WORD for the WEEK
Title: "How do you know you are saved?" 10/18/2022
"So The Angel 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."
Zechariah 4:6
Today's lesson focuses on Zechariah, son of Berechiah, in the Old Testament. Zechariah's name means, "The Lord remembers." Zechariah, also a priest, yet called to prophesy as a prophet along with Haggai. The both of them were to encourage Zerubbabel during the 5th century BC who was the leader of the people. Why did the people need strong encouragement at this time?
Exiled from their homeland, the Jewish people were under Babylonian captivity due to disobedience to God. God has his eyes on "all" the world, especially the saved. Now, Cyrus the Persian King, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem in 538 BC and he issued a degree that they could rebuild their Temple. Then riffraff started over some time. Their enemies presented to then King Aflaxerxes a letter of protest that once the walls constructed the Jews would stop paying taxes. Convincing the King, the rebuilding stopped for two years. Then, Zechariah in 520 began his prophetic ministry to encourage God's discouraged people to continue the task of rebuilding the temple especially to tell Zerubbabel so he could tell the people. Now after 20 more year,s the then King Darius not necessarily a believer in our God yet respected His power allowed the Temple to be completed. It just goes to show that Ephesian Chapter 1 is true.
"Praise Be to God who has blesses us with every spiritual Blessing in Christ! For He has chosen us in Jesus before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in Jesus sight... we are chosen, predestined according to plan... in conformity with the purpose of His will.(Eph 1:1-11)
God wants to show himself to us as he has justified us saved by His only son's death for us on the cross, once saved always saved. So predestined, also called, also justified, also will be glorified in heaven our home (Rom 8:30). But, while here on this earth, "How do you know you are saved?" Jesus left us the Holy Spirit that lives in the heart of the saved. It does not live in the unbeliever. Revelation 4 describes Seven Spirits of God: 1. Spirit of God though his anointing, 2. Wisdom,
3. Understanding, 4. Counsel, 5. Might, 6. Knowledge, and 7. Fear of the Lord. If anyone is thirsty, If anyone believes, Streams of Living water will flow from them. By this, Jesus meant the Spirit. The Spirit of all greatness flows within you! Be Blessed Be Empowered!
Comentários