Zechariah 10:1

 Zechariah 10:1 says, Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. God said that if they prayed for rain with faith in Him that He would send rain so that the crops would grow.  God did not say that He would rain down riches from heaven though.  Even then, the prayer was to be in accordance with God's will.  This call to pray for rain also followed God's promise to bless them with an abundant harvest.  God has promised us everlasting life and that He will meet our needs, but we still need to be in prayer daily that we will know and do His will for us individually.  Verse two declares,  For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.   God said that those who had put their faith in idols and those who had called on them to do so were left without a shepherd.  These false prophets had spoken lies, and there are many people today who would have us follow after false gods, but if we do, we will one day realize how empty their promises are, and if we continue to follow them instead of following Jesus Christ, we will be left without a Shepherd to save us.  Verse three adds, Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.  God said His anger was kindled against the false shepherds and that He had punished the goats, those who professed to be the sheep of His pasture, but were not what they professed to be.  We may claim to be the sheep of God's pasture, but if we are following after false gods and worshipping idols, we are goats instead.  Verse four states, Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.  God said that He was the cornerstone of the redemption and that He would secure those that believed in Him and lived by faith in Him.  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation and we must put our faith in Him if we are to be saved, and once we do, we must reject all the false gods in the world and never be guilty of worshipping any idol.  If we put our faith in anything other than Jesus Christ, then we are worshipping a false God or idol.  Once we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He secures us to the heavenly Father forever. 

Zechariah 9:9

 Zechariah 9:9 says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.  The people of Israel were called on to rejoice because the Redeemer was coming.  He would come in a lowly estate, not as a regal King, though He was the King of glory.  They were told that their King would come on the foal of an ass, and Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy.  Verse ten adds, And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.  The coming King, the Messiah, would establish His kingdom, not by military might, but by bringing spiritual peace to those who put their faith in Him, even the heathen if they put their faith in Him.  God does not call us to us to convert people by military might, but by spreading the gospel of Christ, which is based on the love of God.  Verse eleven states, As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.  God said the coming Messiah would bring hope where there had been no hope.  Whether they realize it or not, until people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they are without hope.  Verse twelve adds, Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;  God called on people come to His stronghold where they would where they would be prisoners of hope.  God also said He would bless them with double blessings, and He stands ready to do so today.  Verse thirteen declares, When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.  God said He would be with the people of Judah and give them victory over their enemies.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have victory over all the forces of the world that work against us today.  Verse fourteen adds, And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.  God's people were not to be victorious because of their own ability, but because God was going to give them the victory.  We today will not be victorious over sin because of our own abilities, but because Jesus Christ has given us the victory.  Verse fifteen continues, The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.  God said that His people would be able to eat in peace and make a joyful noise to Him.  We today as followers of Christ should eat in peace no matter what is going on in the world because God is our protector and we should therefore rejoice in the Lord.  Verse sixteen states, And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.  Zechariah said that the LORD their God would save them in that day.  As Christians, we know the day is coming when God will bring His judgment on the world, and as followers of Christ we will be as stones in the crown of Christ.  Verse seventeen concludes, For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.  We need to always proclaim the goodness of God, just as the His people were called on to do then.  

Zechariah 9:1

 Zechariah 9:1 says, The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.  Syria had been a burden to the people of Israel, but now they were going to face the burden of the LORD.  This was to happen when the people of Israel looked to God in faith.  The world today may burden us down as followers of Christ, but if we look to God in faith, He will always give us relief spiritually, and one day He will deliver us from all oppression and suffering.  Verse two states, And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.  Next, Tyrus and Zidon were added to those that God was going to punish, even though they thought themselves to be very wise and above God's punishment.  Some countries today think of themselves as being too wise to believe in God, but one day they will realize just how foolish they really were.  Verse three adds, And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.  Tyrus had built itself up as a strong and rich city, thinking these things would keep them safe without God's protection and even in defiance to Him.  Too many people today put their faith in material things to keep them safe and ignore or even defy God.  Verse four declares, Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.  Zechariah said that the LORD was going to destroy Tyrus, in spite of the people there thinking that they were above His punishment.  They did not really believe in God or His power, but that did not remove them from His judgment.  Just because someone, or even some nation, today claims there is no God, one day they will find out how wrong they are.  Verse five states, Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.  God next pronounced judgment on the Philistines.  God said their king would perish and their cities uninhabited.  Veree six adds, And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.  A foreigner was to rule over the land of the Philistines, someone who was not of the royal family.  Matthew Henry says this prophesy was fulfilled when Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world.  Verse seven states, And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.  God said that those of the Philistines who put their faith in Him would be saved by His power.  We may be in the camp of the enemy as followers of Christ, but if we remain true to Him, we have an everlasting victory.  Verse eight adds, And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.  God said that He would protect His people, those that put their faith in Him, from all enemies, and He still does today.  No matter what happens in this life, as long as we continue to put our faith in God, He secures us to Him forever.  God has already won the victory for us.

