HOPE FOR A NEW DAY

AIM FOR CHANGE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

ACKNOWLEDGE the connection between God's promises to Israel fro rebuilding the Temple and the Israelites' obedience to Him; APPRECIATE the community's restoration of the Temple and God's restoration of the people; and ARTICULATE ways we can find strength to move forward in challenging times or with difficult tasks. 

FOCAL VERSES Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14.

KEEP IN MIND

"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. God's Promise (Haggai 2:23)

2. God's Assurance (Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-7)

3. God's Sovereignty (vv. 8-14)

IN FOCUS STORY

Myla had just move to a new town. She had a great job and loved her new church, First Apostolic. Still, she was new to the church and hadn't made and friends yet. Every day as she drove to work, she passed the county jail. After a few weeks, she knew God wanted her to go to the jail to visit the inmates. This was way out of her comfort zone, but she wanted to obey God. Finally, she got up the courage to talk to the pastor. He directed her to the director of the church's prison ministry, who had her fill out the application to volunteer. 

The next week, she nervously arrived at the jail. In the car, she prayed for courage for her first visit with the female inmates. Bible in hand, she entered the building. She didn't really know the women who ministered there, so she introduced herself. The sister welcomed her and she soon found that they had been coming to the jail for months to conduct Bible study. As they ministered  together over the next couple of weeks, Myla not only made new friends, she discovered and unexpected joy in serving others. 

When we obey God, His Spirit strengthens us to do what He called us to do- even when the task seems overwhelming. In today's lesson, we will learn how God enables us and works on our behalf to help us accomplish what He wants us to do. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Zechariah. A prophet (Zechariah 1:1) and a priest (Nehemiah 12:10-16) who was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. Zechariah was born in Babylonian during the exilic period and was one of the estimated fifty thousand exiles who returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua in 538 B.C. During the long span of his ministry to God's people, Zechariah's main purpose was to encourage the people in their work to rebuild the temple and continually remind them of God's promise that He would take care of them and bless them if the would return to Him. 

BACKGROUND

Apparently, some of the Israelites chose not to leave Babylon at the end of the seventy-year exile. But "everyone whose heart God had moved-prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem" (from Ezra 1:5, NIV). They returned with joy and purpose, bringing with them gifts of livestock, gold, and silver bestowed upon them by the people of Babylon. 

After settling themselves in their towns, the people came together to begin the joyful but daunting project of rebuilding the Temple that had been destroyed seventy years earlier. Their first step was to rebuild the altar so they could reestablish the offering of sacrifices as required of God's people (3:1-6). The people then began to give offering to pay for the materials and labor needed to build the Temple's foundation. 

Approximately two years after arriving back to Judah, God's people finally finished building the foundation of the Temple. The people sang and praised God, accompanied by the priest and Levites. They shouted and wept with joy, and the celebration was so loud it could be heard from far away (vv. 10-13). 

Unfortunately, Zerubbabel and his builders soon faced opposition from their enemies, mostly inhabitants of nearby Samaria. These enemies purposely set out to discourage God's people from rebuilding the Temple, even going so far as to hire people to work against them (4:4-5). Sadly, the rebuilding of the Temple was halted for seventeen years. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. The term "hosts" means "Heaven's armies." Why is it significant that God called Himself the "LORD of hosts" when speaking to both Haggai and Zechariah (Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 4:6, 9)? 

2. What did God promise to make of Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:23)?

3. What do the seven gold lamps represent? Why would this be important for Zechariah to know (Zechariah 4:2, 10)?

4. What did God declare will assure that Zerubbabel finishes the Temple (v. 6)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. How was the Israelites' obedience to build the Temple tied to their restoration to God?

2. Why does God mention the "small things"? What is the future of the "small things"?

3. What fears might Myla (In Focus Story) have had regarding going into prison? If God told her to go, then why did she doubt? How are we like Myla?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

In the nine years since Hurricane Katrina, many houses still have not been restored. in the four years since Haiti's devastation, shanties are still the only shelter some people have. Devastation hits our would each day and the only help will come from people helping. If God has laid it on your heart to help a nation or a family in need, have you followed through? Support can range from prayer, to funds, to helping hands. Yet we hold back. As an Apostolic people, we cannot afford to be reluctant in moving forward in Jesus' Name. Even if someone else steps up, the Apostolic family will have lost the opportunity to show God's might at work. What might hold us back - individually and as congregations? What Scriptures in this lesson should encourage us to move forward?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

God promised the people of Israel that he would restore them to their land, but He also instructed them to rebuild His Temple. He did not leave them to their own devices; He provided favor, materials, and His presence to enable them to obey what He asked. Yet they were lax in building the Temple. In what ways do we also shrink from fully obeying God? What promises in this text can you depend on for strength?

(Except from Apostolic Light Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc.)