Monthly Archives: July 2023

Uncategorized

IMPOVERISHED

ZECHARIAH 9:4

“Behold, the Lord will dispossess her and throw her wealth into the sea; and she will be consumed with fire.”

You may have had an experience in your life when you lost a lot of money or some property. It may have been such a sum that it took you years to recover. You may still be trying to recover. Those kinds of experiences can lead to someone being impoverished (made poor). Some homeless people on the streets suffered such a loss and never got over it.

The Lord is saying here in verse 4 of chapter 9 that He is going to take away all the wealth of Tyre. Remember, in verse 3 it talked about their great wealth. Silver was like dust and gold was like mud to them. But soon they would discover what poverty felt like. Because of their unbelief and idolatry, they would be judged and sentenced by God.

APPLICATION

Our salvation should be the most valued thing we possess. Nothing else comes close. Nothing else will last forever. Nothing else will give us eternal rewards. When David was addressing Saul in 1 Samuel 26:23, he said, “‘And the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;’” That is what the Lord values – our righteousness (which is from Christ) and our faithfulness.

Our Lord wants us to put value in things that are eternal, not the temporal things that will rot and rust. Jesus tells us this clearly in Matthew 6:19-21. “19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”

I recently updated my will and listed some of my worldly possessions, designating to whom each should go at my death. Now, I am not planning an early departure (lol), but I want to avoid all the drama that often accompanies families when someone dies. Everything I have accumulated and will still accumulate will all be left behind. All I am taking with me is my faith in my Lord. Will you be taking that with you? I hope so.

Father, I know the greatest possession I have is Your Son, Jesus. He will embrace me in Glory one day.

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Abiding, Battles, Bible, Enemies, Fortress, Protection, Scripture

FORTRESSES DO NOT DEFEND YOU

ZECHARIAH 9:3

“For Tyre built herself a fortress, and piled up silver like dust, and gold like the mud of the streets.”

My house has windows and doors that lock. I have a motion light in the back that will come on if someone approaches my house at night. But all the locks in the world cannot protect me if someone really wanted to get in. You may have heard “locks only work on honest people.”

Tyre built an impressive fortress. Look at how it is described.
“The walls, 150 feet high and of breadth proportionate, compacted of large stones, embedded in gypsum, seemed to defy an enemy who could only approach her by sea. In order to make the wall twice as strong they built a second wall ten cubits broad, leaving a space between of five cubits, which they filled with stones and earth.” But even that could not keep away God’s judgment.

APPLICATION

What have you placed your trust in? Are you trusting those locks on your house to protect you? Are you trusting in guns and ammo? There is only one true source of protection. Psalm 61:3-4 says, “3 For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”

Isn’t that beautiful? You may never see the stones and gates of God that protect you and your loved ones, but they are there. Then why do I get attacked by the enemy all the time? That’s a very good question. Have you read Job lately? Why did God allow Job to be tested so much? God wants to refine us and make us pure. That requires some fire.

I don’t like the tests and trials that God allows, but I do like the results. Every time God has taken me through a trial, and I have trusted Him, I come out better. I come out hardened for battle. I come out further prepared to take on the challenges of my enemy. Who are you trusting? What are you trusting? I pray you are trusting the One who is trustworthy.

Thank You, Lord, for defending me. I rest in Your strength.

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Bible, Scripture, Truth, Wisdom

WORLDLY WISDOM DOESN’T CUT IT

ZECHARIAH 9:2

“And Hamath also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.”

I have had the privilege to work with some very wise individuals. Some of those had great worldly wisdom. They taught me a lot about things that could help me. However, the greatest wisdom I received was from those who used God’s Word as their source for wisdom. Worldly wisdom does not come close to godly wisdom.

Zechariah recognized that and addressed it here in today’s verse. He says, “Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.” One commentator tells us, “The wisdom of Tyre was the source of her pride, and so of her destruction also.” They thought they were so smart, but God showed them they were not, at least not in His eyes. They were brought down due to their lofty views of themselves. Their wisdom was their downfall.

