Zechariah chapter 6. So good
to be here tonight. We're thankful for the God of
heaven that allows us to do this. Zechariah chapter 6, and I'd
like to read verses 11-13. And we spent a little time on
verse 12, but we're going to look at some more of it. There's
a little more meat on this bone. Verse 11, Then take silver and
gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua,
the son of Joshedek the high priest. And it's a beautiful
picture here of a priest that is also crowned as king, and
there's only one that truly meets that criteria. the God-man, the
Lord Jesus. And then it says, And speak unto
him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts. Behold a man whose
name is the Branch, and he shall grow up out of his place, and
he shall build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall build
the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory, and shall
sit and rule upon his throne, and he shall be a priest upon
his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Last week we looked at verse
12, much of the time, and that is called a branch, and we saw
that there are three Old Testament books that speak of the Lord
Jesus in prophecy foretelling of the truth of Jesus Christ
coming and pictured as a branch, spoken of as a branch. Now, that
very rough outline, someone's coming, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Zechariah
spoke the same thing as all of the other prophets and Old Testament
books, someone is coming. And they share with us some identifying
marks about this one that is to come. And he shall be called
the branch, as is brought out here. This term, the branch,
was called by these three prophets, and it's a wonderful statement
about the reality of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. That he,
as a branch, would grow up out of dry ground. that he would
be alone. He would have a position in this
world that would be like no other person that has ever walked the
face of the earth. We have people called, as David
was, a man after my own heart. We have a person called my friend
by the Lord, but nobody has ever been called the God-man or Emmanuel
as this one, the Lord Jesus. Now, In the book of Ezekiel,
chapter 34, there is the subject that is brought up about a plant
of renown. Now we were dealing with that
just a little bit as we look at this plant of renown, this
branch, and it's in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 34, verse
29. Chapter 34 and verse 29. We have the Lord call a plant
of renown. I will raise up for them a plant
of renown. Now it's a branch, just like
we find over here in the book of Zechariah, just like we find
in the book of Jeremiah, just like we find in the book of Isaiah. He is a branch, but this branch
is a very special branch. This branch is called a plant
of renown. And they shall be no more consumed
with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen
any more. So the Lord is going to deal
with a lot of issues. Every issue that entered into
this world by Adam's fall is going to be taken care of by
the person Christ Jesus. So everything we need. Every
demand that God has imposed upon us, God is going to fulfill in
the person Christ Jesus. He's going to give us everything
that we need. There's nothing we can earn.
There's nothing we can buy. There's nothing we can do that
will make us pleased in the eyes of God. But Jesus Christ, the
branch, the plant of renown is going to take care of all of
it, every bit of the fruit that He will have in Himself will
be given to the church and make them acceptable in the eyes of
the Father. Now this plan of renown, we looked
just a little bit that this renown means to be high and elevated.
it's and we're going to look at some of the places in the
scripture we looked at some of them last week and forgive me
for repeating myself but I just got my study today and I said
this is worth going over one more time this is worth plowing
one more time and that is that this plant of renown is a very
special person and we have that the very term renowned, speaks
of the Lord Jesus. It means to be high, to be elevated,
to be imminent, to standing out. It raised up a title of distinction. Now we're going to find out throughout
human history from the very beginning, from Adam down to today, from
Adam's fall down to today, that there are people, you and I,
by nature, that think we are more important than we really
are. That we look at ourselves as renowned, as distinctive,
as lofty, as high and lifted up, as elevated, We're pretty
special people. And we find that brought out
distinctly in the book of Genesis when after the flood, and you'd
think people would learn something by the flood. There might be
500 years, there might be 1,000 years, but you'd think that the
people were teaching their children about what just happened at the
flood. They probably were, but you know what? Unless it's effectually
given to us, we'll say, I don't care. It's not going to apply
to me. It will only apply to someone else. Well, over there
in the book of Genesis chapter 11, in Genesis chapter 11, it
tells us that everybody spoke the same language. You know,
every religion around the world, it doesn't matter where it was
created, where it come from, what they believe, there is one
distinctive thing that every religion holds to, and that is
we have a free will. And you know these folks here
that were gathered around here, and I'm thankful that there were
some folks over here out of the shadow, over here on the edge,
that believe the gospel. because they're the ones who
continue to preach it and bring it down to our time. But there's
a whole host of people that knew nothing about the gospel, even
though the world had just gone through a catastrophic event. And the entire population, except
for eight people, was taken from this world. Their bodies are
thrown all over. The bodies of animals are all
over for a long time. And now we've got to this point
in the book of Genesis chapter 11, And I want to start reading
with verse 1, Genesis chapter 11 and verse 1. And they use
the same word in there when they start to build a city and a tower
to heaven. Genesis chapter 11, beginning
with verse 1. It says, and the whole earth
was one language and one speech. No truer statement could be made.
