THE CHURCH WITH EMPOWERED PEOPLE

Model and Mother Church Series: 4 of 11

Zechariah 3:1-10

Zec 3:1-10 (NIV)The Cleansing for Joshua, the High Priest1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

Zec 3:1-10 (NIV)The Cleansing for Joshua, the High Priest5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. 6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. 8 “ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.

Zec 3:1-10 (NIV)The Cleansing for Joshua, the High Priest9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. 10 “ ‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

IntroductionZechariah’s 4th vision out of 8 visions:-

• The Cleansing for Joshua, the High Priest (Zechariah 3:1-10)

1. Don’t Feel Condemned and Rise Up (v.2 - 5)• (v.2)…… : ‘Is not this man a burning

stick snatched from the fire?’• (v.4) ‘Take off his filthy clothes….

See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.’

• (v.5)…….: ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’

Romans 8:33 (NIV) 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Romans 8:1–2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NIV) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

2. Follow God’s Golden Rule – Obey Him and Keep His Requirements (v.6 & 7)• (v.7) …..: ‘If you will walk in

obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house……’

Deuteronomy 6:1–3 (NIV) 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe …… 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

John 14:23–24 (NIV) 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

3. Christ Will Empower Us! (v.8 - 10)• (v.9) ….: ‘I will remove the sin of this

land in a single day.

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

3. Christ Will Empower Us! (v.8 - 10)• (v.10)… ‘You will invite your neighbor

to sit under your vine and fig tree’

John 14:27 (NIV) 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

ConclusionGod’s Blueprint or DNA for the Church – To Be A Church With Empowered People

Let Christ set us free to minister to God and the people!