Beyond Our Suffering – His Glory

 * "Throughout the land two-thirds will be cut off and die.  Yet, one-third will be left in it. I will bring this third of the people through the fire. I will refine them as silver is refined. I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on me, and I will answer them. I will say, They are …

God’s Kingdom will come – in His time.

"Rejoice with all your heart... Shout in triumph... Your King is coming to you... " (Zechariah 9:9). Here, we have the prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus when He entered the city of Jerusalem, on His way to the Cross. This is followed, in Zechariah 9:10, by the words, "He will rule from sea to …

The Glory Within

The Lord is "the glory within" Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:5). He is "the glory within" His Church. We dare not attach so much importance to the externals of religion that we forget about the presence of the Lord. To make secondary things more important than they really are is to miss the most important thing - …

We must not lose sight of the eternal perspective. This is what gives us encouragement.

Here, on earth, there is spiritual warfare. We do not fight in our own strength - "The Lord will go out and fight against those nations" (Zechariah 14:3). when the Lord returns, there will be His triumph over all His enemies: "The Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones will be with …

We hear the Word of the Lord so that we might become strong in the Lord.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who have been hearing in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who spoke … ‘” (Zechariah 8:9). We hear the Word of the Lord so that we might become strong in the Lord. God’s Word is not to go in one ear and …

Salvation – the removal of sin and the restoration of glory

Zechariah 1:1-4:14; 3 John 1-14; Psalm 139:11-16  The removal of sin (Zechariah 3:4,9) and the restoration of glory: Here, we have a great description of salvation, wiping out the sin of the past, giving an anticipatory glimpse of the glory to come. The past is forgiven. The future is promised. What about the present – …

By ourselves, we cannot move from a self-centred life to a God-centred life, but we can look to the Lord to change us.

Who is most important to us? Our God or ourselves (Zechariah 7:5-6)? This is the challenge that is placed before us by the prophets of God. Our way of thinking and our way of living must be laid bare by the Word of the Lord. God wants us to see ourselves as we really are. …

Glimpses Of The Coming Kingdom

"Rejoice with all your heart...  Shout in triumph... Your King is coming to you...  " (Zechariah 9:9). Here, we have the prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus when He entered the city of Jerusalem, on His way to the Cross. This is followed, in Zechariah 9:10, by the words, "He will rule from sea to …

We need both truth and holiness.

We need both truth and holiness (Zechariah 8:3). Truth is not just something to be believed. Truth changes us. Truth leads us into the pathways of holiness. We need both "truth and peace" (Zechariah 8:19). When truth changes us, it leads us into the paths of peace. The holy life is not to be a …

‘Here I Am, Wholly Available – As For Me, I Will Serve The Lord.’

Zechariah 5:1-6:15 ‘Here is the Man whose Name is the Branch... It is He who will build the Temple of the Lord...’(12-13). These words point us to our Lord Jesus Christ: ‘I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’(Matthew 16:18). How does Christ build His Church? He sends …

A Call For Conversion, A Promise of Salvation (Zechariah 1:1-6)

 * The Faithful Ministry of God's Prophets God’s work does not always move forward smoothly. We face determined opposition. Where there is opportunity, there will be opposition (1 Corinthians 16:9). The servants of Satan rise up to oppose the servants of the Lord. The Lord’s enemies had some success: ‘the work on the House of God …

Responding to God’s Word (35): King of kings and Lord of lords

The Lord shall be King over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9). As I read this verse, my thoughts went to the words of Revelation 19:16, where our Lord is described as "King of kings and Lord of lords." May God help each of us to lift up our hearts and voices, in praise, to Jesus …

The Silencing Of Satan … Walking In The Spirit

"I, the Lord, silence you, Satan!" (Zechariah 3:2). We cannot silence Satan. The Lord can silence Satan. This is why we must answer Satan with the Word of the Lord. Satan has no answer to the Word of the Lord. "See, I have taken your sin away from you, and I will dress you in …

Rejoice greatly … your King comes to you …

Zechariah 9:1-11:17; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 140:1-5 “Rejoice greatly … your King comes to you … having salvation … because of the blood of My covenant with you” (Zechariah 9:9,11). “The Ruler of the kings of the earth … who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). The King …

When great numbers of sinners are brought to the Saviour – this is the Lord ‘s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes.

"I will pour out the Spirit of blessing and mercy on David's family and on those who live in Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:10). Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is "greater than David", we receive the blessing of the Spirit. this blessing is given to us through the mercy of God. It's all of grace. All …

God’s love and faithfulness, His guidance and blessing

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (or Zechariah 9:9-12); Psalm 145:8-14; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Rejoicing in God’s love and faithfulness, let us seek His guidance and blessing. The detailed account of Isaac's marriage highlights the guidance of God. He directs the life of His …

The Power Of The Spirit

The work of God is not done in our own strength. We need the superior power of God's Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). The power of the Spirit comes to us as the power of love, the power of Christ, the power of the Gospel. This is the power that reaches us and changes us. There  is …

To The Ends Of The Earth

“His dominion shall be… to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10). God’s purpose was moving on. He had begun with Israel. Their deliverance from bondage in Egypt was a mighty demonstration of His saving power. This was only the beginning. God was moving on to Jesus, “the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). In …

It is the Spirit of the Lord who brings blessing when the Word of the Lord is preached.

"Here  is the man whose name is Branch ... He will rebuild the Lord's Temple" (Zechariah 6:12). We read these words. We think of Jesus and His promise, "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The servants of the Lord are sent out to different …

Let us pray that God will pour out His Spirit upon us.

