Charles

1 John 1:9 The ongoing remedy for our sin

In some ways when we get saved or born again the Lord could say ‘I have cleansed every sin from your life so go and sin no more.’

However, we know that we often slip and fall into sin (due to the old sin nature), and we would be stuck in sin if the Lord had not provided an ongoing way to get us back into fellowship with him.

That is what we are going to study today ‘how do we keep in continual fellowship with the Lord.

We can only bear fruit when we are in fellowship with the Lord and when are in sin we can bear no good fruit.

This is like playing badminton say 20 years ago or more, you could only score when serving.

The suggestion is that we can bear fruit only when we are in fellowship with God.

Relationship versus Fellowship

¨ Relationship is permanent.

¨ Fellowship is conditional.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Salvation has two parts to it: kindred relationship and fellowship.

If like me, you agree that once saved always saved then our kindred relationship is permanent (eternal). If you disagree then you must consider just how permanent our relationship with Father God is, and what could break it. However, hopefully we can agree that our relationship is stronger than our fellowship.

We are born again into the family of God and are secure in it.

Fellowship (koinonia) is our ongoing interaction with God and can be broken quite easily.

Amos 3:3 can be understood as ‘how can we walk in agreement with a Holy God’? When we are out of fellowship with him through sin.

Fellowship in this context is our old friend koinonia which means an intimate sharing of our life

with God and with our fellow believers.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

As always when we want to correctly interpret scripture, we need to put in in context.

v5-7 God has no darkness or sin in his being whatever and has no truck with sin.

If we live in sin our fellowship (koinonia) with God is broken and we are kidding ourselves on (self-deception).

If we walk in the Spirit, we are agreed with the Lord, this brings us into fellowship with each other and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

v8 If Christians say that they do not sin then John says that they are lying indicating an aversion to the truth.

v9-10 We will return to these verses further into the sermon.

In Part 2 we will consider 'the chastening of the Lord'.

Key stages in how Rees Howells “self-life” was dealt with by the cross.

Here are the stages in the life of Rees Howells :Intercessor in which the cross was applied to his self-life. For a short biography of Rees Howells refer to the first part of this teaching

A) Surrender of personal ambition

Early in his life, Howells had:

business prospects

personal plans

God required him to abandon total control over his future.

Cross dynamic:

letting go of self-determination.

accepting God’s direction without any guarantees

B) The crisis of full surrender

A defining moment described in the book is when he yielded:

his will

his rights

his entire life to God’s control

This is often presented as a decisive “death to self” moment.

But importantly—it was not the end.

C) Repeated “tests” of obedience

After initial surrender, God continued to deal with deeper layers of self through specific, sometimes uncomfortable commands, such as:

giving away money when it felt unreasonable.

obeying promptings that risked his reputation.

accepting situations that exposed his pride or independence.

Pattern:

God would ask → resistance exposed → surrender required.

This aligns closely with progressive cross application.

D) Identification with others through intercession

One of the most distinctive aspects of his life:

He believed God called him to identify with people or situations in prayer.

This sometimes meant bearing burdens that were not naturally his own.

In his understanding: Intercession required a kind of “death to self-interest” so that God’s purposes could flow through him.

E) Breaking of self-reliance

Repeatedly, the book shows God dealing with:

independence

natural strength

personal reasoning

So that:

his reliance shifted fully onto God

This echoes Paul the Apostle’s principle:

'strength perfected in weakness'.

Other points

The theological framework behind it.

The book strongly reflects a particular stream of teaching:

union with Christ in death and resurrection

the “crucified life” as experiential reality

obedience as the pathway to deeper spiritual authority

In simplified terms:

The more the self-life is yielded, the more God can act through the person.

Important clarification (this matters)

While the book (Rees Howells;Intercessor by Norman Grubb) is powerful, but it should be read with discernment.

Strengths:

Seriousness about obedience

Real cost of discipleship

Consistency with “take up your cross daily.”

Potential risks if misapplied:

Over-subjectivising guidance (“God told me…”)

Confusing personal impressions with divine command

Placing all believers under identical patterns of experience.

Not every believer will be led in the same way or intensity.

