The Awesome Power of God Toward YouFour Horns / Four Craftsmen

Zechariah 1:18-21

Pastor Ed Riddick, February 9, 2014

Introduction

Quiz for hunters and exotic animal enthusiasts

Introduction

Read it together…“This is my Bible. It is the truth. It is living and active. It judges my thoughts and actions. Following it I will never walk in darkness. I am who it says I am. I have what it says I have. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly request that my mind be alert and my heart to be open to hear God’s Word. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Thematic unity – concentric circlesA. 1st Vision – Man on a red horse, 1:7-17 universal omniscience of God

B. 2nd Vision – 4 horns & 4 craftsmen, 1:18-21 Judah’s relationship with world empires C. 3rd Vision – The Surveyor, 2:1-13 issues in Jerusalem D. 4th Vision – Cleansing of the High Priest, 3:1-10 D. 5th The gold lampstand & 2 olive trees, 4:1-14 Primary focus – temple and its leadership

C. 6th Vision – The flying scroll, 5:1-4B. 7th Vision – The woman in a basket, 5:5-11

A. 8th Vision – The four chariots, 6:1-8

Zechariah’s 2nd Night Vision Zechariah 1:18-21 “Then I looked up—and there before me were four horns! I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

I. The Four Horns, 1:18-19

• 1 Samuel 2:1 “Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.”

• Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

I. The Four Horns, 1:18-19

Speaking of Joseph…Deuteronomy 33:17 “In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

The Four Horns symbolize…

1. Power2. Authority3. Prestige4. Influence

II. The Four Craftsmen

Zechariah 1:20-21 “Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen…the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

Craftsmen

hārās תרש

Craftsman, skilled artisanUsually use their skills to design and built.

Craftsmen…throw down?משחיט Mashit

DestroyerPsalm 75:10 “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up. “

Jeremiah 48:25 “Moab’s horn is cut off; her arm is broken,” declares the LORD.”

III. The Immeasurable Power of God Toward You

Ephesians 1:15-23 “Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus …I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking … that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion…”

1. Inner strength• Ephesians 3:11-21 “I ask you not to be discouraged

because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father…I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you… may have power…to grasp…the love of Christ, and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

2. Power to deal with health issues

James 5:13-18

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (esp.8-9) “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

3. Power of the Gospel to Save

Romans 1:16-17 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

3. Power of the Gospel to Save

• Ephesians 6:19-20 • Colossians 4:2-4 • Matthew 10:19

4. Need for practical wisdom in decision-making

James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

5. Financial needs

Philippians 4:10-20 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

6. The need for personal change • Phil 2:12-13 • 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 • 1 Corinthians 10:13