Sermon Notes - Zechariah 12:1-14 - God is with you! - Rising Sun Baptist Church - November 8, 2026

1.        Please open your Bibles to Zechariah chapter 12.

2.        We are on track to wrap it up here in a couple of weeks as we head into the Christmas season.

3.        These final chapters point to the future.

a.        It has been stated that they are some of the most significant prophecies in the Old Testament.

b.       Promises of God’s protection and His restoration.

c.        Both of which are important messages we need to hear.

4.        If I were to take a poll, I suspect most if not all of us would raise our hands that we have faced times in our lives that have scared us.

a.        Loss of a job.

b.       Medical diagnosis.

c.        Loss of a loved one.

d.       Something happens that triggers major uncertainty in our life.

e.        Might cause us to question if things will be alright.

f.          Or if with everything stacking up against us, how could we even begin to move forward.

g.        How can we dig out.

h.        How can we recover.

5.        When we are facing the problem it can seem overwhelming.

a.        We feel alone.

b.       Scared.

c.        Maybe even lost.

6.        Later, after we are through it.

a.        We may be able to look back and see how God has walked with us step-by-step.

b.       Carried us at times.

c.        That He was at work in our difficult situations.

7.        The people of Israel were facing similar challenges.

a.        They did not know what the future held.

b.       They were seeing enemies surrounding them.

c.        They were afraid.

d.       But God was at work.

e.        He will fulfill His promises.

8.        I suspect they wish He answered their prayers differently.

a.        But ultimately God takes care of His people.

9.        Let’s dig into Zechariah 12.

10.   Zechariah 12:1

a.        A message from God.

b.       A God who stretched out the heaves… meaning created them.

c.        Spread them out so we can see them.

d.       Created the sun, moon, and all the stars.

e.        The Lord who laid the foundation of the earth.

f.          Raised up the mountains.

g.        Created the oceans, rivers, and lakes.

h.        Everything we see and touch came from Him.

i.          He formed the spirit of man.

j.          Created man from dust and breathed life into him.

11.   Our God is so amazing that He has created everything and everyone.

a.        From the vastness of space.

b.       To the intricacies of our bodies.

c.        God created everything.

12.   The message that is about to be shared comes from the Creator of all.

a.        A reminder that if God created everything.

b.       He is more than capable of carrying out what He is about to say through Zechariah.

c.        More than capable of working in our lives.

d.       He can help us walk through the hills and valleys of our lives.

13.   Zechariah 12:2

a.        Isaiah 51 talks about this cup.

b.       Isaiah 51:17-20

c.        There was a time when the cup that causes staggering was poured out on God’s people.

d.       When they did not follow Him.

e.        It brought devastation and destruction.

f.          Isaiah 51:21-23

g.        The cup will be removed from God’s people.

h.        And it will be given to those who persecute them.

14.   In Isaiah the giving of the cup to Israel, was when God used Nebuchadnezzar to bring judgment.

15.   Now, a day will come.

a.        One that is not here yet.

b.       That those who line up against Jerusalem, will face devastation and destruction.

c.        Zechariah is pointing to our future.

16.   Zechariah 12:3-4

a.        A time will come when Jerusalem will be surrounded.

b.       Then God will step in.

c.        What this is pointing to is what we call the battle of Armageddon.

17.   The people of the fallen nations.

a.        Are going to join forces against Jerusalem.

b.       They will want to wipe out God’s people.

c.        They will be obsessed with doing it.

d.       Revelation 16:14

e.        Three demonic spirits will influence the world’s leaders.

f.          This will happen near the end of the 7-year tribulation period.

g.        They will want to wipe them out.

h.        A massive army will gather.

i.          Jerusalem will be surrounded.

j.          And then God will step in.

k.        Revelation 19:19-21

l.          Jesus returns.

m.     The antichrist, false prophet, and those that followed them will be defeated.

n.        There will be no mistaking how Awesome our God is.

o.        He will be victorious.

18.   Zechariah 12:5-6

a.        This paints the picture that Jerusalem was standing alone.

b.       Even the people of Judah, maybe all of Israel.

c.        Were standing against Jerusalem.

d.       They had sided with the people of the world.

e.        Intermingled amongst the nations.

f.          But God has a different plan.

g.        He works in them.

h.        They become the enemy within the nations.

i.          They are a burning firepot or a flaming torch among things that will catch on fire.

j.          Like taking a propane torch to a pile of dry leaves.

k.        God changes their hearts and they will turn on the nations surrounding Jerusalem.

l.          They will defend Jerusalem from within the enemy’s camp.

19.   Jerusalem will be protected.

a.        It will be saved.

b.       Without lifting a finger.

20.   Our God is an awesome God.

21.   Zechariah 12:7

a.        Prior to this battle.

b.       Judah and Jerusalem were on opposite sides.

c.        God saves Judah.

d.       He restores Judah.

e.        And then uses Judah to help save Jerusalem.

f.          Bringing back the peace between them.

g.        Bringing restoration.

22.   Zechariah 12:8-9

a.        God was with David when he fought against Israel’s enemies.

b.       He was with him as a boy who defeated Goliath.

c.        God will be with the people of Jerusalem in the same way.

d.       They will stand triumphantly.

e.        The angel of the Lord will be with them.

f.          They will be like God, meaning that no one will be able to come against them.

g.        They will lead God’s people.