That is in many respects the same today. Now we may speak
a different language, different dialect. We may speak German.
We may speak Latin. We may speak English. We may
speak Czech. We may speak Romanian. We may
speak all kinds, Japanese, Chinese. Filipino, it doesn't matter.
But in the crux of everybody, in their own heart by nature,
is this language that we are all together in this and that
we all have a free will. These folks are practicing that
very thing here. It says they're all one language.
It came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they found
a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there. We have
a host of people that have been born after the flood. and they're
speaking one language, every one of them is related to Noah.
Every one of them is related in some way to Noah's sons. They
are children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren
of Noah. And Noah had just gone through
a catastrophic event. And we see the beautiful picture,
the ark that sustained them. God put them in and shut the
door. How beautiful is that picture? Now they're out. And it says,
and they said one to another, go to let us make brick and burn
them thoroughly. They had brick for stone and
slime they had for mortar and they said go to let us build
us a city and a tower Whose top may reach into heaven now notice
here in verse 4 and let us make us a name now that word name
is the same word we find over there in Ezekiel for renown let
us be renowned and Let us be a plan every now. Let us exalt
ourselves. You know, when it comes to grace,
there is no pride. When it comes to works, there
is so much pride. I'm so glad I'm doing a better
job than other people. I may not be doing the best job,
but I'm doing a better job than other people. That's pride. That's
a plan of renown. We're identifying ourselves that
way. And it says there, whose top may reach heaven, let us
make us a name lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole
earth. Well, we know the results of
this. We got Chinese, Japanese, we have Spanish, we have English,
we have German, we have French. We have all the languages of
the world that were created right here by an Almighty God. And
here is a group of people that are jabbering at each other.
And you guess what? They found some people that understood
what they were saying and they got over here. And this group
out over there. And before you know it, they
are on different parts of the earth. In the days of Pelag was
the earth divided. And now we have France and Spain
and Germany and all those places where these people are located.
Now it doesn't mean that they didn't move around, but they
carry their language with them. And like English, we're a blend
of so many languages. But there's still one commonality
among all people ever born on the face of this earth. And that
is, I am a planet renowned by myself and I'll do well. Now,
thank God he intervenes in our life. Thank God he brings us
the gospel. Thank God we are allowed to hear
something that we will not hear under those circumstances. We'll
hear nothing under those circumstances. And God moved upon them and separated
them. Let us make a name. Let us have
the preeminence. Let us be high and raised up. Let us be remembered as those
who did this, who have a title of distinction. And man is always,
always completed with the names that belong with God. I can go through this town and
I can find names applied to God alone, before and after preacher's
names. We have competed for the names
that apply only to God. Humanity does that. Wants to
have that position that God holds. Now this word, this one word,
renown, is brought out many times in the book of the Psalms. I
just want to read a few of them because this plant of renown
is holy. His name is holy. His name is
righteous. So turn over to the book of the
Psalms for just a moment, and we want to read a few of these
verses of scripture that share with us this plan of renown,
this branch that Zechariah is writing about, this branch that
Isaiah wrote about, this branch that Jeremiah wrote about. They were foreseen. preaching
the gospel of Christ Jesus the Lord before he came. They're
declaring the gospel in this one person, that he is the branch
and he is the plan of renown, and the psalmist brings out so
often throughout the Psalms about what glory is given to the name. Now just remember, as we come
close to the end of this, we're gonna hit a passage of scripture,
at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. He is the plan of
renown. He is the branch. And though
we may assume names in our nature that we think are blessings to
God, He only, His name only has these distinctive characteristics. Psalm chapter five, Psalm five,
and there in verse 11, Psalm five and verse 11 says, but let
all those that put their trust in thee rejoice. Let them ever
shout for joy because thou defendest them. Let them also that love
thy name. That's that word. Renown. Those that love thy name. What does it say? Be joyful in
thee. Why? He's a Savior that saves. He's
a Redeemer that redeems. He's someone that can take us
out of the... Well, He saves us out of the dung heap, is what
a prophetess said one time. What a lady that was going to
bear a child said one time, He raises us from the dung heap.
