Amen. Thank you for tuning us in tonight. I'm Daryl Bailey here service for Christ on behalf of our church Bethel Crossroads and our pastor Keith Dipsy. We want to welcome you as we get into the wonderful word of God tonight and the Old Testament of the book of Zechariah. We'll open up for a time of prayer in just a few minutes. As it's been brought to our attention, we've got a lot of our folks that are right now, someone that we're not at liberty to say their name. But we come on early to pray for them that are in surgery, that we found out a few minutes ago that are undergoing surgery. and also some others that we're not at liberty to say their name as well. But we want to lift them up in a time of prayer right now while they're going through a very time when they need the great physician to come and be for them. And so we want to ask you to please join us in prayer along with all of our other church family. Amen. Whether, I thank God, Bethel Crossroads, or whether Peoples Valley, and all of our families that are out there, churches that may be meeting tonight, but because of the inclined weather, maybe you're not able to, but please, if you would, join us in a time of prayer. we're going to have a time of worship as well on behalf of those ones as we're starting a little bit earlier tonight than we anticipated because of this news that we feel a need that we need to come on and pray and for these ones and so I want to ask you please on behalf of these needs that we just heard about tonight, along with all of our other ones. I do want to say that I want to continue to send out our prayers to Alicia Mason family, 26 years old, that passed away this past week. And then Oso, Cheryl Parr, that passed away, my co-worker's sister-in-law, and the funeral will be this coming Saturday. Oso, this past week, when we had some of our church family, Sister Hazel Williams that passed away and went on to be with the Lord and for their families along with many others that are unspoken that we're not at liberty to say their name because They may not want some of the things said right now, but it doesn't stop the power of prayer I want you to continue to remember all of our needs especially on our prayer concerns and My brother Keith and sister Amy, Donna Anderson, Billy Womack, Dwayne Brown, Donna and Linda Cox, Joe Robinson, Happy Ferguson, Rusty Lynn Lanier, Leo Wood, Judy Forsythe, Wayne Brownlow, Heath Mentor, John Redd, Casey Mills, Wyatt Chapel, Brenda Klein, Johnny and Ramonda Williams, Ronnie Reese, Martha Milligan, Tim and Kathy Forsythe, Linda and Snook Smith, Skylar Smith, Melvin and Rachel Birch, Jimmy Ward, my wife, Lita Bailey, Becky Scott, Vicky Dupree, Tina Bagley, Connor King, Clemmie Jackson, Doug Klein, Richard and Marge Riley, Cassidy Evans, Justin Lindsey, Marshall and Virginia Worthington, Tommy and Marble Ferguson family. And as we say, please continue remembering all of these families, even some of our family that are still grieving. of the Thomas and Hand and Davis family as well, that we want to lift up all these needs tonight. Before we do anything else or go anywhere into the Book of Zechariah was our main reason. And if you would, would you pray with us tonight? Father, we call on you. because there's no one that loves us like you do. Lord, you're better to us than we are our own selves. And so tonight, Father, we cry out to the name of our Lord and Savior, the healer, the great physician, the one that can do all things. Nothing is impossible. Lord, I pray you'll go to that hospital right now. And Lord, we're our dear friend. is undergoing surgery. I pray father that you'll intervene in the name of Jesus. I pray God that you'll just be with the hands of the surgeons and everyone that plays a part in the recovery That individual that family God wrap your loving arms around him and Lord I pray you'll be the healer that they need father that represent them and Lord give them a recovery physically spiritually emotionally and everything that they need, Father. I pray in the name of Jesus, and I pray in the power that you end the well, every one of us tonight. And Lord, I pray, God, that you'll be with the many homes where this storm has devastated, that'll be coming through in these next days. Lord, that you'll watch over and protect all of our folks, Lord, across the land. And Lord, keep them safe. And Lord, I ask that whatever direction that this storm is headed in, Lord, that you'll be right there with us. Lord, we could ask you to remove the obstacles, but Lord, I know sometimes, Lord, that might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with you because, Lord, you'll help us to ride the storm. And Lord, as we go through everything these next few days, Lord, watch over our family, our pastors, Lord, our men and women of God, our deacons, Lord at Bethel Crossroads, Lord, we pray, Lord, that your anointing would continue to go upon our pastor and use him and all of our pastors, amen. Even our brother in Christ, Pastor Michael, People's Valley Lord, and Lord, all of them, Lord, across Brother David and all of our Bartow County churches that we're aware of and know of, Father, and Lord, I send our love out to all of our veterans and all of our military men and women of God that we've been served with over past years. And Father, I pray Lord for the upcoming leadership and the battle that is going to take place for that leader in our nation, oh God. Lord, I plead the blood of Jesus. And I pray, God, that you'll put someone in there, Lord, that people will vote for someone, Lord, that's of God, and Lord, that trusts, Lord, not that, Lord, that has all of these ways that's against the word of God, but they love you, and Lord, they serve you, and Lord, they abide by the morals and the standards, Lord, that's been established by the democracy of our forefathers of this country. Lord, as we see many nations fallen by the wayside, and Mitch Evil today. Lord, I pray in your mighty name. And I ask you to end the well, Father, and to come across, and Lord, to change us. And Lord, as we get into Zechariah tonight, that you'll bring a revival. And Lord, that you'll change the hearts and the minds of the people of America. I pray protection upon all of our colleges, and Lord, all of our children, and all of our kids that are going to school and learning, Father. And Lord, that our workers that are out there, Father, that work out in the environment, that work every day, and Lord, they don't have a whole lot, but Lord, I pray that you'll supply their needs and necessities, Father. And Lord, watch over the many parents that have children, they're trying to raise them. in this evil society that is trying to influence our children and change them across America today. