the Death Zone for nothing.”

We seem to seek just as much pain in our problems. I think that’s what it likes when we try to work “our problem,” rather than working on God wants to work on.

And I see people all the time trying to tackle mountains… by their own strength. That’s like living in the death zone.

Meanwhile, we get the right problem, we get the by-faith kind of problem, and God says He’ll MOVE the mountains.

HOPE

Maybe that’s you today, and you realize, there’s the problem you’ve got… and there’s the problem God wants to address. And you’ve been climbing the mountain yourself for years now… with no success, and have no hope of overcoming the problem.

Here’s some encouragement for you today: think about the community Zechariah writes to. This was often their experience too: they often made much of other problems, not identifying their spiritual connection and obedience to God as primary…

As God looks at the people who have rebelled against Him, time and again God perseveres in this relationship, holding out His hope to them, as he does for us…

I saw this meme some time ago on Facebook, a quote from Lisa Bevere:

“If you think you’ve blown God’s plan for your life, rest in this. You, my beautiful friend, are not that powerful.”

God’s message to you is much the same as the people of Israel. Consider God’s words in Zech 1:3, “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.”[v]

HOPE - MORE THAN THAT

There’s an invitation in this passage: that we acknowledge, when we adopt God’s problem as ours… it opens us up to His power and blessing.

We might object, “I’m not there yet…” or, “I’m not strong enough in my faith,” or, whatever else you’re thinking now…

But God hasn’t asked you to go it alone. God would say, let’s tackle this thing together.

Vs. 6 - ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

THE REST OF THE VISION

Let me back up to verses preceding this promise to Zerubbabel, the actual vision that Zechariah received:

VS 1, “Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

Now, if you’re wondering what’s going on here, you’re in good company, Zechariah himself asked the Angel (verses 4 & 11, omitted here). Each time, the Angel replies, “don’t you know?”

And that’s where we get the Angel’s explanation. It’s a symbolic representation of God’s Spirit empowering us as His witnesses in this world.

What kind of problem does God get behind? The unseen Angels around us must think, “Don’t you know?” But it’s easy to lose sight of.

God would that you might be a blessing to others. That your problem(s) – plural baby – would bring Him glory.

And so this morning we have a choice. We can keep climbing the mountain we’ve set before us until we reach the death zone…. or we can partner with God in His kingdom purpose in our lives, and see the mountain flattened before us.

Last time I’ll ask…. What’s your problem?

May God guide you in adopting the right one. Because as John Ortberg wrote, “Tell me your problem, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

I want my problems to reflect that I’m a person, like Zerubbabel, empowered by God to overcome great obstacles for His glory.

And my prayer for you is that God will advance you to greater problems still. That you might accomplish much for His kingdom, and become much in relationship to Him.

LONG WAY OFF

Perhaps that feels a bit far off for you.

Let Zechariah’s words encourage you, “10 “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

I particularly like the way the NLT renders this:

10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” [vi]

Hear me, the Lord rejoices in the small steps we take toward Him.

What’s that step for you today.

What’s the problem God’s asking for you to see from His vantage point?

Be encouraged in this: “When God calls people, He calls them to face a problem” (John Ortberg). And when it’s a God sized problem – that brings Him glory, that reveals Him to the world, that overturns evil – God promises too, He will lay the mountain flat.

Let’s pray.

PRAYER & OFFERING:

God, we come before you this morning, grateful for the encouragement and comfort that comes from Zechariah… You are the God who can flatten mountains before us. Thank you for revealing to us the kind of problems that you.

Here today, many of us have problems that are symptoms of greater problems… some triggers that we might draw closer to you… Help us to address the actual problem, that we might not lose any more time.

Zerubbabel lost 15 years focusing on human circumstances… but when we he turned to the actual problem, one of trusting in you, you brought him success.

Turn us onto the real problem that lies before, and empower us by your Spirit to take steps forward – that may you smile upon us as your rejoice to see the plumb line in our hands.