How it connects to “taking up your cross” in Luke 9:23

In Howells’ life, cross-bearing looked like:

surrender of will → “deny yourself.”

obedience at cost → “take up your cross.”

ongoing responsiveness → “daily”

But crucially:

It was not a single event—it was a lifestyle of repeated surrender.

Final Conclusions

The biography portrays the “self-life” being dealt with in two layers:

1. Decisive surrender

a clear yielding of the whole life to God

2. Progressive outworking

repeated situations exposing deeper self-will.

ongoing obedience shaping character.

Bottom line

According to Rees Howells: Intercessor:

God deals with the self-life not only through a one-time surrender, but through a lifelong process of testing, obedience, and deeper yielding—so that the believer becomes increasingly aligned with His will.

Remember how Jesus viewed the cross.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)“Looking unto Jesus... who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…”

Fix your eyes on Jesus and follow Him in cross-shaped living.

What cross is the Lord asking you to take up today?

Personal Prayer and waiting on the Lord

Amen

Practical Applications— The Cross in Practice with examples from the life of Rees Howells.

In Part 1 we considered the biblical basis for taking up your cross daily and following Jesus. We then did a quick biography of Rees Howells: Intercessor, a man whose life demonstrated day by day what it is to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus.

A) Control (Self-Will)

Luke 22:42 (NKJV)“Not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Example: Rees surrendered his life direction completely.

Cross expression: Yield decisions and release control.

B) Possessions and Security

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Example: He travelled without money for a train ticket, trusting God many time for provision. Cross expression: Trust God beyond visible provision.

C) Reputation and Pride

Philippians 2:7 (NKJV)“He made Himself of no reputation…”

Example: Rees appeared before the nobility without a hat (a major faux pas), risking serious misunderstanding.

Cross expression: Rees accepted the loss of recognition.

D) Obedience in Small Things

Luke 16:10 (NKJV)“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”

Example: Rees restricted his food to simple meals in obedience to God.

Cross expression: The practice of immediate obedience.

E) Dependence vs Self-Reliance

John 15:5 (NKJV)“…without Me you can do nothing.”

Example: Rees lived without provision, relying fully on God.

Cross expression: Dependence on God over his own ability.

F) Love Through Sacrifice

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)“Bear one another’s burdens…”

Example: Rees welcomed tramps into his home.

Cross expression: Rees served sacrificially.

G) Comfort and Ease

Example: He accepted discomfort rather than ease.

Cross expression: Rees choose obedience over comfort.

H) Ownership and Rights

Example: Rees treated everything as belonging to God.

Cross expression: He lived in total surrender (stewardship).

I) Relationships

Example: Rees followed God even when relationships were often strained especially with his parents.

Cross expression: He put Christ first always.

J) Control of Outcomes

Example: Rees obeyed God without seeing results.

Cross expression: He operated in faith without sight.

K) Consistency Over Time

Example: Rees lived this out over years.

Cross expression: Rees lived a daily cross-bearing.

Amen

Personal prayer

In Part 3 we consider the key stages of how the self-life of Rees Howells was dealt with by taking up his cross daily.

How to crucify the self-life with examples from the life of Rees Howells :Intercessor

Key Scripture

Luke 9:23 (KJV)

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

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1. The Call to Discipleship

Luke 9:23 (KJV)

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Jesus calls for a reoriented life: deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him.

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2. The Cost of the Cross

Matthew 10:37–38 (KJV)

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me... and he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Following Christ may cost relationships, comfort, and possessions.

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3. The Daily Nature of the Cross

Romans 12:1 (KJV)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The cross is a daily surrender, not a one-time event.

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4. The Inner Meaning of the Cross

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...”

The self-life is replaced by Christ living within.

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5. The Misunderstanding of the Cross

The cross is not inconvenience or random suffering—it is obedience to Christ at cost.

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6. The Paradox of the Cross

Matthew 16:25 (KJV)

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Losing your life for Christ leads to finding true life.

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7. The Pattern of Christ

Philippians 2:8–9 (KJV)

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name.”

Christ’s pattern: humility, obedience, death, then glory.

