IMPACT BY PROPHETIC HELPING HANDS

“…THE HANDS of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; HIS HANDS shall also FINISH it” – Zechariah 4:9a

GOD gives His children global relevance and eternal IMPACT BY PROPHETIC HELPING HANDS: “Moreover the WORD of the Lord came to me, saying: “THE HANDS of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; HIS HANDS shall also FINISH it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you” (Zec.4:8-9). The Lord often uses the Prophetic ministry and gifts as Helping Hands to accomplish His divine purposes in lives and destinies. This has been a vital function of our devotional messages in this Year of Hearts, Hands, and the Blessed Life, and particularly in this Month of ‘Hands Set for Eternal Impact’!

Israel had been defeated and carried away captives to Babylon. But God promised them prophetically, that they would return to their homeland after seventy years in captivity: “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place” (Jer.29:10). At the set time, God stirred up King Cyrus to grant a release, and Zerubbabel led the first batch of returnees to rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel was meant to finish the work, but it was stalled, and he needed encouragement to continue. God’s Prophetic Word came as the Helping Hand to awaken, sustain, and finish the project.

Zechariah awakened from a deep sleep in which he saw a vision of the golden lampstand that was meant to stand in the temple, and two olive trees that supplied seven lamps with oil through seven pipes (vv.1-3). Normally, the temple lamps were fuelled by pure, specially prepared olive oil, but the lampstand in this vision was fed straight from the trees. On asking what the vision meant, Zerubbabel, the civic leader of Jerusalem was brought into the picture: “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!”” (vv.6-7).

God promised Zerubbabel a rich resource in the Supply of His Spirit to accomplish His work, surpassing human might and power. Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Oil lubricates, reducing friction and wear. Oil soothes as a healing and medicinal treatment (Lk.10:34). Oil lights when burned in a lamp. Oil warms when used as fuel for a flame. Oil invigorates when used to massage; the Holy Spirit invigorates us for service. Oil adorns as a perfume just as the fragrance of the Spirit gives unique aura. Oil polishes, causing metals to shine; just as the Spirit wipes away grime, and reveals glory!

God was assuring Zerubbabel that the Holy Spirit would continually meet his need, just as the oil trees in the vision continually supplied oil to the lampstands. God wants His supply and our reliance on His Spirit to be continual. The work of rebuilding the temple was massive, like a great mountain. But God promised that by His Spirit, that intimidating mountain would become a plain (v.7). Zerubbabel shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” This was God’s assurance that not only will the work be finished, but Zerubbabel – he – shall finish it, setting the capstone and declaring that it is all a work of grace. When the work is done through human might or power, we can take credit for it, but when the work is done by the continual supply of the Spirit, then it is all of grace and to God’s Glory!

Ultimately, Zerubbabel’s hands would finish the work (v.9). In reality, God is the Finisher of His work: “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” (Phi.1:6). Likewise, we must not fall for Satan’s temptation to despise the day of small things in our lives, knowing that God is shaping, preparing and perfecting us for great things!