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, Lord, that you'll intervene and touch those right now across America. Thank you, Father, for saving us by your marvelous grace. I pray tonight, Lord, your word would go forth. Touch these needs, Lord, that are needed right now, tonight, Lord, in the hospitals. And Lord, that you'll do what no one else can do. Because Lord, as you said, ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened. And Lord, I thank God, Lord, that we believe in all that we ask, that you'll intervene along with all the other prayer warriors that are praying out there tonight. All of those on Facebook, all of those, Father, that are out there in the churches that are meeting, if they're able to, tonight because of this incline weather, we don't know. Lord, for our kids for Christ at Bethel Crossroads, and Lord, I pray, Lord, for Rusty and Lynn Lanier that heads that up, and all the people that make up a ministry for our children. And in our children's church and all the programs, we ask that, God, they'll come under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and be saved before it's too late. But, Lord, I thank you, God, for saving us all by your marvelous grace. Now touch us tonight and let your word go forth in Jesus' marvelous mighty name. Amen. Thank God the Lord's good. Hey, man, I was gonna do something but I I'm gonna go another direction and go ahead and get in with our Bible study tonight. Hey, man, thank God that the Lord is good Hey, man, and he knows exactly what we need. Take your Bibles over to Zachariah if you're trying to find it Go to the middle of the Bible And when you go to the middle of the Bible, to the left will be Malachi, to the right will be Matthew. As you go one book over from Malachi, you'll run right into the book of Zechariah. And there are at least 14 chapters in the book of Zechariah. But right there in between Malachi and Matthew was 400 silent years. But as you go from Malachi to the left, you'll see the book of Zechariah. Zechariah, what a powerful book. When we look at the prophecy, of the past, the present, and the future. Zachariah was one of the minor prophets, but I thank God there was nothing minor about him. And so, Zachariah's prophecy are known for their vivid imagery and their visions that address the immediate concerns of the Jewish people. But also tonight, It'll also express the concerns of you and I because I put an application on all of the 14 verses of chapter 4 tonight that somehow or another we'll hopefully apply something to you that it will reach out to you personally tonight. Tonight we'll be talking about what God intends to accomplish through everyday you and me. What God intends to accomplish through everyday you. Here in chapter 4, this is Zechariah's fifth vision. We look at the menorah. Boy, I'm going to tell you, there's nothing like that big ol' giant menorah that's in Israel. That, as you go toward the Wailing Wall, that is in its case over there. and how the representation of the menorah because the servant candle is in the middle which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a representation and so the menorah is a lampstand or a candlestick It's a golden lamp stand that represents the divine light and the guidance, and it's a central symbol in all of the Jewish worship. And then the vision, it represents God's illumination and his support. Here's September the 25th, 2024, the 22nd of Elul, 5784. Now let me tell you why even me can mess up, because I get to look, I got to looking at the wrong calendar. I thought I was in October, and I began to think that I'd already missed Rosh Hashanah. But I got to looking, I said, because I've got it up next to my desk, and I began to looking at the wrong calendar, Amen. Even I can make mistakes because we're all human, Amen. And so I thank God when we look at the wonderful Word of God, we're reminded of what sculptor Henry Moore once said. He said, the secret to life is to have a task so big that you can't possibly do it on your own. And I'm glad that every one of us have a task that is so big that we could never do it on our own. You can't raise your children by yourself. You can't get into the word of God without the Lord's help. You can't do anything. You can't have a commitment. You can't have a marriage. You can't have a home because everything is bigger than us. Amen. It's bigger than us. And so we need a God that can help us to raise our children, to keep the commitment in our family, the love that is there. Because if, listen, when you begin to focus on everything but the Lord, you're going to have some problems. And he needs to be in the center of everything. And so I'm glad of what he said about that. And so when we look at Haggai and Zechariah, you've got an older preacher and a younger preacher that are coming together. well what they do i tell you i think i got my best education as a man of god from that old preacher i didn't get it in seminary like i did when i was in that local assembly more from that man i got off and got what it was good to see what what i mean there's a man is best this past uh... sunday praise god people don't want to talk more that would be good will be a feature so a man and so i think god when we look and realize that it's good to have as a whole group uh... haggai and zachariah that were teaming up to take a message and i can only imagine uh... probably what kind of preaching was going on i'm gonna just assimilate like uh... probably he got up and he said ever one of you, he's preaching a revival he said ever one of you are going to the depths of hell but if you repent if you change from your ways israel then you can be saved boy i'm gonna thank god when we look and we realize that all of us as we go through life. God's method for getting things done is to use ordinary people. And I'm glad it was all about building the temple, amen. It's still today about building the temple. It's that ordinary you that is working on the temple today, hallelujah. And so I thank God when we begin to look and realize more times than I can recount how God has used ordinary people, amen, to do extraordinary things. And so, people that are frail, people that are just human, just like you and me, Abe man. He uses people that's got faults, and he uses people with problems, Abe man, and he uses people with a past. And listen, God loves to give the opportunity to the average Joe and the average Jane. to do something with their average lives. Hallelujah. And so I thank God he used a man and a woman well beyond childbearing years, amen, to give birth to the nations of the people. Abraham. He used a kid that was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers to save a nation from starvation. Amen. That'd be Joseph, amen. And he used a baby born into slavery to lead his people out of slavery. That