Zechariah 8:16

 Zechariah 8:16 says, These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:  God told the people of Judah what He expected of them.  They were to speak the truth to their neighbors, execute judgment and live at peace with one another.  I believe the truth and judgment would be God's truth and judgment, and when they spoke His truth and executed judgment in accordance with His word that His peace would follow, and this still applies to Christians today.  Verse seventeen adds, And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.  Just as there were some things that God expected them to do, there were some things that He expected them not to do.  They were to not even imagine, or think about, doing evil to their neighbors and they were to love no false Gods.  God still expects that of followers of Christ today.  We are to love our neighbors, and we are to love nothing more than we love God.   Ir we do love anything more than God, it becomes an idol to us.  Verse eighteeen declares, And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,  Verse nineteen adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.  God said that their fasts in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months were to be fasts of joy.  We may not associate fasting with joy, but God said these times of fasting were to be times of joy for the people of Judah.  I believe this was because these were to be days associated with all that God had done for them and were to be days dedicated to giving up the richer things of the world in order to show their obedience to Him.  When we worship God today, we should put aside all the things of the world that could come between God and us, and we should do so joyfully.   If we do fast to show our love for God, we should not do so to call attention to ourself, but to show our devotion to God and we should have joy in our life when we do it.  Verse twenty states, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:  Verse twenty-one adds, And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.  God said there were going to be people of many other cities coming to worship Him.  God said they were going to come speedily and pray to Him.  God did not redeem just the people of Judah who put their faith in Him, but people everywhere who did.  We should recognize that God does not just redeem people from certain countries today,  but He redeems everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.   Verse twenty-two continues, Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.  God said people from many strong nations were going to come to Jerusalem to worship Him. Verse twenty-three concludes, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.  God said that people from everywhere would come to the Jews and tell them that they would go with them because God was with them.  People come to Christians today when they are seeking the truth of God, and we need to lead them to Him.  Sadly, this does not happen too often today, but we are still to be a Godly example to the world.

Zechariah 8'9

 Zechariah 8:9 says, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.  God called on the people who heard the word of God from the prophets and who had laid the foundation of the temple to be strong in continuing the work.  We as followers of Christ today must continue to build on the foundation of faith in Christ that brings us salvation.  We should never stop listening to God's word.  Verse ten adds, For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.  God said that before this time, because His people would not listen to and obey His word, that He had left them with no one to do the work.  If we do not listen to God today and obey His word, we will be left with noone to do His work.  Verse eleven declares, But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would no longer be the same to the residue, or remnant of the people.   He was no longer going to turn away from them, because they had returned to Him in faith.  If we turn away from God, as a nation or an individual, we should not be surprised if God turns away from us, but if we return to Him once more, He stands ready to bless us once more so that we can do His work.  Verse twelve adds, For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.  God promised that they were going to once again be blessed with an abundance of what they needed.  I believe that this was a promise to meet their everyday needs with an abundance, and not a promise to give them everything that they wanted.  We have God's promise to supply all our needs, but not to supply all our wants, and our needs are supplied so that we can do the work that God has called us to do.  Verse thirteen continues, And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.  God said that when they obeyed Him, that He would once again make them a blessing to the heathen, those who did not believe in Him, instead of the curse that they had become.  This was a promise to all those who were called His people, both Judah and Israel.  The people of God may have divided themselves physically, but they were still all God's people united in faith.  God said they need not be afraid to be strong in doing His work.  We today, even if we are physically separated, are all united by faith in Jesus Christ if we are His followers, and we need not be afraid to do what He calls us to do.  The only way that we as Christians can be a blessing to the lost people of the world is if we are obedient to God and do what He calls us to do.  Verse fourteen states, For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:  God said that their fathers had not been faithful to Him and that He had allowed them to be defeated.  God also said that He did not repent, or believe that He had done wrong in this.  If we are punished for our sins because we refuse to follow God's call, then we cannot expect Him to suddenly say that everything is ok and that He should not punish us for our sins.  He makes salvation available to everyone, and if we refuse to accept it, the blame is not His, but ours.  Verse fifteen adds, So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.  God said that He had now determined to do good to His people, because they had returned to Him in faith.  God awaits to do good to those who will come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ today. 

