1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,300 Good morning, good to see you. All you can turn in your 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:08,000 scriptures to Zakaria have three, where a series called let 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,300 your hands be strong and it's spiritual encouragement from the 4 00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:16,200 prophets haggai and Zechariah. They ministered to the people of 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,400 Israel after they returned from exile. 6 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:32,800 Zechariah 3. Well, every generation has a 7 00:00:32,808 --> 00:00:35,900 great Breakup Song. All right. 8 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,100 Gen Z has driver's license. Bye Olivia, Rodrigo. 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,200 Millennials have a few. We will never, we are never 10 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,200 getting back together. As well as every other song by 11 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:56,300 Taylor Swift. Now my generation Gen X has 12 00:00:56,300 --> 00:01:01,100 everybody Hurts by r.e.m. But I think maybe the Boomers, 13 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:06,200 take the prize with You've Lost That Loving Feeling. 14 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:11,400 By the Righteous Brothers. I think they really capture the 15 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,800 pathos of a break up in these words now, there's no. 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,700 Welcome look in your eyes when I reach for you and now you're 17 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:21,100 starting to criticize little things I do. 18 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,000 It makes me just feel like crying is baby. 19 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,100 Something Beautiful is dying. You've Lost That Loving Feeling 20 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:31,900 and it's gone. Gone gone. 21 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:36,600 You know, there's something about a breakup isn't there that 22 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,000 leads to so many songs. It's so painful. 23 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,200 And it doesn't necessarily have to be a romance. 24 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,700 Could be a friendship. Breakups of friendships are 25 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:47,600 painful. Yeah let go from your job. 26 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,000 That's pretty painful and employer. 27 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,000 Lets you go. It could be a Business 28 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,400 Partnership worked for a long time, slot working anymore, kind 29 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,000 of painful to break up from that as well. 30 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,400 And one reason is that they were close enough to see your faults 31 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,199 And eventually, you can just tell that the welcome look in 32 00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:12,300 their eyes, isn't there when you reach for them, right? 33 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:15,700 When you turn to that person, the welcome look in their eyes 34 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,400 and that sense of warmth isn't there anymore. 35 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,300 It's faded. The Loving Feeling is faded, and 36 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:25,800 now the relationship is faded and this is going to change your 37 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,100 life. Now, the prophet Zachariah 38 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:32,400 describes, what should have been a pretty epic? 39 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,500 We call a spiritual breakup between God and one of God's 40 00:02:36,500 --> 00:02:41,000 chosen servants and really the nation who Joshua represented. 41 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:45,900 Zachari kind of steps in on Joshua, the high priest sort of 42 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:51,000 worst nightmare breakup moment. where Joshua the high priest is 43 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,000 exposed before not only his colleagues but also before a 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,400 whole company of angels and before the Lord himself as a 45 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:04,100 massive failure, He should have been disgraced. 46 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:07,000 He should have been rejected and discarded, but what happens 47 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:12,700 instead is really good news for anyone who has been criticized, 48 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:18,300 cast, aside, not picked, picked apart, or otherwise seen a 49 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:23,300 beautiful relationship die, and we can just see that verse one 50 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:25,100 is going to set the scene for us here. 51 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,700 Verse 1, Zakaria 3 verse 1. Then he showed me Joshua, the 52 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,400 high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan 53 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:37,200 standing at his right hand to accuse him. 54 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:41,900 They hear Joshua has entered the presence of the Lord as part of 55 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:47,000 his job as a high priest, he has to come into God's presence into 56 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,900 the temple and make atonement for the rest of the people. 57 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,300 This is a, this is a dangerous part of Joshua, the high priest 58 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:56,000 job. It's like, when someone's fixing 59 00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:58,900 a telephone line or an electric current, where they're doing 60 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:00,800 their job, but it's also putting them in danger. 