would be Moses, praise God. He used a prostitute, oh my goodness, to help his people gain entrance into the promised land. Rahab, oh my goodness, and that He gave her a new husband. He gave her a new family. He gave her a new life, praise God. She was the great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother to King David, hallelujah. And she was the ancestor of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Boy, if that ain't something. God used another slave to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem. He used a shepherd boy to build a great political and military dynasty to unify the nation, praise God. He used an old backwoods, uneducated prophet to proclaim truth to his people, praise his name. And so, we could go on and on. But I'm glad when it came down to Haggai and Zechariah, he told Haggai, he said, I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you. That signet ring that was used to put a stamp on the authority on a letter or on a document. It bore the mark of the king, kind of what a notary does today. And God used Zerubbabel because he made him the governor. You'll be like my signet ring because I've chosen you and I'm glad that he's working on the temple right now as I speak. Here he's working on your temple. He's working on my temple. God has chosen you. Praise God. He's got a plan for you and a place for you. Hallelujah. And that situation and that circumstance where God wants you to be like his signet ring. Amen, that where you represent him in your home, you represent him in your job, you represent him in your ministry, praise God. And so God wants us to do more than just spend our days on earth looking out for ourselves and accumulating things for ourselves and building a life for ourselves. He wants us to devote ourselves to His cause, to His work, to His kingdom, praise God. He wants each of us to do something great with our lives, amen. Something for the glory that benefits the world in which we live. Something that makes a difference for all eternity. And you and I are ordinary, but God wants to use us in an extraordinary way. And so thank God, when we look and we realize of all the things that begin to transpire, oh, we begin to see the visions of Zechariah that soared far beyond his own day of this prophecy. He saw the coming of the Greeks and the Romans, the crucifixion of Christ, the scattering of the Jewish people. He saw the rise of the Antichrist. He saw the end time horrors that await Jerusalem in the future days. He saw the return of Christ to set up a righteous kingdom during the millennial reign, praise God. And I'm glad that as the Lord remembers the name Zechariah, as it was common in those times, I'm glad that when we look, we see how God spoke through one of his prophets to explain how he wanted to use a man named Zerubbabel to accomplish a great task. And that was... to finish the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was a man that had been born in Babylon when the Jewish people were in exile there. And when the Jewish people began migrating to Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel was among them. And so, eventually, he became governor of Judah. And God spoke to him through the prophet Haggai, saying, as I said a while ago, I'm going to make you a signet ring. You're going to be mine. I'm going to tell you. I'm going to put my imprint in you, amen. My identity is in you, praise God. And so, he used that because of that authority. Boy, the mark of the King. Boy, ain't you glad? I bear the mark of the King on me, praise God. The King, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so, I'm glad, he said, you'll be like my signet ring because I've chosen you, he said. And so, God has chosen you, he's chosen me. He's got a plan, a place, and a situation, and the circumstance where God wants you to be like his signet ring, amen. And where you represent him in your home and in your job. And so he wants each of us to do something great with our lives. And he's got a vision. Here, as we get into the wonderful word of God, Zechariah 4 receives a vision that offers profound lessons for all of us. It's at the end. Don't turn me off yet. Boy, I'm going to tell you, I've got a good one for you. I've got a really good challenge for you tonight. And so the message centers tonight on God's spirit working through his chosen servant, represented by two people, Joshua the high priest of that time and Zerubbabel the governor of Judah. And so that is the representation. Also that it coexists also with Revelation with the two witnesses that'll be in the book of Revelation That'll come back after they've been killed in the streets and hung for three days and left for dead that there'll be there'll be Resurrected we won't see it cause if you're in the church and you're raptured you better not be seeing it because you're being some trouble But I thank God, the vision that speaks of a timeless truth that God's work is accomplished not by human power, but by his spirit. And so we can't know the will of God without knowing the word of God, amen? And so we can't be in the will of God without obeying the word of God. And so being religious can't erase our past sins. Being religious can't erase our current sins. So instead of getting religious, get right with God. And I'm gonna tell you, the Lord has given his people a second grade assurance that are being equipped for life and service with the Lord. And so I'm glad here in this fifth vision, we see this. We see the assurance that is vital to every minister, every servant that is called by God. Joshua had already been confirmed in his office as high priest in his fourth vision. But in this fifth vision, Zerubbabel, Judah's governor, was also being confirmed. And together, Zerubbabel and Joshua were specially anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. And so it breaks down into four key parts that I'll be talking about. You'll see them in Yehudah on the scriptures of those four key parts. But in the very end, you're going to be looking at, praise God, Three things that I'm going to leave you with that what God intends to accomplish through every day you when I get done and I'm trying to move right along as I've been about 20 minutes now and so we're going to see the mighty power of God do some extraordinary things because God is wanting to do something for you. You see it ain't just by mishap that you turned this on to me tonight. God brought you this way. to listen to what I've got to say tonight. I'm nobody special. I'm just an average Joe myself. I'm just ordinary you and me. But I'm glad that if we stay in the will of God, if we stay in our relationship, God can use you and everyone else that's just as ordinary as I am. And so I thank God I ain't no different than anyone