Moving the mountain

Zechariah 4:1-10 NKJV

Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. [2] And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. [3] Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." [4] So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" [5] Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." [6] 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. [7] 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'" [8] Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: [9] "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. [10] For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."

Zerubbabel, now there's a name to conjure with! He was contemporary with Nehemiah (who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem), but he was tasked with rebuilding the Temple of the Lord.

Nehemiah faced great opposition from enemies like Sanballat, but it seems that Satan himself was opposing the rebuilding of the Temple:

Zechariah 3:1-2 NKJV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. [2] And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"

Satan hates corporate heart worship of God's people and will plant obstacles of mountainous proportions in order to prevent that worship.

It's vital to note that the battle is a spiritual one that we can't fight in our own strength.

The Lord has to rebuke Satan and move the mountain of obstacles and opposition.

In the New Testament we are told that our bodies are a temple - living stones being built together for the glory of the Lord.

This too is a work of the Holy Spirit and we will face satanic opposition against us.

The temptation is to try to move people and not let the Holy Spirit move the mountains of demonic obstacles.

Grace is the key. Zerubbabel brought forth the capstone of the Temple with shouts of "grace to it!"

Why shouts? Because Satan loudly accused, so grace has to be louder!

Facing a mountain of guilt and condemnation? Shout "grace to it" and let the Holy Spirit move it in His power.

Facing despair over a wayward child or loved one? Shout "grace to it" and let the Holy Spirit do the wooing back.

This morning drown out the accuser's voice by singing "Amazing Grace" at the top of your voice and rejoice in the absolute cleansing in Jesus' Blood and boundless hope that grace avails.