61 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:05,000 So he's already in danger, his best, Hope was to just carry out 62 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,900 his ministry. Finish the job and go about his 63 00:04:07,900 --> 00:04:10,000 way. But in this moment of 64 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,300 vulnerability the accuser Springs an attack on him, he's 65 00:04:14,300 --> 00:04:18,399 ready to go as soon as Joshua steps into God's presence and 66 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:21,800 the accuser here is Satan. A spiritual creature. 67 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,600 Who works tirelessly to bring down God's people at any given 68 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,700 moment. He will accuse them of 69 00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:31,300 legitimate offenses, he will accuse them of not legitimate 70 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:34,300 offenses. He brings confusion lies and 71 00:04:34,300 --> 00:04:39,000 accusations wherever he goes. He's also very legalistic this 72 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,900 accuser. He knows God's laws inside and 73 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:45,500 out. And he knows that at least in 74 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:48,300 some ways Joshua, the high priest has broken some of these 75 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:52,000 laws and certainly, the people Joshua represents the people of 76 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,200 Israel have broken. All kinds of laws. 77 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,800 They've pretty much broken the Covenant itself, and so Satan 78 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,700 knows that Joshua's failure and Israel's failure was was even 79 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:09,000 deeper than, than performance. It was a failure to love. 80 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,600 Well, it was a spiritual failure. 81 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,600 It was a failure to be faithful to their promises. 82 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:20,300 So it's one thing to like miss your sales numbers, right? 83 00:05:20,300 --> 00:05:24,300 Or your, or your free throws. It's totally something else to 84 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:29,300 be called a bad friend or a traitor, or an apostate. 85 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:32,600 So it's one thing to be turned down for a second date or a 86 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,600 second interview. It's totally another thing to 87 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,900 disappoint the people. Already trust you and love you. 88 00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:44,000 It's one thing to break a contract with a cell phone 89 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,000 provider or a landlord. It's quite another to break a 90 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:52,800 covenant, Covenant of Love and sacred trust with a God who 91 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,700 chose you. Joshua had failed, Israel had 92 00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:01,200 failed and so we find Satan at his right hand to accuse him. 93 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,900 Now undoubtedly this is not Satan's first involvement in the 94 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:11,200 process we can expect that he's been plotting for this moment. 95 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:16,100 Painstakingly enticing, Israel into unfaithfulness enticing 96 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:18,300 them. Hey you guys should just live 97 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:20,700 like pagans. Hey you guys should just trust 98 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:22,000 Egypt. You guys should just come along. 99 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,000 It's going to be easier. You can't really trust. 100 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,100 God did God. Really say, come along with me. 101 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:29,500 I'll show you a better way and they did, they followed and they 102 00:06:29,508 --> 00:06:32,100 trusted him. He was the Seducer before. 103 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:35,600 He was the the accuser. And so all the while they 104 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,000 seduced her / accuser is writing down all of the little offenses. 105 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,400 And he's preparing for this moment at, oh, I can't wait for 106 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,200 the day when I've got Joshua over a barrel and I've got my 107 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:50,300 list and now he's got his list and I was gonna seal the deal, 108 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:52,000 and I was going to break the Covenant. 109 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,000 Now he's going to to Stage the the The best breakup he could 110 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,900 ever imagine. This so-called high priest of 111 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:05,600 yours has broken the law of God and he's done it every day of 112 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,900 his life. I have a rap sheet, a mile long 113 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:14,600 to show you how disqualified this man is for his job, for his 114 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,700 service, he stands condemned in your sight. 115 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,600 Not to mention him all the people that he represents that 116 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,000 he dares represents before you, you would forgive their sin, 117 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,200 they have defiled themselves, they've been unfaithful to the 118 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,300 Covenant. They have been an Abomination 119 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:33,200 before the presence of the Living God. 120 00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:39,600 So cast them out Adonai. But before the accuser can 121 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,700 launch into his speech, the unfolding drama takes a very 122 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:49,400 surprising turn in verse 2. And the Lord said to Satan. 