Practicing the presence of God (Philippians 4:6-8)

James 4:2 cuts through the noise. You lack because you don’t ask. We complain about what we don’t have while living in prayerlessness. We want breakthrough without using the access point God designed. Prayer isn’t ritual. Prayer is supply.

• Paul’s charge to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) isn’t nonstop talking. It is nonstop dependence. The early church called it “practicing the presence of God.” Prayer becomes atmosphere, not appointment.
• Jesus warned Peter, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). Prayerlessness doesn’t just starve blessing. It increases vulnerability. The willing spirit needs strength to overpower weak flesh.
• Simple equation: No prayer equals more pressure. When we stop praying, we carry what God intended to carry with us. We fight spiritual battles with human tools. Exhaustion follows.
• Christ’s yoke reshapes the heart through the Spirit, not self-regulation (Matthew 11:29-30)

Application: Identify your pressure points. Audit your prayer investment. Pressure often reveals lack of prayer, not lack of provision.

Thankfulness is a Guard
Philippians 4:6-7 gives you a pattern: prayer plus thanksgiving plus request equals guarded peace. “Guard” is a military term. Gratitude activates the garrison. Thanksgiving is spiritual defense. It anchors you in God’s proven record.

• Jesus modeled this. Facing the cross, He “gave thanks” (Luke 22:19). Gratitude flows from God’s character, not your circumstances. We give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because God does not change.

Application: Before asking, rehearse His faithfulness. Name three things He has already done. Gratitude resets perspective. Gratitude is armor.

Worry Is Misplaced Faith
Worry is faith pointed in the wrong direction. It trusts the threat more than the Throne. Jesus asks, “Who can add one hour by worrying?” (Matthew 6:27). No one. Worry produces nothing except depletion.

• Peter says to hurl your anxiety onto God (1 Peter 5:7). Forceful transfer. Why? Because He cares. Worry whispers that He doesn’t. Isaiah 41:10 silences that lie: God is with you, strengthens you, and upholds you.

Application: When worry surfaces, name the misplaced trust. Redirect it. This is not positive thinking. This is faith alignment.

Guard Peace to Hear God
Noise is not neutral. It is strategic interference. God speaks in peace. Chaos blunts discernment. Sheep recognize the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27) because they dwell in His presence.

• Isaiah 30:15 links quietness and strength. Romans 8:6 ties Spirit-governed thinking to peace. Peace is the environment where you hear clearly.

Application: Protect your peace like an asset. Limit what disrupts it. This is stewardship, not selfishness.

Fear Breaks Connection
Fear and intimacy cannot coexist. Fear creates distance, distortion, and hiding. God’s most frequent command is “Do not fear.” Isaiah 41:10 grounds it in presence. First John 4:18 says perfect love drives out fear because fear expects harm. God does not harm His children.

• Psalm 27:1 reframes reality. No threat is greater than your Protector.

Application: When fear speaks, expose the lie. Replace it with truth. Truth displaces fear.

Peace Restores Spirit, Soul, and Body
God restores the whole person (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Peace integrates what sin and trauma fragment. Psalm 23:3 says He restores the soul. Peace is God’s healing agent.

Application: Treat anxiety as whole-person work. Engage spirit (prayer), soul (truth and counsel), and body (rest).

Hopelessness Is a Spiritual Attack
Psalm 42:5 interrogates despair. Hope is not emotion. It is warfare. Satan wants you to quit. Christ gives “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Romans 15:13 says God fills you with hope by the Spirit. Hope is a divine infusion.

Application: When hopelessness hits, reject it as a lie. Declare resurrection truth. Worship. Hope is a weapon.

Breakthrough Requires Standing
Exodus 14:13 calls Israel to stand still. No scheme. No scrambling. Stand and watch. James 4:7 ties breakthrough to resistance. Jeremiah 33:3 ties it to calling on God.

Application: Stop striving in your strength. Plant your feet. Declare faith. Call on Him. Breakthrough meets those who stand, not those who panic.