Zechariah 1:1-2:13 God promises to bless His faithful people: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My House will be rebuilt’(16). God looks upon His House, and He sees His glory - ‘I will be the glory within it’(2:5). He sees the glory of His presence - ‘I will live among you’(2:10). We …

Prophecy And Fulfilment

"They will look on Me, the One they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10). "These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled ... ‘They will look on the One they have pierced’" (John 19:36-37). "They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for …

Without God, no real work of lasting value will be done.

"A house in Shinar (Babylonia)" (Zechariah 5:11). Babylon is symbolic of the world that opposes God and His purpose. Even in 'Babylon', an unbelieving and disobedient world, God is building His House. "They are going to build a House" - There are human builders, but, ultimately, this is the work of the Lord. All the …

Link to Rev James Philip’s notes on Zechariah

Zechariah

Prophecy – Preparing The Way For The Saviour

"Rejoice with all your heart... Shout in triumph... Your King is coming to you... " (Zechariah 9:9). Here, we have the prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus when He entered the city of Jerusalem, on His way to the Cross. This is followed, in Zechariah 9:10, by the words, "He will rule from sea to …

Jesus Is The King.

Zechariah 9:9-10 This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Jesus is the King - not just a king.  * What kind of King is He? - “righteous and victorious”, “humble” (Zechariah 9:9)., “to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10).  * How are we to respond to Him? - “Rejoice greatly... Shout in triumph” …

God will look with favour on His people when they are united in Him.

Favour and unity (Zechariah 11:7) - God will look with favour on His people when they are united in Him. Let us seek the Lord's favour. Let us be united in seeking His favour. Let us seek to be united in the Lord, praying that He will look upon us with favour.

Christ Will Come Again – ‘With Power And Great Glory’. ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’

Zechariah 9:1-10:12 '...See your King comes to you... gentle and riding on a donkey...’(9:9). These words point us to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Jesus is our King. Jesus comes to us. How are we to welcome our King? We are to welcome Him with joyful praise - ‘Blessed is He who comes in …

Challenge And Comfort

There is a call from God - "Return to Me" - and a promise from God - "I will return to you" (Zechariah 1:3). God's Word contains both challenge and comfort. It is not challenge without comfort. It is not comfort without challenge. We need both - challenge and comfort.

Zechariah 7-14

ZECHARIAH 7:1-8:23 -  When people stop listening to God’s Word, their life becomes ‘a desolate wasteland’ (7:11-14). What are we to do when we see this happening? - ‘Do not be afraid... Be strong’. We must keep on believing God’s promise: ‘I will save you, and you will be a blessing’. We must keep on …

Zechariah 1-6

ZECHARIAH 1:1-2:13 -  God promises to bless His faithful people: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My House will be rebuilt’ (16). God looks upon His House, and He sees His glory - ‘I will be the glory within it’ (2:5). He sees the glory of His presence - ‘I will live …

Our God? or Ourselves?

Who is most important to us? Our God or ourselves (Zechariah 7:5-6)? This is the challenge that is placed before us by the prophets of God. Our way of thinking and our way of living must be laid bare by the Word of the Lord. God wants us to see ourselves as we really are. …

Zechariah

ZECHARIAH1:1-2:13 –  God promises to bless His faithful people: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My House will be rebuilt’ (16). God looks upon His House, and He sees His glory – ‘I will be the glory within it’ (2:5). He sees the glory of His presence – ‘I will live among you’ …

Why does God love us?

"They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’” (Zechariah 13:9). What makes us the people of God? Is there something special about us? No! It's the gift of grace. God calls us by his grace. He saves us by his …

One Year Bible: Days 334-361

Day 334 Daniel 7:1-8:14; 1 John 2:12-27; Psalm 136:13-26 Daniel 7:13-14 looks forward, prophetically, to the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the future towards which history is moving, the future towards which God is working, the future of the Kingdom of God. This world is passing away, "but the man who …

The Word of the Lord came to me.

Zechariah 5:1-8:23; Jude 1-25; Psalm 139:17-24  Again and again, in Zechariah, we find the phrase, “the Word of the Lord (Almighty) came to me” (Zechariah 6:9; Zechariah 7, verses 1,4 and 8). Another recurring phrase, with similar meaning, is “This is what the Lord (Almighty) says” (Zechariah 6:12; Zechariah 8: verses 3 and 4, verses …

Where does the power come from – the power to do the work of the Lord?

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6). Where does the power come from - the power to do the work of the Lord? Does it come from deep within ourselves? Do we look deep within ourselves - and find inner strength? …

The outpouring of the Spirit brings great glory to God and many sinners to the Saviour.

"I will pour out the Spirit of blessing and mercy on David's family and on those who live in Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:10). Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is "greater than David", we receive the blessing of the Spirit. This blessing is given to us through the mercy of God. It's all of grace. All …

When the Lord returns, there will be His triumph over all His enemies.

Here, on earth, there is spiritual warfare. We do not fight in our own strength - "The Lord will go out and fight against those nations" (Zechariah 14:3). When the Lord returns, there will be His triumph over all His enemies: "The Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones will be with …

Praying Through God’s Word: Zechariah

ZECHARIAH1:1-2:13We thank You, Lord, that You promise to bless Your faithful people: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My House will be rebuilt’ (Zechariah 1:16). You looks upon Your House, and You see Your glory – ‘I will be the glory within it’ (Zechariah 2:5). You see the glory of Your presence …

A fountain … to wash away their sin

"A fountain ... to wash away their sin and stain" (Zechariah 13:1) - Here's a prophecy that points forward to our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. In death, He gave Himself for us. His blood was shed for us.Through His death, by the shedding of His blood, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. This …

The Cornerstone

“From them will come the cornerstone… they shall be as mighty men, treading down their enemies… because the Lord is with them” (Zechariah 10:4-5). * Jesus Christ is “the cornerstone” upon which our faith is built  – “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord” (Samuel John Stone). * In Christ, we are “more …