Sermon Notes - Zechariah 4 - By My Spirit - Rising Sun Baptist Church - September 27, 2026

1.        Open those Bibles of yours to Zechariah chapter 4.

a.        If you do not have a Bible, there are pew Bibles throughout the church.

b.       If you need one and don’t have one in front of you, raise your hand and we will get you one.

2.        In 2002 I went on a men’s retreat with our church.

a.        It was then that God told me plainly that He was preparing a place of ministry for me.

b.       I was finishing up my Associates degree and had planned on getting a degree in math.

c.        Alexis and I prayed about it and I quickly registered for Bible college.

d.       When I say quickly, the process took roughly 1 week.

e.        I was working full time and Alexis, while pregnant, helped coordinate everything.

f.          When she met with the counselor as they were working out the final details, the counselor told her she had never seen everything come together this quickly.

g.        Classes started a week or so later.

3.        During that short time frame, Alexis was diagnosed with toxemia.

a.        The doctor was clear; there was risk of losing her and Thomas.

b.       I visited with that same counselor the second night of classes.

c.        She could tell something was going on.

d.       I told her all that happened over the last couple of weeks.

e.        She asked if I need to pause pursuing the degree.

f.          I remember thinking briefly about it and then said something along the lines of.

g.        God knows I cannot raise the other two kids, work full time, go to school, and do what He has called me to do without Alexis.

h.        I looked worn out.

i.          Felt beat down.

j.          I am not sure I believed what I said, until it came out of my mouth.

4.        I know we are not the only ones in this room who have faced difficult times in their lives.

a.        We are American’s and one of the things we tend to do is buckle down and get it done.

b.       We figure it out.

c.        Muscle through it.

5.        While that is all good.

a.        That is not God’s plan.

b.       I am not saying we are supposed to sit on our hands and do nothing.

c.        But we need to trust in God.

d.       Faith in Him and prayer for help should be our first steps.

6.        We believed that God led us to pursue the path we were on.

a.        We needed to trust that He would give us the strength to follow it.

b.       It was hard work juggling home life, work life, and writing a whole lot of papers.

c.        But it would not have happened without God.

7.        The people of Israel were trying to muscle through it.

a.        Trying to do it on their own power.

b.       They were struggling.

c.        They could not get it done.

8.        They needed to rely on God.

9.        Zechariah 4:1

a.        The angel who had previously stepped away, get Zechariah to pay attention.

10.   Zechariah 4:2-3

a.        Zechariah sees a lampstand or what we might call a menorah.

b.       A lampstand with seven points or seven lamps on it.

c.        We might picture it as something that holds seven candles.

d.       We start with a standard menorah, but this one does not have candles on it.

e.        Then there is a bowl on the top of it.

f.          From the bowl to each of the seven lamps are tubes or piping.

g.        Picture this, you have a bowl that is filled with oil.

h.        Then the oil moves from the bowl to the lamps through the tubes to keep the flames going.

i.          Then there are olive trees on both sides of it.

11.   A bit more elaborate that we normally think of.

12.   Zechariah 4:4-5

a.        Zechariah knows there is something special about the olive trees, but he cannot put his finger on it.

b.       He asks the angel.

c.        But doesn’t get an answer.

d.       Which we will get to later.

13.   Zechariah 4:6

a.        LORD in all caps.

b.       This is a word from God.

c.        To Zerubbabel.

d.       Who is Zerubbabel?

14.   Ezra 2:1-2

a.        Zerubbabel was one of those who returned from Babylon.

b.       In Ezra 3 we see that he along with the high priest Joshua built the altar for God.

c.        In Nehemiah 12 it is confirmed that he returned to Jerusalem with the priests, but he is not a priest.

15.   Haggai 1:1

a.        Joshua who we talked about last week is the high priest.

b.       Zerubbabel is the governor of Judah.

c.        A descendent of David.

16.   The message given to Zechariah for Zerubbbabel, was that he was not going to muscle through building the temple.

a.        It was not going to be by his strength.

b.       His might.

c.        Or his abilities.

d.       The temple was going to be rebuilt by the power of God.

17.   Psalm 33:13-22

a.        God watches over His people.

b.       He watches over His children.

c.        He loves us.

d.       We are saved by His work.

e.        He has rescued those who follow Him.

18.   What is our part in all of this?

a.        To trust in God.

b.       At times, to wait on Him.

c.        To follow His guidance as we step forward.

19.   Zechariah 4:7

a.        There is this great mountain in front of Zerubbabel.

b.       Zerubbabel is trying to lead the people in rebuilding the temple.

c.        The mountain is persecution by the hostile Samaritans.

d.       It is a mountain formed by the people in Judah not having faith.

e.        It is a mountain full of unrepentant sin of the people.

f.          It is a mountain made up of the poor finances of the people in Jerusalem.

g.        A lot of things standing before him, building this mountain.

20.   But God.

a.        The mountain may have towered over them.

b.       But God was going to work through them.

c.        Re-read highlight in verse 6.

21.   Zerubbabel was going to build the temple of God.

a.        He will complete it by the power of God.

b.       Placing the capstone on it.

c.        And then praising God for all that He had done.

d.       Thanking God for his faithfulness.