else. I don't got nothing special. And so I thank God when we look at how that we, God calls the ruble to the job, amen. I'm gonna be talking about three things in the end. I'm gonna go ahead and tell you. What I want to tell you, for you at the very end, God wants you to do something bigger than you are. Number two, God wants you to finish what you start. And number three, God wants you to start where you are with what you have. Amen? And so when we look, and as we start out tonight, And we begin to get in, we see the key letters in the book of Zechariah. When we look at the Hebrew alphabet, we look and we see three things. The Nun, the Nun, significance of the Hebrew Nun, that represents and symbolizes the ongoing divine. support and provision represented by the olive trees and the lampstand. Amen. The Hebrew word none. Amen. Out of Zechariah chapter 4. The second one is the shin because in the divine presence and the completeness of the shin that underscores the presence of our Lord and Savior's completeness when we see the word Lord, our God, He's the shin. Amen. And thirdly, the MED, which is the instruction and learning that reflects the guidance through the vision and the divine instruction that leads to the completion of God's work when we look at the entire chapter of Zechariah chapter 4, the key letters of Hebrew that speak to us. And so it provides a very powerful message about the nature of divine assistance as he plans to give us that strength and spirit amen again just reflecting on what i'm talking about the nun the olive trees the lampstands of the faithfulness and continuity the shin the presence of god and his completeness of rebuilding the temple i'm talking about you i ain't talking about way back over in the old testament i'm talking about you amen tonight i'm talking about him i'm talking about her here the temple of god amen and the lament amen that conveys the guidance that god provides insight amen for even ordinary you and me and then i'm glad that when we look and realize that out of these the themes of the faithfulness the divine presence and the instruction that this chapter talks about that reflects on God's ongoing support that God's completeness and guidance that emphasizes the importance of divine teaching and his plans and so We look at the things tonight because I'm going to give you a highlight of what you're fixing to read. And before you read it with me, you're going to know what it is. Amen. So pay attention. Listen, listen. As we look at Zerubbabel and Joshua, they were anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. And it focuses on them as it starts out. In verse one, Zechariah is awakened from sleep by an interpreting angel. Once awakened, the prophet was asked by the angel what he saw. Then, in that third verse, the prophet also saw the two olive trees, whose fruitful branches drained oil directly into the bowl of the lampstand, which is what? The menorah. Amen. And then, again, Zechariah asked the interpreting angel for an explanation of what he saw in verses 4 through 5. Then, in verses 6 through 10, Later on, something changes after this. I want to tell you later on, there's something else that comes in. But listen, the angel explained that the vision was God's word to Zerubbabel, the present governor of Judah, in verses 6 through 10. Then, following these eight assurances, Zechariah asked specifically about the two olive trees, and that is exactly what I'm gonna bring in here. There'll be eight things that'll be talked about right in between here that I'm gonna show you about. And then, lastly, the angel explained that the two trees represent the two anointed ones, which is who? Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. as the ones that we're talking about. And so, when we look at this, we get to the very first verse. of the mighty word of God. What do we see? First of all, the awakening to God's call. The awakening to God's call. And the angel that talked with me came again and waked me as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And so we look and we see that Zechariah, he's awakened by an angel, praise God. That angel, that awakening symbolizing how God calls his people to stay spiritually alert. And responsive just as Zechariah needed to wake up to receive God's vision We do must awaken to his voice in our lives And so I'm glad he had to hey had to be awakened to receive this fifth vision And so what he wasn't dreaming a dream. He was seeing a vision praise God. He was woke up and And so, it underscores that that prophet was awake while receiving the word of the Lord, and he was not in a dreamlike state or trance, but mentally awake and alert. And so, I want to ask you, listen, ask God to awaken you from that spiritual slumber. to his calling in your life. That is your part. That is my part. Amen. And so, in the second, he tells us, and he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I've looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold. with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps, and their own, and the seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof. Oh man, I wish I could get into this and break this down in this menorah, praise God, and begin to tell you each one of those, what they represent, but we don't have the time to get into that. I'm gonna have to stick to just the Bible study of Zachariah tonight, because I'll chase that rabbit, man, I won't even get done. And so we notice that the lampstand, again, the menorah, and the candlestick of what it represents, that it has three significant features about this solid gold lampstand that we see. Zechariah, he's awakened by the angel. Then there's a vision of the lampstand that he's getting into. And so when we look at this and we begin to realize that the lampstand represents the light of God shining through his people. Similar to Jesus' words in Matthew 5, verse 14, calling believers to be a light in the world, hallelujah. And so, when we look and we realize that here, as the significance of this, that the lampstand has a bowl of oil on top. It has seven lights. that has seven pipes feeding oil to the wicks. And the bowl of oil had seven pipes or tubes that ran down from it to the seven lights. And the number seven represents the perfection and the completion. The fact is gleaned from the beginning of the scripture, when the Lord created the earth, he rested on the seventh day, a sign that creation was complete in Genesis chapter two, verses two and three. And so, In addition, that lampstand reflected God's great purpose for Israel. Israel was to be a light to the nations, the Lord's own witnesses on earth. Amen. According to Isaiah 43, verses 10 through 12. And so, for you and I. How are you and I being a light to the world? Reflect on how