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8. Practical Application — The Cross in Practice

With Examples from the Life of Rees Howells

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A Short Biography of Rees Howells

Based on: Rees Howells: Intercessor by Norman Grubb. Published by Lutterworth Press, 1952.

Rees Howells’ story continues to inspire believers to pray with boldness, perseverance, and expectation, believing that God still moves through intercessors today.

Rees Howells (1879–1950) was a Welsh coal miner turned missionary and intercessor whose life became a striking example of radical obedience to God.

After a conversion experience and early exposure to faith missions, he sensed a call to total surrender, which led him into a series of costly acts of self-denial—giving away money, embracing dependence on God for provision, and yielding personal rights and ambitions.

He served as a missionary in Africa, where he learned deeply practical lessons in faith and identification with others, before returning to Wales to help establish the Bible College of Wales.

During the Second World War, he became especially known for a ministry of strategic intercession, believing that God led him and his community to pray through critical moments that affected the course of the war.

His legacy lies not in public prominence but in demonstrating a life shaped by the cross, marked by obedience, faith, and a sustained commitment to intercessory prayer.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Heavenly Father, teach us what it truly means to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Deliver us from self-will, pride, fear, and dependence upon the flesh. Form the character of Christ within us through obedience to Your Spirit.

Help us to embrace the cross, not merely in theory, but in daily practical surrender.

May our lives become vessels through which Christ can express His love, humility, obedience, and power.

And Lord, raise up in these days men and women with the same spirit of faith, surrender, and intercession that marked the life of Rees Howells.

In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.

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Part 2

In Part 2 we consider the application of the cross to the self-life with specific examples from the life of Rees Howells

By fasting

Last time in Part 4 we looked at the Lord’s prayer and saw that we must forgive people who have done us wrong, otherwise we ourselves will not be forgiven.

In this our 5th and final part we consider fasting.

Generally fasting means going without food for a period of time for spiritual purposes. We can also fast from other things that give us personal pleasure such as watching television etc.

Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

v16-18 Motive is crucial here, if you outward appearance is to let people know you are fasting than there is no further reward from God. Like giving and praying, fasting is best kept secret and hidden from people. All forms of our self denial should be covert and not paraded before men but rather done directly before the gaze of our Lord.

Matthew 9:14-17 Time to fast?

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"

15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.

17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Comments

v15 Jesus the bridegroom was still with the disciples at this point of time. This was not the time for mourning and fasting but that time would come later. A good general guide as to when to fast is when you feel that the Bridegroom (Jesus) is absent or distant.

v17 We need to be born again so that our new wineskin can accommodate the new wine of the Holy Spirit.

Do you fast on a regular basis my brother, my sister?

I must confess that I find fasting exceedingly difficult to do, so I tend to fast only when the chips are down, and I need clear direction from the Lord (please pray for me).

Things to remember about fasting

Our fasting does not move God

Our fasting does not impress God

Our fasting simply helps us put our flesh under so that we can hear what God is saying!

Our fasted prayer may help us to do correct actions that may lead to a better witness for Jesus Christ.

Amen

Personal Prayer

By forgiving others

In Part 3 we considered how we ought to pray as part of our storing up treasure in heaven.

Today in Part 4 we consider the importance of our forgiveness to others.

Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

v12 Forgiveness moves in cycles which means as we receive our forgiveness from the Lord so must we express that same forgiveness to those who have wronged us or our loved ones. The cycle stops when we refuse to forgive so we stop the flow of God's forgiveness to ourselves.

Matthew 18:23-35

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[a] was brought to him.

25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt, and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged, went, and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

v26-35 In this parable we become the wicked servant whom, when the master has forgiven all our huge debts, yet we still refuse to forgive the comparatively small debt we are owed by our fellow human beings!

God forgives us all our countless debts/sins.

We must do the same for our fellow human beings and keep the cycle of blessing moving!

Amen

Personal Prayer

By praying in secret.

In Part 2 we looked at how we should give to poor and saw that secrecy was vital and not to look for the approval of other people.

Likewise, today in Part 3 your prayers ought to be strictly between you and the Lord. You motive is crucial.

