#shiftingatmospheres, #restoration, #suddenlies, #declare#decree, #harvest, #presence, #encounter, #authentic, #partnerships, #acceleration, #poweroftheSpirit, #angelicencounters, #revelation, #healing, #miracles, #vision, #promise, #permission, #purpose, #repentence, #rebuid
The above list of hashtags are key words taken from well-recognised prophetic voices, both locally and internationally, for 2019.
When we see them written in such a format our brains need a few seconds — if not minutes — to decode them and place them into an order that’s acceptable with our personal manner of thinking.
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Some of us zone in on what’s familiar and just keep on doing the same old things and wonder why we get the same old outcomes.
When the Lord wants to break into our regular pattern of thinking and begin to challenge it with a new concept for better fruitfulness it may feel that our cosy world has just been invaded with a line of uninterrupted words with hashtags ##’s — or better still you may get a vision or dream that needs decoding.
Enter Zach’s World
Take a moment to consider what happened to Zechariah the prophet when an angel appeared to him and engaged with him regarding the current and future state of God’s people!
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Zechariah was essentially asleep and needed an angel to wake him to show him a vision.
The 5th vision
Zechariah saw a lampstand of gold with seven lamps and a bowl on the top, which served as a reservoir for the oil. Two olive trees, each with a branch, stood beside the lampstand. A golden pipe extended from each branch to the bowl so that the golden olive oil poured from the tree.
Out of the reservoir — or bowl — came 49 pipes, seven to each of seven lamps on the lampstand.
This lampstand was like the one that stood in the holy place of the tabernacle, with three exceptions: it had a bowl on top, the seven pipes to each lamp and two olive trees. These additions point to the abundant, constant supply of oil to the lamps.
In the temple, the priests were assigned the duty of filling the lamps with oil. However, in this vision the supply of oil never ran out and it needed no man to replenish it.
Golden lampstand
The golden lampstand signifies the Church and the task of preaching pure doctrine and the indestructible nature thereof. The Word of God is the light of the world, and His truth shines in dark places.
There has been many a word spoken of breaking into new territories, of revival and of increase.
The oil that flows in continual, abundant supply so that the lamps can go on burning symbolises the Holy Spirit. In order to have our lamps well-lit we need have a close, constant relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Engaging with the angel
During the engagement with the angel there were times that Zechariah didn’t know the significance of what he saw and what it would mean to his people.
His inquiry of the significance of the bowl on the top of the candlestick and having a ceaseless supply of oil led to a different concept, in that previously the high priests would ensure the candlesticks be kept lit in the Holy of Holies. Now the two olive trees were the suppliers of constant oil!
“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit (of whom the oil is a symbol),” says the Lord of Hosts.
The Kingdom assignment of building cannot be done by our own strength but by the Spirit of the Lord. Today we can have direct access to the Holy Spirit and be constantly filled for the good work the Lord has set before us. If we don’t, we may well face burnout or enter into a place of legalism and trying in our own strength to attain fulfilment of prophetic words.
Facing obstacles
We know that in the building of the temple, or the work of the Lord, there will surely be obstacles. “For who are you oh mountain [of human obstacles] before Zerubbabel? You shall become a plain [a mere molehill] and he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone of the new temple with loud shouting’s of the people crying grace to it.” — Zechariah 4:7
“Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” — Isaiah 40.4
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of the house, his hands shall finish it …. Who will despise the day of small beginnings? … — Zechariah 4: 9, 10
The seven eyes of the Lord roam across the earth
In Revelation 5.6 John says: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
We undoubtedly will face challenges as we answer the call of the Lord. Keep in mind that the Lord is the Lord of the whole earth (Zechariah 4.14) and that He has his eye on every situation (Zechariah 4.10) This is where we get to say to the mountain of difficulties “grace”.
So often we want a full measure of a vision, or the immediate fulfilment of a word that we have been given, and get discouraged when we look at the smallness of the project when we first respond to a prophetic word. But to “not despise the day of small beginnings” is excellent counsel.
In verse 7 of Zechariah 4 it’s helpful to recognise your limitations – be it in lethargy, lacking in wisdom, opposition from people, or whatever — and the Lord will give you the grace to overcome them.
Do not despise the day of small beginnings but be encouraged, trust the Lord and allow yourself to be led by the Spirit of the Lord.
The two olive trees
The two olive trees represent the priestly and kingly offices, with the two branches being Joshua and Zerubbabel. It is understood the two anointed ones are a type of the Lord Jesus Christ in His offices of priest and king.
The bowl on top is Christ, the head of the church – the fountain from whose fullness of the Spirit we receive grace (John 1:16). The bowl was continually filled with oil. This is an encouragement for us to be in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion
Rely on the Spirit of the Living God to clarify the dreams He gives you.
Ask the Lord to give you a team to work together as you unfold the dream of the Lord. Keep your eye on the goal, the Lord Himself and keep your boundaries firmly fixed in order to not grow weary in welldoing. Finally, ask the Lord for provision for His dream to be realised.