Lord we also have the opportunity to return to you our tithes & offerings this morning – thank you for your provision and blessing in our lives. We pray that our offering might be pleasing and acceptable to you, and may you use it to uphold your kingdom purpose in our community.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

SONG: Down at the Cross

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Contractor Positions Available: RE & Youth, Time is short; talk to us ASAP

- Volunteer Needed: DK, AWANA, Youth, Fellowship, Band, Ushering – please consider partnering with us. We ought to all have a ministry that blesses us, and a ministry through which we bless others.

- There are also other more seasonal opportunities:

1. Fall Carnival – get involved, talk w/Ch Roehrig.

2. Candy donations - Please also support us by bringing a bag of candy before

3. Operation Christmas Child – Sunday, Nov 14

4. Children’s Musical Christmas

-Upcoming events include:

1. Strong Marriage Luncheon, Tuesday, Oct 25, 6-7:30pm

2. Fall Carnival,

- D.O: Next week’s designated offering is for Operation Warmheart, in support of Airmen in our community in need. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving.

- First time guests

- Fellowship: Join us immediately following the service for a time of fellowship.

DOXOLOGY

BENEDICTION

------------------------------------------EXTRAS-----------------------------------------

THE POWER OF ADOPTING GOD’S PROBLEM

Let me back up to verses preceding this promise to Zerubbabel, the actual vision that Zechariah received:

Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

Now, if you’re wondering what’s going on here, you’re in good company, Zechariah himself questions the Angel what he’s looking (verses 4 & 11, omitted here). Each time, the Angel replies, “don’t you know?”

The Angel clears it up in verses 10b & following:

10b “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth.”

14 So he said, “These [two olive trees] are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” [vii]

So what’ve we got?

A gold lamp stand. A lot of oil. Seven lights. A partridge & 2 olive trees. Minus the partridge.

What’s going on? Well, on the one hand, we’ve already covered it. The Angel give the interpretation.

How does it relate:

A lamp stand:

“Be salt and light.” -

The source of the light?

What’s oil used for in Scripture? Blessing, healing agency.

Who provides the oil, it’s continuous source isn’t manmade, isn’t forced, it’s from God.

When our focus is turned towards God’s kingdom, God’s purpose in revealing Himself to this world, and transforming it according to His will, when we are witnesses to it – we have a guarantee

it is perhaps best to understand it as a reminder to Zerubbabel and the people that God is omniscient[viii]

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM?

It’s really an invitation – that we ourselves might be transformed.

Because as we’re transformed into the image of Christ, it brings God glory.

PROBLEMS GOD’S CONCERNED WITH

Do you know what I see the main difference between many of our problems that we walk circles around and God sized problems that God flattens in our path?

Our actual problems bring glory to God, not just peace for our circumstances.

You see, more often than not, our problems are “problems” b/c they inconvenience us. But God doesn’t see those as problems. He sees those events as divine opportunities to shape your character and who you are becoming.

Of Church supplies. How ample, according to the vision described in vers. 2, 3, the provision made for supplying this revived lamp with this oil! What besides is meant by the different features of this vision the prophet knows not (ver. 4), and the angel tells not, at present. But, at any rate, they seem to signify that abundant provision is made. (1) For supplying such oil[ix]

We ought to understand:

The angel’s surprise at his ignorance. “Knowest thou not?” (see vers. 5 and 13; and comp. John 3:10; Mark 4:13; Rom. 6:3, 16; 7:1). The prophet ought to have discerned it, although he did not.[x]

If these chapters were uttered in Zechariah’s old age they would be drawing near to the time of Malachi, Ezra and Nehemiah, and perhaps Joel, when the atmosphere of first enthusiasm had given place to coldness, formality, poor leadership and fear of attack.[xi]

(i) Introduction. Zechariah in the line of the true prophets (1:1–6).

