Short Reflection from Zechariah 1-14

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:07 pm, 19/02/2022] S.R: ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟙𝟟

"Again, proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’'"

Again. That's the word repeated 4 times! 😇👍

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟙𝟛

"Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation."

It's proper to maintain silence before high and mighty people. We keep silent when we fear. Ought not we maintain silence before God and stop the charismatic theatrics?

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟙

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him."

Satan is our accuser in the court of God. Now, you appreciate that Jesus is our advocate. He never loses even a single case and will always win! 😇👍🙏

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟞

“Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts."”

If only we are led by the Spirit....!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝:𝟙

"Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll."

Well, we must make ourselves and others see the flying scroll! It's a scroll of condemnation against wickedness! That scroll is of course the Bible!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟞:𝟟

"When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth. And He said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth."

"We are not alone in this big universe." Science fiction is right. But it's not the aliens that are watching us. It's the spirits of heaven patrolling the earth. Even Satan roams to and fro, perhaps as fast or faster than the speed of light. He has been here on earth before Newton, Einstein, and Elon Musk, he knew a lot about physics.

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟟:𝟞

"When you eat and drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves?"

Hmmm! 1 Corinthians 10:31 is fitting to this question!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟠:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,' says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I have not relented, so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear!’"

Has the Lord been hard on you? Maybe because of your negligence of spiritual discipline. But there's good news. If you walk with God, as He has been hard to you, He shall be gracious to you too, and much more!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟡:𝟡

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

One of the well-known Bible verses from the book of Zechariah! It's about the coming of Jesus Christ, the Palm Sunday!

Zechariah has 9 letters. Chapter 9 Verse 9.

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟘:𝟙

"Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain-- The LORD who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man."

 A prayer of a contrite spirit. A prayer of surrender to God. A prayer of trusting God. A prayer that seeks to glorify God

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟟

"Woe to the worthless shepherd Who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm And on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered And his right eye will be blind."

God wants His shepherds/pastors to be faithful ones! May I never have a worthless period in my ministry!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟚:𝟠-𝟡

"In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."

Seeing the Russians invading Ukraine, I would love to see this passage coming true. How can tiny Israel stand against the nuclear forces of the world!? 😱 They shall, by the divine intervention of God!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟛:𝟙

"In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity."

The hymn "There is a fountain filled with blood" written by the great English poet William Cowper, the friend of John Newton is taken out from this verse.

 

ℤ𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟜:𝟙-𝟛

"Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle."

What a great war is coming! Jerusalem will be destroyed, but God will fight for her again. It presumes that God will come to their defense only after their repentance and confession that the one whom they had pierced was the Messiah!

Short Reflection from Haggai 1-2

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:12 am, 17/02/2022] S.R: ℍ𝕒𝕘𝕘𝕒𝕚 𝟙:𝟟-𝟠

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,' says the LORD."

Friends, let's remember our priority:

1. God

2. Family

3. Church

4. Society.

If you are an IAS officer and have done great work for society but haven't done much for your church, your reward is like a straw in the fire. Building the church in the NT concept is not the physical building but the building (helping grow) of one another because we (the people) are the church. You can build (help others grow) through words of encouragement, texting, praying, visiting, inviting, etc. Everyone can. And knowing all of you in this group, I am sure your contributions aren't straws! 😇👏

I am a pastor but if one day I get married and is not able to maintain my household, the most God-honoring thing is to step down and maintain my household. Family is more important than church. And nowadays, forget the church, people are neglecting family for societal work. It's ok for a soldier to go to war and die leaving behind his wife and children, but that's a different scenario. Nobody will accuse him of neglecting his family. But people for greed, love of money, love of status are neglecting families.

And after all, even if I have the wealth of Elon Musk and give up all my wealth for the upliftment of the poor, and even if I bring a million people to Christ, if my relationship with God is not genuine, I am the most miserable one (cf. Mark 8:36)

Friends, Learn this order of Priority!

 

ℍ𝕒𝕘𝕘𝕒𝕚 𝟚:𝟠

''‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts."

Indeed, everything belongs to God.

Short Reflection from Zephaniah 1-3

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[11:30 pm, 14/02/2022] S.R: ℤ𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness,"

The terrible day is coming but those who know the Lord Jesus Christ will be delivered from the troubles. Praise God for making us Christians. But our friends and loved ones, if they are still not yet born again, they will perish! Ought we not to pray for them and persuade them to repent of their sins unto the Saviour!? 🙏

 

ℤ𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟛

"Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger."

