How Often Have I Ignored God's Command and Assurance in Zechariah 4:6?
If there's any truth about Christian righteousness is that this righteousness is not inherent but God-given righteousness. The righteousness of the Christian is done by imputation, which in turn makes the Christian righteous even if it's not instantaneous. One of the biggest mistakes I've made in the Christian life was to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and fail to ask for His grace to do the task of God. Trying to think that God saves then leaves the Christian alone to struggle in one's sanctification is a foolish idea. I also tend to think that I should do my own sanctification outside the Spirit of God which in itself is an insult towards the Savior from sin.
Zechariah 3 talks about the account of Satan and Joshua the High Priest. Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel are both types of Jesus. Joshua the High Priest was dressed in filthy clothes. Satan was there falsely accusing Joshua the High Priest. The remedy was that Joshua the High Priest's filthy clothes had to be replaced with clean garments. Was Joshua the High Priest taught a lesson that he needed to learn? I think Joshua the High Priest was probably trying to rely on himself to do the priestly work. Instead, God sent His angel (termed as the angel of the LORD) who could be the pre-incarnate Christ. Joshua is the Hebrew for Jesus. Jesus is the Greek for Joshua. So, Jesus would also be known as Joshua of Nazareth though Jesus was more commonly used due to the Greek. The KJV writes down most of the Hebrew names in Greek such as Mary instead of Miriam or Elias instead of Elijah. Joshua the High Priest was not to rely on himself as shown in Zechariah 3.
Zechariah 4 presents the case of Zerubbabel from the line of David. The curse of Jehoiachin seems to have been uplifted even if Zerubbabel wasn't going to be crowned king. Zerubbabel was now leading the Israelites even if he wasn't a king. Though the time to restore David's throne had not yet come. The promise that God gave to Zerubbabel is best describes as follows:
Zechariah 4:4-7
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
This is the power of the Holy Spirit (also called the Spirit of the LORD) at work in the Old Testament. Zerubbabel was told that it will not be by might or power but by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's very easy to nod and say "Amen!" to that. However, it's very hard to keep that in mind because of one's own sinful nature and pride. A Christian may already be considered a righteous person in lifestyle and conduct but he or she isn't free from sin. If bad people can do good works (dead as they may be) then remember righteous saints are but forgiven, repentant sinners. The Church serves not just like a museum of saints but also a hospital for repentant sinners. The Christian is caught in the struggling situation as a righteous saint and a repentant sinner. Every righteous saint still is a sinner except that they can't enjoy their sin.
The Lord Jesus told His disciples in John 16:8 would rebuke the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Later, the true disciples of Jesus (as Judas Iscariot was a false one) were told in Luke 24:29 to tarry first in Jerusalem until the power of the Holy Spirit has come upon them. Acts 2 tells us about the power of the Holy Spirit empowering the apostles (which Mattias became a believer to replace the apostate). The power of the Holy Spirit was what they were to work with unto every good work and not the flesh. I believe that's why Peter was allowed to fail so he would learn to rely on the Holy Spirit that his own flesh. Matthew 14:22-23 also tells us of Peter's failings when he failed to look unto Jesus and nearly drowned. It's very often to look at the waves than to the Lord Jesus.
Old habits die hard and I would be a fool to fight them myself. John 6:63 has Jesus warning that the flesh profits nothing. That's why all sinners need to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I'm not going to deny that some people can externally reform and still be unsaved. However, most reformation today is but superficial. A person may cease from alcoholism and drug addiction after conversion to Islam but such a person is only externally reformed. Some people may start to do good works after a conversion to Buddhism but such good works are dead works (Hebrews 9:12). One still lies to the world that Jesus isn't the Son of God. The other prays to false gods and therefore an idolater (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). One could convert to Buddhism, live a productive life, but may still be involved in some form of gambling like mahjong or poker even if it's not an addiction. Also, many times, rehabilitation from drugs or vices tends to fail mostly because the programs try to focus on human willpower than the Spirit of the LORD.
This would also further summarize the Christian life. Ephesians 6:10-23 tells us that warfare is spiritual, not carnal (see also 2 Corinthians 10:4). This isn't to dismiss physical warfare when the nation is in danger. However, a lot of warfare is not about flesh and blood but against Satan and his evil forces. Many today are but victims of false teaching. I often find myself in useless quarrels or I even get physical when talking about the Gospel, which would disqualify me from the ministry (1 Timothy 3:1-7). The problem is often rooted in pride whenever I fail to obey the command in Zechariah 4:6 not to trust myself.
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