And I thank Mike for filling
in on Sunday. Thank you, Mike. Well, the book
of Zechariah, we're midway through this wonderful book, The Gospel
According to Zechariah. And in this chapter, we have
a tremendous change in the relationship that God shares with His church,
as over in the past chapter, we spent some time there just
look with me back in chapter 7 verses 5 and 6 there for just
a moment chapter 7 verses 5 and 6 we had the Lord dealing with
some folks that were in Babylonian captivity that the only remembrance
that they had was having some feasts or some fasts I should
say at times that celebrated in a very negative way when Nebuchadnezzar
overthrew Jerusalem and they mourned about that, and then
they had a fast of rejoicing about the guy that Nebuchadnezzar
appointed to rule, and they assassinated him. And the Lord shares with
us here in verses 5 and 6 of Zechariah chapter 7, Speak unto
all the people of the land, of the priests, saying, When ye
fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even though
seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me? even unto me? Did
you do it for my purpose, for my glory?" And those folks would,
they would probably say, like religious folks today, well,
of course we did that. And then he said in verse six,
and when you did eat and when you did drink, did you not eat
for yourselves and drink for yourselves? So there was very
little attitude towards this holy God, towards the God of
the Bible, by those Jews that were in Babylonian captivity.
Now, as we go into the next chapter, we find that the attitude of
our Savior, the attitude of God, changes towards the church. Now,
He's always had the same attitude towards the church, but we get
to see it in this chapter. We get to see the blessings of
God towards the church. Now, from the outside, from your
and my standpoint, from our viewpoint, There is no difference between
God's people, the elect, and the non-elect when we're growing
up in this world. We look like, we act like, we
do the things of, of everybody else. But God has a mark on every
one of his elect. And as we're going to look here
in this section of Scripture, that the Lord has a jealousy
for His people, that He is mindful of them wherever they are, that
He is mindful of what they're doing, and He is mindful that
when the appropriate time comes, when it please God, when the
time of God's word to come to his elect lost sheep. He will
send it to them at the exact right moment and they will hear
the word of God. Just as we find there those many
times in the book of Revelation, he that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. We have that blessing
promise that God will give a hearing ear to his people. they he will
give them seeing eyes and understanding because that is part of regeneration
that that's the what the results of regeneration is God giving
his people the ability to see God and In this glorious chapter
we find some of that going on and from an Old Testament standpoint
many people would just say that this is just really talking about
the end times well Thankful it was the end time for me and thankful
it was the end time for you when the gospel came That's a glorious
time. And so we don't have to look
for that We're looking for Christ here and we're looking for his
blessings to the church So here it says in verse 1 of the 8th
chapter again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me saying
now We pointed out a number of times in this book about the
number of times that the name lord of hosts is used in this
book and in this chapter alone he uses his name eighteen times
this particular name eighteen times some verses twice in the
same verse and he is really sharing with us that i am the sovereign
god i am the sovereign king i am over all Am the sovereign Savior. I am the sovereign creator I
am the sovereign in everything and he wants these people under
Zachariah to know that and God wants his people today to know
that very thing that he is the sovereign God and he moves and
does according to his good pleasure and None can stop him or say
what doest thou none can stay what he's planning on doing It's
going to happen that way and we're thankful and along with
that goes the very thought that he changes not God does not change
his mind about his electa. He doesn't change his mind about
his purpose. He doesn't change his mind about
anything. He has a mind set before the
foundation of the world. It was set and he's going to
carry it out. And the glorious part of that is that nothing
will stop him from saving his people from their sins. Nothing
stopped Christ from going to the cross and nothing will stop
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit from
carrying out the purpose he has to save all his people from their
sins, to acquaint them with the Gospel. So as we look here, it
says the Lord of Hosts tells us all about this in verse 2,
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the Sovereign God, the Lord of
Hosts, I was jealous, now notice this, for Zion, Now, if we have
our mind towards only physical things, we're going to just say,
well, that's towards that Zion over there in Israel. But when
the Lord shows us from New Testament through Old Testament prophets
and through New Testament preachers, that Zion is truly another name
for the church, that it's a truly another name for all the elect
of God, for the assembly of the saints in time and in eternity. So he says here, I am zealous. I am jealous for Zion. Now one
of the things we know about God's jealousy is not sinful jealousy.
