The Details of Christ Building His Church

I. The Recovery of the Building - Ezra 1--4
A. The initial vision - Ezra 1
B. The initial consecration - Ezra 2-3
C. The opposition - Ezra 4:1-22
D. The building work ceases - Ezra 4:23-24
II. Overcoming Obstacles to Continue the Building - Haggai 1--2
A. The need of help through God's speaking - Hag. 1:1-3, 5, 7, 13 (Ezra 5:1-2)
1. Exposing indifference toward the building - Hag. 1:2-4
a) Losing heart because of opposition - Ezra 5:1-6:14
b) Self-interest affecting the initial vision - Hag. 1:2
c) Worldly tastes changing spiritual values - Hag. 1:4
2. Facing the results of being indifferent toward the building - Hag. 1:5-11
a) Disappointment - Hag. 1:6a
b) Dissatisfaction - Hag. 1:6b
c) Discomfort - Hag. 1:6c
d) Discouragement - Hag. 1:6d
e) Disillusionment - Hag. 1:9
f) Dryness and fruitlessness - Hag. 1:10
g) Disciplined by the Lord - Hag. 1:11
3. Being renewed in the initial vision - Hag. 1:7-9
a) The secret of God's pleasure - His temple - Hag. 1:8
b) The secret of man's blessing - His temple - Hag. 1:9
4. Responding to God's speaking
a) With obedience - Hag. 1:12
b) With the promise of the Lord's presence - Hag. 1:13
c) With an exercised spirit - Hag. 1:14
d) With the body in a practical way - Hag. 1:14-15
B. The need of encouragement through God's speaking - Hag. 2:1-9
1. Exposing the demoralizing influence of the older ones - Hag. 2:2-3
a) Polarizing the past building with the present building - Hag. 2:3a
b) Belittling the present building work - Hag. 2:3b
2. Infusing strength into the remnant through the Word
a) Exhortation backed with supply - Hag. 2:4
b) Encouragement linked with God's original purpose - Hag. 2:5a
c) Expelling fear with His continued Presence - Hag. 2:5b
3. Inspiring expectation concerning the present building
a) The prophecy of a universal shaking - Hag. 2:6-7a (cf. Heb. 12:25-28)
b) The prophecy of Christ as "the Desire of all nations" - Hag. 2:7b
c) The prophecy of glory in the church - Hag. 2:7c (cf. Eph. 3:21)
d) The necessary provisions are for God's building - Hag. 2:8
e) The anticipation of a greater glory - Hag. 2:9a
f) The promise of peace in God's building - Hag. 2:9b
C. The need of understanding their situation through God's speaking - Hag. 2:10-19
1. Understanding the transmission of holiness and defilement - Hag. 2:10-13
2. Understanding their defiled condition - Hag. 2:14
3. Understanding the reason for the lack of blessing - Hag. 2:15-17
4. Understanding the factor of God's blessing - Hag. 2:18-19
D. The need of hope through God's speaking - Hag. 2:20-23
1. Hope in the midst of God's shaking - Hag. 2:20-22
2. Hope in being one who expresses God's image - Hag. 2:23a
3. Hope in being God's chosen ones - Hag. 2:23b
III. God's Move for the Building of the Church - Zechariah 1--8
A. Securing a dealt-with remnant who return to the Lord - Zech. 1:1-6
B. Revealing what He wants to do on the earth - Zech. 1:7-17
(the Man among the myrtle trees)
1. By standing with His people on the bottom - Zech. 1:7-8
2. By surveying the earth from His point of view - Zech. 1:9-11
3. By expressing His desires and mercy for His building - Zech. 1:12-16
4. By promising prosperity for God's chosen place of Jerusalem - Zech. 1:17
C. Dealing with the enemies of His building - Zech. 1:18-21 (the horns and craftsmen)
1. The horns which scattered His people - Zech. 1:18-19
2. The craftsmen or builders deal with the horns - Zech. 1:20-21
D. Being aroused to possess Jerusalem for His building - Zech. 2:1-13 (the Man with the
measuring line)
1. By measuring and protecting it - Zech. 2:1-5
2. By His people fleeing from Babylon - Zech. 2:6-7
3. By being sent to preserve "the apple of His eye" - Zech. 2:8-9
4. By being joined to the Lord to become His people - Zech. 2:10-13
E. Accomplishing redemption by bringing forth the Branch - Zech. 3:1-10 (the High Priest)
1. Rebuking Satan - Zech. 3:1-2
2. Removing the filthy garments - Zech. 3:3-4a, 9
3. Being clothed in the rich robes of righteousness - Zech. 3:4b (cf. Jer. 23:5-6)
4. Being crowned with a crown of holiness - Zech. 3:5
5. Restoring an obedient priestly company - Zech. 3:6-8
6. Bringing forth the Branch as our supply - Zech. 3:8b
7. Bringing forth the Stone for the building - Zech. 3:9