God uses you to shine his light in dark places, because everywhere you step, you are the light, you are the temple of God, and you're breaking and piercing the darkness in this old wicked world that is out there today. And so, in verse three, and the two olive trees. By it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side there. It's the picture that you saw when I started out a while ago, amen? That's what you're, we're reading about it, that's what you saw. And so, what is the olive? The olive is the zayit. The Hebrew word for olive, zeit. And so, the olive tree provides oil for the lampstand, symbolizing the divine provision and the continuous flow of God's support, amen. And so, when we look, we see the two olive trees and We know that out here is God's provision and God's power that we're looking at. Remember I told you you'll see four points in Yalom, amen, and this is the second, the provision and the power, amen. Because I'm glad the olive tree symbolizes the continuous provision of that Holy Spirit. supplying the oil, God's power, amen, to sustain the light that it does. Zerubbabel and Joshua, who were the anointed for God's service, amen, they're a picture of how the Holy Spirit empowers us for the tasks that he calls us to do, amen. And so, every one of us, when we look, And we realize that that olive tree representing that continuous supply of oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's constant provision for God's people. That oil represents the Spirit's empowerment, freely given to sustain the lamp of God's light. So for our part. our application that God provides his spirit to empower us daily as you're relying on his spirit or your own strength. Which one? Are you relying on his spirit or your own strength? Which is it? Because I'm glad that no matter how difficult things may be, When you rely on the Lord, He'll get you right through that time that you're going through. And so, we see in Zechariah 4-4, Now, here's the word El. El Shaddai, El Yahweh, El meaning God or Lord, representing God's sovereignty, His authority, His reinforcing the vision, the message, God's power, God's authority that are central to the temple's rebuilding. Amen. Here, God's provision and power that we're talking about when we see in the Hebrew the word Lord, of the Hebrew that is using El. And so, Here, it tells us the two olive trees, they're that Holy Spirit, they're the anointing. And then Zachariah's question and the angel's response that we're coming to. He said, so I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, what are these, my Lord? And so I'm glad, he goes on and he answers it. Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, knowest thou not what these be? And I said, no, my Lord. And I'm glad that he tells us again. of the question that we see. You see, sometimes we've got to be patient in understanding God's plans for our life. And so, it's like somebody was telling me today, well, I'm going to send a text, and you know what? If I send it, I want a response in the next five minutes. I want a response in the next few minutes. Listen, you can try to text God if you want to, and you may not get that response that quick. And you know what? There ain't everybody there sitting there looking at their iPhone or some kind of media device wanting to respond back to your answer. Because that ain't the important thing in the world today. They can get back to you whenever they want to get back to you. But I'm going to tell you something. Pray for spiritual wisdom and clarity. Boy, this country needs it like it's never had. Boy, I'm going to tell you, we're getting closer to home. The Lord's ready for a pickup, and the exit door is going to come open. I wonder, are you going to be ready? And so, be patient in seeking God's guidance. Pray for wisdom, understanding when you feel uncertain. Amen. And then, we see Oso here in verse 6, Then he answered, and he spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord under Zerubbabel, saying, not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. And so I'm glad when we see Ruach, Ruach, a spirit, the Hebrew word for spirit, that represents the divine spirit by which God's work is accomplished, amen, highlighting that spiritual task that are not achieved by human strength alone, amen, but only by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so, as we see God's provision and power, we see the two olive trees, amen, the providers, amen, and the question and the angel's response that he says, God's question, of God's message to Zerubbabel was right here. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. And so I'm glad that every one of us, when we look, that Zerubbabel was reassured that the temple would not be completed by human strength, but by God's spirit, a timeless reminder that all of God's work is accomplished through his spirit. Not through human effort. Oh, you can start every program in the book that you want to. Why don't you just focus on it? You don't need to wait around and try to see if you can get another pastor. You've got the right pastor right now that you've got. You don't need to look for another pastor. You've got the right one. Don't you worry, oh man, how things are going. Well, we got to get this program going and that program. No. Man, I remember going through so many programs before that, oh my goodness, we tried everything we could try. But one thing that we always depended on was the Lord. I'm going to tell you. When God don't do it, it ain't worth it because it's all you and no one else and your own strength. Let God take on the burden. Let God do what needs to be done. You don't need to get in the way of God's work. And so when we look at our reflection in your own struggles and challenges, Remember that God's spirit empowers you to do what you cannot do on your own. I'm glad God's meeting with the hands of someone that's having surgery tonight. God's meeting with some of my family and some of yours that are going through the most grieving time. They're gonna get mad. They're going to get down and out. They're going to get depressed. They're going to go through so many emotions, amen. Like Brother Tommy Harris was talking about Sunday, with his beloved love of his life that passed. And now he's by himself, but he's still got the Lord. And the Lord's letting him see some things as he gets through that difficult grieving that he's been going through for a while. God's wrapped his loving arms around brother Tommy Harris, Eggman. And I thank God, he ain't done with Tommy Harris, brother Tommy Harris, uh-uh. And he's not done with you either, if you'll just let him take over. Let him do, not in your own, but in his strength, praise God. And so every one of us, when we look, he says, here, a while ago, what did