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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 19 December 2023:
Zechariah 6:11-13 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.”
We were already introduced the BRANCH in Zechariah 3:8 referring to the Messiah, Jesus. Today, the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak is symbolically crowned as a prophecy to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Interestingly the names “Joshua” and “Jesus” are the same name translated from different languages — “Yehosuah,” “Iesous,” “Yeshua”, which means, “The Lord is salvation.” Here Zechariah isn’t honoring the high priest Joshua or celebrating the temple in Jerusalem he is helping to reconstruct with Zerubbabel, nor is he attempting to make Joshua king. Rather, he is prophesying the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God on earth.
- Matthew 1:20-23 — Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
“In the Hebrew text the prophecy begins ‘Behold the Man,’ the very words Pilate used to present the beaten Christ to the people of Jerusalem: ‘Ecce homo! (Boice)’” The Branch will rebuild the temple – not the same temple Zerubbabel worked on, but the temple of His people (Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5). Note that the BRANCH “will rule on His throne [and] be a priest on His throne” — an unthinkable concept previously in Israel because priests did not sit on thrones and kings did not serve as priests. Remember when King Saul was cursed for overstepping his authority and serving in Samuel’s priestly role? (1 Samuel 13) While Zechariah was prophesying, Joshua son of Jehozadak served as priest while Zerubbabel served as ‘king’ (governor) in the line of David. Zechariah is not attempting to create a theocracy in his day but instead is proclaiming the future reign of Christ on earth, as both High Priest and King, where, in God’s Kingdom, there will no longer be a need of separation of Church and State (“Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”).
- Matthew 19:28 — Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- 2 Peter 3:13 — But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
We serve as Ambassadors of the Christ and His Kingdom sent to proclaim the Gospel to the kingdoms of man. Like Zachariah, while everyone is focused on and struggling to build temples and kingdoms on earth, use any opportunity you can to proclaim the True King and the Kingdom of God — “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
The Bible also says, we are also called in Christ to be not only the temple of God (God abiding in us and us abiding in God) but also priests and kings before the Lord, living sacrifices before the Lord with full dominion under his dominion to live victorious lives, with all power and authority to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
- 1 Peter 2:5-9 — …you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
And “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. - Exodus 19:5-6 — Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.’
- Revelation 20:6 — Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 14:1 — Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
God’s people are marked with the Father’s name. They are the property of the Father, and God does not surrender His property.
Revelation 14:4 — It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
God’s people follow Jesus wherever He goes. Look and see — everyone in the Bible who was used mightily by God had to leave their planned course to go where God led them, an unplanned path with a destination that had not yet been revealed to them. This is the walk of faith. Without faith to walk into the unknown because God told you to, it is impossible to please God.
Revelation 14:4, 7, 12 — It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes…. Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water…. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
God’s sheep follow their Shepherd, Jesus, ‘wherever he goes,’ and glorify God, not simply by believing in Jesus but rather by believing AND keeping “the commandments of God” with saintly endurance, even unto death. This is genuine worship. True faith is obedient faith. We cannot obey both the Truth and unrighteousness. We are called to obey Christ “with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart,” and to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling.” Even our thought-life must be obedient. The fact that we fall down doesn’t give us an excuse not to get up.
- John 3:36 — Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
- Acts 5:29 — But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Acts 5:32 — And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
- Romans 2:8 — but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
- Romans 6:12 — Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
- Romans 6:16 — Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 — We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
- Galatians 5:7 — You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
- Ephesians 6:1 — Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Ephesians 6:5 — Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ….
- Philippians 2:12 — Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
- Colossians 3:20 — Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
- Colossians 3:22 — Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 — in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 — If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
- Hebrews 5:9 — And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
- Hebrews 11:8 — By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
- 1 Peter 4:17 — For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
- 1 John 5:2 — By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
Revelation 14:5 — Their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
Again, notice how much the Bible has to say about the words that come out of your mouth.
Revelation 14:6 — Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.
All people will have a chance to hear the Gospel.
Revelation 14:7, 8 — And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
- It is never too late to Fear the Lord and worship Him.
- Fearing God and giving Him glory involves controlling your passions and urges to sin and obeying Him rather than submitting to temptation.
Revelation 14:9, 10 — If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath.
Every person is either marked by the beast or by the Father. There is no middle ground. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
Revelation 14:12, 13 — Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
The Christian life requires endurance in obedience through suffering. Life is not about temporary comforts; it is about fidelity to Jesus. The lovingly obedient are blessed and find rest.
God’s people will patiently obey God’s commands and remain faithful to Jesus while the whole world turns to evil and persecutes them. Many will die for the Lord and will be called blessed.
Revelation 14:19 — So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
In God’s time, He will separate His true followers from the wicked, including those who pretend to be Christians but really are not.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 19 December 2023: During this Christmas season, proclaim Christ to all.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 