8. Bringing in peace and fellowship - Zech. 3:10
F. Revealing the nature of His building - Zech. 4:1-14 (the lampstand)
1. A shining lampstand expressing the divine nature - Zech. 4:1-2
2. An open vessel receiving the supply of the Spirit - Zech. 4:2-5, 11-12
3. The source of the building's supply - Zech. 4:3, 11-14
a) "Two olive trees" and "Two anointed ones" signifying priesthood (Joshua) and kingship (Zerubbabel) (cf. Zech. 6:12-13)
4. The reality of the building
a) The Spirit - Zech. 4:6
b) Grace - Zech. 4:7
5. The testimony of the building
a) According to Divine persistence - Zech. 4:8-9
b) According to the Divine standard - Zech. 4:10
G. Revealing the penetrating nature of the Word - Zech. 5:1-4 (the flying scroll)
1. The universal impact of the law - Zech. 5:1-3a
2. The exposing nature of the law - Zech. 5:3b-4a
3. The judging nature of the law - Zech. 5:4b
H. Dealing with the corrupting influence of the world's system - Zech. 5:5-11 (the ephah)
1. The removal of the weight of commercial wickedness - Zech. 5:5-10
2. Exposing the source of this wickedness (Babylon) - Zech. 5:11
I. Unveiling God's administration on the earth - Zech. 6:1-8 (the four chariots)
J. Describing the riches of Christ as the builder of the church - Zech. 6:9-15
1. The crowned One - Zech. 6:9-11, 14
2. The Branch with His humanity - Zech. 6:12
3. The King on His throne - Zech. 6:13a
4. The Priest on His throne - Zech. 6:13b
5. The building made up of both Jews and Gentiles - Zech. 6:15
K. Stressing the importance of living in reality - Zech. 7:1-14
1. Obedience is preferred over mere fasting - Zech. 7:1-7
2. Caring for loving relationships with a tender heart - Zech. 7:8-12
3. Explaining the reason for their being scattered - Zech. 7:13-14
L. The blessing of God's building - Zech. 8:1-23
1. God's own feelings about the building - Zech. 8:1-3
2. The family atmosphere and marvel of God's building - Zech. 8:4-6
3. The ultimate meaning of salvation - God's people in His building - Zech. 8:7-8
4. Being reminded of life without God's building - Zech. 8:9-10
5. God's good treatment of His people because of His building - Zech. 8:11-15
6. Relationships in God's building - Zech. 8:16-17
7. The enjoyment of God's building - Zech. 8:18-19
8. The attraction of God's building - Zech. 8:20-23
IV. The Revelation of Christ for the Building - Zechariah 9--14
A. God's protection of His house from all enemies - Zech. 9:1-8
B. Christ in His first coming as King bringing in His kingdom - Zech. 9:9-17
1. Riding on a donkey - Zech. 9:9
2. Speaking peace to the nations - Zech. 9:10
3. Delivering prisoners by the blood of the covenant - Zech. 9:11-12
4. Raising up the sons of Zion for warfare - Zech. 9:13-15
5. Saving the flock of His people - Zech. 9:16-17
C. Christ as the rejected Shepherd gathering His flock - Zech. 10-11
1. Giving refreshment - Zech. 10:1
2. Exposing the false shepherds - Zech. 10:2-3a
3. Becoming the unique Source and Shepherd of His people - Zech. 10:3b-4
4. Strengthening His people - Zech. 10:5-7
5. Whistling for His people - Zech. 10:8
6. Bringing His people back - Zech. 10:9-12
7. Judgment on the land for their false shepherds - Zech. 11:1-6
8. The betrayal and rejection of Christ, the true Shepherd - Zech. 11:7-14
9. Being left with foolish shepherds - Zech. 11:15-17
D. Christ in His second coming defending His people - Zech. 12--14
1. Judging the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem - Zech. 12:1-4
2. Judah being strengthened by Jerusalem's protection - Zech. 12:5-9
3. Pouring out the spirit of grace and supplication - Zech. 12:10a
4. The nation looking upon the crucified Christ - Zech. 12:10b
5. National repentance - Zech. 12:10c-14
6. A fountain opened up for sin and uncleanness - Zech. 13:1
7. Deliverance from false prophets and unclean spirits - Zech. 13:2-5
8. Purifying a remnant through Christ's death and resurrection - Zech. 13:6-9
9. The Lord's victorious return - Zech. 14:1-2
10. The Lord's visible return to earth - Zech. 14:3-7
11. Living waters flowing out from Jerusalem - Zech. 14:8
12. The Lord as the King over all the earth - Zech. 14:9-11
13. Judgment on Jerusalem's enemies - Zech.14:12-15
14. Universal worship of the King - Zech. 14:16-19
15. Complete holiness among all God's vessels - Zech. 14:20-21