GOD’S WORDS OF GRACE

“Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “GRACE, GRACE to it!”” – Zechariah 4:7b

To go far in Faith, every Believer needs GOD’S WORDS of GRACE: “This is the WORD of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “GRACE, GRACE to it!”” (Zech.4: 6b-7). This amazing message of Grace was given to Zerubbabel, a descendent of king David, who having returned from the Babylonian captivity to govern Jerusalem, was chosen by God to start rebuilding the Jewish Temple. He was told by Zechariah the prophet that God would carry out the work – “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts” – by Grace!

The Revelation of Grace is as relevant today as it was centuries ago, for we must come to an understanding that the Lord Himself will perform every plan He has purposed – not by human might or power, but by the grace of His Spirit. Zerubbabel was not told HOW God was to implement His plans and purposes; but his responsibility, like ours, is to live by faith in God – to trust His Word – to believe all that He has told us. God is working His purpose out according to His timing and schedule, but not by carnal cleverness or human expertise. As His workmanship and spiritual temple, we are being built together by the work of the indwelling Spirit of God, into His eternal dwelling place, precious stone by precious stone (1Pet.2:5).

Grace is a spiritual substance, personalised in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is “full of Grace and Truth” (Jh.1:14). We are potential recipients of manifold Grace – “Grace, Grace” – Grace from first to last (1Pet.4:10). That’s why Christ is both the Cornerstone and Capstone or Top-stone. He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Foundation of the spiritual house, the Church, and its summit and completion, the unseen Foundation that was laid deep in Calvary, and the Summit to which it grows and which holds it firm together (Psa.118:22; 1Pet.2: 4-7). Christ’s abiding Grace with His Church unto the end of the age is the witness that He who founded the Church upholds her still. Christ Jesus is not only the “Author” but also the Finisher of our Faith (Heb.12:2). Grace is divine enablement freely made available to humanity (Rom.8:32).

Zerubbabel faced huge difficulties in trying to execute his God-given work. But he received assurance of divine enablement to complete the task. We too face increasing pressures in our days, and may be tempted to consider that the task of living by faith and trusting the Lord is overwhelming in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Grace says: “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:6). For Zerubbabel, God’s sovereign power was set to remove the hindrances in the way of building the temple. In the same way, we’re equipped by Grace to execute God’s work in our lives, not by human might or intelligence!

Grace is divine enhancement of our gifts and talents. Whatever we’ll be in God is by His transforming Grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1Cor.5:10a). God inspired Zerubbabel: “March on, Zerubbabel; all opposing mountains and barriers will bow before you. I have given you the assignment, and I will remove all limitations. You will put on the headstone as flawlessly as you laid the foundation stone. You began the building; you will also finish it!” Grace fills valleys, levels mountains, straightens crooked paths, and smooths rough places (Isa.40:4). Grace brings God’s Glory into the stories of our lives: “The LORD will give GRACE and GLORY; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psa.84:11b). Ultimately, the Word of Grace builds us up to obtain an eternal inheritance among the sanctified (Acts 20:32).