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God's word brings persecution

Scripture shows a consistent pattern. When God’s Word is spoken, believed, and obeyed, opposition follows. Jesus said the world would hate His disciples because they have received His Word. The apostles were threatened, beaten, and imprisoned for preaching it. Prophets like Jeremiah and Amos suffered rejection because their messages confronted sin. Early churches endured hostility for holding to the gospel. Revelation describes believers martyred “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The pattern is clear. God’s Word exposes darkness. Darkness pushes back. Yet every instance also shows God strengthening His people and advancing His mission through their perseverance.

This past Sunday, Troy presented "Devotion" | Acts 8:1-8. The early church grew because resurrection conviction, Spirit-powered transformation, and persecution created unstoppable momentum. Acts 8 shows God using pressure to scatter believers into new cities, jobs, and communities where the Gospel took root. Martyrs like Stephen strengthened the church’s resolve. Persecutors like Saul became trophies of grace. God sent people like Philip into hard places and turned barren soil into harvest. The mindset is simple. Be encouraged. Be flexible when God redirects. Be vocal, not silent. Be steady because joy outweighs suffering. Christianity has always advanced through adversity. The cross proves it. The empty tomb guarantees it.

Matthew 5:11–12

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
Jesus ties persecution directly to loyalty to His Word.

John 15:18–20
“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
The Word made flesh was opposed. Those who speak His words experience the same.

John 17:14
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them.”
Hatred rises because disciples receive and live out the Word.

2 Timothy 3:12
“All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Godliness rooted in Scripture invites pressure.

Acts 4:17–20
Peter and John are threatened precisely because they speak “the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 5:27–33, 40–42
The apostles are flogged and ordered not to speak the word. They rejoice because the persecution is tied to proclaiming Christ.

Jeremiah 20:7–9
Jeremiah’s proclamation of God’s word results in insult, mockery, and attacks. Yet the Word is a fire he cannot hold in.

Amos 7:10–17
Prophet Amos is told to stop preaching because his words offend the king. True prophecy provokes resistance.

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16
The church receives God’s Word and immediately suffers the same persecution given to the prophets.

Revelation 1:9
John is exiled “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Revelation 6:9–11
The martyrs are killed “because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.”

Hebrews 11:35–38
Prophets and faithful servants suffer, wander, and die for holding to God’s promises.

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Peace comes through presence, not technique

Biblical peace is not the absence of trouble. It is the presence of God in the middle of it. Jesus contrasts His peace with the world’s, which depends on favorable conditions. Scripture anchors peace in a Person, not a circumstance, “He himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). The promise is that “the God of peace will be with you,” meaning peace is experienced through His nearness, not through escape or self-management. Our role is to let His peace rule our hearts, to silence the internal noise that competes with His voice, and to practice active surrender when anxiety rises. Peace is retained by returning to His presence, again and again. Ideas from Maintain Peace and Avoid Stress and Anxiety.

Peace is presence, not escape.

The world offers peace only when life behaves. God gives peace when nothing behaves. Jesus says, “My peace… not as the world gives” (John 14:27). The world removes trouble. Christ enters it. His peace is relational, not circumstantial.

Jesus is the peace.
Ephesians 2:14 is blunt. “He himself is our peace.” Not His gifts. Not His solutions. Him. This is why believers can stand in storms that break others. Peace is not found by escaping pressure. Peace is found beside the One who speaks to it.

Peace comes through presence, not technique.
Philippians 4:9 says, “The God of peace will be with you.” The promise is not peace delivered but God present. His nearness is the source. His companionship is the substance.

Practice it.
When anxiety spikes, we default to problem-solving. Scripture calls us to presence-awareness. Simple prayer: “You are here. You are peace. I receive You.” This shifts us from managing circumstances to meeting God.

Keep your peace.
God already gave it. The challenge is holding it. Colossians 3:15 commands, “Let the peace of Christ rule.” Rule means “umpire.” Peace should call the balls and strikes in your decisions and reactions. We must allow it to govern.

Noise kills peace.
A heart filled with hurry, anxiety, and distraction cannot hear God’s gentle arbitration. Isaiah 30:15 names the pattern: “In returning and rest… in quietness and trust is your strength.” Then the diagnosis: “But you would not.” The peace was available. The people chose noise.

Biblical stillness is active surrender.
Psalm 46:10 is not a spa verse. It is spoken while nations rage and mountains shake. “Be still” means stop striving. Stop self-rescue. Know He is God. Yield the controls you grabbed.