Well, as the Psalms go on in chapter seven and verse 17, chapter
seven and verse 17, I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness. My goodness, he is altogether
righteous. So our praise, the praise of
his name is going to be altogether because of his righteousness.
There in Psalm seven and verse 17, and we'll sing praise to
the name of the Lord most high. So as those over there in the
book of Genesis wanted to build a tower into heaven. I remember
the Sunday school literature that we used to get, and you
know that does a damage to our brain because we, oh, that's
what it was like. No, it wasn't like that. It wasn't
way up. It was just something to study
the stars, to make a name for themselves, to be exalted above
all others. Here we are. I'm thankful we
live. We're able to gather in an assembly
place like this, but it's not gaudy. It was given to us by the Lord,
but it's not gaudy. It isn't trying to reflect that
we are so important we're gonna have a glass palace. We're gonna
exalt ourself by our building. This is just a place where we
worship. What goes on here is to worship
the God of all salvation. That's the important thing. So
in chapter eight in verse one, it says, O Lord, our Lord, how
excellent is thy name in all the earth. who has set thy glory
above the heavens. As this name is spoken of with
regard to our Savior, with regard to the Lord, we have an exalted
position given to Him, an exalted name given to Him, an exalted
salvation given to Him. We have an exalted work of grace
given to Him. He has the preeminence in all
things. Then in that same chapter in
verse nine, it says, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy
name in all the earth. Wherever we go, if we were permitted
to go down to New Guinea and visit with believers, you know
what? We would relish and delight in the name of our Lord. That's
one thing that God does when he saves his people from their
sins. We get to delight in the same
Lord. The same God. We get to reflect
on Him. He doesn't save people that worship
this God and save these people that worship that God. He saves
all His people to worship THE God. The Lord Jesus. Turn with
me, if you would, to chapter 135. Psalm 135. 135 verse 1. Psalm 135 and verse 1, we have
this renown, this word renown. The name, oh, it's such an exalted
name. It's such a high name. It's a
lifted up name. It's a name above every name.
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. Here in the book of
Psalms, Psalm 135, and there in verse one it says, praise
ye the Lord, praise ye the name of the Lord. Now what does that
mean to praise the name of the Lord? Does that mean we're supposed
to say Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Jesus, Jesus?