123 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:54,800 The Lord rebuke you. Oh Satan the Lord who has chosen 124 00:07:54,800 --> 00:08:00,200 Jerusalem rebuke you, is this not a brand plucked from a fire? 125 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:06,000 Now, the accuser actually has walked into a trap. 126 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:11,700 The Lord turns the tables on the accuser and the accuser is now 127 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:15,800 the one on trial in the presence of the heavenly host and in 128 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,300 front of the high priests for, Satan has failed to see the 129 00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:22,400 Lord's part in the Covenant. He seen very well all of the 130 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:27,300 failures, but he hasn't seen the faithful Unbreaking love of the 131 00:08:27,300 --> 00:08:30,100 Living. God who has chosen Jerusalem the 132 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:35,600 Lord personally, rescued Israel from the very Exile that he sent 133 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,200 them into as a brand plucked from a fire. 134 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:41,200 Or like a burning charred, piece of wood. 135 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,600 That is almost ready to be completely turned to Ash. 136 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,700 He picks it up with his own hand rescues it, and is bound to 137 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:53,900 rehabilitate this brand. This charred nation and revive 138 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:56,900 it, and bring the dry bones back to life. 139 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:03,300 And in his myopic small-minded accusatory, nastiness the 140 00:09:03,300 --> 00:09:06,300 accuser can't see that because he's only focused on failure. 141 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,300 He can't see the graciousness of God. 142 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:13,700 The Lord chose Jerusalem, the lord loves Jerusalem and the 143 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:16,300 lord loves Jerusalem because he chose Jerusalem. 144 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:22,800 How dare you accuse? Someone I love how dare you 145 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:27,700 accuse someone that I chose. You should hang by your own 146 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:30,400 Gallows accuser. Shut your mouth. 147 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,700 Some theologians. Like to picture our Salvation, 148 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:42,700 they call it a Golden Chain and every link has value in this 149 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:44,500 golden chain. God, chose us. 150 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,600 God forgave us. God fills us with his Spirit. 151 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,400 Oh God, will redeem us. God will glorify at the end of 152 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,200 history and it just hangs together. 153 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,100 It's beautiful, and it's strong and it's held together by the 154 00:09:57,100 --> 00:10:00,000 Living. God an accusation can't tear it 155 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,100 apart. The old British, Theologian, 156 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:09,700 Charles Spurgeon Theologian, and preacher says, this Christ meets 157 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:13,900 Satan with a mysterious truth, which was settled before the 158 00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:18,600 world was he throws as a, were this chain into his teeth and 159 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,500 bids him champ that tell he breaks his teeth. 160 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,800 Josh was enemy is silenced. We no longer hear from him. 161 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,100 He's too busy champing down on the golden chain. 162 00:10:32,900 --> 00:10:39,300 Have you ever found yourself? No, not in the right outfit 163 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,900 underdressed. Overdressed kind of embarrassed, 164 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:47,600 you're sort of like conspicuous in the environment. 165 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,900 You're in the restaurant, you came to the party, you went to, 166 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:54,900 it's really humiliating you feel conspicuous, you feel foolish. 167 00:10:55,700 --> 00:11:00,300 Now, as high priest, Joshua's proper attire, was the robes 168 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:02,800 described in the book of Exodus that God had specifically 169 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:07,200 designed for him to wear yet. What happens is that Joshua's 170 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,100 internal condition in the internal, spiritual condition of 171 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:12,600 the nation became Came his outfit. 172 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,600 Verse 3 says this now, Joshua was standing before the angel 173 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,500 clothed with filthy garments. And the this word for filthy 174 00:11:21,500 --> 00:11:26,100 real here is like, as it's like pollution, it's like excrement, 175 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,100 it's disgusting. He is a decision. 176 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:31,600 His clothes. Make him disgusting in the 177 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:36,300 presence of a holy God. And, and he became conspicuous. 178 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,500 His clothes became the center of everyone's attention, including 179 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:43,100 Zacharias. Now, here's filthy Joshua. 180 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,700 And he standing face-to-face with, with, with the Lord 181 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:49,200 himself sometimes described as the angel of the Lord, and 182 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:50,900 sometimes describes the Lord himself. 183 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:53,900 But nevertheless, he's enough. He's in the presence of the 184 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:56,500 Living God. And he doesn't belong there. 