Came the Word of the Lord

There are some very valuable lessons we can learn from the writings of the prophet Zechariah. We will not give much attention to the historical, for our goal is to hear what the Lord is speaking through Zechariah for us in this day. There are two important facts we must accept in order for us to receive what the Lord has for us: (1) Zechariah is a prophet of the Lord, and (2) His prophetic Word is for all of God's people, not for the Jews only of that day but for all Christians, too.

Zechariah 1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the Word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying…

"Came the Word of the Lord unto Zechariah" does not mean that God called Zechariah aside and said, "I have something I want you to say to My people." Zechariah was not relaying something God had spoken to him. Rather, the Lord was speaking through Zechariah.

Now what does "came the Word of the Lord unto Zechariah" really mean? What is the Word of the Lord? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made...He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. John 1:1-3, 10-12. The Word is the Lord! So when the Scripture says that the Word came unto Zechariah, it means that the Lord came to him. The Apostle Peter tells us that it was the Spirit of Christ speaking in the prophets. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. I Peter 1:10-11. This puts a whole new meaning upon the coming of the Lord and also upon the prophecies of the prophets.

How many times did the Lord appear to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How many prophets of the Lord are there in the Scriptures? He appeared to them all! Rather, He appeared in them! He spoke through them! Do not entertain the idea that the Lord was speaking to Israel only. The Lord Jesus laid that to rest when He told His disciples, All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me (Luke 24:44). Why must they all be fulfilled? Because they were written for us "upon whom the ends of the ages are come" (I Corinthians 10:11). When you read Zechariah, or any of the other books of the Old Testament, read them with the understanding that they must be fulfilled in you.

Zechariah 1:2 The Lord has been sore displeased with your fathers.

Why is the Lord displeased with your fathers? It is because they did not lead you into more of God than they did. We should always be making advancement in our salvation. The thought of not being any better than his fathers was a great discouragement to Elijah. Elijah went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. I Kings 19:4.

What fathered you into Christianity? Did you begin in a particular denomination? Are you still there or have you moved into a closer relationship with the Lord? Every organized church (denominational and independents) has a ceiling. Each one has their tenets of faith that give their beliefs, and they will not go beyond their prescribed doctrines. If you do not accept their limitations, then you cannot be a member of their organization. Churches and the ministers of them have the responsibility to lead the people into more and more of God without limitation. In other words, they are the fathers of the people, and they are the fathers that God is sore displeased with!

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say to them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn you unto Me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Turn to the Lord and He will turn to you. Three times in this verse God calls Himself the Lord of hosts. He is not the Lord of a denomination; He is the Lord of hosts. Where should we be? We should be in His host, His army. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier. II Timothy 2:1-4. Paul was telling Timothy to take the responsibility to be a father: The things you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

"But when I accepted Jesus Christ as My Savior I wasn't joining an army. No one said anything to me about being a soldier. I didn't even know Jesus had an army."

I know; churchanity leaves a lot out. They wouldn't get many people to join up if they talked about the warfare. So they just talk about being raptured out before there are any real problems. Again, listen to what the Apostle Paul says: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17. Does that sound like all you have to do is believe Jesus will save you and wait for the rapture? Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn you unto Me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Notice also that the word "hosts" is plural. He is not the Lord of a host; He is the Lord of hosts, many armies. He is very displeased with your fathers who did not teach you to turn to the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 1:4 Be you not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn you now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto Me, saith the Lord.

Do not be as your fathers. The ways of sameness are evil ways. When I was a babe in Christ waving my little arms and legs, so to speak, I was precious. But if I am in that same state ten years later, I am no longer precious. I am evil. The Word of the Lord came to Zechariah, and it is coming to us, "Turn unto Me, saith the Lord, and I will turn unto you."