Leaving Laodicea

Zechariah 12:10 states:"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then (what) they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."Quick question:  When does the pouring out of God's Spirit happen?  And when does the mourning and grieving take place?   Since they must take place after the death of Jesus, do they take place during the time of the early church?  Or, does it refer to the great expansion of preaching and growth during the ages that follow (Reformed / Amillennial view)?  Or, does it refer to a time yet in the future (Dispensational / Premillennial view)?Quick answer:  Historically, these events were not fulfilled during the days of the early church.  Second, these passages cannot be interpreted as referring to the church since there is no mention of "the people of God" or even "Israel" for that matter.  Additionally, there is no greater Jewish prophecy in all of Zechariah.  Note verses 12 and 13:  "house of David, house of Nathan, house of Levi, family of Shimei."So what does this mean for us today?  Much.  Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Zechariah 12:1-14.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Just the mention of the word Antichrist brings to mind images from Revelation 13 and of some old, outdated movies that were made in the late 70's.  Remember those movies?  I sure do.But the Scripture reveals much about the Antichrist from the Old Testament.  In fact, Zechariah gives us the only physical description of the Antichrist found in Scripture and his description lines up perfectly with what we know from Revelation  13.  Zechariah says, for example:"Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye;His arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded."Want to find out more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 11:1-17.To download the notes from this message, click - HERE

Just the mention of the word Antichrist brings to mind images from Revelation 13 and of some old, outdated movies that were made in the late 70's.  Remember those movies?  I sure do.But the Scripture reveals much about the Antichrist from the Old Testament.  In fact, Zechariah gives us the only physical description of the Antichrist found in Scripture and his description lines up perfectly with what we know from Revelation  13.  Zechariah says, for example:"Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye;His arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded."Want to find out more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 11:1-17.To download the notes from this message, click - HERE

Today we often forget the condemning indictment God levels against those shepherds of His flock, those pastors of His church, that have forsaken the call and left their first love and followed after the things of this world.  We forget God's anger against them, but we see this kind of church apostasy and defection all around us. So what does God say about a shepherd that cares not for the flock?  And, more important, what does God promise to do to those shepherds?The answer is both chilling and frightening.  Keep listening to find out more.This is a study on Zechariah 10 and Ezekiel 9.

Today we often forget the condemning indictment God levels against those shepherds of His flock, those pastors of His church, that have forsaken the call and left their first love and followed after the things of this world.  We forget God's anger against them, but we see this kind of church apostasy and defection all around us. So what does God say about a shepherd that cares not for the flock?  And, more important, what does God promise to do to those shepherds?The answer is both chilling and frightening.  Keep listening to find out more.This is a study on Zechariah 10 and Ezekiel 9.

We are living in troubling, turbulent times... but not unlike the times of the prophet Jeremiah.  In Jeremiah's day his nation was facing destruction and decay both from within and without.  The judicial system had been perverted and compromised.  Infant murder (abortion) was rampant and the people were engulfed in sexual sin.  Does that situation sound familiar?  I thought so.  Sounds much like today, doesn't it.So listen to see what Jeremiah would say today to both the church and the nation.The following is a study on Jeremiah 7:1-34.

We are living in troubling, turbulent times... but not unlike the times of the prophet Jeremiah.  In Jeremiah's day his nation was facing destruction and decay both from within and without.  The judicial system had been perverted and compromised.  Infant murder (abortion) was rampant and the people were engulfed in sexual sin.  Does that situation sound familiar?  I thought so.  Sounds much like today, doesn't it.So listen to see what Jeremiah would say today to both the church and the nation.The following is a study on Jeremiah 7:1-34.

We talk much about revival in Christian circles.  In fact, often we schedule an evangelist to come to our church and preach salvation messages for an entire week and call it a "revival."  But what does revival mean?  What are we trying to experience?  What are we trying to revive?The Webster definition of revival is:  to restore life or strength, to give new strength or energy.  It also means the growth of something or an increase in the activity of something after a long period of no growth or activity.So, for the Christian, a revival happens when we have our strength in the Lord restored or have new strength or energy given to us by the Holy Spirit.  Or, it means when we experience an increase in something that we have long let die.  Sound familiar?Are you in need of revival but don't know how to go about getting revived?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 8:1-23.

We talk much about revival in Christian circles.  In fact, often we schedule an evangelist to come to our church and preach salvation messages for an entire week and call it a "revival."  But what does revival mean?  What are we trying to experience?  What are we trying to revive?The Webster definition of revival is:  to restore life or strength, to give new strength or energy.  It also means the growth of something or an increase in the activity of something after a long period of no growth or activity.So, for the Christian, a revival happens when we have our strength in the Lord restored or have new strength or energy given to us by the Holy Spirit.  Or, it means when we experience an increase in something that we have long let die.  Sound familiar?Are you in need of revival but don't know how to go about getting revived?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 8:1-23.

In Zechariah 7 we find the Lord stripping away the face paint of religion and forcing His children to look deeply at their attitudes and motives, and not their religious actions and practices.  Here He says to them, and to us:"When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me— for Me?" (Zech. 7:5-6).His words cut deep because they are convicting and they are true.  They also reveal how far we, as the church of today, have fallen from the standard set by the Acts church, the template, the prototype of how church should be.  Consider the difference between life in the book of Acts and the life of the church today.Then, they were focused on power.  Now, we are focused on correct doctrine and seminary degrees.Then, the abundant life.  Now, cutting edge entertainment.Then, sacrifice and commitment.  Now, potluck suppers and youth trips to Disneyworld.Then, confrontation.  Now, tolerance.Then, boldness.  Now, we just want to fit in.Then, holiness.  Now, compromise.Then, one accord, unity.  Now, fragmentation and denominationalism. Then, baptized and full of the Holy Spirit.  Now, we debate those very terms.There has to be something more to the Christian life than what we are experiencing.Oh, there's more.  Much more.  Keep listening to find out what is missing.The following is a study on Zechariah 7:1-14.