God does not sin. He doesn't use his jealousy for
a sinful end. Now we as humans oftentimes We
are jealous over things and it turns that we're jealous about
someone else getting some credit. We're jealous about someone else
getting some honor. We're jealous about someone else getting a
better job. We're jealous about someone else getting a raise.
That kind of jealousy often is a sinful jealousy. And we find
that that does not apply to God at all. God does not sin. He is not like we are in that
sense. He is holy, righteous, and just. So when we read about his jealousy,
we're reading about truly he has a care and a concern for
all his sheep, even the lost ones, and he will not let them
slide or slip or be put into a position where they cannot
be found. He is jealous over them. He's
mindful over them, and he will watch over them. So he says,
I am jealous for Zion, verse two, With great jealousy, I'm
watching over, I'm caring for, I'm after them, I'll hedge them
about, I'll do everything that is absolutely necessary. Every
requirement that I have of them, I will fulfill, and they shall
be found, and I'll bring them in, and there'll be one fold,
and there'll be one shepherd, just like he's promised. So wherever
they are, he is jealous for them. whatever they're doing. He is
jealous for them, and He cares for the church with an extraordinary
care. It's an eternal care. It's an
everlasting care. So this, He is a jealous God,
and He's jealous for His people, and while we're there, would
you turn with me back to the book of Isaiah? couple passages
in the book of Isaiah that I want to look at here that share with
us something about this jealousy and the results of it. That's
the important thing. What's the results of God's jealousy?
What's the results of his care? What's the results of his oversight
of all things? The heavens and the earth and
all the things that were created are for the elect, for the church.
And they're going to carry out for his benefit, for the benefit
of God, for the benefit of the church, So here in the book of
Isaiah chapter 59, would you turn there with me? Isaiah chapter
59 and in verse 17. Isaiah chapter 59 and verse 17. When we get over to the New Testament,
it says put on the whole armor of God. And you know, preachers
say, well, you got to do this, you got to do that. Well, it's
wonderful to go to the Old Testament and find out that's what God
does. It says, for He put on righteousness as a breastplate.
He put on righteousness. We're looking at the righteousness
of God, the righteousness of Christ. It's His. He put it on. And it says, and a helmet of
salvation. upon his head, and he put on
the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal
as a cloak." Now that's what that jealousy, God's jealousy
is. It's a zeal, like a cloak. He has an interest in his people. And he is so interested in these
people that he's going to carry out every promise he has ever
promised them. And he will not lose one of his
elect. Not one will be hidden so much
or in such depths of despair or in such depths of sin that
God will not go and bring them out. And they will hear the gospel. He's promised that. They'll hear
the gospel, the good news about God, the good news about Christ,
the good news about forgiveness, the good news. that God has for
His people. He's promised us. So He's going
to put on vengeance for clothing and was clad with a zeal as a
cloak. Oh, the zeal of God, the jealousy
of God. He is very jealous for His people.
He knows where they are. He knows what they're up to.