No, it means we are to praise who this name, it represents. Lord, Master, Sovereign, King,
praise Him. We are to praise Him, not just
some name, but who He represents. We have all been given a name
by our parents or somebody, and that only represents us. The
name of the Lord represents him in all of his glory, in all of
his counsel, in all of his attributes, in all of his characteristics,
exalt the name of the Lord Jesus. And then verse three of that
same Psalm, Psalm 135 and verse three, it says, praise the Lord
for the Lord is good. Sing praises unto his name for
it is pleasant. This is a great thing we are
privileged to do is to praise the name of the Lord. Instead
of praising and exalting ourselves like we did there at the Tower
of Babel, let us make a name for ourselves. Let us be, well,
I remember when I was in religion, you know what I wanted to be
was a Renaissance man. Having all kinds of things accomplished. You know, when I was saved, that
all passed away because I just want to be a servant of the King. Now if he allows me to do this,
that's great, but I want to be a servant of the king, the king
most high. Verse 13 of that same psalm,
Psalm 135, verse 13, says, thy name, O Lord, endureth forever,
and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. This is one
name. You know, most of the names of
people that we are acquainted with or were acquainted with,
when I go home, I have to go to the cemetery to see the names
of the people I grew up with. That's all that's left. is a
name on a piece of stone. But this name is an eternal name. This name is an exalted and eternal
being. This is the eternal Son of God. This is God eternal in His glory. So as it tells us there in verse
13, Thy name, O Lord, endureth forever. It is forever name.
It was His name before the world was created. It's His name now.
It will be after eternity starts in the future. And it's hard
for me to describe eternity. But it will be his name throughout
eternity. Doesn't change, and we won't
go to a headstone. Well, this was him. This was him. No, he's in heaven,
sit down at the right hand of the Father, making intercession
for us, and he will be in heaven for eternity. We don't have to
go to a tomb. You know, those angels were so
correct. Why seek ye the living among
the dead? For he is risen. Why? His name endureth forever. It's
always present tense. All right, Psalm 142. Psalm 142
and verse seven. Bring my soul out of prison that
I may praise thy name. What kind of prison is he talking
about? Prison of sin. We're prisoners of sin by nature.
He brings us out. That hymn, I wish I could think of the name
of it. And the person who wrote of it
went in prison when the light shone and the doors opened. It's
taken from that experience that Peter went through when the Lord
opened the doors for him and let him out. How that describes
our salvation. He brings us out of prison into
the light of his glory. Well, as it tells us there in
Psalm 142 and verse 7, it says, Bring my soul out of prison,
and I will praise thy name. The righteous shall come past
me about, for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. Every spiritual
blessing granted to us He is the plant of renown. He is the
plant of honor. He is the plant. He is the branch. And He was glorified in eternity
past. He's glorified today and He'll
be glorified forever by the church. And then Psalm 143 in verse 11. Psalm 143 in verse 11. Quicken
me, O LORD, for Thy name's sake. You know why people are saved? for God's namesake. It's not
what we've done that he saves us. It's not how we pray. It's
not how we cried. He saves his people for his own
glory. For his own glory, he saves people.
That's the heart and center of how our preaching should be for
his glory. He will be honored. So this is
all brought out and it's so many times in the Psalms is this word
name brought out and gives us some characteristic and attributes
of the Lord and glory for it. But just turn with me to the
Song of Solomon for just a moment. The Song of Solomon. In the Song
of Solomon, he gives us another beautiful picture in this word,
Name or renowned song of Solomon chapter 1 song of Solomon chapter
1 The song of songs which is Solomon's
now we may have favorites, but this is the song of songs Let
him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better
than wine. I Because the savor of thy good
ointments, thy name is a ointment poured forth. Now, if I had some
perfume and I poured it out here on the floor, what's going to
happen to it? Eventually, it's going to be all through the room. His name is an ointment poured
forth wherever He saves His people. They're going to have a response
to the greatness of God. It's going to smell so sweet. His salvation is so sweet. His
name is so sweet. He never does anything wrong. He's always in the right. He
is righteous altogether. And his name is like a sweet
ointment poured out. I was brought to think about
that lady who poured that alabaster box of ointment on his feet and
in his hair, another one. How that smelled, how it fit. That says the owner spilled the
room. And over there in the tabernacle, in the holy place, when they
burnt that incense, filled the room with that sweet savor, that
sweet smell. And that incense speaks of the
prayers of the saints, which are sweet unto God when His people
pray before Him. But to us, that sweet savor of
Christ. the smell of his good salvation,
the smell of his good grace, the smell of his goodness to
us, the smell that he would unlock us out of the prison of sin,
how sweet that is. And you know, just think of that,
just a few days before he was crucified, a lady came in and
poured ointment on his head. I cannot help but think That
when those Roman soldiers pounded the nails in his hands and feet,
the scent of that was still on him. Salvation is a sweet odor. Sweetness. Now they didn't understand
it. I wonder where that's coming from. I wonder where that's coming
from. This is a bad place up here. It's got putrid smells.
