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Expectant Prayers ®

Jennifer Jo Weiss

Rejoicing in Zerubbabel

Last night during prayer meeting at church, the Spirit led me to Zechariah chapter 4.  This is a message for all of us today. 

Zechariah 4

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
  Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, "What do you see?, "I see a lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."

 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

  He answered, "Do you not know what these are?"
      "No, my lord," I replied.

  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.

  "What are you, O 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!' "

  Then the word of the LORD came to me: "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.

 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.       "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"

 Then I asked the angel, "What are these to the right and the left of the lampstand?"

  Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"

 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?"
      "No, my lord," I said.

 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."


Here's what I gleaned from this:

First who is Zerubbabel?  He was the one who rebuilt the temple.  When I teach my kids about Zerubbabel, I tell them, "He rebuilt the the temple out of 'ze rubble"!  Solomon built the first and Zerubbabel the second.  Any remnants you see of the temple today (Herod's temple) are there because of Zerubbabel.  Yes, there are still small portions of the temple still in existence!

This passage is prophetic and speaks to us on many different levels.   For the first time ever (after reading this last night), I felt a compelling to pray for the two witnesses - you know the two that witness during the rule of the anti-Christ?  That's what I'm talking about!  The last verse somehow reminded me of them.  I believe they are alive and preparing right now.  You may think that sounds strange, but to me, it sounds like the hands of the prophetic clock are ticker closer and closer to the midnight hour!

The church today (and really the individual) is a type of Zerubbabel.  We have the plumb line in our hand.  Jesus is the plumb line and His Word. The Word is the standard (plumb line) in faith, life, and conduct.  The remnant of believers (especially in the contrast of our current world) rejoice when they see the "plumb line" in the hand of other believers!  Can't you literally see that happening now?  The very foundation has been laid... and God will bring this temple (bride) to completion (perfection).  

Secondly, God tells us to speak to the mountains in our lives; those things that are in the way of us building our lives in Christ -or things that seem insurmountable -  to those things we are to declare:  "What are you before me? Before God's child you are nothing- as flat as level ground."   

Whatever you see God doing in your life, realize what the Lord said to Zerubbabel:

This thing that you see happening in your life... it will not come about by your might, your power, your intellect, your gifts, your will, your efforts or anything else that YOU do, but My Spirit will do it!  It's only by My Spirit that you will see anything happening and it's only by the power of the Spirit- THE agent of power- that this you seek will be accomplished.  Just begin proclaiming over whatever it is... "God bless it, God bless it!"

Also, the OIL keeps coming to mind.  The parable of the wise and foolish virgins prompts us to remain diligent about filling our lamps with oil so that we will not run out while we are waiting and thus be shut out of the wedding banquet.  What is representative of the oil?  The Holy Spirit.

I've been saying it until I am blue in the face ... we must be reliant, dependent, and FULL of the Spirit of God in these last days!  God is telling us to fill our lamps.  Sure, lamps that are not full still shine, but when the last few moments before the bridegroom's return, they were found sleeping and allowed their lamps to become empty.  They had to try to go and get "filled", but it was too late.  The bridegroom came and the door was shut.   Make sure you are filled and stay full!

Now is the time to fill up.  Take a hint from a literal modern day example.... when the prices are low at the gas pumps... we all fill up.  When it goes up, it's harder to fill our tanks- the prices are too high.  We may not have gas to get where we are going -  to drive and you had no idea how long you may have to run your car.    In the same way, fill up your spiritual tank while there is this "lull" and time of calm.  It's better to be full of the Lord before hardships/tragedies strike than to stop and have to try to get right with God in the midst of the storm!

Finally, God keeps speaking to me that we all can look at the signs and recognize the seasons.  Why is it that many are seeing the signs of the times and still not recognizing or acknowledging the hour we live in???  We have become a wicked and perverse generation... even running after things that have a form of godliness, but lack the power.

You need the Spirit today, friends.  If you are to hear what is ahead for us all... you must be in tune with the Spirit and relying on His guidance.  We live in truly perplexing times and the Spirit of God residing in us may be our only resource under a persecuted church.  Think about it.

I want to leave you today with this verse.  I sign a lot of my books with this verse and now realize that God must have had multi-faceted reasons for  it!  Let this sink into your spirit:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. he peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

 

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