In order to equip spiritually healthy people to disciple the needy, grow nations with inter-generational mentoring by encouraging families to mourn over sin that motivates prayer, transform young people into spiritual jewels who attract others through family and friend accountability for character development, and develop model cities so other nations seek God as king over every area of life.
Develop Model Cities So Other Nations Seek God
God told Zechariah He was jealous and dwelt in Jerusalem, called the City of Truth and Holy Mountain. Both old and young people sat in the streets enjoying themselves. God would bring people from various nations to live, build the temple in Jerusalem and be a blessing as they experienced fruitfulness. Instead of fear, they loved truth and experienced peace with one another and in the courts. The inhabitants of many cities came to Jerusalem to seek God. Ten men from all languages and nations would say to one Jew, “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you” (Zech. 8:1-23). Develop model cities so other nations seek God and His truth.
Transform Young People Into Spiritual Jewels Who Attract Others
The word of the Lord was against Hadrach and His eye was on all mankind. He would remove Tyre’s possessions and destroy her power on the seas causing surrounding nations to fear. Foreigners occupied Ashdod and God destroyed the Philistines’ pride. Those left became Judah’s leaders and He defended His house against enemy oppression. Zechariah prophesied that Jesus would come on a donkey bringing righteousness and salvation. God destroyed Ephraim’s chariots and Jerusalem’s war-horses. He proclaimed peace, extended His rule and freed prisoners across the world.
God saved them as His flock to sparkle like jewels in a crown, being attractive and beautiful. Grain and new wine made young men and women thrive, respectively (Zech. 9:1-17). Transform young people into thriving spiritual jewels attracting others as you proclaim Christ.
Grow Nations with Inter-Generational Mentoring
Zechariah said to ask God for rain in springtime to grow plants. Idols spoke deceit and diviners told false dreams that gave vain comfort. People wandered like sheep and were oppressed without a shepherd. God’s anger burned against the shepherds. He cared for Judah to make them like a proud horse in battle. Judah brought the cornerstone, tent peg, battle bow and every ruler to be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. God strengthened, saved and restored Judah with compassion. The Ephraimites became like mighty men with glad hearts influencing their children to rejoice in God. He strengthened them in the Lord to walk in His name (Zech. 10:1-12). Grow nations in Christ with inter-generational mentoring.
Equip Spiritually Healthy People to Disciple the Needy
Zechariah said to hear the shepherds wailing because the lack of spiritually mature people led to the destruction of rich pastures. He handed them over to his neighbor and king who pastured the flock marked for slaughter hoping to become rich. He shepherded the oppressed of the flock with two staffs called Favor and Union. In one month he got rid of three shepherds. He broke the staff called Favor revoking the covenant made with the nations. The afflicted of the flock paid him 30 pieces of silver and he threw it into the house of the Lord to the potter. He then broke his second staff called Union breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. The took again the foolish shepherd’s equipment who did not care for the lost, seek the young, heal the injured or feed the healthy but ate the choice sheep. He pronounced woe to render the worthless shepherd powerless because he deserted the flock (Zech. 11:1-17). Equip spiritually healthy people to disciple the needy with compassion and unity.
Encourage Families Mourning Over Sin to Motivate Prayer
God was going to make Jerusalem an immovable rock before all nations. He would make Judah’s leaders like a firepot in a woodpile and flaming torch among sheaves to destroy all nations that attacked them. God poured out on the house of David and Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They would look, mourn and grieve bitterly over the one they pierced. Great weeping in Jerusalem occurred clan by clan with their wives (Zech. 12:1-14). Encourage families to mourn their sin so God can pour out grace and intercession.
Design Family and Friend Accountability for Character Development
On that day, a fountain was opened to the house of David and Jerusalem that cleansed them from sin and banished idols from the land. God removed the prophets and spirit of impurity from the land with accountability to parents. Every false prophet admitted he deceived others and received wounds from his friends. God purified the one-third left as a remnant through fire. He refined them like silver and tested them like gold. They called on His name and He answered them as His people (Zech. 13:1-9). Design family and friend accountability for character development.
Worship God as King Over Every Area of Life for Fruitfulness
Plunder was divided in the day of the Lord. Nations fought and captured Jerusalem with half going into exile and the rest remaining. The Lord fought against those nations and His feet stood on the Mount of Olives splitting it in two from east to west, forming a great valley. They would flee without daytime or nighttime. Living water would flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea in summer and winter. The Lord would be king over the whole earth. Jerusalem would be inhabited, never again destroyed. The nations who fought against Jerusalem would have their flesh, eyes and tongue rot. They had great panic and attacked each other. The nations collected their wealth, worshiped the King yearly in Jerusalem and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles to prevent the plague of no rain. Every person and article would be holy to the Lord (Zech. 14:1-21). Worship God as king over every area of life for fruitfulness.
In order to equip spiritually healthy people to disciple the needy, do the following:
1. Grow nations in Christ with inter-generational mentoring
2. Encourage families to mourn over sin that motivates prayer
3. Transform young people into spiritual jewels who attract others
4. Design family and friend accountability for character development
5. Develop model cities so other nations seek God and His truth
6. Worship God as king over every area of life