23.   As we are talking about a time near the end of the tribulation.

a.        A time when Jesus will return and setup His 1,000-year reign.

b.       He will establish His throne in Jerusalem.

c.        He will lead and protect those who follow Him.

24.   Zechariah 12:10 

a.        A time will come.

b.       When the people of Judah and Jerusalem will realize who it was that was pierced almost 2,000 years ago.

c.        They will realize that they missed the Messiah’s first coming.

d.       That they missed Jesus coming as the sacrificial lamb.

e.        But in the future, they will be filled with the grace of God.

f.          They will cry out for what they have done.

g.        They will seek God and the amazing gift of Jesus.

25.   They will know that it is Jesus who saved their lives.

a.        And is the One who is there to save them forever.

26.   Zechariah 12:11

a.        This is referencing, 2 Chronicles where we read about Josiah, a king who followed God.

b.       One that Scripture says followed the ways of his ancestor David.

c.        He resorted the Passover, the burnt offerings, and more.

d.       He helped the people look to God.

e.        He went out to battle and was struck down.

f.          2 Chronicles 35:24-25

g.        The people mourned deeply for him.

h.        All of Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

i.          A mourning that was established as a statue.

j.          One that continued for generations.

k.        Like they will mourn for the One they pierced.

l.          All of Judah and Jerusalem will mourn like their ancestors had.

m.     That they did not realize that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

n.        They will repent and believe.

o.        And God’s most amazing grace will be with them.

27.   A Great Awakening will fall on God’s chosen people!

28.   Zechariah 12:12-14

a.        House of David, House of Levi.

b.       The royal house.

c.        The priestly house.

d.       As well as all the other houses.

e.        Other influential people of the nation.

f.          Lead the people in repentance.

g.        Lead them to seek God.

h.        When it states, ‘by itself and their women by themselves’.

i.          Meaning each person will recognize that they are sinners.

j.          That the repentance will be individual and it will be genuine.

29.   God will work mightily in His people.

a.        Moving them to truly seek Him.

30.   The people of Zechariah’s day did not understand the prophecies.

a.        They were looking for freedom from Babylon.

b.       Looking for the temple to be completed.

c.        The walls to be rebuilt.

d.       They wanted God to work now and in their way.

e.        Later they were looking for freedom from Rome and a triumphant King.

f.          But God was pointing a bit farther down the road.

g.        To a time that brings restoration for all who believe.

31.   Now, look around the room.

a.        God has been with each person here.

b.       If you don’t know Jesus, He has been with you too.

c.        He was with you when He brought you to our service this morning.

d.       None of us being here this morning is a mistake.

e.        None of us being part of the RSBC family is by accident.  

f.          We are all here for a reason.

g.        For many of us our God has carried us through things that were overwhelming.

h.        He has helped us through times we may have wondered which way was up.

i.          He has brought restoration to our lives.

j.          Our eternity.

32.   If you are wondering if God can work in the situation, you are facing today, look around the room.

a.        He has worked in everyone here.

b.       Our lives are our testimonies to what God can do.

c.        The history of RSBC testifies to what God can do when a group of His followers partner together.

d.       And I for one believe that He is not done in our lives.

e.        And I believe that He has an amazing future ahead of us as the RSBC Family.

33.   God is not done with us.

a.        He will continue to work in us.

b.       Until we are standing before Him.

34.   We may not see it yet.

a.        We may be questioning things.

b.       We may wish He worked differently.

c.        But our God is a faithful God!

d.       He loves us, so much so that He sent His only Son to die for us.

e.        His Word tells us that He is faithful to complete the work He has started in us.

f.          Our trust in the things around us, what we can see will waiver.

g.        But if we trust in our God.

h.        There is no doubt.

i.          God is with you.

35.   Thoughts for the Road:

a.        Read Gen 1-2; John 1:1-5; Col 1:15-18; reflect on how amazing our God is. Remember that The Creator is always with you, especially on your toughest days.

b.       Think back to how God has worked in your life and the lives of others. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you peace, hope, joy, and to encourage you as you walk through life.

c.        Zechariah 12 points to a future we can look forward to, but there are many who do not know Jesus. Pray for them. Invite them to church. Tell them about our Jesus.

36.   If you do not know this Jesus we are talking about, please listen.

a.        The battle we talked about is going to be one-sided.

b.       Jesus will be triumphant and all who stand against Him will face forever in agony.

c.        Now those who follow Jesus now, will not even be there.

d.       God will show us grace and we will miss the Tribulation all together.

e.        Not because we are special.

f.          But because of His love.  

g.        Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all fallen short of the glory of God.

h.        Meaning none of us can measure up even on our best day.

i.          If we stand before God on our own.

j.          We will rightly be judged.

k.        But it does not have to be that way.

l.          Jesus has offered us an amazing gift.

m.     A gift of life with Him.

n.        He came to this earth.

o.        Lived a sinless life.

p.       Become the perfect sacrifice for us when He died on the cross.

q.       In doing so, He has paid our debt.

r.          Then He rose again defeating death.

s.        Granting all who follow Him, a future with Him.

t.          If you don’t know Jesus.

u.       It is truly as easy as repenting of your sins and choosing to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

v.        If that is you this morning, I would love to pray with you.

w.      Please come forward during our closing song.

37.   If you are ready to follow Jesus in baptism, I would love to talk with you.

38.   If you are ready to join our church family, please touch base with me when you can.