A key strategy in building the body of Christ is sending ambassador who share God's word internationally. Breaking the curse of sin through God's word enables people to walk in God's ways for spiritual influence. Trust God across national and denominational lines by networking ambassadors in prayerful unity. Then people can return to God by rebuilding the scattered church through His word and showing true justice and compassion to the needy.
Return to God to Rebuild Scattered Church
God spoke to Zechariah during the reign of Darius to not be like their forefathers who did not return to Him and away from their evil ways so He could return to them. The forefathers finally repented saying the Lord Almighty did what their ways and practices deserved. Three months later God spoke again to Zechariah in a vision where a man rode a red horse with red, brown and white horses behind him. The angel revealed that these were ones the Lord sent to go throughout the earth. The angel of the Lord asked how long He would withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah during 70 years of His anger. The angel said to proclaim that God was very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, but angry with the nations that felt secure. He would return to Jerusalem with mercy, rebuild His house and stretch the measuring line so His towns would overflow with prosperity. He would again comfort and choose Jerusalem. The angel showed Zechariah four horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. The Lord showed him four craftsmen to terrify and throw down these horns (Zech 1:1-21). Return to merciful God who rebuilds the scattered body of Christ according to His word.
Trust God Across National and Denominational Lines
He saw a man with a line to measure the dimensions of Jerusalem. Another angel said that Jerusalem would be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock. God would be wall of fire around it and its glory within. He punished those who touched His people considered as the apple of His eye. God lived among them and many nations joined with Him to become His people. All mankind were still before the Lord (Zech. 2:1-13). Trust God to work across national and denominational lines for His glory.
Walk in God's Ways for Spiritual Influence
He saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan at his right side accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan because He chose Jerusalem. He asked if this man was a burning stick snatched from the fire. The angel said to those standing by Joshua to take off his filthy clothes. God said He took away his sin and put rich garments on him including a clean turban. God said if Joshua walked in His ways, then he would govern His house and have a place among those standing there. He engraved an inscription on one stone with seven eyes. He removed the sin of this land in a single day. In that day, each of them would invite his neighbor to sit under His vine and fig tree (Zech. 3:1-10). Walk in God's ways confessing your sins for spiritual influence in His kingdom.
Send Ambassadors Who Share God's Word
Zechariah saw a gold lampstand with a bowl on top with seven lights on it and two olive trees on both sides of the bowl. God's word to Zerubbabel answered, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." He said that Zerubbabel laid the foundation and completed the temple. Instead of despising the day of small things, men rejoiced when they saw the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven were the eyes of the Lord that ranged through the earth. The two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that poured golden oil represented the two who were anointed to serve the Lord (Zech. 4:1-14). Send Spirit-empowered ambassadors who share God's word to build up the body of Christ worldwide.
Break Curse of Sin Through God's Word
Zechariah saw a flying scroll representing the breaking of the curse over the whole land, which removed every thief and those who swore falsely. Sending it to every home destroyed the curse of Satan's power. He saw a measuring basket representing the iniquity of everyone. A woman inside represented wickedness. He pushed her back in the basket and the lead cover down over its mouth. Two women with wind in their wings like a stork lifted the basket before heaven and earth, took the basket to Babylon and build a house for it (Zech. 5:1-11). Break the curse of sin through the authority of God's word in every home and city.
Network Ambassadors in Prayerful Unity
Zechariah saw four chariots with four colors of horses representing the four spirits of heaven standing in the presence of the Lord before the whole world. The chariot with black horses went toward the north country, white horses to the west and multi-colored to the south, but straining to go throughout the earth. God said to take silver and gold from the exiles who arrived from Babylon and take it to Josiah who made a crown that was set on the head of Joshua the high priest. His name was Branch who branched out from this place and build the temple of God. He was clothed with majesty to sit and rule as a priest on his throne with harmony between the two. The crown was given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple. Those far away came and helped build the temple if they diligently obeyed the Lord (Zech. 6:1-15). Network ambassador in prayerful unity to build the body of Christ internationally.
Show True Justice and Compassion to Needy
Two years later God told Zechariah that the people of Bethel sent Sharezer, Regem-Melech and their men to entreat God by asking the priests and prophets whether they should mourn and fast in the fifth month like previously. Were they really fasting for God 70 years or just feasting for themselves when they ate or drank? God told Zechariah to administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another; not oppress the widow, fatherless, alien or poor; and not think evil of each other. They made their hearts as hard as flint and did not listen to God's word sent by the earlier prophets. He scattered them among all nations where they were strangers in the desolate land (Zech. 7:1-14). Show true justice, mercy and compassion to the needy.