22.   God’s grace will see them through it.

23.   Zechariah 4:8-9

a.        Ezra 3:8-11

b.       What was known at this point is that Zerubbabel led the people to complete the foundation.

c.        And they have struggled to keep it moving forward.

d.       But through God working, Zerubbabel will lead the people to complete it.

e.        And then when it is done.

f.          The people will know that God is at work.

g.        That the LORD of Armies is speaking through Zechariah.

24.   Restoration is coming.

a.        Not by the strength of an army.

b.       Not by the might of any human.

c.        But by the Spirit of God.

25.   Zechariah 4:10

a.        Those who despise the day of small things… those naysayers.

b.       Those who question if it can be done.

c.        Complain about all the little things.

d.       Tend to be a nuisance and a distraction.

26.   The message here is that those little things are just that.

a.        In the end, they are nothing compared to what God is going to do.

b.       The pain today.

c.        Pales in comparison to forever we have with our God.

27.   The seven lamps we talked about earlier and the seven eyes… both point to God’s presence amongst His people.

a.        God was with His people.

b.       He was strengthening them.

c.        Helping them.

d.       So that they can do what He has called them to do.

28.   When we look at this.

a.        Knowing that the people were facing persecution from all those who surrounded them.

b.       They had plenty of naysayers among them.

c.        Many struggled to believe.

d.       Struggling with the resources they needed to survive.

e.        God was sending them a message of encouragement.

f.          The temple will be built.

29.   We may wonder what is going on in our lives.

a.        Wondering if we will overcome the mountain before us.

b.       If we will see God bring restoration to our lives.

c.        To RSBC.  

d.       Will He complete the work He has started.

30.   The message to the people was a resounding YES!

a.        Our God is faithful.

b.       He will complete the good work that He had started in them.

c.        He will complete the work He has started in us.

d.       He will continue to help us draw near to Him.

e.        Paving the way for those who follow Him to eternity.

f.          Bringing restoration to our lives and RSBC.

31.   Our God is faithful; we need to trust in Him.

32.   Zechariah 4:11-13

a.        Now we get back to the olive trees that are on each side of the menorah.

b.       Remember there is a bowl with tubes or pipes feeding each of the lamps.

c.        Here we see that there are tubes carrying oil from the olive trees to the bowl.

d.       Zechariah is trying to understand what does this represent.

e.        What is God trying to say with this.

33.   Zechariah 4:14

a.        There are two schools of thoughts here.

b.       The olive trees might be Zerubbabel the Governor and Joshua the high priest.

c.        The problem with that view is that they are on the receiving end.

d.       They are being strengthened and fed to do what God has called them to do.

e.        The olive trees are feeding not receiving.

f.          I think the better answer is that the trees represent Haggai and Zechariah.

g.        The ones the Spirit of God is speaking through to the people.

h.        The Spirit of the LORD is working through them.

34.   It is the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, working through the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

a.        To embolden, encourage, and strengthen His people to do what they were called to do.

35.   Zechariah struggled to understand the olive trees.

a.        Question, is it hard to see when God is using you?

b.       At times, it absolutely can be.

c.        We regularly do not realize the impact we are having.

d.       Even the simplest of things like coming to church on Sunday, Sunday School, or either of our evening study times.

e.        When you show up to those it is encouragement to those who help make them happen.

f.          Kind words.

g.        Prayers.

h.        And so much more has an impact, even if we do not realize it.

36.   If Jesus is your Savior, the Holy Spirit is working in you.

a.        Helping you to shave off the old stuff that you are hanging on to.

b.       Helping you to grow in wisdom and knowledge of God.

c.        Guiding you as you point people to Jesus and encourage others.

37.   We cannot overcome the mountain on our own.

a.        We need our Jesus.

b.       We need Him to cleanse us.

c.        Restore us.

d.       We need the Holy Spirit working in us.

e.        All while holding on to the promised Hope that our God will complete the good work He has started in us.

38.   Thoughts for the Road:

a.        Is there something in your life you are trying to muscle through? If so, ask God to help you rely on Him to move forward according to His will and by the power of His Spirit.

b.       Remember Zechariah 4:6, pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you. Helping you to draw closer to God, to relay on His strength, and to learn to follow His leading.

c.        When God uses us, we are like the olive trees. We are used by God to fill others. Ask the Holy Spirit to use you to help others grow in their faith.

39.   If you do not know Jesus today, you might be wondering about the Holy Spirit we are talking about.

a.        The Holy Spirit is who dwells in those who follow of Jesus.

b.       He is the one who strengthens us.

c.        Guides us.

d.       And helps us in many ways.

e.        It all starts by believing and repenting.

f.          Believing that Jesus is God.

g.        That He died to pay for your sins.

h.        Rose again giving all who believe a glorious future.

i.          A future that is available to you.

j.          If you believe and repent.

k.        Asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins.

l.          Choosing to follow Him.

m.     Then the Holy Spirit will work in you too.

n.        If you are ready to give your all to Jesus, please come forward during the closing song, I would love to pray with you.

40.   If you would like to join RSBC or follow our Lord in baptism, please talk to me.