APPLICATION

Listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8. “6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;”

What is true wisdom? God’s Word tells us over and over again. You can do a word search of the word “wisdom” in a good Bible app or website. Look up all the words for wisdom in the Bible. See what the Lord says is true wisdom. None of it comes from the world. The world distorts wisdom to fit what it thinks is right. Not God – for Him, there is only one true wisdom. He is it.

Let me take you to Jeremiah 9:23-24. You can see what God says. “23 This is what the LORD says: ‘Let no wise man boast of his wisdom,…24 but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.” So, what is the source of your wisdom?

I only want Your wisdom, Lord, for I know is will always guide me true.

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Bible, Child Rearing, Children, Eternity, Family, Legacy, Memorials, Scripture

ERASED FROM SIGHT

ZECHARIAH 9:1

“The pronouncement of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD),”

I attended a small, private school in Meigs, GA from grade 5 through high school. I spent a lot of time at that school between classes, dances and sports events. So many memories. But the school is gone – demolished. If you drove by the previous site of that school today, you would not see the buildings. They are gone. I know it existed, but people in the future will have to rely on other evidence if they want to find it.

Hadrach is one such city. It does not exist today. It is gone, wiped off the face of the earth by an invading power. It was a city in a godless land. It suffered the judgment of God because of that. They were idolaters who scoffed at the very idea of one God. They were proud and rebellious. We could learn a lot from their fate, couldn’t we?

APPLICATION

What in the world does this verse mean for us today? Oh, listen. I believe the Lord has given me a word on this. Our legacy in Christ is only as good as the next generation. We must be about putting down landmarks to the fourth and fifth generation. As parents, we invest in the lives of our children and teach them God’s truth. We coach and mentor them into a saving knowledge of Jesus. We also invest in our grandchildren, praying for them and teaching them every chance we get.

If we are so fortunate to see our great grandchildren, we need to do the same. For many of us, that will never happen. But we can begin to pray for them now. Pray daily for your future generations. Pray God will be so large in their lives that people will ask where they got their faith. Hopefully, they will point back to the previous generations of believers who stood the test of time.

Legacies are made one block at a time. Legacies take time. I pray my legacy is not that I was a great man. I pray my legacy is that I was a great man of God. I want any greatness to be attributed to Him. As I pray for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, I am praying for them to be faithful and true and to lead many to Christ.

Oh, Lord, bless me to the fourth and fifth generations. I pray their inheritance from me is from You.

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Abiding, Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Favor, Home, Oveflowing, Promises, Scripture

LET US GO WITH YOU

ZECHARIAH 8:23

“‘The LORD of armies says this: “In those days ten people from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”’”

I have seen many a child tug on their mother’s dress or coat as they are left in the church nursery. They cried out to them, “Please, let me go with you.” My own children did that. They did not like the nursery. They wanted to stay with us. Mind you, it wasn’t that they wanted to go to “Big Church” with us. It was more about just being with their parents.

In today’s verse, the last verse of chapter 8, the Lord closes out His blessing statements by saying that the Jews are going to be begged by others to take them along back to Israel. They had heard how God had defeated Israel’s enemies and had brought His people home. They wanted to be a part of that. They wanted whatever the Jewish people had.

APPLICATION

We should spread such a sweet fragrance of Christ wherever we go that those we pass will turn and say, “Boy, I want whatever they have.” Can that be said about you? Do people want to follow you? If you are following Christ, they will. Actually, they will be following Christ in you. There’s a big difference.

Why do I differentiate? Because we can become men followers instead of Christ followers. Christ says, “‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Whew! Who wants to do that? Well, I do. I want to follow wherever He goes. Just like the people coming from the other nations to Israel, I want to be where God is doing something.

If no one is following you in your Christian walk, maybe you need to examine your walk. Ouch, Carl, that hurt. Well, I ask myself that question quite often. Does my aroma smell like Jesus? Does my walk imitate His walk? Would people want to follow me if I did this or that? Good questions to ponder, huh?

Lord, allow me to be more and more like You so others can be led to You.