185 00:11:56,500 --> 00:12:01,100 His clothes are out of line. Now, there's good reason to 186 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:04,400 believe that this Angel, this is Angel of the Lord, sometimes 187 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,500 referred to, as the Lord himself is the Lord Jesus himself. and 188 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:12,500 the reason is because of the gracious words that we read 189 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:17,900 about in in verse 4, It's just sounds so much, like, the Lamb 190 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:20,600 of God who takes away the sin of the world, it just sounds so 191 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,300 much like Jesus. In any case, we can we can look 192 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:27,900 at this verse verse for the angel said to those who were 193 00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:31,700 standing before him, remove the filthy garments from him. 194 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,000 And to him, he said to Joshua, he said, behold I have taken 195 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,600 your iniquity away from you and I will clothe you with pure 196 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,600 vestments. Isn't that beautiful? 197 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:50,400 Is that a gracious word? And then Zachariah, he's 198 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,400 watching The Vision but Zacharias like, hey, I'm gonna 199 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,300 be taking part in this to and Zacharias like, hey, put a clean 200 00:12:55,300 --> 00:12:58,600 turban on his head. And so, the Angels like okay 201 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,500 will do what a clean turban on his head. 202 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:04,000 And the angel of the Lord is standing by watching it all 203 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,700 happen. So the attending Angels they 204 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:10,500 remove Joshua's Rags. They clothed him in pure 205 00:13:10,500 --> 00:13:15,900 vestments, they make him dressed for the occasion and all that 206 00:13:15,900 --> 00:13:20,200 Joshua needed to please God was given to him by God himself. 207 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,900 Maybe you will have a friend that helps you dress just for 208 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:27,500 the right occasion. They're really good. 209 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:31,300 At picking out outfits, they're really good at, just just the 210 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:35,100 right piece of clothing. And I have to say that, as you 211 00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:37,800 read scripture from Genesis to Revelation, I'm just struck by 212 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,400 the fact that the Lord has a knack for clothing. 213 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,800 His people in the perfect outfit, he takes their 214 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,800 bedraggled ill-fitting garments away from them and then he gives 215 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,700 them something better. Better to where you see him, 216 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:55,400 clothing. Adam and Eve in garments that 217 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,700 covered them as they left Eden. You see him? 218 00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:01,900 Arranging for Aaron and levitical Priests to be clothed 219 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:05,700 in Royal splendor. You hear God in Deuteronomy 220 00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:08,200 promising to show his love for the Widow and orphan by 221 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,900 literally clothing them. When Israel was spiritually 222 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:14,600 naked got said this to them from the prophet Ezekiel. 223 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,500 I also closed you with embroidered cloth and put 224 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:23,000 sandals of / of skin on your feet and I wrapped you with fine 225 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:28,900 linen and covered you with Sil. When we're facing a battle, what 226 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:31,400 does God put upon us? He puts upon us, the armor of 227 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,100 God. At the end of History. 228 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:38,000 What do we see when Jerusalem is coming down, from from Heaven? 229 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:42,100 It's she's adorned as a bride prepared for her husband. 230 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:48,800 The Lord is like that, father in The Prodigal Son story, who who 231 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:53,200 takes the bedraggled close of the younger son when he comes 232 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:54,900 and he's like, put a robe on him. 233 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,000 Put a ring on his finger, put sandals on his feet. 234 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,500 That's the Lord's heart for us and not just for our physical 235 00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:04,300 appearance. Although he does care about that 236 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:07,200 too, but he cares most of all about clothing, our souls. 237 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,900 When we're ashamed, when we are underdressed, personally, 238 00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:15,500 spiritually for his presence, he clothes Us in his righteousness. 239 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:19,300 He clothes Us in his Mercy. He clothes Us in his glory. 240 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,600 At the end of History, we will be wearing the clothes of the 241 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:28,800 glory of Christ forever. In an instant, Joshua's worst 242 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,700 day, became his best day like that and it happened because of 243 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:38,000 the mercy of God is condemnation becomes his coronation by sheer 244 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,400 Act of Grace. The Lord reverses accusation 245 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,400 into honor. Is silenced the accuser, he 246 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,800 exchanged his garments, and he removed, Joshua's iniquity. 