2023 - First Sermon of the Year

2023 - First Sermon of the Year

Message - Believing God to Complete His Work

Zechariah 4:1‑10 (NKJV) 

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 

2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 

3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." 

4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 

5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 

6 So he answered and 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 of hosts. 

7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " 

8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 

9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 

10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." 

–2023...Can you believe it is here...are you ready for what God wants to do in you, your family, and in our Campuses? I hope you are praying and trusting God to complete His work.

–This is a solemn call to prayer...Our nation needs it, Israel needs it, our families need it, Life Church, La Vida, and LC Villages needs it, and we as individuals need it...we must pray.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) 

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

–If you believe this, come and join us for prayer Jan. 8-13...if not, feel free to stay home because I want there to be agreement in God’s House for Him to move in a mighty way. Today’s message:

–I felt the Lord telling me to read this chapter Zach. 4 and meditate on it...read it again... meditate on it more... re-read it...digest it...consume it...understand it...research it. This is what He said.

1. It is Time to Wake Up!

Zechariah 4:1 (NKJV) 

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 

–You would think that churches would be full with the condition our world is in. Political Leadership tearing down traditional marriage, killing babies, hurting families, making us vulnerable to our enemies.

–Our administration turning its back on Israel...cooperating with China and Iran but being obstinate to Israel.

–Christians are being murdered by Isis and other Islamic Jihadist Terrorist and we turn a blind eye to their plight. Where is the America we grew up being proud of? We need to hear these words:

Jonah 1:6 (NKJV) 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." 

–Pastor, you need to be careful what you are saying because they will take away our tax exemption status...I would rather pay taxes than compromise the Word of God.

Ephesians 5:11‑18 (NLT) 

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--Church, it is time to wake up from our sleep and hear the Word from the Lord...If My people will humble themselves and pray...we have to pray!

2. It is Time to Stand Up!

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) 6 So he answered and 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 of hosts. 

–God wanted to use Zerubbabel to rebuild His temple and God wants to use us to rebuild His church...Jesus is coming back for His bride and we must be ready.

–God wanted Z to understand to accomplish for Him what He wanted done would not come thru human strength, human power, or human wisdom...By Holy Spirit.

–Hear me well, the apology tour for Holy Spirit is over, you are too late and too unaware of His Word to convince me He is not for us today.

–I have already been baptized in Holy Spirit power with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues and no apologies!

John 16:13‑14 (NKJV) 

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 

–What is it you are desiring in 2023? Where are we going this year here, Church? We need Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and He will glorify Jesus.

–Z you are going to build my temple, not thru your own effort...thru the power of the Spirit of God. The same is true for us. 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 

3. It is Time to Break Up!

Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV) 7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " 

–Z what is in your way...a mountain? What is a mountain before the Lord God Almighty? What is in your way today...what is that before your God?

–It is time for your mountains to be broken before the Lord and for you to lay the capstone. No other foundation that has been laid other than Jesus Christ with shouts! Grace!

–Get ready for God’s undeserved favor (grace...grace to it) to come to you as you wake up from your sleep and begin to seek God with all your heart! Let your heart break and have faith!

Mark 11:22‑24 (NKJV) 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

–Inspired poem I wrote years ago: What’s up?

4. It is Time to Rise Up!

Zechariah 4:9 (NKJV) 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 

–God was encouraging Z to finish what He had started...God is speaking to you today saying this year is your year to complete what you started...time to rise up!

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 

–Not the time to quit...now is the time thru Holy Spirit to rise up and complete what God has started! The One Who started the work will give you the Spirit of God to finish the work!

5. It is Time to Think Up!

Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV) 

10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." 

–It is time to stop thinking small...it is time to think up. The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

–A small beginning is a beginning...don’t despise a small start...build on it with God. Ask Holy Spirit what the next step is and then listen and obey. Think in your heart it can be better!

–How do we get to 1000 plus...one small step at a time...one soul at a time. You pay your tithes...wonderful!  Give to missions...keep building and keep growing!

Philippians 1:6 (MSG) 

6 There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.