OceanSide church of Christ

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The Golden Candlestick
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.              Introduction

a.    The lesson text is Zechariah 4:6-10

b.    42,360 captives returned from the Babylonian captivity in 536 BC to rebuild the temple

                                          i.    However, the work was hindered and ceased one year later

c.    Haggai and Zechariah prophesied around 15 years later to continue building

                                          i.    This is about our time period in Zechariah chapter 4

d.    In the first three chapters of the book Zechariah sees 4 visions

                                          i.    These deliver a message of encouragement to promote the work

II.            God will furnish the power (Zech 4:6)

a.    The completing of the temple would be the work of God and not man

                                          i.    Not by military might nor by the wisdom of men

b.    God’s Spirit would be the power by which it was completed

c.    Today God furnishes us the power through the Spirit as well (Luke 4:14,18, Eph 3:3-5)

                                          i.    By reading the Word we learn of that power through the Spirit

                                        ii.    When a soul is saved the glory is God’s and not ours

                                       iii.    The power is the Gospel of Jesus (Rom 1:16)

III.           God will fortify the person (Zech 4:7-9)

a.    God fortified Zerubbabel with wisdom

                                          i.    He had to lead the people in building the temple

                                        ii.    God fortifies us through wisdom today (James 1:5)

1.    We must pray for that wisdom

b.    God fortified Zerubbabel to overcome woes, or “mountains”

                                          i.    He gives us strength to overcome temptations today (1 Cor 10:13)

c.    God fortified Zerubbabel to finish his work

                                          i.    Likewise, we must finish our work through God as Jesus did (John 17:4)

IV.          God will finish His purpose (Zech 4:10)

a.    Despising the day of small things was a reference to their view of this new temple (Ezra 3:12, Hag 2:3)

                                          i.    They thought it was nothing compared to the first

                                        ii.    However, it was a great day because they obeyed God

                                       iii.    Sometimes we might despise a small day or work that is great in God’s eyes        

b.    The plummet in his hand represented the completion of the temple as well

                                          i.    Notice the speaker changed in verse 8-10 to the one who will be sent

1.    This must be Jesus (Zech 2:9-11)

2.    In fact, God calls Zerubbabel a “signet” of Christ (Hag 2:23)

                                        ii.    We must look to Jesus and be part of the finishing of God’s work today (Heb 12:2)

c.    Finally, we see the seven eyes of God

                                          i.    This is a reference to His providence seeing the work done

1.    The number seven is spiritual perfection from God

2.    God’s providence is with us today as we fulfill His work (Rom 8:28)

                                        ii.    His work will be done, but will you be part of it or hinder it?