streets full

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

110413Zechariah 8

The LORD’s rescue of his people will bring peace and prosperity.  It will be an opportunity to witness to the goodness and faithfulness of God by a display of the goodness and faithfulness of the people toward him and each other.  This is the objective of the rescue the gospel offers as well.  The streets of the city should be full of signs of blessing, the elderly and playing children.  This image is particularly delightful in a weary, strife torn land.  It speaks of a well-being that the nations will envy.

LORD, give us the wisdom to display your goodness and faithfulness – even while we wait for the fulfillment of your promises.

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Chislev

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1968Zechariah 7

Chislev was the month designated for fasting, to remember the destruction of Jerusalem.  Now that the temple was being rebuilt, some of the people requested that the fast be discontinued.  Zechariah’s answer from the LORD was that the fast that really matters is a change of heart, resulting in a change of life.  If that does not happen, it does not matter if there is a physical temple or not.  God wants his spiritual temple in the land.  We are it.

LORD, turn us into people who demonstrate your kindness and mercy and justice to others.  Soften our diamond-hard hearts.

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good things are coming

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1967Zechariah 6

The final apocalyptic vision of Zechariah is similar to the first.  Only, the four horses are now attached to chariots.  They no longer spy out the lands surrounding Jerusalem, but patrol it as weapons of warfare and protection.  The tide has turned, and now power is coming from Israel, and creating rest for it.  The Branch is coming.  His precursor stands already, Joshua ben Jehozadak.  He will serve with the prince to restore the people.  Both these sections cry out: good things are coming, trust God.

LORD, give us the courage and insight to trust you to make things right.

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changing their minds

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_2303Acts 27-28:15

One theme than runs through this passage is how those who observed Paul first had misgivings about him, but eventually changed their minds.  By virtue of his witness and his integrity, Paul turned skeptics into – maybe not believers, but people who respected and honored his beliefs.  The centurion was, at first, inclined to trust his ship captain rather than Paul.  Then he changed his mind, and that led to his intervening with the soldiers to save Paul’s life.  The inhabitants of Malta were first convinced that Paul was under judgment.  Then they changed their mind and saw him as a blessed healer. 

When we encounter opposition and antagonism as we witness, we should be patient and let God work.  Perhaps he will change the peoples’ minds.

LORD, give us the courage to trust you, especially when others do not trust us.

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cleaned out, going out

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1966Zechariah 5

These two visions show what the LORD is going to do to rid the land of sin.  He is going to curse the houses of the thief and the one who swears falsely for personal gain.  Since they both sinned for personal gain, what they gained will be taken away.  Their houses will be cleaned out.

He is going to remove idolatry from the land, symbolized by the woman in the basket, described as wickedness herself.  Many of the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites involved sexual sin, just as pornography today is this same kind of idolatry.  Also, taking foreign wives often led the Israelites to apostasy.  But the LORD shows here that he is not judging females in general by this singular phenomenon: the angels who deport the wicked woman are portrayed as women themselves!   

LORD, clean us out, drive sin away from our houses.

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sons of new oil

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1949Zechariah 4

Joshua and Zerubbabel were the two sons of new oil, the newly reestablished priesthood and the governor will work together to see to it that God’s light continues to shine.  The obstacles will be removed not by the might of human ability, nor the power of human influence.  God’s Spirit will do it.

LORD, when the task seems too great for us, remind us that it is your Holy Spirit who will do it.

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new clothes

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1947Zechariah 3

As soon as God decided to bring revival, Satan showed up to accuse the temple leaders of being unworthy to lead it.  The LORD shows Zechariah a vision in which Joshua, the high priest, is clothed in clean clothes, to replace those which are literally covered in excrement.  The LORD imputed righteousness to him, in order to make him qualified to lead others to him.  That is what he does for us as well.  We cheapen grace if we stop at the personal salvation.  We are saved to be priests, leading people to the Branch, king Jesus.

LORD, thank you for the new clothes.  Give us courage to walk in your ways and keep your charge.

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raised and reigning

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0213Acts 3-4:31

Another miracle begins this section of Acts: the healing of a lame beggar.  His obvious healing brings the crowds back to hear Peter and John, and they make a point of saying that it is God’s power, not theirs.  They also make it a point to say that the power comes from Jesus, raised and reigning.

The priests and Sanhedrin were ruled by the Sadducee sect at the time, a group that denied the possibility of a resurrection.  They were embarrassed by this new group and the following they were getting.  They could not deny the miracle performed, but they wanted nothing to do with a resurrected Christ.

Likewise, there are those today who do not mind being religious, as long as their religion remains a set of manageable personal beliefs.  But Christ, raised and reigning, demands our repentance and obedience.

LORD, give us the courage to believe and obey Jesus, raised and reigning.

Posted in church, Jesus Christ, obedience, resurrection | Tagged , | 2 Comments

the two questions of Pentecost

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0202Acts 2

When Jesus poured out his Holy Spirit on the believers at Pentecost, a special miracle happened.  Jews who were drawn to the commotion heard the gospel being proclaimed in their vernacular heart-languages.  They were amazed and perplexed, and asked …

“What does this mean?”

Peter answered that in these last days God is going to pour out his Holy Spirit – not on a precious few prophets – but on all flesh.  All of God’s people are going to know and have opportunity to testify about what he wants.  The message of the gospel of Christ, raised and reigning, is the meaning of Pentecost.

“What shall we do?”

Peter challenged all who were gripped with the reality of the crucified and risen Christ to repent and be baptized.  The church is the only answer for a sinful world who recognizes the authority of a risen Savior.  A church who devotes herself to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers – this is the church who has found the answer to the question “what shall we do?”

LORD, may we live out the answers to the two questions of Pentecost.

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fleeing the land of the north

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1945bZechariah 1:18-2:13

Those who scattered Judah will themselves be shaken, and the people will return to a city protected by the LORD himself.  Those who have been living in Babylon are told to flee from that land of the north, and escape to Zion.

Where are you living today?  Are you at home in the LORD’s land, or do you live in the land of Babylon?  You cannot stay on that foreign soil.  The LORD is about to judge it.  Escape to the LORD’s protected city.

LORD, we have been living in Babylon too long.  Give us the courage to escape it, before it is too late.

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