Sermon Notes 1/12 – Zechariah

-Israel was taken into captivity to Babylon & was returning to their homeland

-The Lord raised up 2 prophets to go to Israel – Haggai & Zechariah

       Haggai 1:1-9

Haggai – means festive /to gather together for a festival

-he was 7-80 years old

verse 1 – King Darius took over for King Cyrus – they ruled the Persian empire

-Israel received favor from the Lord which is the goodness, grace and kindness of God

         Favor opens up doors

     REMEMBER 2 THINGS ABOUT OPEN DOORS:

1. NOT ALL OPEN DOORS ARE FROM THE LORD – Romans 8:14

-we are to be led by the Holy Spirit

2. PRAY – Col 4:1-3 & James 1:5

-pray to receive wisdom concerning which open door is an open door from the Lord

          THE WORD OF THE LORD

-Came to Haggai – given to Zerubbabel – a govt leader in Jerusalem

-Came to Joshua – a spiritual leader in Jerusalem

vs1-9 – Consider your ways – vs5,7 – 2nd Word from the Lord

-think carefully about it/it’s a time of reflection

***The Lord is saying to put Him first – Matt 6:25-33 – blessings come when you do

***My people put Me first – this people do not…

       -It’s time – first word from the Lord

*******The word of the Lord comes to Zechariah

v2 – the Lord is not pleased with the Jewish people

-they have lost their hunger for the Lord & spiritual things

v3 – Return to me – spend time with Jesus every day

-they built the altar first when rebuilding the temple

REMEMBER: Your level of spiritual growth determines your attraction

to sin and the world

Zechariah – means the Lord remembers

verse 2 – angry – to not be pleased at someones behavior and actions

-Israel was far away from the Lord

verse 3 – when the Lord speaks you never know what He is going to say

Lord of hosts – means Jehovah of armies – One who directs the angels

hosts – means an army organized for war & speaks of a military campaign

verse 3 – the Lord offers I sarel an invitation

Return to me – this is repentance

——-this is a soft word spoken out of love

——-Isaiah 30:18-26 – wait (v18) means to tap the foot – the Lord is waiting for us to repent so He can bless us

verse 4 – the past generation did not listen to the prophets and the Word of the Lord

Turn now – means to repent

give heed – means to be up with the ears

verse 5 – what is being said now is not relevant – the prophets and ancestors have died

verse 6 – they finally admit that the Lord is right and they are wrong