Sermon from April 6, 2014

Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?†he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. 3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.†4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?†5 “Don’t you know?†the angel asked. “No, my lord,†I replied. 6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’†8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.†(The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.) 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, 12 and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?†13 “Don’t you know?†he asked. “No, my lord,†I replied. 14 Then he said to me, “They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.â€

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• First, we find a PERPETUAL POWER source.
  
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  • vs 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
    
  • Revelation 1:20 The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
    
  • Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses
    
  
  
  
• Second, we see a PROPHETIC PROCLAMATION .
  
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  • vs 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’â€
    
  • Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
    
  
  
  
• Third, we see a PERSPECTIVE PRINCIPLE .
  
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  • vs 9-10 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?â€
    
  • “Small Things”
    
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    • - The first electric light was so dim that a candle was needed to see its socket.
      
    • - One of the first steamboats took 32 hours to chug its way 150 miles
      
    • - Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds
      
    • - The first automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often. Carriages would pass them with their passengers shouting, “Get a horse!â€
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
• Fourth, we know God’s people are a PRIESTLY PEOPLE .
  
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  • vs 12-14 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?†13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?†“No, my lord,†I said. 14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.â€