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Accountability, Bible, Calling, Commands, Gospel, Missionaries, Obedience, Scripture, Witnessing

SO MANY PEOPLE

ZECHARIAH 8:22

“‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of armies in Jerusalem, and to plead for the favor of the LORD.’”

I have to be honest – I hate crowds. As much as I love football, the thought of having to fight the crowd at a Georgia football game makes me cringe. I have been in big crowds. There has never been one that I truly enjoyed. Oh, the event I may have attended was good and all, but fighting those crowds in and out of the stadium or arena makes me just want to stay home.

So, when Zechariah shares the words of the Lord that “many peoples and mighty nations will come,” I am sure some people were not too happy. But we have to move past our own likes and dislikes, don’t we? So did they. These people were coming “to plead the favor of the Lord.” They were to be welcomed and shown the love of their God. What a change for them. Instead of dreading the impending masses of armies, they were now serving the Lord of armies by welcoming these pilgrims.

APPLICATION

I think you can guess where I am going to go with this. We need to not only welcome people as they come to Jesus, but we also need to seek them. I have friends who live in countries where there are billions of people who need Jesus. They live in cities that are packed with people literally shoulder to shoulder. They go not because they like those living conditions. They go to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We are clearly commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 to go to all the nations and make disciples. That starts at home with our neighbors. We are also told in Acts 1:8 by Jesus, “‘but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.’”

Where is the Lord calling you? There are truly so many people who need to hear the Gospel. We are all called to share it to as many as we can. What is the result if we don’t? They will spend eternity in hell, separated from God. None of  us want that. So, tell someone the good news this week.

Lord, put me in the path of those who need to hear about Your Son and let them listen and receive it.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Church, Following, Holy Spirit, Invitation, Prayer, Scripture, Testimony, Witnessing

INVITE SOMEONE

ZECHARIAH 8:21

“‘“The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go at once to plead for the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of armies; I also will go.’”’”

I am planning for a conference in Kenya and Uganda right now and am busy inviting people from all over Africa to attend. It’s going to be a wonderful time of training and encouraging the leaders of our Every Man A Warrior ministry on that continent. I want all who can come to be there. I don’t want them to miss out on this training and fellowship.

The people of the cities were looking at Jerusalem in today’s verse and encouraging each other to go there. They wanted to “plead for the favor of the Lord.” They wanted to be where the Lord was. They could see how Israel was being blessed and were drawn there. I love that last phrase – “I also will go.” In other words, lets’ all go!

APPLICATION

Have you invited anyone lately to be a part of your small group or fellowship? I just finished a small group with four men and am praying about men for a new group in the Fall. I long for that time. I need that fellowship and comradery. But I have learned to pray these men in – not just grab some guys and start a group.

The same thing applies to inviting people to church. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the right people. Then when He gives you an open door of opportunity, take it. Tell them what these people told each other. Tell them to come and seek God’s favor with you. Paul tells us in Romans 15:7, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.”

I had the privilege to preach recently in a church of a different denomination than my home church. I was totally welcomed there and felt right at home. The Spirit of Christ welcomes us, not a specific church. Would you allow the Spirit of Christ in you to welcome someone to visit your church or small group this week? Be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I will be obedient to the Spirit as He leads me this week to talk to others about You, Lord.

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Accountability, Bible, Calling, Church, Direction, Family, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Presence, Scripture

HERE THEY COME

ZECHARIAH 8:20

“‘The LORD of armies says this: “It will yet turn out that peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities.”’”

You may be one of those people who love to shop on Black Friday. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is traditionally the Friday after Thanksgiving when the Christmas shopping season begins. Here in the U.S., huge crowds gather outside stores offering reduced pricing on items. People get a little crazy on this day and crowds can become unmanageable. Personally, I stay as far away as possible from shopping areas on that day.

The people aren’t gathering in Jerusalem to shop here in verse 20. The Lord says that people are going to come to Jerusalem from all over. We will see in the next few verses why they are coming, but we know it is all about the Lord. They have seen how He has restored Israel, and they want to be a part of that. Instead of being shunned by the nations, Israel is seen as a destination point.