And He has purposed to deliver them from all their sin. Now, in that same glorious book
of Isaiah, the gospel according to Isaiah. Would you turn with
me just a little bit further ahead into the book of Isaiah
chapter 63. In Isaiah chapter 63 we have
a little more insight about this jealousy of God, this zeal of
God. He is so jealous, so watchful
for his people. He's so watchful for them. He's
so caring for them. He's going to make sure that
the gospel goes out in every generation In every place in
every generation where his lost sheep are he is careful to do
that He has a zeal to do that He is jealous to do that and
he will perform that and here in the book of isaiah chapter
63 And we look there at verses 4 5 and 6 Isaiah chapter 63 verse
4 This prophet was led by the holy spirit to write these words
and we're careful to read them tonight and see, oh, he's a jealous
God. He's jealous for himself, he's
jealous for his people, and he will never let them get so involved
in their carnal life, so involved in religion, so involved in sin,
that he will not pull them out. And we just are thankful for
God, that God, this God that would do that. So, for the day
of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has
come. And I looked, and there was none
to help. And I wondered that there was
none to uphold. Now this is God looking out to
see if there's anybody, would it be able to take care of their
own problems? And we find, I looked and there's none, and I wondered
that there was none to uphold. Therefore, now notice this, therefore
my own arm brought salvation. The church says hallelujah. I
was weak, but his own arm brought salvation I was unable but his
own arm brought salvation Says my own arm brought salvation
unto me and in my theory I have it upheld me so in this great
activity of God He's furious for his people. He's he's furious
against sin. Just look at the cross, but he's
furious for his people He's jealous for his people. He is zealous
for his people and He has all interest in them. So it's what
a blessing it is to begin, as we read here in this eighth chapter
of the book of Zechariah, that God is so interested in taking
care of His people. He is a jealous God, and He's
going to take care of them in such fine fashion. Now, left
to ourselves, we wouldn't give a whit for ourselves. We're just
lost and desperately, desperately wicked, in such a terrible condition. and uh... we've had religion
just overwhelm us and we've had people overwhelm us, we have
sin overwhelm us and yet we read God's word that he's a jealous
God, going to take care of his people and make sure that everyone
hears about this God that is zealous and jealous and sincerely
interested in saving all his people from their sins This glorious
jealousy of God is far from our jealousy. It's God's jealousy. Now, let's look over here in
the book of Acts. Acts chapter 9. We see God's
jealousy is somewhat revealed in Acts chapter 9 when He appears
unto a man that was very religious. We know him as Saul of Tarsus.
In the book of Acts chapter 9, There we see that the Lord appears
to him in a way that, you know, in some ways it's the way he
appears to all of us. Out of the dark, out of the blue,
kind of. You know, he intercepts us. I've heard preachers say, and
I've said too, Saul of Tarsus was not going to a prayer meeting.
He was not going down there for a permit. He was going down there
to raise havoc with the church of the living God. And it was
God that intercepted him. It was the God that stopped him.
Now notice here in the book of Acts chapter 9 verse 3, Acts
chapter 9 verse 3. And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus. And suddenly there shined round
about him a light from heaven. Now listen to the words here.
He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him now notice
in this verse the protective jealousy of Almighty God Saul
Saul Why? persecuted thou me Now We know
from what's gone on in the previous to this and the confessions that
the Apostle Paul later made about himself We know that he was not
in intently persecuting the lord but he was persecuting the lord's
people and from god's standpoint that was like persecuting the
lord of glory the persecute his people god is jealous over his
people and he's jealous over this person who had an intent
in going down and destroying the church of damascus the saints
of damascus he is so jealous over it he stopped him in his
way He had his mark on him from eternity. His name was written
down in the Lamb's Book of Life. The blood of Christ was shed
for him. All of these necessary things
had taken place. But in time, we find that this
jealous God stopped him on the road to Damascus and required
of him, required of him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Now, in the revelation of Jesus Christ, we find that the apostle
Paul The very next thing, who art thou Lord? Oh my goodness,
the act of God, the act of this jealous God, this act of God
upon this lost sheep of the house of Israel, this one that God
had loved from eternity. That's the wonderful thing about
God from eternity, old eternity. We find that God chose a people
and gave them to his son And now that makes God jealous. He's
going to watch over those folks. His son is going to watch over
those folks. The Holy Spirit is going to watch over those
folks. He's a jealous God for them. He will make sure. And
these had their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. God
was so jealous over each one, so much so individually jealous
about them that he had their names written down in the Lamb's
Book of Life. And God said his eternal love on them. God's love
is just not as a result of the cross. His love was a result
of His giving these to His Son. He loved them with an everlasting
love in Christ. He knew that they would be His. He is eternally sanctified then. He set them apart that in time,
in time, His jealousy would bring them the gospel. He set them
apart for that purpose. And then eventually they'd hear
the gospel. He would bring the gospel, the
glorious gospel of this God, a jealous God, a God that would
overshadow all events for the blessing of His people, for the
blessing of the church. He would overshadow them. He
would be near them. He would be by them. He would
not let one of them lose their way for eternity. He had a great
salvation for them in the sun. His eternal promise, an eternal
promise, that He promised them justification, sanctification,
and all those blessings, rich blessings of what we have in
Christ Jesus. So, He is a jealous God, and
He's going to make sure that they all hear, just as this God
stopped Him at the right time. Now, the Apostle Paul didn't
realize that at the moment, but later, the Holy Spirit revealed
unto him, there in the book of Galatians, when it pleased God. when it pleased God. And that's
when He was saved. That's when God spoke to Him.