247 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:51,600 And this is all by Grace. Thanks be to God. 248 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:56,600 And now, there is a shift here because the Lord is going to 249 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,700 give a solemn charge to Joshua and it's going to move to like a 250 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:04,900 mercy received through responsibility given and we can 251 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:09,700 read and verses 6 and 7 about what the charge is going to be 252 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,900 the angel of the Lord. So Solemnly, assured Joshua. 253 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:16,200 Thus the Lord of thus, says the Lord of hosts, if you will walk 254 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:20,900 in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and 255 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:24,600 have charge of my courts and I will give you the right of 256 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,800 access among those who are standing here. 257 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,600 Here is a new beginning for Joshua's life in Ministry. 258 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,400 It's a new season of promise and renewal walk in my ways. 259 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,500 This is Joshua setting the example of actually obeying 260 00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,400 God's commands in his own personal life. 261 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,400 But then there's keep my charge, which is like fulfilling his 262 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,000 Priestly duties doing his job, performing the rituals, given to 263 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,600 Israel. The angel of the Lord cleanses 264 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:56,000 and close Joshua. But notice that he does not 265 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,500 coddle Joshua, he doesn't take responsibility away from him, he 266 00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:06,400 restores it, he calls up Joshua to his god-given capacity to 267 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:11,800 obey, and he gives him a Psalm charge if You walk in my ways 268 00:17:12,099 --> 00:17:17,099 and if you keep my charge then you'll roll over my house the 269 00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:20,599 temple and he'll have the right of access among those who are 270 00:17:20,608 --> 00:17:24,300 standing here. That's the heavenly host and so 271 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:28,900 Joshua can now enter into the throne room of God, anytime he 272 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:32,300 needs to to receive grace and mercy in a time of need. 273 00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:38,300 Now is I think an important turning point in Joshua's life. 274 00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:41,200 A very important turning point in his life and Ministry. 275 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,100 I'm have you ever experienced the difference between someone 276 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:48,400 who's who's been marked by the grace of God and someone who 277 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,700 only knows the rules? It's such a difference, isn't 278 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:54,200 it? In Joshua here has been through 279 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,700 a profound like death and Resurrection experience. 280 00:17:57,900 --> 00:18:01,900 He has seen his sin brought in all of its ugliness. 281 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:05,600 He's seen his shortcomings in his failures, and in all and 282 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,700 just how capable he is a falling short, but he's also seen 283 00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:14,500 something even more important, which was God's lavish Grace. 284 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,100 God's capacity to absolutely resurrect a human life and human 285 00:18:19,100 --> 00:18:21,100 vocation. When you are at your bottom. 286 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,900 Like the grace of God flowed all the way down to the lowest parts 287 00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:28,300 of Joshua's soul and life. And he's going to emerge here, 288 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:33,400 keeping God's ways and keeping God's charge in a way that it's 289 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,400 going to be. I believe marked by Mercy and 290 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,700 patience and Grace for people that others would push aside 291 00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:43,600 that others would reject that others would condemn because he 292 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,600 himself has experienced so much mercy and so much grace, I 293 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,400 believe that this was a turning point for him. 294 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,200 It's safe to say that That Joshua on the other end of this 295 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,300 event. That Joshua, the high priest 296 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:59,700 knows the gospel that the Lord saves that the Lord is merciful, 297 00:18:59,900 --> 00:19:02,900 that the Lord's silences, the accuser that the Lord is slow to 298 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:06,700 anger and abounding in Mercy that the Lord turns what is our 299 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:11,100 worst moment into our best moment by his mercy and Grace? 300 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,200 These kinds of experience, just tend to tenderize the heart. 301 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:20,700 These kinds of experiences tend to make us a spring of Living 302 00:19:20,700 --> 00:19:23,000 Water of Grace, for other people. 303 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:26,400 That we actually, in fact, are drawn to people who are in a 304 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,500 hard spot rather than pushing them away. 305 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,000 In fact Joshua would be a sign. He was going to be like a 306 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,700 three-dimensional sign of God's grace. 