I tell you? In between verses six through 10, There's the Lord revealed eight significant truths to his servant, eight promises that would actually occur under Zerubbabel's inspired leadership during this time. And what he said in verse six, the spirit of God, don't worry, we're gonna get back on the scripture, but I'm giving you again another way to look at it before we read it. Listen to me, the spirit of God would equip Zerubbabel for life and service. The Lord promised that all the obstacles would be removed, even the largest and the most threatening in the first part of 7 that we're going to read. In the second part of 7, the Lord assured Zerubbabel that the temple would be brought to an end under his direction and management. Praise God. Then in verse nine, the Lord promised that the hands of Zerubbabel himself would finish the temple in verse nine in the first part. Then the people would know that the Lord Almighty had truly sent the Messiah in the second part of verse nine. And then in verse 10, because the work would be executed in the face of tremendous obstacles, all critics of the work would be silenced, amen. Oh my goodness, you know? And then, we see the people would rejoice because the plumb line would show the progress was being made on the temple. And lastly, The Lord graciously promised his wisdom and watchful care in the last part of verse 10 that we're fixing to read all of this. And here we go, as we pick up in verse seven. Who art thou, O great mountain before, presumable thou shalt become a plain, and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings crying grace, grace unto it. I thank God he start out, he says we overcome the obstacles through God's power. Hey man, Zechariah's trying to tell us something tonight. He's trying to tell you something tonight, even all the way from an Old Testament book that many pastors don't even touch, but you can't have a foundation for the New Testament if you don't get in the Old Testament. I don't care who you are, I don't care how long you've been preaching, and I'm just a nobody, and don't know nothing, but I know the Lord, and I know the foundation that it's built on. And so I thank God, overcoming obstacles through God's power, praise God. Man, I tell you, we look and we see, the mountain becomes a plain. Hallelujah, because he says the mountains represents the obstacles that Zerubbabel faced, but God promised that these challenges, amen, that would be leveled through his grace. It is a very powerful image of how God removes obstacles when we trust in his provision. And so I'm glad that when we look, we see for us, even when your efforts seem small, listen and know that God will finish the good work that he started in you and I, because he will. Philippians 1 6 and I even put the reference up here because I love to run reference I was taught that way I run reference on everything I Thank God being confident of this very thing that he which has begun a good work in you. I will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Oh, my goodness. Oh, you want to put the brakes on? Oh, you want to put the brakes on that marriage? You want to stop? You want to stop that ministry? You want to step out of what you've been doing? Huh? No, no. No, don't put, uh-uh, no. Listen to me tonight. Are you trying to, you trying to quit before it's, it's too, no, man. Uh, don't, don't let that enemy, uh, take away your blessings. Don't try to quit whatever it is that you, uh, been trying to quit. Hey, man, move on and continue on. Uh, I'm gonna tell you, God's got to work. for you to do amen and so don't try to quit and lay down he'll make the mountain become a plane amen amen for you whatever obstacle is in your path tonight amen god is working on your temple tonight don't call it quits with whatever ministry you're trying to throw in the towel now uh-uh whatever it is i mean whatever commitment whatever it is right now listen to me tonight this message is for you So I'm glad he tells us in Zechariah 4a moreover the word of the Lord El Came unto me saying and so we see that we're overcoming obstacles through God's power That the mountain becomes a plane but oh so as we move on in verse 96 the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of of this house. His hands shall also finish it, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts has sent me unto you." We see the representation. We see the gold lampstand. We see the two olive branches. the two anointed ones of Joshua the High Priest, and we see the olive tree, the representative of Zerubbabel, the governor, amen. We see the bowl, the seven spouts on the 49, and the seven lamps of the menorah, amen, of how that it represents the representation, amen, as you read. The purpose of the lampstand was to shed light. The seven lamps were to constantly light up the holy place, the tabernacle, the table of the shewbread, with 12 loaves representing the 12 tribes of Israel, that God's presence is always with his people. And the high priest was responsible for it, never ever letting the light go out. Perpetual observance of that, amen, at the table of the shewbread. And so we overcome the obstacles through God's power. And I'm glad that he tells us that the mountains they become a plane. And the hands of Zerubbabel, what a blessing that they will be, praise God, because I'm glad that each and every one of us, when we look and realize that what he's trying to tell us here, is we see, in verse 10, for who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, with these seven. They are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth. And so we continue to learn our Hebrew, the word plummet. Peliz, Peliz, meaning the plummet that is the builder's tool used for measurement, symbolizing the precise and the completion of the work under God's guidance, amen. And so the plummet that he uses, the measuring tool, the building tool that is used in all of our life, praise God, We trust that even the small acts of obedience matter in the kingdom of God. And so, here we look that the mountain becomes a plain in the hands of Zerubbabel that are working on the building. I'm glad God's got hands on us, amen. He's working on the building, hallelujah. He's preparing us for the future days, amen. But do not despise all of the small beginnings, amen. