Speak to it”
By
Bishop M. L. Maughmer, Jr.
Zechariah 4:6-10 “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 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. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth”.
FOCUS VERSE is vs #7 which says “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 seems like a strange scripture when you first read it but the power it has in it is amazing.
The phrase “crying Grace, grace unto it”, may cause some to wonder what in the world does that mean. So let me first talk a little about grace and lay the foundation.
The Bible mentions Grace over 170 times.
16 of the 21 Epistles of the New Testament open with Grace be unto you, or Grace and Peace unto you.
In the study of Theology there is what is called the Doctrines of Grace. The phrase “doctrines of grace” describes the soteriological doctrines (study of salvation) that are unique to Reformed theology (any doctrine that is protestant). These doctrines are summarized with the acronym TULIP. The T in TULIP stands for Total Depravity, U for Unconditional Election, L for Limited Atonement, I for Irresistible Grace, and P for Perseverance of the Saints. Reformed Christians believe that all five of the doctrines of grace are derived directly from the Scripture and that the acronym TULIP accurately describes the Bible’s teaching on soteriology—the doctrine of salvation.
The number 5 represents God’s grace.
The catch all definition of Grace is the unmerited favor of God. He gives us what we don’t deserve, not based upon us but upon His love for us. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life”, that’s Grace, we didn’t deserve it but He gave it to us any way.
The common acronym for Grace is
G = God’s
R = riches
A = at
C = Christ’
E = expense
There are 4 major categories of Grace.
1. SAVING GRACE – Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. This saving grace is amazing for it saved a wretch like me for I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see. There was no works that I did to earn this grace but I got it through my faith.
2. JUSTIFYING GRACE – Titus 3:7 says “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. Justified is to be declared just as if nothing ever happened. Our slate has been wiped clean, we are forgiven, and can start all over again just like nothing has ever happened.
3. TEACHING GRACE – Titus 2:11-12 says “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. This grace teaches us how we are to live. People think because we are under grace that I can do what I want, live any way I want because I am under grace, but Grace teaches you how to live righteously, it is not a live any way you want without consequences escape clause. Paul says in Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein”?
4. ENABLING GRACE – Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. This is grace to overcome and stand having done all to stand. Paul prayed 3 times to have the thorn in his flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him removed God said my grace is sufficient. In other words Paul what I have given you is grace to be able to stand in spite of what is going on.
Today I am going to talk about this ENABLING GRACE.
Enabling Grace is when the things which are impossible with men become possible with God." Luke 18:27. Enabling Grace is the power by which God can work His will in our lives. It is the power that allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Without God’s enabling grace, we can do nothing. With His grace, nothing that is God's will is impossible for us. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” that is enabling grace..
IN OUR TEXT:- Zerubbabel is looking at a pile of ruins of what had been a beautiful city and the center of worship for his nation. More than a decade earlier 50,000 exiles returned to Jerusalem with permission from the King of Persia to rebuild the altar and the temple. However, only the altar had been rebuilt and work on the temple had stopped. The leader of the Jewish exiles was Zerubbabel and he was now looking at the rubble and the unfinished rebuilding with a growing sense of discouragement. He had a vision but couldn’t see how provision was going to be made.
Like many today, when the exiles arrived in Jerusalem they were excited and enthusiastic about what was ahead. God had brought them out of exile back to their home and they felt that they would quickly rebuild the altar and the temple. However, things started to change there was opposition from outside forces. Not only was there opposition from outside but people within became selfish. They wanted to rebuild their own homes and have their own agendas. They began to put what they wanted in front of the vision at hand. They felt that just because they built the altar that that was good enough and they didn’t want to do what needed to be done. They became busy doing their own thing that they neglected and let lay in ruin the Temple of God. Their desire, enthusiasm, dedication, commitment and love of God began to fade. Because it wasn’t their personal program, because they weren’t the head, or because they felt like I will only do what I want to do and hang everything else they refused to do what needed to be done.
Finally weariness, fatigue, discouragement, depression, and disappointment set in. The spirit of mediocrity and complacency began to rule. People have come and people have gone and we still seem to be in the same place not making any progress.
The destruction of what once was had to be cleared away before they could begin rebuilding. Even-though they completed one task there was another one that needed to be done. So after twelve years the task was unfinished but the people were finished. They simply did not want to work on this anymore. No matter what (the Pastor) Zerubbabel did, the people refused to go back to work and it appeared to be a hopeless situation.
No doubt Zerubbabel began to question God and say Lord is this what you called me to do. He may have even wanted to throw his hands up and say I quit. I believe he was at the point where he even told his wife let’s just up and leave cause I don’t feel like doing this anymore.