(ii) First vision. Angelic riders are told that God will restore Jerusalem (1:7–17).

(iii) Second vision. Four destroying horns are destroyed by four smiths (1:18–21).

(iv) Third vision. The new Jerusalem cannot be contained by walls, but will be the home of Jews and Gentiles (2:1–13).

(v) Fourth vision. Joshua the high priest, accused by Satan, is vindicated by God, given access to his presence and made a type of the Branch-Messiah (3:1–10).

(vi) Fifth vision. A seven-branched candlestick, or lamp, fed by two branches (probably Joshua and Zerubbabel), from two olive trees. A special word of encouragement to Zerubbabel (4:1–14).[xii]

God’s not surprised that you can’t.. that you haven’t… that you struggle.

Psalms said, “what is man… but a vapor in the wind,”

Proverbs 30 reminds us how bad we are at just being human… let a lone good humans.

God would say to us, our problem is… we haven’t adopted His problems:

POINT 5 – ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY

OF COURSE, that’s not saying that it’ll all be easy peasy. PERHAPS, ESPECIALLY when we find God’s problem – we find the opposition to it.

Especially then, we come under attack. But it’s ONLY then, that we have the guarantee of success!

The eyes of the Lord. The “seven eyes” have been already mentioned (ch. 3:9, where see note). They are expressive of God’s watchful providence and care. Which run to and fro. This clause further enforces the previous image (2 Chron. 16:9; Prov. 15:3).[xiii]

The Church is referred to, as have the people of God, as light of the world….

So all that was needful for the maintenance of the Church of God on earth, including the restoration of its material centre at the time, the Temple, could be attained only by the same blessed agency. That the oil of the lamps should symbolize the Holy Spirit, is the less strange, as the anointing oil of consecration was understood always to mean this.[xiv]

The seven eyes would then speak of the fullness of the Holy Spirit or of the Godhead and would be symbolic of infinite intelligence and omniscience (cf. 4:10; Isa 11:2; Col 2:3, 9; Rev 5:6).[xv]

Of Church work. What is the great duty of a Church in this world? Is it not, like a lamp or candlestick, to give light, to be a continued witness to men respecting things unseen and eternal—a standing testimony in favour of truth and righteousness, and against error and sin? in other words (Art. XX), “a witness and keeper of Holy Writ”? See[xvi]

We are called to serve Christ and his kingdom.

To do hard things.

John 14 says ask anything according to Gods interests and it will be so… mountains will move. I am now convinced this mountain moving theme recurs so often in scripture that theres really something to it.

IF we have a God-sized problem, I submit to you, we get God’s help.

Which leads me to a question I posed earlier, WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?

Is it the problem God wants to address?

Now, Jesus said there would always be trouble in this life… so, I’d venture to say, everybody in this room has had that experience.

WE’VE CONFUSED THE PROBLEM

You think your problem is: putting a snotty co-worker in their place?

We go round in circles, experience pain, and God would say: your real problem is loving your enemies. Which, if you’ll give yourself over to, He can move mountains.

What’s more, I’d go so far as to say, you have a problem today. The definition of a person that is truly problem free is: dead. I know we may have a few living heart donors in here, but you’re still breathing.

[i] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 5:11–12). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[ii] Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 601). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

[iii] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Ge 12:2–3). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[iv] Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 598–599). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

[v] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Zec 1:3). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[vi] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Zec 4:10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[vii] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Zec 4:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[viii] Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 630). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

[ix] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Zechariah (p. 42). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

[x] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Zechariah (p. 44). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

[xi] Wright, J. S. (1996). Zechariah, Book of. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1266). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[xii] Wright, J. S. (1996). Zechariah, Book of. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., pp. 1264–1265). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[xiii] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Zechariah (p. 41). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

[xiv] Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., & Chambers, T. W. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Zechariah (p. 42). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[xv] Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 626). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

[xvi] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Zechariah (p. 42). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.