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about what's happening in life today. Don't try to be up with the bigs all the time. Hey, it doesn't matter. That's why I say, you know what? I say this and people may misunderstand me. It doesn't matter if I ever get behind another pulpit. I don't get behind the pulpit to be a face and to preach. I don't care. It doesn't matter to me if I ever get behind a pulpit, but I'm gonna keep on preaching, and I'm gonna keep on teaching, and I'm gonna keep on doing the work of the Lord, whether I ever get behind a pulpit or not, because it doesn't matter to me. I'm not in this for the show. I'm not in this for the face of it. I'm in it for the glory of Jesus Christ. And so don't despise small beginnings. Whatever the Lord does, I'm glad. What's that old song? Little is much when God is in it. And so I'm glad that even the seven eyes that the Lord represents His omniscience of every step that is watched, guided to His completion, the celebration of the temple's success. And you and I are the temple's success. You and I, we're awakening to God's call in verses 1 and 2. We're God's provision and power in verses 3, 4, 5, and 6. We're overcoming the obstacles through God's power, praise His mighty name. But then we turn over into another one. Because I'm glad, as I said about the seven eyes, amen, that you walk with God, trust even the small acts of obedience are significant in his kingdom. But we move on in verse 11, that the next thing that would come up, oh man, I tell you what, I think I put up the wrong thing. The fourth one is the Spirit's role in leadership and service. And who knows, I may have put up the wrong, yeah, I did. That's okay, though. But anyway, the fourth one is the Spirit's role in leadership and service. I told you earlier, I'm human. I'm gonna make mistakes. I make typos all the time, Amen. I'm just human. I'm just an ordinary somebody that God can use, Amen, to do extraordinary things. And so he said in verse 11, Then answered I and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side? thereof. Zachariah asked about the olive trees, amen, in verses 11 and 12. And so I'm glad that when we look how Zachariah's vision highlights the crucial roles of of Zerubbabel and Joshua symbolizing Christ's kingship and his priesthood, that Zerubbabel represents Christ's royal lineage and Joshua foreshadows Christ at the Eternal High Priest, interceding for all humanity, praise God. Every servant of God may doubt their abilities, but we must rely on His strength and wisdom. God provides all the resources needed for the tasks that He calls us to do. every minister, no matter how small, is important in God's eyes. And so God's abundant provision assures all of us as His servants that He'll never leave us nor fail to equip us for the work that He's called us to do. Amen. Trust His promises to guide and to protect you. And so, when we look and we realize, here it is, I finally got it up here, sorry. Amen. And he tells us in verse 12, and I answered again and said unto him, what be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he asked the question about the olive trees, amen. The Spirit's role in that leadership and in that service, we look and we see that both of these roles that are foreshadowing the work and the lineage of a Messiah, Jesus Christ. that he represents the royal line of Christ in his kingship and authority. Amen. And I'm glad that Christ, his human ancestry, was of the royal line of David. And Zerubbabel, as the governor of the returned exile, illustrated the royalty and the kingship of Christ. Christ would not only be the savior and the redeemer of God's people, but also their king. In fact, the king of all the earth. Praise his mighty name. And so, secondly, Joshua represented the priestly line of Christ. And so the high priest stood as the mediator between God, the goal between the people, which appointed Christ as the perfect and the eternal priest of God's people, praise God. He alone was the perfect sacrifice offered once and for all for the atonement for the sins of all the human world, praise his mighty name. According to the reference of Hebrews chapter 10, Christ is that perfect mediator, the high priest forever, because it is by his perfect sacrifice that the human race is reconciled to God, the high priest that would offer prayers on behalf of the people, just as Christ intercedes for his people. I'm glad Romans 8 27 and I'm glad Romans 8 34 Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 Joshua as the high priest characterized the essential role of Christ is high priesthood amen and so we see in verse 13 and he answered me and said knowest thou not what these be and I said no my lord And he said, as the role of leadership and service, the Spirit's role, because there's no one that does leadership like the Spirit of God, amen. Praise God. He tells us, Zechariah asked about the olive trees, but oh, so the two anointed ones. And I'm glad that when we look at these, there's a lot more in this that I've got time to get into, amen. But I'm glad each and every one of us, as it's also a representation of the future of the two witnesses that will come in the days of the Great Tribulation. Man, they will whoop and take names, and when they're done, As they were resurrected from the dead streets of dead bodies in three days, they will be resurrected and they will do some whooping that needs to be whooped when that happens. And so, God anoints His servants with the Spirit for His purposes. Today, every believer, every believer, let me say it again, every believer has the Holy Spirit within equipping them for service. Because if you ain't got it, you ain't got salvation. because every believer is equipped with the Holy Spirit of God. But if you're one of those that, I know that I know that I know, praise God, I'm glad that there was some sons that came to the altar Sunday, and when they got up, they know that they know that they know, praise God, Jesus Christ. They didn't think about it, they didn't, maybe, now, when they got up, they knew, amen, without a shadow of a doubt. You know what I like about the Lord? Whenever the Lord does something, and when he does it, he does it right. There ain't no guesswork in it. Because when he saves you, he saves you completely, amen, to the uttermost. And he don't halfway do nothing. He saved you, he forgave every sin, every dirty thing in mine and your life, and forgave us and put it under the blood of Jesus, and put it before the past, present, and the future of us today. And I don't have a desire to go back and try to live that way, but I'm gonna tell you what, even though that I struggles at times, this old fleshly nature, will pull you back into some reoccurrences, but you can slap it with the Holy Spirit of God because you are indwell by the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, as we look, lastly, verse 14, then said he, these are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of which the whole earth This Hebrew word of anointed ones of the Hebrew, notice it's mishka, it's mishka. It means anointed ones and it refers to those that have been chosen, empowered by God for specific roles in this case, Zerubbabel and Joshua. When we started back in the beginning