APPLICATON

I want to be in the midst of wherever the Lord is, don’t you? I love Moses’s words to the Lord in Exodus 33:15-16. “15 Then he said to Him, ‘If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. 16 For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are on the face of the earth?’”

Listen, we should look different from the world. We should be attracting people to come be a part of us. Last night my home church had a members’ meeting. We welcomed a couple of dozen new members to our church. People are coming to join our body of believers. Why? I would hope it is because they sense the presence of the Lord in our midst. We feel just like Moses. We are distinguished by His Holy Spirit among us.

I pray you are part of a body of believers. If not, seek one out. You need that fellowship. You need that accountability under a shepherd. And the body needs you. You, as a believer, are filled with the Spirit of God. As you join others with the same Spirit of God, the unity of the church universal is strengthened. Come to His gathering place and feel the presence of the Lord.

I come, Lord, into Your presence each week as I gather with other believers. Thank You for the fellowship I have with them.

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Abundance, Bible, Devout, Disciplemaking, Following, Party, Rejoicing, Scripture

LET’S PARTY

ZECHARIAH 8:19

“‘The LORD of armies says this: “The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, jubilation, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.”’”

Have you ever celebrated after a long, tough time? In times past, rural communities would gather together at the end of the harvest to celebrate God’s bounty and having completed the hard work of gathering and processing their crops. All the sweat and long hours were forgotten for a short while.

That’s kind of the picture here in verse 19. These fasts that are mentioned were fasts that the people observed to commemorate a sad time in their history such as the fall of Jerusalem or the destruction of the temple. But now, God tells them these same dates should be turned into festivals and celebrations of what God has done for them in restoring them back to their homeland.

APPLICATION

I love Isaiah 61:3. It gives a message similar to the one we see in today’s verse. “…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Some people say Isaiah 61:1-3 is Jesus’ job description. Take a look and see what you think.

We are not supposed to stay down. He will lift us up if we will come to Him. Let’s celebrate who we are in Christ. Our days of mourning should be over. Maybe entitling today’s devotion “Let’s Party” sounds a little disrespectful to some of you. But don’t forget that God is the one who said the days of fasting should now be days of festival.

Have you ever been to a festival that was about sadness? No! They are filled with music and food, arts and crafts, more food and even a little dancing. So, let’s do what the Lord said. Let’s celebrate. Let’s party! Let’s rejoice that we are forgiven and free. What do we have to be mournful for? We are children of the King.

Thank You, Lord, that I can celebrate. I do not want to go back to the days before knowing You.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Hearing, Listening, Scripture, Uncategorized

GOD’S STILL TALKING

ZECHARIAH 8:18

“Then the word of the LORD of armies came to me, saying,”

Every day when I am in my Quiet Time, I pray to hear the voice of the Lord. Now, don’t think I am strange. I don’t mean audibly, but that would be very cool. I am talking about Him speaking through His Holy Spirit into my heart and mind. Some days, He is practically yelling at me. Other days – not so much. He’s quiet. That’s when I listen the hardest.

Today’s verse is the eighth time in chapter eight that Zedekiah received a word from the Lord. God is about to speak on the joyous festivals that are coming to Israel (more on that tomorrow). This whole chapter has been about God sharing His blessings on this remnant of Israel. After all the suffering, after all the judgment, they are now back in the good graces of their God and are worthy of His blessings.

APPLICATION

Did you hear the Lord speaking to you this morning? Oh, you didn’t listen, did you? The first rule to hearing is listening. How do you listen? Okay, that’s enough with the questions. I am not trying to make you feel guilty for not hearing the Lord or not listening. I simply want to urge you to take the time to listen and hear.

Perhaps you don’t want to hear His voice. Maybe there is some secret sin you are withholding. In John 8:9 we see the people’s response to Jesus when He was dealing with the woman who had been caught in adultery. “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

I have often wondered what Jesus wrote in the sand that day. Maybe He listed some of their secret sins, so they all slipped away. Don’t do that! Confess those sins. Be cleansed through His forgiveness. We all need a daily washing, don’t we? Hear His voice calling you to repentance.

I confess to You, Lord, each day the sins I have committed. Wash me clean once again.

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