That's when God came to Him. Now, as we go back there to the
book of Zechariah, we find that the Lord is going to introduce
some true blessings for the church. There in the book of Zechariah,
chapter 8, as we find that He is a jealous God, there in chapter
8 and verse 2, we just read those words about God being a jealous
God. He said, thus saith the Lord,
Zechariah 8.2, thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the
sovereign ruler of all things, I was jealous for Zion with great
jealousy, and was jealous with her with great fury. Nothing
would stop him from doing what he intended to do. Now, he proved
that point wonderfully when all of those Egyptians got down in
that sea and he was jealous for his people Israel well now notice
here in verse three thus saith the Lord I am returned unto Zion
what a blessing I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem. God never intended those words
like He intended what He had to say about being in the middle
of the church. God's dwelling, it was pictorial
there in Jerusalem in the temple, but it is reality when He dwells
with His people, when He dwells with the church. I am returned
unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem
shall be called, now notice this, a city of truth. The church will
be known as a city of truth. That's where the truth is. That's
where God's truth is. That's where the truth about
God is. In the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain,
That mountain, that's an elevated place and how God elevates his
people way above the world. He elevates our mind above the
world. How gracious that is. Now let's
just look at a few things here with regard to this. Back up,
if you would, to Zechariah chapter 2. Zechariah chapter 2. In Zechariah chapter 2, some
time ago, we looked at this, but let's just read these two
verses, verses 10 and 11. Zechariah chapter 2, verse 10
and 11. Here, once again, God had promised
that He would do this with Zion, with the church. He says, Zechariah
chapter 2, verse 10. Sing and rejoice, O daughter
of Zion, for lo, I come And I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith
the Lord. I will dwell in Zion. To just
think that God would dwell with people. Now it's amazing that
God the Son would come and take upon himself flesh to dwell among
people. But the God of heaven, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit to dwell among his people. That indicates that several things
have taken place. And we'll look at some of that
in just a moment. But several things have to take place in
order for that to happen. Sin has to be put away. Sin has
to be dealt with. Sin. We have to have that dealt
with before he will dwell with us. And that was taken care of
at the cross. Okay. And then it says there
in verse 11 of Zechariah chapter 2, And many nations shall be
joined to the Lord in that day and shall be my people. God's
going to pull his people out of every kindred, nation, people,
and tongue. He's going to have his people
from all over the world, all nations, and tribes, and peoples. God has a people, and he will
draw his people out of those places. They will hear the gospel,
the glorious gospel of the truth of Jesus Christ, the truth of
God, the truth that's revealed in the Word of God. No second
guess, no second thoughts. It's going to be the truth of
God. And I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt
know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you." So this wonderful
blessing that the Lord will dwell with the body of Christ, will
dwell with the church, will dwell with those His elect, and He's
a jealous God to draw all unto Himself. Now, over in the book
of Matthew is that wonderful verse of Scripture that the Lord
shares with us about him dwelling with his people in Matthew chapter
18 what a wonderful statement the Lord shares here that has
been a comfort to his people in every generation you know
therefore for a for a very short time Abel could only dwell I
mean he could only feel blessed in this kind of situation and
his life was taken he's brought into the very presence of his
Savior But here, for where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there will I be in the midst of them. Now isn't
that interesting? That God would dwell with his
people, that God would dwell with people, that God would dwell
with children of Adam that are made God's children by the cross. That he would dwell with his
people. That he would sit down. And there has to be some things
take place before he'll do that. Before he'll sit down. Alright,
and then if you'll turn with me over to the book of Revelation.