That sweet odor. We're talking about the Savior
here. We're talking about the salvation that He is going to
give to all of His people. What a sweet odor. Over in the
book of Isaiah, chapter 4, this same word is used. And in that
verse of Scripture, we find that there are seven women. Seven
women. It says here, in that day. That's
today. That was yesterday, too. And
it's going to be tomorrow. that people are going to say
what these women said. This is not eschatological. This is happening. People want
what they can't have without Christ. They want his bread. No, they don't, do they? The
day seven women shall take hold of one man saying, we will eat
our own bread and wear our own apparel. Is that what those said
at the great tower of Babel? We are in need of nothing. We
don't need anything. Let's make it a name for ourselves.
We'll wear our own apparel. We don't need righteousness.
Only let us be called by thy exalted, holy, precious name
to take away our reproach. Now, people are not saved this
way. It was better than amusing. that Brother Bill brought up
tonight, he says, a lot of people are thinking how much they don't
have to believe the Bible and still be saved. Isn't that a
contradiction? That's the way a lot of people
believe, though. How much do I not have to believe? How much
of God's sovereignty do I not have to believe? How much of
God's election do I not have to believe? How much of this
do I not have to believe and still be saved? Well, that's
not how it works. God saves us and reveals to us
the person Christ Jesus, and we will be glad because it's
given to us to believe on Him who is sovereign, glorious, high
and lifted up, and we're not asking for our righteousness
because we know what it is. We need His righteousness. We
know our bread is moldy bread. Nothing worse than to open up
a loaf of good bread that's gone moldy. What do you do with it?
You throw it away. You don't keep it around. Well,
that's just what these ladies said. We have our own moldy bread.
This is religion. This is religion. And Christ
is not involved in religion. He's involved in Christ. There
is such a superiority and an eminency in the person and work
of our Lord and Savior. And as the word declares, turn
with me back, if you would, to Psalm 111. Psalm 111. Psalm 111 and verse nine. Psalm 111 and verse nine. The
holy God, the high and lifted up, the sovereign king. Psalm
111 and there in verse nine it says, he sent redemption unto
his people. He hath commanded his covenant
forever. Holy. and reverend is his name. You know, natural men vie for
the names of God and apply them to themselves. But God's people
say holy and reverend is his name. He is the righteous one. He has salvation. We bow. We bow before him. Turn with me to the book of Ephesians,
if you would. Ephesians chapter one. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 20.
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 20. Now just look at this exaltedness
of the Lord as it's brought out in the scriptures from cover
to cover. Can you get around this verse?
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Can
you grasp that? Can you get your arms around
that? That's a mighty God. One planet suspended out in space
with several planets around it, deader than a mackerel. and one
planet with clouds and water and land and people. In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth. All of it's his creation.
And then we read this. Verse 20, which he wrought in
Christ when he raised us back up to verse 19. And what is the
exceeding greatness of his power to us were to believe. Notice
who the power is for. to usward. His power is all for
the church. What is the exceeding greatness
of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His
mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly
places far above. Now this is that plan of renown.
This is Him, far above all principality and power and might and dominion. We may think people have power,
it's only granted by God, but He's far above all that seeming
power. And every name that is named,
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and
every name that is named, and hath put all things under his
feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
which is his body, the fullest of him that filleth all, any
and all. At that name, at that plant of
renown, such honor is given. There's only one, after he finished
his work, could sit down. And this one is sit down at the
right hand of the Father. He was raised because he completely
and totally purchased and paid for all the sins and purchased
his people from their condition in the fall. And then in chapter
three of the book of Ephesians in verse 15, it says, the church
of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. You know what that name is in
the Old Testament? Lord Our Righteousness. Church just says Lord Our Righteousness.