Practice it.
Do “peace checks” throughout the day. Ask: Is peace ruling or has fear climbed onto the throne? When you lose it, don’t just calm down. Return to God’s presence. Deep breathing steadies the body. Only God restores the soul.

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Epaphras: The Prayer Warrior (Colossians 4:12) and Results (Colossians 1:3-8)

I started a new Bible study group with my church called Rooted. I recognized a few guys from ministry in 56 street (wave) and Vertical Endeavor, out of 32 guys we had less than 50% attending. Paul, Ryan, Ben, Jacob, Hunter, Harlen, Juan, Chris, Wayne, Ethan, Jasen, Todd, Jacob and Nick were there with another late-comer who didn't have a name tag. I joined the group to have a Saturday fellowship time and focus on the Lord in community. We had a Bible saturated double lesson on Obedience from Love, Character that radiates resulting in glory to God and a time of WAR (Worship, Admit, Request). It's a fun group based on honesty and encouragement to live out what we believe, "not by our power but Christ in me, by his Spirit." I'm still learning and Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

Epaphras: The Prayer Warrior

Why it matters: Epaphras appears in only three verses, yet Paul immortalizes him for one thing—how he prayed. This church planter's legacy is warfare intercession.

The bottom line: Epaphras models what it looks like to pray like a soldier: strategic, intense, persistent, and focused on spiritual victory.

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The Wrestling Prayer

Colossians 4:12: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."

The Greek word agōnizomenos: Wrestling. Agonizing. Contending. The same root word describes:

• Jesus' agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44)
• Paul's striving in ministry (Colossians 1:29)
• Athletic competition requiring full exertion (1 Corinthians 9:25)

This isn't casual prayer. Epaphras treated intercession as hand-to-hand combat.

The pattern: He was in Rome with Paul (Philemon 1:23), separated from his churches by hundreds of miles. He couldn't preach to them. Couldn't visit. Couldn't fix their problems personally. So he fought for them on his knees.

Geographic distance didn't stop strategic engagement. Prayer became his primary weapon.

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What He Prayed For: The Soldier's Objectives

Epaphras didn't pray for comfort, health, or circumstances. He prayed for spiritual victory.

Colossians 4:12 specifies three targets:

1. "Stand mature"

Greek teleioi: Complete, mature, fully developed. The opposite of spiritual infancy (Hebrews 5:13-14) or instability (Ephesians 4:14).

Why this matters: The Colossian church faced false teaching—asceticism, angel worship, legalism (Colossians 2:8-23). Immature believers get swept away by "every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).

Epaphras prayed for maturity because mature soldiers don't abandon their posts.

2. "Fully assured"

Greek peplērophorēmenoi: Fully convinced, completely certain, lacking nothing in conviction.

The target: Settled confidence in God's will. Not wavering (James 1:6-8). Not double-minded. Anchored.

Why pray for assurance? Because uncertainty paralyzes. Soldiers who doubt their orders don't engage effectively. Colossians 2:2 emphasizes "full assurance of understanding."

Epaphras knew doctrinal confusion breeds spiritual defeat.

3. "In all the will of God"

Not selective obedience. Not partial commitment. All of God's will.

This echoes:

• Romans 12:2: "Discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect"
• Ephesians 5:17: "Understand what the will of the Lord is"
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"

The comprehensive scope: Epaphras prayed for total alignment with God's purposes across every area of life.

Notice what's absent: No prayer for comfort, prosperity, ease, or popularity. Only spiritual readiness for battle.

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How He Prayed: The Soldier's Discipline

Colossians 4:12 reveals Epaphras's prayer posture: "always struggling on your behalf."

"Always"

Greek pantote: At all times, constantly, continuously.

This matches the soldier's call:

• Ephesians 6:18: "Praying at all times"
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing"
• Romans 12:12: "Be constant in prayer"

Epaphras maintained continuous intercession. Not just during designated prayer times. Not only when he felt inspired. Always.

The FBI model in action:

• Frequent: Regular, repeated intercession
• Brief: Likely quick prayers throughout the day alongside extended sessions
• Intense: The "wrestling" language shows maximum exertion

"Struggling"

The intensity level: This is combat prayer, not comfortable petition.

Biblical precedent for wrestling prayer:

Jacob at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-30): Wrestled with God until daybreak. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Physical and spiritual struggle merged.