To build the body of Christ internationally:
1. Send ambassadors who share God's word throughout the world
2. Break the curse of sin through God's word
3. Walk in God's ways for spiritual influence
4. Trust God across national and denominational lines
5. Network ambassadors in prayerful unity
6. Return to God by rebuilding the scattered church through His word
6. Show true justice and compassion to the needy
Return to God to Rebuild Scattered Church
God spoke to Zechariah during the reign of Darius to not be like their forefathers who did not return to Him and away from their evil ways so He could return to them. The forefathers finally repented saying the Lord Almighty did what their ways and practices deserved. Three months later God spoke again to Zechariah in a vision where a man rode a red horse with red, brown and white horses behind him. The angel revealed that these were ones the Lord sent to go throughout the earth. The angel of the Lord asked how long He would withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah during 70 years of His anger. The angel said to proclaim that God was very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, but angry with the nations that felt secure. He would return to Jerusalem with mercy, rebuild His house and stretch the measuring line so His towns would overflow with prosperity. He would again comfort and choose Jerusalem. The angel showed Zechariah four horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. The Lord showed him four craftsmen to terrify and throw down these horns (Zech 1:1-21). Return to merciful God who rebuilds the scattered body of Christ according to His word.
Trust God Across National and Denominational Lines
He saw a man with a line to measure the dimensions of Jerusalem. Another angel said that Jerusalem would be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock. God would be wall of fire around it and its glory within. He punished those who touched His people considered as the apple of His eye. God lived among them and many nations joined with Him to become His people. All mankind were still before the Lord (Zech. 2:1-13). Trust God to work across national and denominational lines for His glory.
Walk in God's Ways for Spiritual Influence
He saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan at his right side accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan because He chose Jerusalem. He asked if this man was a burning stick snatched from the fire. The angel said to those standing by Joshua to take off his filthy clothes. God said He took away his sin and put rich garments on him including a clean turban. God said if Joshua walked in His ways, then he would govern His house and have a place among those standing there. He engraved an inscription on one stone with seven eyes. He removed the sin of this land in a single day. In that day, each of them would invite his neighbor to sit under His vine and fig tree (Zech. 3:1-10). Walk in God's ways confessing your sins for spiritual influence in His kingdom.
Send Ambassadors Who Share God's Word
Zechariah saw a gold lampstand with a bowl on top with seven lights on it and two olive trees on both sides of the bowl. God's word to Zerubbabel answered, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." He said that Zerubbabel laid the foundation and completed the temple. Instead of despising the day of small things, men rejoiced when they saw the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven were the eyes of the Lord that ranged through the earth. The two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that poured golden oil represented the two who were anointed to serve the Lord (Zech. 4:1-14). Send Spirit-empowered ambassadors who share God's word to build up the body of Christ worldwide.
Break Curse of Sin Through God's Word
Zechariah saw a flying scroll representing the breaking of the curse over the whole land, which removed every thief and those who swore falsely. Sending it to every home destroyed the curse of Satan's power. He saw a measuring basket representing the iniquity of everyone. A woman inside represented wickedness. He pushed her back in the basket and the lead cover down over its mouth. Two women with wind in their wings like a stork lifted the basket before heaven and earth, took the basket to Babylon and build a house for it (Zech. 5:1-11). Break the curse of sin through the authority of God's word in every home and city.
Network Ambassadors in Prayerful Unity
Zechariah saw four chariots with four colors of horses representing the four spirits of heaven standing in the presence of the Lord before the whole world. The chariot with black horses went toward the north country, white horses to the west and multi-colored to the south, but straining to go throughout the earth. God said to take silver and gold from the exiles who arrived from Babylon and take it to Josiah who made a crown that was set on the head of Joshua the high priest. His name was Branch who branched out from this place and build the temple of God. He was clothed with majesty to sit and rule as a priest on his throne with harmony between the two. The crown was given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple. Those far away came and helped build the temple if they diligently obeyed the Lord (Zech. 6:1-15). Network ambassador in prayerful unity to build the body of Christ internationally.
Show True Justice and Compassion to Needy
Two years later God told Zechariah that the people of Bethel sent Sharezer, Regem-Melech and their men to entreat God by asking the priests and prophets whether they should mourn and fast in the fifth month like previously. Were they really fasting for God 70 years or just feasting for themselves when they ate or drank? God told Zechariah to administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another; not oppress the widow, fatherless, alien or poor; and not think evil of each other. They made their hearts as hard as flint and did not listen to God's word sent by the earlier prophets. He scattered them among all nations where they were strangers in the desolate land (Zech. 7:1-14). Show true justice, mercy and compassion to the needy.
To build the body of Christ internationally:
1. Send ambassadors who share God's word throughout the world
2. Break the curse of sin through God's word
3. Walk in God's ways for spiritual influence
4. Trust God across national and denominational lines
5. Network ambassadors in prayerful unity
6. Return to God by rebuilding the scattered church through His word
6. Show true justice and compassion to the needy
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