Zechariah 8:1

 Zechariah 8:1 says, Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,  Verse two adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.  God said He was jealous for Zion, or His people.  God had a great concern for them, even though He had punished them for their sins.  Even though God may have to punish His people at times, He never does so without love and compassion for them.  Verse three states, Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.  God said that since He had returned to Jerusalem to dwell in its midst that it would be known as a city of truth.  God also said that the mountains around Jerusalem would be known as holy mountains.  When God is in our midst as followers of Christ today, we should be known as holy people, or those guided by His word.  Verse four declares, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.   God said that men and women would grow old in Jerusalem.  They weren't going to be there for just a little while.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He is with us forever.  We can grow old in the certainty that nothing will ever separate us from Him.  Of course, we need to realize that God is going to be jealous of His relationship with us, and not in a negative way that we often think of jealousy.   Verse five continues, And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.  Not only were people going to grow old in Jerusalem, but they were to be born and grow up there as well, playing in the streets without fear.  Some people in God's kingdom today have grown old in their faith, and some are new born or young in their faith, but all are secured by God's power.  Verse six asks, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.  God.  God asked if they thought that what was good for them was not what He wanted.  We need never question God's ability to bring good things into our lives if we put our faith in Him, nor should we question His desire to do so.  Still, this does not mean that God is going to give us everything we want, but He is going to supply us with everything we need to do what He calls us to do.  Verse seven declares, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;   God said that He was going to save His people, no matter where they were in the world.  Being one of God's people is not about where we are located physically, but is about where we are spiritually.  Verse eight adds, And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.  God said that He would bring His people to Jerusalem, His city, and that they would be His people and He would be their God.  The people of God were called on to be His people in truth and righteousness.   Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We are to be righteous people who proclaim the truth of God.   

Zechariah 7:8

 Zechariah 7:8 says, And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,  Verse nine adds, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:   Zechariah said God's word came to Him again,  and then tells us what God said.  When God's word comes to us today, we should be willing to share what He says with others.  Of course, it will always be consistent with His written word, and the main word of God that we need to share is the Gospel.  God called on His people to use true judgment and to shew mercy and compassion to his brothers.  We sometimes like to limit this to our fellow Christians, but God tells us all men are to be treated as our brothers.  Of course, this includes women being treated as our sisters as well.  Verse ten continues, And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.  God also said they were not to oppress the widows or children without fathers nor the poor.  Too often today, these people are looked down on, ignored or mistreated.  God also said that His people were not to imagine evil against their brothers, or sisters, in ther heart.  Even our thoughts should not include evil against the less fortunate, nor anyone else for that matter.  Verse eleven declares, But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.  God said that His people had refused to listen to Him, even stopping up their ears against His word when it was proclaimed.  We better pray that as professed followers of Christ that we never come to a point where we refuse to listen to what God has to say.  Verse twelve adds, Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.  God said that those who were called His people hardened their hearts against Him and refused to listen to the prophets that He sent to them.   It was God's Spirit that gave the prophets their message, and it is God's Spirit that will give us our message to the world today.  Of course, we cannot just say what we believe and claim that it is God's word, but as true followers of Christ, we must make sure that the message of God that we share with others is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, and if it, it will be consistent with His written word, the Bible.  God also said that because of ther refusal to hear Hie word, they incurred His wrath.  If we refuse to hear and believe the gospel of Christ, one day we will face the wrath of God, but the choice is ours.  Verse thirteen continues, Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:  God said that since His people would not hear when He cried out to them, that He therefore would not hear when they cried out to Him.  The people of Israel felt that God had to listen to them when they cried out to Him, no matter what.  God said that unless they were truly His people in spirit and in truth that He would not hear them when they cried out to Him.  We cannot ignore God's word until we find ourselves in trouble and then expect Him to have to hear our cry.  We must listen to God and follow His word as the time to be successful as Christians.  Verse fourteen concludes, But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.  God said He had scattered the people of Israel and left their land desolate.  This was a land flowing with milk and honey when God gave it to them, but His blessing on them had never been enough to satisfy them.  If we are followers of Christ today, we need to enjoy what God blesses us with and give Him thanks and praise for it.