307 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:42,300 The Lord says to him in verse 8 here now, oh Joshua, the high 308 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,000 priest you. And your friends who sit before 309 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,200 you these are his fellow priests at work for him, but they are 310 00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:53,500 for they are men who are a sign. Behold, I will bring my servant 311 00:19:53,500 --> 00:19:58,100 the branch. So before we get to the branch 312 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:02,300 and everything to follow Joshua, and his friends are going to be 313 00:20:02,300 --> 00:20:06,300 a a they were a sign of the nation's sin. 314 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:09,900 Now they're going to be a sign of the grace of the Lord to 315 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:13,900 restore and redeem Anyone who turns to the lord, it's not just 316 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:17,600 Joshua who gets this, it's not just his colleagues, it's going 317 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,500 to be everyone that they minister to and every life that 318 00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:25,200 they touch but the Lord promises to send a branch. 319 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,400 This is a shoot, someone who is going to be a living 320 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,600 representative of the line of David, but there's another sign 321 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,900 that the Lord refers to. And that is a very unique kind 322 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:40,400 of strange. Stone verse 9, for behold, on 323 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:41,800 the stone that I have set before. 324 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,100 Joshua on a single stone with seven eyes. 325 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:47,900 I will engrave. It's Des, it's inscription 326 00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:50,200 declares. The Lord of hosts, and I will 327 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,000 remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 328 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,900 Ja it appears that the Lord has plunked a large Stone. 329 00:21:00,900 --> 00:21:04,800 What many commentators believe a large Stone right before Joshua 330 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:11,500 in the middle of this moment? Huge stone is plumped before 331 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:14,900 Joshua and it's Unique. It's like a weight bearing 332 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:17,000 Stone. That's really strong and sturdy, 333 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,700 but it has eyes. It has seven eyes and so it's 334 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:25,100 like it's like a living Stone. There's something alive about 335 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:28,200 this Stone and then the final thing is, the inscription, 336 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,900 there's an inscription on the stone that the Lord puts upon 337 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,200 it. And then somehow all of this 338 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,700 adds up to the iniquity of the whole land being removed in a 339 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:39,700 single day. Just like it was for Joshua. 340 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:41,600 There's a day coming when it's going to happen for everybody 341 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,800 else. Here, I believe as I've studied 342 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,800 and looked at this is a picture of the coming Messiah. 343 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,600 Jesus. He's the Cornerstone upon which 344 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:53,700 we are built into a living Temple. 345 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:58,100 He's also endowed with the Holy Spirit and sees with the seven 346 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:02,900 eyes of the spirit to the depth of our condition, as well as the 347 00:22:02,900 --> 00:22:08,300 purposes of God, in history in his hands, his feet and his side 348 00:22:08,300 --> 00:22:12,300 are engraved with the love of God, as he was pierced for our 349 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:17,200 Our iniquities and crushed for our transgressions because of 350 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,100 Jesus, our worst day became our best day like that because of 351 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:25,100 God's mercy. Jesus was stripped naked and 352 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:28,300 clothed with shame so that we could be robed in righteousness, 353 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,300 he was condemned sure. That we could be declared 354 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:34,400 righteous. He did remove the iniquity of 355 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:42,000 this land, in a single day. And so I love the promise that 356 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,600 caps off this Vision, a promise for Joshua for his colleagues 357 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,900 and for all of the people of God in verse 10 in that day. 358 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:56,100 Declares the Lord of hosts. Every one of you will invite is 359 00:22:56,100 --> 00:23:00,000 neighbor to come under his Vine and under his fig tree. 360 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,500 Now, in the ancient world Vine and fig tree was akin to the 361 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:09,200 front porch or you like bacteria, backyard patio, a 362 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,200 living room, favorite hangout. It's kind of like a space. 363 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,600 We can do to like you know, I can relax here. 364 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,500 I belong here. People know, my name here. 365 00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:21,200 It's a space where you are at rest. 366 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,400 It's a space where you belong. So what is the Lord saying? 