Forge Church

Zechariah 9 shifts from prose to poetry. God Almighty is introduced, and those cities and people groups that have long plagued Israel come under judgment. The LORD has subcontracted judgment to fall on Syria, the Phoenecian cities, the Philistines, and Egypt, while that judgment bypasses Jerusalem. Then the LORD promises to lead Israel in battle.

Chapter 8 of Zechariah is the second part of a literary unit called an inclusion. Chapter 7 started with God's judgment and chapter 8 finishes the unit with promises and prophecies of good for Judah. The Lord promises to dwell in Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to City of Faithfulness. He then promises that he will save His people from the east and the west, saving them, and bringing them to Jerusalem. The LORD of Hosts finally answers the fasting question from chapter 7, turning the weeping and fasting into joyous celebrations.

Zechariah and the priests in Jerusalem are asked about the fasts that the exiles in captivity were practicing. Immediately, the LORD of hosts prompts Zechariah regarding past prophetic encounters that the people of Judah had had regarding ritual religion. Then the LORD inserts his own list of how a fast before the LORD should look.

Zechariah has his 8th vision, this one of 4 chariots that personify the 4 spirits of heaven, rushing out from between two bronze mountains. The Angel of the Lord dispatches these chariots to patrol the earth. Zechariah has a direct word from the LORD of Hosts, to take an offering from newly arrived exiles, fashion an ornate crown from that silver and gold, and place that crown on Joshua, the Priest. This passage points directly to the roles filled by Messiah, and fulfilled in the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

The Prophet, Zechariah, is urged again to lift his eyes, and there before him is a 30' X 15" scroll, written on both sides, hanging in mid-air. He asks the interpreting angel what it is, and is told that it is a curse on those who have stolen and who have sworn falsely in the Lord's name. These unrepentant sinners are to be purged from the land of Judah. He raises his eyes and there is a huge ephah coming, carrying a woman in the basket. The angel identifies that woman as wickedness. Then two female forms with wings like storks appear. They carry off the ephah into Shinar. The Lord is cleansing the land of Judah.

Zechariah is awakened from sleep by the interpreting angel and asked what he sees. Before him is a sold gold lamp stand that stands between two olive trees. He knows that olive trees are, as well as the lamp stand, but does not know what the vision means. Ultimately, what is pictured is two anointed men standing by the Lord of the whole earth. One is the High Priest, Joshua, and the second, is Zerubbabel, the Governor and builder of the Temple. The latter is a prince in the line of King David, who is serving the Persians as an administrator over the very lands and city that would have been his inheritance.

Zechariah is shown another vision by the Angel of the Lord, and he interacts with that vision, as Joshua, the high Priest is stripped of his filthy garments and clothed in radiant robes. Then the Lord Of Hosts says He will bring forth is Servant, The Branch, and The Stone. We get the first two, but the Stone remains uninterpreted. The kick is, iniquity will be swept away in a day.....a day that is coming soon.

Zechariah is introduced to a 4th vision, and the interpretation follows. The Angel of the Lord is about to be dispatched to deal with those Gentile Nations that over-stepped the parameters of the Lord who had sent them to judge Judah. Any nation that touches Judah touches the very pupil of God's eye. This Angel promises to be to Judah a wall of fire and to set His glory in the midst of the people. 9 prophetic words are included, that have not been fulfilled, yet.

Zechariah is confronted with three night visions that include a theophany of the Angel of God, a translator angel, a patrol of mounted angels, and the voice of God Almighty. He hears "within" that the LORD of Hosts is jealous for Judah, and angry at those who oppress and scatter his people. He promises prosperity is coming when the people of Judah turn back to Him.

Zechariah is a priest, called by the LORD of hosts to be a prophet to the returned exiles, back from captivity in Babylon. He delivers the word of the LORD to the people in Judah, calling on them to repent for their sins, and to renounce the sins of their forefathers. If Judah repents and returns to the LORD, the Lord promises to turn back to them.

The 150 years surrounding the life and ministry of Zechariah saw nations and empires rise and fall. IN the middle of it, God keeps His promise to Isaiah that he would use Cyrus The Great to free Jews from captivity in Babylon at the end of the 70 year exile Jeremiah prophesied. God calls Zechariah from a priestly family and life to become a prophet.

Paul begins this passage with strong commands to pray, strong commands to seize the strategic moment in relating to those who are outside the faith. Then he pivots in v. 7 and begins to commend men on his team in Rome, men serving in churches in the Lycus Valley, and a woman who leads a house church in Laodicea. Many gifts and skills are highlighted, as each is honored as a bond-slave of Christ.

This Easter, please listen to this teaching comparing 2 Biblical gardens, and then the application into a 3rd garden in the Amazon. Each of us has been planted, positioned in our own growth medium, our own garden. Listen for what the Master Gardener has for you.

The ancient Household Codes that everyone in Colossae had grown up under were anchored in place by the traditions of men, and not small amounts of demonic influence. Paul does not set out to radically change households, but rather to see them transformed IN CHRIST. He addressed wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters, calling on all of them to be transformed in Christ first, then see their roles shift by Holy Spirit.

Paul shifts away from his "Put off the old" to "put on the new" and the new are a list of virtues and characteristics that reflect The Bride Of Christ. That is us, folks, The ekklesia, the Body, the church, is to be clothed in the virtues of her Savior. Here, Paul lays them out.

Again, Paul emphasizes what Christ has already done for the Colossian believers. That said, he turns to them saying...since you have died to sin, died to the old man within you, slough that off and put on the new man in Christ. Put to death the vices that ruled your behavior when you did not know Jesus.

Paul goes right at those in Colossae that would judge his Brothers and Sisters for diet and for religious practices. The self-made religion and self- abasement that was being modeled and taught by the false teachers is dismissed by Paul as of no value against temptations and immoral practices.

Paul is now directly teaching the Colossians about the results of being led astray by vain speculations. He clearly identifies the energy behind the heresy....the traditions passed down generationally, and the demonic push that the spirit world has to try to pull down the faithful in Christ. The answer to that is the triumph of Christ over all those rulers and entities that would oppose the Kingdom of God.

Paul describes his suffering for the sake of the Gospel as being on behalf of the Colossian believers. Then he points to the mystery that has been revealed in them: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." From before time began, The Father chose to hide this great discovery....that He loves Gentiles, too.

Paul aims his teaching at the false teachers around Colossae who would depict Jesus as not enough. In God's plan, he filled Jesus full of deity, and worked redemptions story for those who anchor their faith on His finished work on the cross. He is begotten, first born, risen, creator and sustainer of all. He stands supreme.