Elijah after Carmel (1 Kings 18:42-45): "Bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees." Seven times sending his servant to look. Persistent, agonizing intercession until breakthrough.

Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44): "Being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood." Ultimate wrestling prayer.

Paul's request (Romans 15:30): "Strive together with me in your prayers to God." Striving (synagōnizō)—joint combat in intercession.

The pattern: Effective prayer often requires spiritual exertion, not passive wishing.

"On your behalf"

Greek hyper hymōn: For you, in your place, as your representative.

Epaphras stood in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). He positioned himself between his churches and spiritual danger.

This is priestly intercession:

• Moses interceding for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14, 30-32)
• Samuel refusing to stop praying for Israel (1 Samuel 12:23)
• Job praying for his friends (Job 42:8-10)
• Christ's ongoing intercession (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34)

The soldier fights for others, not just himself.

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The Scope of His Ministry

Colossians 4:13: "For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis."

Paul's testimony: "I bear witness" (martyrō)—solemn attestation to Epaphras's labor.

"Worked hard" (Greek echei polun ponon): Has much labor, toil, painful effort.

Three cities: Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis—the Lycus Valley churches. Epaphras planted and pastored all three regions (Colossians 1:7).

The strategic vision: Not just one congregation. Multiple churches. Regional gospel advance.

His prayer matched his mission: Wrestling for spiritual maturity across every community he'd evangelized.

Application: A soldier doesn't pray narrow, selfish prayers. He intercedes for the advance of the kingdom.

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The Relationship: Fellow Prisoner in the Fight

Philemon 1:23: "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you."

"Fellow prisoner" (Greek synaichmalōtos): Captured together, imprisoned alongside.

Two possibilities:

1. Literal imprisonment: Epaphras may have been arrested with Paul in Rome
2. Spiritual captivity: Both were "prisoners of Christ" (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1)—bound by gospel calling

Either way, the imagery is military:

• Prisoners of war don't choose comfort
• They remain under orders even in captivity
• Their allegiance doesn't shift based on circumstances

The pattern: Epaphras kept fighting through prayer even when circumstances restricted physical ministry.

2 Timothy 2:9: "I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!"

The soldier's reality: External limitations don't stop spiritual warfare. Prayer transcends prison walls.

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The Titles: Identity Shapes Ministry

Paul describes Epaphras with three military-grade identities:

1. "Faithful minister of Christ" (Colossians 1:7)

"Minister" (Greek diakonos): Servant, deacon, one who executes another's commands.

"Faithful" (Greek pistos): Trustworthy, reliable, loyal.

Military parallel: The dependable soldier who executes orders precisely. No freelancing. No abandoning the post.

1 Corinthians 4:2: "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

2. "Dear fellow servant" (Colossians 1:7)

"Fellow servant" (Greek syndoulos): Co-slave, joint bondslave.

The relationship: Paul and Epaphras served the same Master, fought the same fight, carried the same yoke.

Philippians 1:1: Paul identifies himself as "a servant [doulos—slave] of Christ Jesus."

The soldier's allegiance: Total ownership by the Commander. No divided loyalty.

3. "Bondslave of Jesus Christ" (Colossians 4:12)

"Bondslave" (Greek doulos): Owned slave with no rights, total submission to master.

Old Testament background: Exodus 21:5-6 describes the slave who loves his master and chooses permanent servitude. Ear pierced, permanently marked.

Epaphras's identity: Voluntarily enslaved to Christ. Gladly surrendered. Permanently marked.

Romans 1:1: "Paul, a servant [doulos] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle."

The pattern: Those who pray like soldiers first identify as servants. No personal agenda. Just orders from the King.

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The Report: What Prayer Produced

Colossians 1:3-8: Paul thanks God after hearing from Epaphras about the Colossian church's:

1. Faith in Christ Jesus (v. 4)
2. Love for all the saints (v. 4)
3. Hope laid up in heaven (v. 5)
4. Gospel fruit and growth (v. 6)

The connection: Epaphras's wrestling prayer produced measurable spiritual results. His intercession wasn't vague or general. It targeted specific outcomes and saw them manifest.

Prayer as strategic warfare works.

The testimony (v. 7-8): "As you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit."