Matthew 6:5-8

5 And when thou pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They, have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father, knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

v5 If your intention when you pray is to be publicly noticed by man then you are a hypocrite. The praise of man is all you can expect. Pray in secret and store up treasure in heaven.

v6 Your prayer should be done in private place away from the gaze of others. This is the kind of prayer Abba Father delights to reward.

v7 God is not impressed by our babbling prayers like the unbelievers nor is he impressed by repetitive prayers because he heard you first time.

v8 Abba Father knows exactly what you need, even if sometimes you don't.

He already knows.

Secret praying is seen by God.

Public praying is seen by man.

Like our giving, our praying seems to work best when offered in private not public.

Behaving religiously in public does not impress God one bit!

Amen

Your personal prayer

By secretly giving to the needy

Matthew 6:1-4,19-21

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon

earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where

thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where

thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be

also.

v19-20 The only place your treasure is absolutely and

eternally safe is in heaven.

v21 What is your treasure today, what do you treasure?

Can your treasure be taken to heaven?

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before

men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward

of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound

a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the

synagogues and in the streets, that they may have

glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their

reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know

what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father

which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

v1 You can either have your reward from God or the

approval of men. You get to choose!

v2 People that publicise their giving are hypocrites and

their reward is only the approval of men.

v3 Keep you giving/alms secret so that no-one except

God knows about it. Do you sometimes find like me that

when we give to the poor we want to tell someone

about it? Lord forgive us.

v4 What we give in secret is what the Lord loves to

reward. Don't miss out on this type of reward.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and

the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in

their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the

world.

v27 God considers our religion to be at its best when

we give to helpless widows and orphans who are close

to his heart. Somehow the Lord increases our witness

because we have kept our kindness secret and visible

only to God himself and not man!

Secret giving helps keep us pure from the stains of the

world. Amen

Testimony Someone once told me that it is a real thrill

to secretly give to the poor!

What can we take to heaven with us?

Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Worldly mindedness focuses on material things

Heavenly mindedness dwells on the invisible and should in the main be hidden from public view.

What earthly treasures does this scripture refer to?

What can be destroyed by moths and mice?

What can be stolen by thieves breaking into our property?

It seems to me that the only thing we can take to heaven are people (especially our families), and this is only achievable by our love as exercised in its many and various forms…prayer, giving, sacrifice, fasting, kindness and forgiveness etc. These are the types of action that will help us tostore up treasure in heaven.

These actions when empowered by displaying your love (see 1 Corinthians 13) will influence the people who we meet in life e.g.

When you love, you show mercy.

When you love, you forgive.

When you love, you forbear.

When you love, you are kind.

When you love, you are patient.

Where does this love come from?

Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Day by day, minute by minute the Holy Spirit is pouring God's agape love into each believer's heart.

Let it show!

Let it flow!

Let it produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life!

Amen

Your closing prayer.

Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868)

In Parts 2-5 of this study, we consider how we might practically go about storing up treasure in heaven.

A review of 6 Messianic prophecies in Zechariah fulfilled in the New Testament

INTRODUCTION — The Prophet Who Saw the Future Clearly

Zechariah is the foremost of the minor prophets whose prophecies were powerfully fulfilled in the New Testament. His book is filled with visions of the Messiah: the humble King, the rejected Shepherd, the pierced Saviour, the struck Shepherd, and the returning Lord. “Zechariah helps us see Jesus more clearly — His identity, His mission, and His return.” It is all about Jesus the Messiah!

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Some scholars argue that two different authors may have authored the book of Zechariah because the tone, style, and historical setting of chapters 9–14 differ noticeably from the first eight chapters. The early chapters are dated, structured, and filled with visions from the postexilic period, while the later chapters feel more apocalyptic and lack the same historical markers. However, Jesus Himself quotes from the latter section (Zechariah 13:7) and attributes it to one Zechariah.

Zechariah ministered around 520–518 BC, during the early years of the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. The people had come home to a devastated Jerusalem, a ruined temple, and a community struggling with discouragement, poverty, and fear.

Born in exile, Zechariah was both a priest and a prophet. His ministry took place during the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest.

