How do we know that God uses preaching to accomplish His plans?

Throughout Scripture, from the time of the prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel up to the apostles, God has consistently used the preaching of His Word to enact His will and bring transformation. In Zechariah's context, God raised him up as a prophet to address the complacency of the people and to encourage them to rebuild the temple. This act of preaching serves both to remind the people of God's promises and to motivate them toward action. The gospel proclaimed by Zechariah and others is the instrument through which God brings conviction, change, and ultimately salvation to His chosen people. As history demonstrates, the faithful proclamation of God's Word confronts rebellious hearts and compels believers to act in accordance with God's will.