Finishing the Work to Which He Has Called Us!

by Senior Pastor Steve Mattis

The book of Zechariah is an amazing piece of biblical/prophetic/inspired writing. In it the prophet Zechariah is commissioned by God to encourage the people in their ―unfinished responsibility.‖ For after a dozen years the task of rebuilding the temple had only been half completed. Rather than exhorting them with strong words of rebuke, the prophet encouraged them to understand the importance of the future temple. The temple must be built, for one day the Messiah’s glory will inhabit it. But future blessing is always contingent upon present obedience. They were not to merely build a building (the temple), they were to build the future.

We the people at Myrtle Grove are in a season somewhat similar to that in the days of Zechariah. God is encouraging us to finish the work in which he has destined us to walk (Eph. 2:10). He has called us to a kingdom work of his choosing, even before the earth was created. He is encouraging us to build a place for His habitation. We the people, are part of that temple and that habitation, being built up by the Spirit of the Lord as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph. 2:21-22). Like the people in the days of Zechariah, this calling will require a wholehearted commitment and an uncompromising zeal for the Lord of Hosts - but this calling carries with it immense blessing.

Zechariah 4:6 speaks to us about who is building the "temple" even though we the people are working:

"So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the Lord of hosts…And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"

Zechariah 8:11 and following declares God’s purpose for his people:

"But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days, says
the Lord of hosts…And it shall come to pass that as you were a curse among the
nations, (because of disobedience) O house of Judah and house of Israel,
So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be
strong (vs. 13). So again in these days I am determined to do good to Jerusalem
and to the house of Judah. Do not fear (vs. 15). "Thus says the Lord of hosts:
People shall yet come…saying, Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. Yes, many strong peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you" (vs. 20-23).

Myrtle Grove has been called for an eternal purpose and destiny. This purpose can only be accomplished as we continue to seek the Lord and rely upon the working of His Spirit in the midst of our gathered community. God will continue to pour out His favor/blessing among us, as we continue to seek Him, as we continue to pray and fast, and as we continue to humbly abandon ourselves to Him and cast ourselves upon His presence without reservation. God’s promise to us is that He will pour out His Spirit upon us, so that people from all nations will come and seek the Lord’s presence here in this place. People will be brought to us, ―pulling on our sleeve‖ saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God in with you!"

Our highest calling is to ―Love the Lord our God, with all of our heart, with all of our mind, with all of our soul and with all of our strength – and our neighbor as ourselves‖ (Lk 10:27). God’s promise is to continue to revive us, to revive the nation and to revive the nations of the earth! This is our destiny!