God gave Zechariah a series of night visions, symbolic actions, and sweeping prophecies that stretch from his own day to the end of the age. More than any other minor prophet, he paints a portrait of Christ that the New Testament writers repeatedly draw upon.

Through Zechariah’s eyes, we see Jesus more clearly — the King who came, the Shepherd who suffered, and the Lord who will return. We now consider the first of six Messianic prophecies in Zechariah.

I. THE MESSIAH WHO COMES IN HUMILITY (Zechariah 9:9)

Prophecy — Zechariah 9:9 (KJV)

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

Fulfilment — Matthew 21:4–5 (KJV)

“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

Fulfilment — John 12:14–15 (KJV)

“And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”

Additional Background

Zechariah 9 announces a King unlike the rulers of surrounding nations — not a conqueror on a warhorse, but a humble, righteous King who brings salvation. This would have been startling to a people recently returned from exile and surrounded by hostile powers.

Application

Jesus still comes to us in humility. True kingship looks like servanthood.

II. THE SHEPHERD WHO IS REJECTED (Zechariah 11:12–13)

Prophecy — Zechariah 11:12–13 (KJV)

“And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price… So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver…”

Fulfilment — Matthew 27:9–10 (KJV)

“Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver… and gave them for the potter’s field…”

Additional Background

Zechariah 11 portrays corrupt shepherds exploiting the flock. Zechariah acts out the role of a faithful shepherd, only to be rejected and paid a contemptuous wage — thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave. This anticipates the rejection of the true Shepherd, the Messiah.

Application

Jesus knows what it is to be undervalued and betrayed — and He redeems what others meant for harm.

III. THE SAVIOUR WHO IS PIERCED (Zechariah 12:10)

Prophecy — Zechariah 12:10 (KJV)

“And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…”

Fulfilment — John 19:37 (KJV)

“They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

Fulfilment — Revelation 1:7 (KJV)

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him…”

Additional Background

Zechariah 12 blends national deliverance with deep personal repentance. God Himself speaks as the One pierced — a mystery fulfilled in Christ. The crucifixion becomes the turning point for humanity’s redemption.

Application

The cross is not an accident — it is prophecy fulfilled. We must look upon Him now in repentance.

IV. THE SHEPHERD WHO IS STRUCK (Zechariah 13:7)

Prophecy — Zechariah 13:7 (KJV)

“Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered…”

Fulfilment — Matthew 26:31 (KJV)

“I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

Fulfilment — Mark 14:27 (KJV)

“I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”

Additional Background

The Shepherd’s suffering is divinely permitted — part of God’s redemptive plan. The Shepherd is described as “the man that is my fellow,” indicating a mysterious closeness to God Himself.

Application

Jesus is not surprised by our weakness. He restores and recommissions His sheep.

V. THE LORD WHO RETURNS IN GLORY (Zechariah 14)

Prophecy — Zechariah 14:4 (KJV)

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…”

Echo — Acts 1:11–12 (KJV)

“This same Jesus… shall so come in like manner…”

Echo — Revelation 22:1 (KJV)

“A pure river of water of life…”

Additional Background

Zechariah 14 describes a cosmic confrontation where the nations gather against Jerusalem, only for the Lord Himself to intervene. The Mount of Olives becomes the stage for divine action.

Application

We live between the donkey and the white horse. The story is not over.

VI. THE GOD WHO RESTORES HIS PEOPLE (Zechariah 8:16; 8:23)

Prophecy — Zechariah 8:16 (KJV)

“Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour…”

Fulfilment — Ephesians 4:25 (KJV)

“Speak every man truth with his neighbour…”

Prophecy — Zechariah 8:23 (KJV)

“We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Echo — Romans 11

Gentiles being grafted in and drawn to the God of Israel.

Additional Background

Zechariah 8 overflows with hope. God promises to return to Zion, restore truth and justice, and make Jerusalem a place of joy and faithfulness. The nations will recognise God’s presence among His people.

Application

The church is called to be a sign of the coming kingdom.