The cycle:

1. Epaphras taught the gospel (evangelism)
2. Epaphras prayed for maturity (intercession)
3. The church grew in faith, hope, and love (fruit)
4. Epaphras reported results to Paul (accountability)
5. Paul wrote to strengthen them further (partnership)

The soldier's effectiveness: He fought on multiple fronts—preaching, praying, reporting, coordinating with other leaders.

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Application: Praying Like Epaphras

1. Pray with wrestling intensity

Don't settle for casual, comfortable prayer.

Ask: Does my intercession cost me anything? Am I exerting spiritual energy or just reciting wishes?

The model: Elijah bent down, face between knees (1 Kings 18:42). Jesus sweat blood (Luke 22:44). Epaphras wrestled always (Colossians 4:12).

Practice: Set aside time for focused, uninterrupted, intense intercession. Not rushed. Not distracted. Engaged.

2. Pray strategic prayers

Target spiritual outcomes, not just circumstantial relief.

Epaphras prayed for:

• Maturity (depth of character)
• Assurance (doctrinal stability)
• Alignment with God's will (comprehensive obedience)

Not:

• Comfort
• Ease
• Popularity
• Prosperity

Your intercession: Are you praying for people to be comfortable or Christlike? For ease or endurance? For blessings or battle-readiness?

Adjust your targets.

3. Pray continuously

"Always struggling" (Colossians 4:12) means sustained engagement, not one-time efforts.

The FBI model:

• Frequent: Multiple daily check-ins for those you're interceding for
• Brief: Quick prayers throughout the day ("Lord, strengthen them")
• Intense: Extended wrestling sessions when needed

Daniel prayed three times daily under death threat (Daniel 6:10). Epaphras prayed continuously while imprisoned. Circumstances don't determine prayer commitment.

Your calendar: Schedule specific intercession times. Set reminders. Build the rhythm.

4. Pray for multiple fronts

Epaphras wrestled for Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13). Three cities. Multiple congregations. Regional vision.

Think strategically:

• Family members (different spiritual battles)
• Church leaders (under unique attacks)
• Missionaries (facing frontline opposition)
• Cities/regions (spiritual strongholds)

Don't pray narrow prayers. Soldiers intercede for the advance of the kingdom, not just personal comfort.

5. Pray from proper identity

Epaphras was:

• Faithful minister (reliable servant)
• Fellow servant (joint bondslave)
• Bondslave of Christ (total ownership)

Your foundation: You can't pray with authority until you pray from submission. The soldier who won't obey orders can't execute the mission.

Check your allegiance: Is your prayer life reflecting total surrender to Christ's Lordship? Or are you negotiating terms?

Childlike dependence + mature confidence (Mark 10:15; Hebrews 4:16): "I'm completely dependent on You, and I belong here because of Christ."

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The Legacy: Three Verses, Eternal Impact

Epaphras appears in three verses:

• Colossians 1:7-8
• Colossians 4:12-13
• Philemon 1:23

That's it. No sermons recorded. No miracles documented. No extensive missionary journeys detailed.

But his prayer life changed churches across a region.

The principle: Faithful, wrestling, strategic intercession leaves a legacy that outlasts platforms, programs, and popularity.

Matthew 6:6: "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Epaphras prayed in secret. Paul made his warfare public. The churches experienced the fruit. God received the glory.

The bottom line: You don't need a platform to fight like a soldier. You need a prayer closet, a commitment to wrestle, and a willingness to let God turn your intercession into spiritual victory.

Pray like Epaphras. Fight like a soldier. Watch God work.

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God’s covenant restoration work by His presence and His Spirit, not human strength (Zechariah 1:7–4:14)

Zechariah 1:7–4:14 aim: God Himself will return to dwell with His people, restore them, cleanse them, empower them, and establish His kingdom through His chosen Son, the coming Priest-King.

The message the Lord gave Zechariah begins with remembrance and moves toward repentance (Zechariah 1:1-6). After this call to return, the book shifts to a series of night visions. Night visions can feel strange, yet we often sense why they come. They may rise from stress, a difficult decision, or pressure from work. They may reflect anticipation about an approaching change, whether welcome or painful. Some dreams stay with us. They compel expression in stories, paintings, or music.

