Strength & Courage | Zechariah 8:9-17 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Zechariah 8:9–17

About this sermon

Introduction: The book of Zechariah, on multiple occasions, presents the wonderful promises of the future millennial kingdom of Messiah. But Zechariah’s ministry was not just to declare futuristic prophecy. Zechariah’s ministry had a contemporary and practical purpose. He was exhorting God’s people to true repentance, true faith, and the completion of a task that God had assigned. He is God’s mouthpiece to call the remnant who returned from captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. What Zechariah demonstrates, repeatedly, is how eschatology is fuel for obedient living in the present. We see that again in our verses. We see how the Spirit of God takes promise regarding the future and applies it for the purpose of present strength and courage. “Be strong and courageous.” This is the same message that Haggai (a contemporary of Zechariah) had given to the people. ESV Haggai 2:4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. (Hag. 2:4 ESV) This is a repeated exhortation in the Old Testament Scriptures. It is repeated for GOOD REASON. From the negative point of view, it is a lack of resolve and courage that characterizes disobedient responses to God. GOD’S WORK THROUGH HIS PEOPLE SUFFERS WHERE THEY EVIDENCE WEAKNESS IN RESPONSE TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. A lack of desire. A lack of zeal. A lack of effort and activity. GOD’S WORK THROUGH HIS PEOPLE SUFFERS WHERE THEY EVIDENCE A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN RESPONSE TO HIS REVEALED WILL. Refusing to move forward with assigned work, or refusing to proclaim God’s revealed truth, because THEY ARE AFRAID. From the positive point of view, strength and courage manifest FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD and DEVOTION TO GOD — FAITH IN GOD. Both responses to God demonstrate genuine faith in His name. To know the name of the Lord is to TRUST Him. ESV Psalm 9:10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Ps. 9:10 ESV) To know God’s name is not only to know His holiness, and His wisdom, and His power — it is to know HIS FAITHFULNESS. God does not break His Word. God does not forget or forsake His people. God does not refuse to supply His people with what they need to do His will. God, through Zechariah, now takes the future promise of the millennial kingdom of Messiah (which demonstrates that God is not finished with Israel), and uses it to exhort His people for the strength and courage they need to finish their work. NOTE: THE GOD WHOSE WORD HAS PROVEN TRUE IN THE PAST, AND CAN BE TRUSTED FOR THE FUTURE, MUST BE BELIEVED RIGHT NOW. I. THE CALL FOR STRENGTH AND COURAGE In verses 9-13 God calls Zechariah’s listeners to strength and courage. A. THE NATURE OF THIS STRENGTH AND COURAGE The fact that God ties this to what the people have been hearing, speaks to the very nature of the strength and courage they are being called to. It is a strength and courage explained by faith in God and in His words. It is the strength of the Lord. It is the courage that God grants. And that strength and confidence is found where God is believed and His Words are believed and obeyed.

Topics

• Strength in Hard Times
• Victory Over Fear