CONCLUSIONS — Seeing Jesus Through Zechariah’s Eyes

Zechariah gives us a panoramic view of Christ:

• The humble King • The rejected Shepherd • The pierced Saviour • The struck Shepherd • The returning Lord

This is not coincidence. This is the faithfulness of God.

Takeaway Thoughts

• Let's look upon the pierced One. • Let's Follow the Shepherd who restores. • Let's Live ready for the returning King and share his Gospel everywhere we can.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Paul's example in teaching the 'Whole counsel of God' Acts 20:27

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus Christ. We invite Your Holy Spirit—who is welcome here—to teach us, to take the exact message from Your Word this morning and plant it in our hearts. Change our lives and change the lives around us. We thank You for Your Word, for Spirit and truth. We commit this study to You and ask that You be glorified in it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A scripture was shared from the congregation: “Afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams; your young men will see visions… Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2).

Why Christians Should Study the Old Testament

Many Christians read only the New Testament, but the Old Testament is the foundation on which the New Testament stands. It is the story Jesus fulfils, and it reveals the God we worship.

Reasons Christians should study the Old Testament

It is the Bible Jesus read. Jesus and Paul did not have the New Testament; they taught from the Old Testament.

It reveals God’s character. His justice, mercy, holiness, faithfulness, and love are shown in rich detail.

It helps explain the New Testament. Many teachings, promises, and events are rooted in Old Testament history and prophecy.

It points directly to Jesus. Prophecies, types, and foreshadowing of His life, death, and resurrection fill its pages.

It builds resilient faith. God’s faithfulness in trials strengthens our trust today. The God who brought down Jericho’s walls is our God.

It shows God’s heart for the nations. His plan has always been to bless all nations through His people.

It teaches how God forms a people. Through stories and laws, we see how God shapes character, identity, values, and community.

It equips us for spiritual warfare. The Old Testament gives examples and principles for standing firm against spiritual challenges.

Paul’s Example: The Whole Counsel of God

Acts 20:27 — “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

Paul taught the full message of Scripture—promises and blessings, but also sin, repentance, and holy living. Church leaders today carry the same responsibility: to teach the whole counsel of God, not avoiding difficult truths. This protects the church from misunderstanding and misapplying Scripture.

Engaging with all of Scripture both old and new testaments deepens our understanding of God’s character and His plan for humanity.

Amen

Personal Prayer

The practicalities of loving one another

We have considered a number of 'love one another' scriptures. In this part we have two more of them followed by some practical suggestions as to how we can put 'loving one another into practice.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

God has forgiven each one of us our total huge debts. Remember the parable of the big debtor who was forgiven his massive debt, yet he refused to forgive someone else a comparatively small debt. He received a suitable punishment.

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Our love must be sincere and from the heart. If you cannot feel it then ask God to give it to you, for it is his will. Remember how Corrie Ten Boom was able to forgive a concentration camp officer where her family were murdered. She could only do it with God’s power.

How do we put ‘loving one another into practice?

Here are some suggestions.

Serving one another – what does the person need that you can supply.

A listening ear.

Time together-company.

Practical help – meals, garden, household chores, and tasks etc.

Give whatever they need if you can- it is not necessarily financial but whatever our brother/sister needs. Give them a kind memory even in times of trouble/sadness.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Learning to show love from example

We are continuing to consider scriptures that inspire us to love one another.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

v24 How can we spur one another towards love and good works? I think the best approach is by someone's or our own Godly example.

When I was aged 11 or 12, I crashed my elder brother’s bike and buckled the wheels. I went back to my Christian Aunt’s for help, and she tended to my wounds and gave me 10 shillings (big amount) which helped to pacify my brother. I cannot recall my accident without remembering her love and kindness and it still inspires me today. What I learned from my Aunt was when something bad happens in someone’s life try to find a way to bless them that becomes part of the overall memory.

v25 We can only walk the Christian faith together meaning we need each other to grow in the faith. Sometimes we think we could do better without any involvement of our fellow believers-but this is the opposite of the truth because God designed us to be a family that is inter-dependent. We might not be able to get to every church meeting- but our hearts should want to be there. We need to be careful that by not attending the church meetings that we are being lured away from the place of safety – remember what happens to lone wagons and when the enemy attacks. It is much safer when the wagons circle!