My father-in-law is a gifted painter. I enjoy spending time with him and hearing the stories behind his images. He has a striking painting in his kitchen of a courtyard door, partly open. When he was recovering from a stroke, he asked me what I saw in it. That opened a conversation about Jesus as the gate and the good shepherd, and about the One who stands at the door and knocks (John 10:7-21, Rev 3:19-21).

The heart of Zechariah's dreams come together in this statement from the Lord in Zechariah 2:10-11, 

The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.

A) Zechariah vision of a Man among Myrtle trees, reveals God's loving relationship with his people.

7) 24 day, 11th month, Shebat, 2nd year Darius word of the Lord to Zechariah Berekiah Iddo

8) vison man on red horse, man myrtle trees in ravine, behind red, brown, white horses

9-10) asked what, angel "I'll show you", man explained "ones Lord sent throughout earth"

11) they reported "whole world at rest and peace"

12-13) angel "LORD almighty, how long withhold mercy ,angry 70 years" LORD spoke kind, comforting words:

14-17) I'm very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, angry nations feel secure - return Jerusalem + mercy, rebuilt with the measuring line, overflow with prosperity, LORD comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.

• “I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion” communicates God’s fierce, protective, covenant-bound commitment to His people. The word “jealous” here does not carry modern insecurity or envy. It reflects covenant loyalty like you see in Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, Joshua 24:19, and Isaiah 42:8. It signals love that refuses to give up on the relationship.
• God’s jealousy is protective. It means He defends what belongs to Him. Jerusalem and Zion represent His people, His worship, and His purposes. Jealousy means He will guard them against threats and restore them after discipline. (see Hebrews 12, literally see Zion with faith).
• Measuring line is the tool used by builders to mark out boundaries, dimensions, and final plans. You see it in Isaiah 28, Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 40, and Zechariah 2. It always implies a deliberate act of building, not guesswork.
• Prosperity = covenant restoration, communal flourishing and fulfilled people - not just material wealth, but shalom (wholeness, peace, right relationship)
• Biblical Prosperity: God's Revealed Character (Zechariah 1:17)
  

B) Four horns, four craftsmen

18-19) Vision of horns, Angel "horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem"

20-21) Lord showed four craftsmen, Lord, "Horns kept head down, craftsmen to terrify, throw down horns of nations that went against Judah"

C) Man with Measuring Line

2:1-5) Man with measuring line, how long is Jerusalem, not walls # of people, LORD will be fire around it, glory within

• 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
• The Lord is a protective wall of fire, light and purification makes us glorious (Zechariah 2:5)
  

6-9) LORD, "come Zion, flee north/Babylon, scattered you four winds, Glorious One sent me against nations who plundered you/apple of his eye, slaves/I will plunder them then know LORD Almighty sent me"

• Apple of his eye frequently used in the Old Testament to signify extreme care and affection, appearing in Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, and Zechariah 2:8.
• "LORD Almighty says: 'After the Glorious One has sent me" Zechariah 2:8
  

10-13) Glad Daughter Zion, LORD coming to live among you, many nations join LORD, become my people, Know LORD sent me, Be still before LORD all mankind, roused himself from holy dwelling

D) Clean Garments For the Hight Priest, Gold lampstand never ending oil

3:1-4) Vision of Joshua high priest, with angel and Satan to accuse him. LORD rebukes Satan, this man snatched from fire - angel "Take off his filthy clothes. See, I have taken away you sin, I will put fine garments on you."

• Walking in the light: see the dirt in our lives, confess and conquer sin

5) clean turban on his head, clothed him angel of LORD stood by (Lev 8:1-9)

Helmet of Salvation: Guarding the Mind

6-10) LORD to Joshua, walk in obedience, requirements, symbolic of servant Branch, stone seven eyes LORD Almight, I will remove sin in a single day, everyone generous to neighbor

God becomes like clothing to me (Job 30:18, Matthew 16:24-28)

4:1-6) gold lampstand 7 lamps, two olive trees - not by might or power but my Spirit says LORD Almighty

7-14) olive trees are anointed to bring oil and serve the Lord of earth Zerubbabel governor, Joshua high priest. 

• Symbolism of Oil: The olive trees emptying golden oil through pipes represent the continuous supply of the Holy Spirit needed for service.

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