367 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,500 He's saying now that God has shown his great Mercy to us, we 368 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:31,400 are at peace. No longer. 369 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,200 Are we like a hair trigger away from being pushed out or 370 00:23:34,208 --> 00:23:38,900 rejected by God or each other. We live under the shade of the 371 00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:44,400 vine and the fig tree. The Cross of Christ is our Vine. 372 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,200 The Cross of Christ is our fig tree. 373 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:51,700 The offer is the shade of Mercy from condemnation. 374 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,400 He offers rest for the weary under this Vine and fig tree. 375 00:23:56,500 --> 00:24:00,800 He offers us peace, belonging comfort. 376 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,100 And in the house of God, we offer invitation to our neighbor 377 00:24:05,100 --> 00:24:08,900 to take shelter with us under the vine and fig tree of the 378 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:14,300 Cross of Christ. This week, I read a study about 379 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:17,500 a sudden rise in what is called depths of Despair. 380 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,300 People in our society are literally dying from personal 381 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:28,400 Despair and this is expressed through overdoses suicides and 382 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,200 then health issues from alcoholism. 383 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,300 The study found something very interesting is that people who 384 00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:35,800 had experienced one of these deaths of Despair. 385 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,600 Do you know what? We're likely to have no church 386 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,000 home. That was one highly correlated 387 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,700 factor in their depth of the despair. 388 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:47,700 They had no church home to belong to, they had no Vine to 389 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:49,800 sit under. They had no fig tree to sit 390 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,500 under, they had no place to experience, hope forgiveness and 391 00:24:53,500 --> 00:24:58,200 the grace of God in Christ. They had no church family made 392 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,600 up of forgiving and forgiving people look. 393 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,900 Okay, this is a tough world of along to write. 394 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:10,700 Most of our love is conditional. Love Right? 395 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:13,000 There's rejection everywhere. I mean almost everywhere. 396 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,300 You look there's rejection. One minute you're in because of 397 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:22,100 your money status Talent. Wit, the next minute you are out 398 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,700 because you're starting to slip and the group decided that you 399 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:29,400 don't belong anymore. Right, there's so many 400 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:34,000 rejections there are so few fig trees precious few. 401 00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:38,200 There's so many places to be evaluated and so if you places 402 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,500 to belong there. So few places where there's like 403 00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:46,300 an open seat on the front porch, with an invitation, hey, come 404 00:25:46,300 --> 00:25:47,800 and join us. You belong here. 405 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:53,100 So, few open seats in back, porch, patios of saying, hey, 406 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,100 come join us. You belong here, come hang out 407 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:58,900 with us along. With Joshua and his friends. 408 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:03,200 You and I are sides, were signs living signs of God's Grace 409 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:07,700 Living signs that there's hope in a world of endless breakups 410 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,400 rejections and firings. Let's be the community that 411 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:17,100 invites and includes and heels. Imagine if this next season for 412 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:21,700 our church is just, you know, a season of invitations of coming 413 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:26,300 along and come and sit under the vine and fig tree invitations to 414 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:30,200 our co-workers out to Lunch to a mom in our neighborhood to join 415 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,700 the play date or the moms group invitations to to church on 416 00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:38,800 Sunday or to our Citigroup. If there's room to our table or 417 00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:42,700 just to our life, for our front porch, to our back patio. 418 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:49,100 Let's share how good God's grace is. 419 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,600 How it's touched the lowest plate because of our life, how 420 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:57,300 he's included Us in his family? How he's taken the pressure off 421 00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:00,800 of us while placing his glory upon us. 422 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:04,500 I love Jesus words, all that the father draws to me. 423 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:10,300 I will in no wise cast out won't cast you out when you come to 424 00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:17,100 him and all who come under the shade of this tree will never be 425 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,600 passed out in the Name of the father and the Son, and the Holy 426 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:21,200 Spirit. Name of the father and the Son, 427 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:22,200 and the Holy Spirit.