in verse one, That angel that was waking up for the vision, amen. I'm glad that that angel was none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I'm glad that it consists the candlestick with the seven lamps. that fed two olive trees. And the prophet is told to describe the candlestick all of gold, the deity symbolizing that he would be incarnate. In other words, even though he became very man, he never even, listen, he never even for a moment ceased to be very God himself. Praise his mighty name. He never ceased to be God. Amen, he never even for a moment ceased to be very God and he was 100% man and he was 100% God read about it Philippians chapter 2 verse 8 and with a bowl upon the top of it signified the Holy Spirit in other words Christ and What he would do at the cross would make it possible for there to be an uninterrupted Supply of the Holy Spirit to every born-again believer. Praise his mighty name. Boy, I don't need to say any more. Thank you, Jesus, the Spirit's role in leadership and service. And so, Zechariah asked about the olive trees and the two anointed ones, and he gets a great answer. that the future of what they represent for all of us. The very important lesson, every servant of God at times questions his or her ability to do what the Lord asked. You know what? And God always provides the necessary resources for the work that he's called us to do. Boy, there's been times I said, Lord, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna do, Lord? Oh man, if I just quit getting those worries out of the way and just wait on him, because he'll equip you. He'll give you what you need when you need it, praise God. Every minister is important. Every minister, every minister is important in the local assembly of God. Everyone. You sing, hey. You teach. You preach. Hey, you do children's ministry. You sit in the local assembly, praise God. Every, every ministry is important. Amen. Not just because you're not the pastor or because you don't sing in the choir. Every ministry is important. And so, it breaks us down that three things that apply to you and me. Everyone else, it tells us what God wants us to do through ordinary you. Zachariah tells us what God wants us to do through ordinary you, and what is that? First of all, God wants you to do something bigger than you are. Hear me out as I get ready to close out, because I've only got a few minutes. Every one of us, bigger than you, we're often aware of our limits, but God's power is limitless. And accomplishing something great, especially for God's kingdom, requires His strength. not just our abilities. And so, as Zechariah reminds us, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, in Zechariah 4, 6. You see, when you trust in God's power, rather than our own essential for achieving more than we can imagine, because Paul tells us in Ephesians 3, verse 20, now in him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, amen? And so, secondly, God wants you to finish what you start, huh? Zechariah chapter four, verse nine reminds us, amen, when he tells us that he says, amen, as I turn my page over. And he tells us, listen, in verse nine, the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also host, has sent me unto you. And so I'm glad that it reminds us that here, God wants you to finish what you start. It reminds us that Zerubbabel started building the temple and he would finish it. Amen. We all face temptations to quit when the going gets tough. Whether it's school, whether it's marriage, whether it's ministry or personal dreams, but God doesn't call us to give up. He calls us to press on. to press on. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, praise God. It's not about quitting when things get difficult, but it's relying on God's strength to push through. And lastly and closing, God wants you to start where you are with what you have. Listen to me, God wants you to start where you are with what you have. Many, many make the mistake of thinking they need to be big to do something significant. But Zechariah 4.10 tells us, for who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven. They are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. You see, for who's despised the day of small things? Has it to do with the leaders of the return to Israel who had little regard for the new temple? Or the comparison to the Temple of the Old? You see, it was humble with no costly ornaments, and it seemed, at least in their eyes, unworthy of the Lord. However, the Lord was to give them several assurances of respecting the situation. for they shall rejoice and they shall see the plummet and the hand of Zerubbabel signify that the temple will be completed. And so many make that mistake of thinking they need to be big to do something significant. It reminds us not to despise the small beginnings. God's pleased to see the work begin, even if it seems small. You ain't, hey pastor, you don't need to compare yourself to the big mega churches. Hey, don't worry about trying to compete with anybody else. You don't have to compete with nobody else. You're there, you're called there. You continue to do what you're called to do. Whether there's few or what, it will flourish and it will make a great difference. And so, instead of waiting for all the perfect conditions, God calls us to start where we are. trusting that he will multiply our efforts, amen. And so Zachariah's vision of the golden lampstand and the olive trees remind us that true success comes through God's spirit, not by human effort. Even small beginnings are valuable and God's anointed are supported by his divine authority. And so I'm glad as we're out of time and as we get ready to close out, I hope and pray that God uses you in a mighty way to do some of the things, amen, that you need to do as well, praise God. Because every one of us, people don't even, may not even recognize you when God gets done using the small things that you're doing that'll turn into wonderful significance. Because God can use even an ordinary you. What God intends to accomplish through every day you. Let's pray. Father, thank you so much, Lord, for the vision that you gave to Zachariah and the reminder of his provision for us, oh Lord. Help us to rely on your spirit. faithful in the small things, trusting in your power, in our tasks that you've given us to do. Lord, whether it's little or insignificant, praise the mighty name. Lord, we're just support. We're just service. We just want to do your will. May you receive all the glory and the honor, Father. And Lord, I thank God. Lord, as we are hard on ourselves, Lord, I pray God that you'll work through each and every one and intervene in those miracles in the making tonight in Jesus' marvelous mighty name. Amen. God bless you. Thank you for tuning in.