July 24, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, ‘What do you see?‘ I answered, ‘I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also, there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’” (Zechariah 4.1-3)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I want to pick up today where I had left off yesterday concerning the “seven spirits” and the seven pieces of armor which the mighty ones of God ought to put on in their battle not against flesh and blood but against powers, principalities, rulers of darkness in the world and against spiritual wickedness in high places. If you remember, there are only six pieces of armor listed in Paul’s description of being “fully clothed” for this battle. But he adds the call to prayer as a key and critical element for putting on the whole armor of God. One must be covered in prayer at all times for protection, provision and for proof. What proof? It is the proof of one’s centeredness on being of God, in God, with God, for God and by God. We will read, if you have not already read ahead into the fourth chapter of Zechariah, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (verse 4.6) When things seem to be far bigger than we are able to handle, confront and overcome, we must acknowledge scripturally “What is impossible for humankind has always been possible for God!” It comes from the teaching of Jesus the Christ, Son of God and Son of David. As we often call upon our own strength, resources and cunning to “do battle” with anything and anyone, we often find failure or temporary success. Yet, we are not in this world for the short term; as so many seem wont to be and to do. No, we are created to endure to the Last Day. What comfort we must find in that particular truth and calling. Do we not hear of it in the Great Commission which the Resurrected Jesus gave to His disciples before His ascension into Heaven? Did He not say, “And, listen, this I promise to you: I AM with you always to the close of the Age.” And what is the “close of the Age”? It closes on the “Last Day” when Jesus will reappear to earth and take total control of the situation which stands against God and humanity. We must understand that the plans of those who intend us harm and God defeat are only the failed machinations of human beings seduced by the powers of darkness, those seditious angels aligned with the once beautiful Lucifer now called Satan. See how Jesus confronted their master with the Word of God spoken by the presence of the Holy Spirit. His words in the wilderness were the utterances of scripture covered by prayer. They were forceful, compelling and undeniable. They were sharper than “any double-edged sword.” They were effective, exacting and excellent being perfected in wisdom, in truth and in love of God. Prayer, mighty ones of God, is our best weapon in the battle for truth against the enemy armed with lies. In so doing, we are already claiming victory for righteousness and the defeat of unrighteousness. We know the war has already been won even while the battles continue.

It is into this kind of scenario that Zechariah found himself engaged in the call to bring Israel together with the Word of God revealed in prophetic visions and proclamations. First, he was confronted with omniscience; the vision of God for the whole land. It was produced in the riders ordered by the “Man in the Myrtles.” It was accentuated by the “seven-faceted rock;” each facet having an eye that never slept. Now, he is confronted with the omnipotence of God. That omnipotence is revealed in the consuming strength of God’s Holy Spirit. The exercise of both reveal the nature, character and activity of God who acts in His glory for the goodness of His people. The exercise of that mighty act comes in the word of encouragement given to Zerubbabel by Zechariah. The background knowledge for this declaration is this. Zerubbabel was born in exile in Babylon. He was a descendant of David and thus heir to the throne. What did he face upon his return to Israel and more specifically to Jerusalem? He found a scattered people and a destroyed Temple. The Temple was not merely a beacon of hope shining into the world by day and by night. It was a focal point of identity as the centrality of God’s presence emanating from it into all nations. It had always been this way for as long as people had known it in the days of Melchizedek. The Temple was a rallying point for those who called themselves people of God and the sheep of His pasture. He was, is and will always be the Good Shepherd. Since it destruction, however, and with the leadership of Israel being taken in captivity to a land beyond what they could see, the people were like a flock without a shepherd. They were wandering and wondering, lost and vulnerable. It was up to Zerubbabel to rebuild and restore the Temple. In doing so, however, he was confronted by the visions of the past. Those visions became mountainous barriers to the task at hand. They were mountains that had to be moved so that the level ground of God’s redemption could be prepared for what God was about to do. It may have seemed too great a task to accomplish as he would battle not merely flesh and blood, but the rulers consumed by a dark desire for “bigger and better” as the vision of the Temple had been in their minds full of ambition, ego and self-aggrandizement. Those were the very things which made them vulnerable to nations and rebuked by God. God extended His hand of promise that the day of “small things” would make Israel great.

It is a promise which still is extended to us, mighty ones of God, in today’s world. As the situations rise up around us with the current state of affair, it is no small thing we are experiencing. Yet, we are called by that “still, small voice” to “Go into all the world to preach, teach and make disciples of all nations and to baptize them into the newness of life which is derived solely (and soul-ly) from God.” We are called as one people and one nation of God’s people who exist as exiles scattered into many lands. But we are of “one heart, one mind and one spirit” joined together under the banner of “one Lord, one faith and one birth.” We are called to be united in prayer, knitted together perfectly ” in spirit and in truth.” We are not only surrounded by “so great a cloud of witnesses,” but we are commissioned as “a royal priesthood of all believers.” Our numbers in this world will always be less than those of the enemy who stands against us, against God and ultimately against themselves. Regardless, we are called for such a time as this and for such a work as this which God has already ordained and made possible for us to do. We are led in prayer given to us by the King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the One who shoulders have already borne the penalty of the governance of the world in crucifixion but who will bear the weight of governance of the world in truth and justice in the days to come. Those words state clearly, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Let the light of life burn brightly. Let our eyes be wide open to see what God is doing and will do. Let our focus be fixed on the myriad of small things which will be summed up in one large accomplishment: God’s will be done!

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.