YAHWEH - THE LORD REMEMBERS YOU

Zechariah 4:6 - "So He answered and said unto me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.’" Let us look at the background of these words which the Lord gave to Zerubbabel via Zechariah. In 535 B.C. the king of Cyrus had conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Second Temple, as the 1st Temple which Solomon had built, was destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar’s army (2 Kings 25:8 -10). Zechariah’s father died while he was still a young man in Babylon. He now returned with 50 000 Jews to Jerusalem. Zechariah 2:4 - "Another Angel came to meet Zechariah and said to him, ‘Run young man, Jeru-salem will be a city without walls.’" Young people, God has an awe-some destiny for you in these end times! Zechariah 4:7 - "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground." The figurative mountain men-tioned here refers to the Samaritans who constantly opposed Israel from building the Temple which caused them to become discouraged. You may feel that you have failed in the past. However, failure is not an event, but rather judgment about an event. When Winston Churchill was asked what prepared him to lead Great Brittain against Nazi Germany and speak out against Hitler he said, "I had to repeat a grade in Elementary School, and this gave me a second chance to get it right." Whatever you have gone through and you feel that you have failed, the same puts you into a position to grow in faith. As the Lord had a destiny for Zechariah, who was a young man, so the Lord has an individual destiny for you as well! 1 Peter 4:10 - "As every man received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." There is a corporate destiny which relates to the local church where God has placed you. If your destiny is to relate to the elderly, or work with small children, or minister to those in prison, remember: the Lord will not give you responsibility and not provide you with sufficient grace to accomplish it. "NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT." The Lord was assuring Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judea, that he would accomplish the completion of the Temple by the power of the Holy Spirit, and it would be the help of the Holy Spirit Who would remove every obstacle which would resist the completion of the Temple. 2 Timothy 1:14 - "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." The good thing which was com-mitted to you, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within you. Paul was writing to Timothy and encouraging him to seek help from the Holy Spirit. You cannot live the Christian life in your own power. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, Who is the Treasure within you, you can because He releases God’s power to you. The Holy Spirit comes and abides (lives) in you the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. He is your Helper to complete your destiny which God has planned for you. When a boat is docked in the harbour it cannot be moved, but just a gentle touch, and it will start moving. Zechariah 4:9 - "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it." Twenty-three years later the Temple was completed and it resumed it’s role as the religious centre of Judaism. You are a very special person, for your Father in heaven planned you and invested an incredible amount of effort in designing you. As you fulfil your purpose, you will benefit as well as others, and the world will be blessed. YAHWEH remembers you too and He will complete the good work which He has started in you!