Revelation chapter 21. Revelation chapter 21 verse 3. Notice that with me. now we get to enjoy this today
we enjoyed it yesterday plan on enjoying it tomorrow and that's
God dwelling with his people and I heard a great voice out
of heaven and behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will
dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself
shall be with them and be their God now that's just That's just
a whole bunch in one verse of scripture. That's just, that's
just overwhelming. That's just, uh, that just lets
us know God is interested and he's jealous. So jealously interested
in saving his people. And as a result of that, he's
going to sit down and dwell with them. He's going to be in fellowship
with them. Well, that's what goes on over there in the book
of Zechariah. Did you go back there with me
to the book of Zechariah? Zechariah chapter 8 once again,
let's look at their this as those verses go on Those verses go
on there in Zechariah chapter 8 as the Lord declares To the
church he declares to his people. I'm a jealous God all over. I'll be with you You know, there
are times that didn't look like that that was happening and to
us To a lost person. He really is not interested in
that I'm really not interested in God overriding my life. I'm
doing fine by myself. But to find out that God was
there at every turn, God was there. And how far did he have
to go back to make sure that we got born where we were going
to be born? How many generations back? All the way to Adam. He
was careful where our forebearers were going to be, who they married,
the children they had. Many families didn't have anybody
survive, but your family had someone to survive so he can
get down to you. So God was overshadowing all
of this and making sure it worked out according to his eternal
purpose so that his word would get to you wherever you were
when you heard the gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus.
Now going back here to the book of Zechariah, it says verse 4
and 5. Now this is an interesting passage
of scripture. And I'm so thankful that I don't
have to look at the Old Testament or the New Testament with eyes
of eschatology. My eye of eschatology is when
the last elect is saved, it will be over. That's the eye of eschatology. I don't have to look for signs.
I don't have to look for wonders. I don't have to look for any
of that stuff. It's just preach the gospel. God will save his
people, and when the last one is saved, it will be over. Now
whether they build this, or don't do this, or whatever that happens,
that's irrelevant compared to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now
here, as a result of this peace that God gives to his church,
that he would dwell with them, that he would be near to them,
he would overshadow them, he'd protect them, and then at the
right time save them by his grace. It tells us here that there's
going to be such peace in this spiritual realm. Peace in the
spiritual realm. Now in the world we have difficulty. In the world we have problems.
But in Christ there is absolute perfect calm in Christ Jesus. because he has taken care of
the problem. He's taken care of sin. So there's
not that issue anymore. Here it says, Thus saith the
Lord of hosts, this great heavenly sovereign king says, There shall
yet old men and old women dwell in the streets. Now isn't that
interesting? dwell in the streets." You know
what that's telling us? They'll not be afraid to go out
in Zion at night. That they will be at peace with
God. That there will be such rest.
There will be such... There will not be a... Well,
it just goes on to tell us the rest of it. Every man and his
staff and his hand for a very age You know, he takes care of
it. And then the next verse, and
the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing
in the streets thereof. No siren of ill coming along.
Nancy and I went down to Guadalajara, Mexico many years ago to visit
with Rachel when she was in college down there. And you know, it
was the first place I was ever in the world. where there was
an armed soldier on every block corner. That was 20 years ago. I don't know what it is now.
And you know, this is saying there's going to be peace, but
we're not going to have to have an armed soldier on every block.
There's going to be such sweetness that you can fellowship. There's
such sweetness and peace. People are going to recognize
that all the work is completed by Christ and I am at rest in
this. And even my old age. and as the
young it will just be such a blessing that the uh... church of the
living god the saints of god are at rest with god they're
at peace with god well we'll find out why here in just a moment
just a moment we'll look at that so we find here that there's
going to be such rest such peace and uh... it goes on to tell
us there in uh... verse six notice here Excuse
me they they Old and the young they're at peace because they
are overshadowed and watched over by the prince of peace and
the peace That God gives is peace that God gives. It's the peace
as we look here Well, let's look at John at two verses here. First
of all, would you notice here? I I want to back up I just missed
a thought there. It says there that we will Jerusalem
I Missed this point and I want to bring it in it's called the
city of truth I want to back up to that point there in verse
3 the city of truth I want to back up to that point for just
a moment because if you'll turn with me to the book of John There's
a couple of verses. I want to look at in the book
of John number one is John chapter 8 John chapter 8 in John chapter
8 And there in verse 45, John chapter
8 verse 45. Now this, this is a telling tale
about those that are without Christ. Listen to this. This
is a telling tale. In the city of Jerusalem, there's
going to be a city of truth. But here it says here, because
I tell you the truth, you believe me not. Why? Why does that brought
out? Well, over there in the book
of John chapter one, it says that men love a lie more than
truth because their deeds were evil. That's our heart. Well,
now let's look here in John chapter 16. John chapter 16. There's
a problem we have there with natural man, but notice here
in John chapter 16 that someone's going to take over the educational
system of the believers. Our educational system is not
left up to us. We're never asked, what do you
think about this? No, we are asking, what does
God say about this? What's his opinion about this?