It's all the righteousness we have. What name does the church
go by? Lord Our Righteousness. Now we
go by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church because that's the best
way we can explain what we hold to in short order. but we truly
are founded in the name of the Lord our righteousness. He's our righteous and it's our
only righteousness. Philippians chapter two, Philippians
chapter two. Philippians chapter two and verse
nine. Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him. Philippians chapter two, verse
nine. God hath also highly exalted
him, now notice this, and given him a name, which is above every
name. Every king, every prince, everyone
that's ever ruled, every principality in power. We're just gonna say
this right now, the devil and God are not equal. Lot of religions treat them equal.
God's voting for you, devil's voting against you, now it's
up to you to make your choice. Put them on equality, that is
blasphemy. Devil is a created being, he's
God's devil. Now notice this, he's given him
a name, which is above everything, his son, that at the name of
Jesus, Savior, Sovereign. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. Now thank God in
our day, when he brings us the gospel, he causes us to bow before
him. You know, it's a pleasure for
us to bow before the king, the magistrate, the magistrate. Bow before Him, things in heaven,
things in earth, things under the earth, that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That's one thing everybody
that ever is saved will confess. He's Lord. To the glory of God
the Father, every knee shall bow. Now, at that day, we read
about in Matthew 25, at that day, those on the left-hand side
will bow. They will bow. We find he had
power to deal with a whole crowd of people that came with swords
and staves to arrest him. Next thing they know, they're
on the ground. All he had to say is, I am. Now, in our translation,
the he has been put in there, but I am. and they're on the
ground, so it's gonna be an easy thing for them to bow. But thanks
be unto God that all of his lost sheep will be found in time,
at the appointed time, at the right time, they'll hear the
gospel, and they will bow willingly. They will confess him willingly,
because he's the plant of renown. Every tongue shall confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. one more time to the book of
Zechariah and we'll close. Zechariah chapter 6. Zechariah
chapter 6. And notice this branch. Verse
12. Notice what he's accomplishing.
Notice what he's accomplished. Notice what he has been purposed
to do before the world began. It tells us here in Zechariah
chapter 6 and verse 12, it says, And speak unto him, saying, Thus
speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is
the branch. Now notice what he does. He shall
grow up out of his place. Now he doesn't fill anybody else's
place, he has his own place. He's not born like we're born.
He's not brought into the world like we're brought into the world.
He has no sin of his own. He has his own place. And he
shall build the temple of the Lord. You know that is a fact
that he will save his people from their sins. That is a fact. He will build the temple of the
Lord. It's not might build it if he gets somebody to consent
to it. He will, he shall build the temple of the Lord. He's
going to do that. Verse 13, even he shall build
the temple of the Lord. Nobody else is going to build
it. We don't build it. We're just lively stones in the
building. He's the one that's building it. And he shall bear
the glory. Nobody in it is going to bear
the glory. He shall bear the glory. What
does the church do? Lord, you get the glory. When
we preach the gospel, you get the glory. When you save us by
your grace, you get the glory. And then it says, and shall sit
and rule upon his throne. This is the only priest that
ever gets to sit down. Because his work is finished.
And he's sitting on a throne. This is a king priest. And he
shall be a priest upon his throne. He is a king priest. He has superiority
over everything else, and he's the high priest. over every other
priest that has ever been. He is a different kind of priest.
He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. And then it says,
and the council of peace shall be between both of them. This
is the only place where peace is in this one. He is the king
priest and together in both of those ministries he performs,
he brings peace. The priest offers the sacrifice,
the king is the ruler over all things, he brings peace to his
people. Peace be unto Jerusalem. Not a place, but a church. So
he is that righteous branch, and he is doing what he said
he would do, and Zechariah was used by the Lord to foretell
this one that's coming. Someone's coming. Someone's coming. Now look, next week, we'll look
at some more of Zachariah's someone's coming.