1 John 3: 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Again, we are commanded to love one another!

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Love is giving as illustrated in John 3:16. God initiated this giving of love.

Propitiation: means to turns away the wrath of God.

If God so loved us, we ought to love one another.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honour,

We must try to enhance each other’s lives and ministries by bringing out the best in each other.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Each of us belong to our own church and we should have unity of purpose including.

loving God, loving each other, loving those in the world and be willing to associate with the poor and lowly and never to be condescending to anyone.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

It is our duty and indeed our privilege to give loving service to each other. This means we should seek to meet each other's needs.

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 4 (final) we consider the practicalities of loving one another.

Practical advice for dealing with rejection

There are 100+ scriptures in the New Testament that refer to ‘one another’, or to ‘each other’, or ‘together’. For example there are such references in the last 5 chapters of Romans.

So we are spoiled for choice in studying what the scriptures say about loving one another. Here is a selection of them.

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Our basis for accepting each other as brothers and sisters in Christ is that the Lord himself has already accepted each one of us. There can be no higher recommendation than the approval of Jesus Christ. Most of our lives we can struggle to be accepted because many groups, teams and clubs, like you to be good at something e.g. golf, football, hockey, chess, bowling etc., but we accept each other in Christ.

We are now going on a slight detour to discuss what non-acceptance means.

Acceptance versus Rejection

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Most of us at some time in life will experience some form of rejection.

Family or so-called friends might decide to terminate their relationship with us under various circumstances.

We might feel let-down, bewildered and angry that people can be as unkind, but it is a lesson unfortunately we need to learn in this world.

Even when we go for a job interview or some selection process for sports or team ventures, we might be rejected. In all these forms of rejection we must be humble, forgiving and fight any tendency towards bitterness.

This what Jesus Christ himself experienced. The one people in the world who should have known who and what the Son of God would be like, were the Jews. But when He came to them, most of them including their secular and religious leaders rejected and dismissed Him as an impostor. He was the precious stone which the builders rejected yet he was and still is the most important stone in the building known as the church, which is the cornerstone! The corner-stone or capstone is usually laid at a ceremony in honour of a new building.

All the other stones fit in around the cornerstone.

So, is there someone whose judgement that we can trust? When we look at people we can be so influenced by external things, such as their appearance, demeanour, dress sense, personality etc. But when God considers a person, He looks right into their heart. A clear example of this was when the Lord sent Samuel the prophet to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as King over Israel. Samuel considered each one of them from the natural point of view, how tall or handsome that they were. But God makes it quite clear in 1 Samuel 6:7 that He is interested in a person’s heart. The inner qualities not the external are much more important.

So, what does this mean in practice for us in our day to day lives?

Firstly, when we are rejected and put down, our loving heavenly Abba Father is always there to remind us of our true value, which is that you are valuable and precious to Him. So much so that He gave His only begotten Son…John 3:16.

The world’s value system is superficial and dangerous. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light! Do not trust outward appearances, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were white-washed tombstones, white on the inside but inside dark and horrible, full of dead men’s bones!

Secondly, we must ask the Lord for discernment in all the appropriate areas of life. The wrong choice of a marriage or business partner can easily ruin someone’s life. Running with the wrong crowd of friends has also caused unnecessary suffering and grief in some lives.

We can take a good example from the disciples after the resurrection when they gathered to choose a replacement for the traitor Judas Iscariot. They prayed indicating that only God Himself truly knows what is in a man’s heart and therefore they asked the Lord to show who His choice for the vacant position was. The Lord then spoke to the hearts of the disciples, and they chose whom they believed that the Lord had already chosen.

In conclusion, no matter what people say or do to you, God will always love you and never let you down.

Since only God truly knows a person’s heart, we must ask Him to guide us in all our decisions involving people. We might not always get the answer we want or like, but we can console ourselves by the knowledge that the Lord’s choice will always be the right one!

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 3 we return to those wonderful ‘one another’ scriptures.