Christianity is a religion of humility. The humble people on earth are Christians. The proudest Christian is humbler than the humblest non-Christian.

Do you find it difficult to agree? Well, you won't if you understand the biblical understanding of humility!

 

ℤ𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟝

"The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame."

No matter how His people behave, God will remain faithful and just.

Short Reflection from Habakkuk 1-3

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[7:00 am, 11/02/2022] S.R: ℍ𝕒𝕓𝕒𝕜𝕜𝕦𝕜 𝟙:𝟝

"Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told."

God is working every day and amazingly! Like Habakkuk, we wouldn't believe it if we were told! The greatness of God is that He remained hidden, unapproachable, and unsearchable!

 

ℍ𝕒𝕓𝕒𝕜𝕜𝕦𝕜 𝟚:𝟛

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay."

It will certainly come. For some, that's good. For others, that's bad. Regardless, the word of God shall surely come to fulfillment.

 

ℍ𝕒𝕓𝕒𝕜𝕜𝕦𝕜 𝟛:𝟙𝟠

"Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."

The greatest cause for exultation and rejoicing is God, that God is our salvation!

Short Reflection from Nahum 1-3

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[9:07 am, 08/02/2022] S.R: ℕ𝕒𝕙𝕦𝕞 𝟙:𝟟

"The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him."

I have preached through Nahum at least 3 times. This verse is my favorite. It shines like a bright light on the darkest valley!

 

ℕ𝕒𝕙𝕦𝕞 𝟚:𝟚

"For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob Like the splendor of Israel, Even though devastators have devastated them And destroyed their vine branches."

The God of the Bible is a Restorer. He is my God. I am sure, it's your God too, and that we are His people!

 

ℕ𝕒𝕙𝕦𝕞 𝟛:𝟙𝟡

"There is no relief for your breakdown, Your wound is incurable. All who hear about you Will clap their hands over you, For on whom has not your evil passed continually?"

God exalts the humble and humbles the proud.

Short Reflection from Micah 1-7

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[8:22 pm, 01/02/2022] S.R: 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟠

"Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches."

Like Micah, I do need to lament and weep before the Lord for the ignorance of my people!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟟

"Is it being said, O house of Jacob: 'Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these His doings?' Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?"

For a genuine Christian, every instruction of God is sweet and profitable! Is it to you and me? Hmm!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟝

"Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, "Peace," But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war."

This chapter is against civil and religious leaders. May I never be indicted for this reason! These religious leaders went after greed and threat. They proclaimed peace if they were given food. And they pronounced problems if they weren't fed. My dad used to say the same thing regarding some evangelists in our area that they would pray long and happily if the home they entered prepared a meat curry, but they would be dull if it was a vegetable. 😬😂

Church, let's equally thank God when the church meal is pork or dal after the Worship Service! 😎

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟚

"Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

In one of the groups, I am reading the book of Isaiah. And chapter 2 has this prophecy as well!

Let me just copy-paste what I posted there:

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟛

"And many peoples 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕒𝕪, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕤." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

Notice the tense. It's future tense. This is what should happen and will surely happen!

Now, look at what they are doing! They love to go temple. They are inviting people. [And how many of us show up to church with friends gladly? Hmm!]

Look at their intention:  They go to the temple to be taught and to obey exactly! [Many professing Christians don't want to be taught. Even when they are taught, they don't learn anything, they don't obey anything nor remember anything! 😬]

Takeaway: Church is not for entertainment, nor for emotional satisfaction, or to meet friends primarily. It's to know the ways of God and walk/obey them!

 

[1:01 pm, 28/07/2022] S.R: 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, And they do not understand His purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor."

Let the people of God be calm and continue to live righteously without desiring the ways of the world. The Lord does care about His glory and He shall vindicate it someday for everlasting!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟝:𝟚

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

This is concerning Christ, but God often raises man of God from an unlikely place. May He raise up among us too! 🙏

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟞:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"You will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword. You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine."

Ever experienced something like this? Then, time to return to godliness and righteousness!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟟:𝟠

"Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me."

This is a wonderful chapter. Even our Lord Jesus quoted this chapter in commissioning His disciples. Not only the greatness of God but also the goodness of God is seen in this verse and this chapter. Maybe I should preach a sermon from this chapter one of these days!