Your King is Coming - Part 1 (8.8.2021) - Audio

Bakersfield First Assembly

Zechariah: Your King is Coming! - Part 1 “The prophet’s name, along with his message, consistently reminded the nation that the Lord had made a covenant with Israel, a binding commitment that God would assuredly keep. The people should respond to the reminder of the Lords’ faithfulness with faith and obedience of their own. Israel’s security and future hope will be as sure as the faithfulness of God himself, provided that the nation live obediently before the Lord.” (The New American Commentary) “Zechariah’s primary message, however, was an exhortation to repentance and spiritual renewal—a return to right relationship with God. In fact, the central theme of Zechariah’s sermons is encouragement, as he explicitly states his duty as one of comforting and strengthening the people. As a complementary voice to Haggai, Zechariah also reinforced the summons to the people to rebuild the Jerusalem temple.” (Tyndale OT Commentaries) Zechariah 1:1-6 (NIV) – [1] In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: [2] “The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. [3] Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. [4] Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. [5] Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? [6] But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? “Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’” 1. God is our all-powerful warrior-king. Nehemiah 1:8-9 (NIV) - [8] “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, [9] but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 2. If we return, so will He. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (NIV) – [15] The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. [16] But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 3. Let’s learn from our past, not repeat it. 4. The only thing that lasts is the Word of God. Matthew 24:35 (NIV) – [35] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Mark 31:30; Luke 21:33) Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) – [10] As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, [11] so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Zechariah 1:5-6 (MSG) – [5] “And where are your ancestors now? Dead and buried. And the prophets who preached to them? Also dead and buried. But the Message that my servants the prophets spoke, that isn’t dead and buried. [6] That Message did its work on your ancestors, did it not? It woke them up and they came back, saying, ‘He did what he said he would do, sure enough. We didn’t get by with a thing.’” 5. Repentance is our wake-up call.