We are commanded to love

You will recall that Christians’ fellowship (koinonia) is the sharing our lives with each other. It means we ought to become involved in each other's lives. Christianity is a team game that needs every player taking part. We saw previously in our Body Ministry message that every part of the body of Christ has its unique part to play. No believer is independent of each other but rather we all are inter-dependent on each other, and we will only reach full maturity in the faith by working with each other.

You will have certainly realised by now that Christianity is all about love meaning that our Christianity means for us to love God and to love our fellow man.

New Testament Commandments

Jesus commanded his followers to keep his commandments.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.

They are not suggestions or helpful hints, but they are Jesus' express commands to his followers and as such apply to us as part of his church.

We are going to have a quick reminder as to what his commandments are.

The two greatest commandments

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:40 is a verse in the Bible that says, "On these two - hang all the law and the prophets.

This means that the two great commandments, loving God with everything in our being and loving our neighbours as ourselves, are like the first and last links of a chain, and all the intermediate ones depend on them.

Jesus upholds Deuteronomy 6:5 (the Shema), indicating that loving God with everything within us, is the great and first commandment. Think of the cross; Loving God is the vertical dimension and the loving our neighbours as ourselves is the horizontal dimension of our love.

Who is your neighbour? As explained in the parable of the Good Samaritan, our neighbour is anyone who needs our help!

A new Commandment

John 13:33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”

Well, how does Jesus love his followers? Take a moment to think. He loves us unto death!

His love was so great that he gave his life’s blood that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. Jesus expects that our love for each will be sacrificial putting the needs of one another ahead of our own.

In the early Church, Tertullian tells us that the witness of Christian love, struck pagans. “See how they love one another!” they would remark. I wonder if any people today could look at us today say the same thing as Tertullian.

Our love for one another should be the hallmark of our Christian faith and be the major characteristic of how we deal with one another.

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 2 we consider some scriptures that tell us how to deal with one another, and how to be relating to each other etc.

The resurrection changed everything

Perhaps the most puzzling thing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ is why Christians tend to only speak about it at Easter. This was not the case when the Apostle Paul was preaching;

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then [b] certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Paul mentioned the resurrection and Jesus so much that these pagans thought he was talking about two Gods, one called ‘Jesus’ and the other ‘Resurrection’!

An American pastor has rightly said ‘the resurrection changed everything’!

After the resurrection Jesus’ ramshackle band of disciples began to ‘turn the world upside down’.

There are perhaps different approaches we can take when we consider the resurrection.

Today I want to focus in on a few scriptures that give insight into its meaning and purpose.

Death the last enemy has been destroyed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[a] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

1 Cor 15:29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Paul is saying if there was no resurrection then we are simply wasting our time and we would be as well simply leading natural lives the same as the unbelievers.

The Father God has declared that Jesus Christ is His Son by resurrecting Him from the dead.

Romans 1:1 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus Christ naturally speaking was the son of David or the son of Man but after the resurrection the Father calls him the Son of God. God sent his son Jesus Christ into the world born of a woman with a natural family tree of the seed of David and was born under the Law. This Jesus Christ was obedient to Father God through all his short life even unto his sacrificial death on the cross but when God raised him from the dead, he was declared to be the Son of God. At the moment of resurrection God the Father and God the Holy Spirit fully endorsed him as the only begotten Son of the Father giving Jesus Christ a truly unique status and hence power.

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

Philippians 3:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Please note that Lazarus was resuscitated i.e. he came back to a natural life and eventually died.

Jesus Christ was resurrected into a new type of life which would never see death again and conferred various supernatural powers such as being able to appear in locked rooms.

v10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, Paul longed to progressively and intimately come to know Jesus Christ (the Greek word for know is ginosko and was used to describe the relationship between a husband and wife) and the power of his resurrection. This power was much more than needed to simply resuscitate someone like Lazarus i.e. simply recombining his spirit and body to form a living soul but the power to raise Jesus Christ from the dead into an indestructible and everlasting life.

If the resurrection power of God is still available to God’s people, then just think what this level of power might be able to achieve in other areas of our lives such as in failed relationships, healing of the body and mind, and to bring all sorts of dead situations back to life!

What do you think?

Amen

Prayer