It was into this place of discouragement and disappointment that God sent a prophet with a message for Zerubbabel and for the people and even for us today.
It is a powerful word for anyone who has ever faced the discouragement, for anyone that has had a vision that has gone unfulfilled. Anyone who heard the promise of God but has not apprehended. It’s the word for the betrayal of someone close to you, the inability to finish a task that seemed so clear in the beginning. It’s a word for a set-back.
No doubt you could write your own list of discouraging, helpless, and hopeless situations that you are currently facing.
But Zechariah has a word from the Lord that is going to change your life.
Zechariah 4:6-10 “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 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. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth”.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” This is to Zerubbabel and to you and I.
The situation that you are currently facing is impossible for you to do anything about it. You can’t force it to work out with muscles or threats. In other words there is nothing you or I can do to get something done. Your power, strength, and education they may be good to you, but in this situation they are not going to benefit you at all, but by my spirit says the Lord of host. So when it comes together you can’t take any credit for it, you can’t say see look what I have done. The only way this is going to work out is by my spirit.
The text goes on and it now speaks to the mountain before Zerubbabel and that is the problems that stopped the work on the temple. This is not a physical mountain but a problem or situation that is hindering progress.
“Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.”
Just who do you think you are, O great mountain? You are not going to stop the progress of God’s kingdom any longer. I know the thought I have for him/her thoughts of good and not of evil to bring him to an expected end. It’s time for you to be handled. You are going to be reduced to nothing more than flat ground” You have been a rough place in his life long enough and it’s time for you to be made smooth for him.
“And he shall bring forth the headstone.”
The headstone was the finishing stone of a construction project, the final stone to go into the wall. It’s the last piece of the puzzle if you will. In other words what he has started he is going to finish and you o mountain are not going to stand in his way because I have begun a good work in him and I will perform it through him.
“With shoutings, crying Grace, grace to it!’”
What is this supposed to mean? Is this suggesting that we face our problem and shout ‘Grace, grace!’ at it? This seems too simple and rather inappropriate.
Well that’s just the point. In our culturally sophisticated seeker friendly living your best life now, mamby-pamby, make everybody happy churches we have lost much of our identity and most of our power.
Is this exhortation to shout grace at the problem too simple? Probably for some who do not have ears to hear. To others, however, as the revelation comes they will realize that this is one of the most powerful truths we are given. Grace is defined as the “the unlimited and unmerited favor of God.” We can’t buy or earn grace—it is God’s alone to give.
When Zechariah spoke this prophetic word, I believe he was saying:
“This promise, this vision, is going to be brought to completion not through the strong arm of flesh but by the Spirit of the Lord. You are to turn and face the opposition, this mountain of difficulty that has stopped your forward progress—“the mighty mountain”—and you will watch it turn into flat ground. Be encouraged, child of God, because the promise is going to be fully completed. Right now begin to declare that the favor and blessing of God is upon this promise; this was His vision, born of His Spirit. Go ahead and shout to the opposition, to every problem that is in your way. Shout, ‘Grace, grace!’ Go ahead, don’t just mutter it under your breath, child of God. Say it—shout it like you mean it!”
For those that think this is nonsense let’s look at the New Testament. Turn to Matthew 17:20 Jesus said “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”.
OK I KNOW LET EVERYTHING BE ESTABLISHED BY 2 OR 3 WITNESSES!!!!!!!!!
Turn to Matthew 21:21 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done”.
Ok 1 more just for confirmation turn to Mark 11:23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”.
Your mountain is going to be turned into a smooth place if you just speak to it and say Grace, grace!
Depression – Grace, grace. Anxiety – Grace, grace
Loneliness – Grace, grace. Family problems – Grace, grace
Broken Hearts – Grace, grace. Employment problems – Grace, grace
Lack – Grace, grace. Friends turn against you – Grace, grac
Marital problems – Grace, grace Rebellion – Grace, grace
Cigarettes – Grace, grace Alcohol addiction – Grace, grace
Bad knees – Grace, grace Negative report – Grace, grace
Envy – Grace, grace Malice – Grace, grace
Jealousy – Grace, grace Hatred – Grace, grace
Adultery – Grace, grace Lust – Grace, grace
Uncleanliness – Grace, grace Selfishness – Grace, grace
Pride – Grace, grace Lying – Grace, grace
Laziness – Grace, grace Haughtiness – Grace, grace
High-mindedness – Grace, grace Arrogance – Grace, grace
Speak to your mountain and watch it become a plain before you.
Speak to it.
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