Our opinions, we know what our opinions are like. I want to
know what God has to say about this. And over here in the book
of John chapter 16 and verse 13, the scripture says, how be
it when he, the spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into
all truth. Now, you know, religion teaches
that everybody has a bit of truth. Everybody has a bit of truth.
And then when you're saved, you find out that there was no truth
in that at all. Because if you have half truth,
you have half a lie. Now in Christ, it says he's going
to lead us into all truth. That means that the church, whether
we find bits of it here in the United States or bits in France
or bits in Germany, when it comes down to the truth of the gospel,
there is going to be absolute agreement on that. We're not
going to be discussing this. We're not going to be discussing
how people are saved. We're going to know that people
are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of ourselves. It's
a gift of God. We're not going to be discussing
that. We're not going to be discussing how people hear the gospel. If
we're dead in trespasses and sin, we can't hear it. We must
be quickened so we can hear it. So there's some issues there.
So the Spirit does not reveal something to these people over
here and something totally different to these people over here. That's
contrary to the Word of God. That's contrary to truth. Truth
is always the truth. And here it says here that the
Holy Spirit, when He's come, He will reveal truth, for He
shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that
shall He speak, and He shall show you things to come. So the
Holy Spirit is the one that will guide us into all truth. Oh,
the Holy Spirit never leads someone so contrary on some vital truth,
it will always be in agreement. And that's a sure sign, a sure
tell about, is this the truth? What's the agreement about Christ? Well, almost everything that
is in error has been some problem about Christ. So He is King,
and there is no problem with Him. We're going to be living in peace.
That's the thing. From the day of our salvation,
we get to live in peace. Now, it wasn't much before that.
Boy, think of the way I acted, the things that went through
my mind, trying to prove to myself that I was a believer. And then
when I was saved, that peace. All right, just a couple, three
verses here. In the book of John chapter 14, would you back up
there with me? John chapter 14. John chapter 14 verse 27 Now this is what Jesus Christ
said peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Now, how
did that happen? Because he is the righteous Son
of God and fulfilled all the requirements That God had ever
placed upon the church. He took care of everything We
are at peace with God. We are at peace with God. There's
nothing between my God and my Savior. Nothing between me and
Him. And it says, Not as the world giveth you, gave I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. being at peace with God, being
at peace with God. How blessed an attribute God
gives to His church about that, being at peace with God. And
then our ministry over here in the book of Acts chapter 10,
Acts chapter 10, and there in verse 36, Acts chapter 10, verse
36, our ministry is based right around this. The word which God sent unto
the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all, preaching
peace. There is a peace that God gives
and it comes through Jesus Christ. And then over here in the book
of Colossians, Colossians, would you turn there with me? Colossians
chapter 1 verse 20 this is just this sums it up for us Colossians
chapter 1 verse 20 Now this is how it happens this is how we
have peace and Having made peace through the blood of his cross
That's where our peace comes from That's the peace that God
gives. It's through the blood of the
cross. It's through the blood of Christ. He satisfied all. He took care of all. Everything
that was between us and God, He took care of. Everything He
took care of. And having made peace through
the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto
Himself. It's just like Him telling every
believer, come sit down with me, we are at peace." No tension between God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit over the salvation of
His people, and no tension between the church and God. By Him, I
say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, and
you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled." Nobody can do that for us but
God. No preacher can bring that. No
words, no prayers, no confessions, no church, nothing. Baptism, nothing. Only being
reconciled by Christ to God what a blessing that is And so he
opens up here in this book of Zechariah the eighth chapter.
It says look what I have for you I'll sit with you. I brought peace. I'll brought
Reconciliation all things are taken care of and we sit down
and say thank you Lord for for all your great grace that you
poured out on my behalf, on the church's behalf, and we thank
you for it. May God bless you until next
time we come to this book of Zechariah, chapter 8.