Zechariah 7:1

 Zechariah 7:1 says, And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; Once more, God's word came to Zechariah.  Even though people sometimes ridicule people who say that God speaks to them, as followers of Christ, He should speak to us quite often.  If may not be with an audible voice, but He will speak to us through the Holy Spirit's guidance in our life.   Verse two adds, When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,  Two men had been sent to the house of the LORD to pray to Him.  Matthew Henry said the two men were men of authority, because their men came with them.  It is always a good thing to come to God in prayer if we have questions about what He would have us do, even if we are people of some authority in the world.  Verse three continues, And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?  They came not only to pray but also to speak to the priests and prophets concerning the keeping of a particular religious ceremony.   They said they had continued to celebrate this day for many years.  Matthew Henry says that this day commemorated the burning of the temple, which was now being rebuilt.  Verse four declares, Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,  Zechariah did not give them his answer, but he gave them God's answer.  If someone comes to us with a question about what God would have them do, we must make sure that what we tell them comes from God's word.  Verse five adds, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?  Verse six continues, And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?   God then had Zechariah ask if the people did not observe these feasts  for their own benefit.  We should never attend a worship service simply so we can bring honor to ourselves.   Zechariah was instructed to speak to the people and the priests and to start with a question.  These men boasted that the people and they had kept these feasts for these seventy years, but God asked if they had done so to honor Him or if they had just gone through the motions.  We may faithfully keep every Christian holiday that there is and faithfully be at every church service,  but if we do not do so to honor God, then we have no reason totake pride in our faithfulness.  Verse seven states,, Should you not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?  Zechariah said God did not want them to continue to keep the feasts as they had, but wanted them to keep them with true repentance and not just for show, as they had failed to do even before their dispersion.   God does not want empty religious ceremonies,  but He wants true worship based on a personal relationship with Him.  

Zechariah 6:9

 Zechariah 6:9 says, And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  The word of the LORD once again came to Zechariah.  This time, it was just God's word and not a vision.  God does speak to people, or even an individual, in different ways.  Verse ten adds, Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;  God gave Zechariah specific instructions to take the captives who had returned from Babylon to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah.  The people had returned, and God sent His prophet to them to lead them in what He would have them do.  When we come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, He will never leave on our own in our Christian walk.  Verse eleven declares, Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;  Zechariah was instructed to make crowns of silver and gold and set them on the head of Joshua, which is the same name as Jesus in the New Testament.  Joshua was to be a representative of what Jesus would one day be.  Jesus really was to be and now is the eternal King.  Verse twelve adds, And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:  This is a definite prophesy of the coming BRANCH, or Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who will put their faith in Him.  Jesus said that if they destroyed the temple that He would rebuild in it in three days, referring to Himself as the temple.  Verse thirteen continues, Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.  This is a continuation of a description of Who Jesus Christ is and what He did for all people.  He is due the glory and He is our High Priest through Whom we can find peace.   Verse fourteen states, And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.  The crowns at this time were not given to Joshua, but were preserved as a memorial in the temple of the LORD.  We as followers of Christ today serve as a memorial to Him until He returns in glory.  We do not follow Christ to exalt ourself, but to exalt Him.  Verse fifteen concludes,  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.  God said that those who were far off, and this would include not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well, would come and build the temple of the LORD.  As Christians, our bodies are referred to as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such it is up to us to build His kingdom.   This can only be done through if we do as God said to Zechariah and diligently obey the voice of the Lord our God.

Zechariah 6:1

 Zechariah 6:1 says, And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.  This time when Zechariah looked up, he saw four chariots come out from between two mountains of brass.  This was the seventh vision that Zechariah had, and Matthew Henry says that there are various interpretations as to what it signifies.  Some see the four chariots as the four winds, some as four specific kingdoms, and some including Matthew Henry says he sees them as representing ages in the growth of the church.  Verse two states, In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;   The red horse is seen by many as representing the kingdom of Babylon,  and the black horse as representing the kingdom of Persia, which overthrew the Babylonians.  Matthew Henry views the red horse as representing the war of the early church against the world and the black horse as representing the dire results of that war on the earth.  Verse three adds, And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.  Some see the white horses as representing the kingdom of Greece and the grisled and bay horses representing the kingdom of Rome.  Matthew Henry says he sees the white horse as representing the return of peace and prosperity to the world, or at least the church, after all the wars and the bad results of those wars, the grisled and bay horses representing the representing the changing circumstances of the church in the world.  Verse four declares, Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?  Zechariah asked the angel what the vision meant, and even though I stated a least a couple of theories that people have had as to their meaning, we should go to the Source, God Himself, to determine the meaning and how it applies to us today as followers of Christ.   Verse five adds, And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.  The angel said that these were four spirits that went into the world from standing before God.  Matthew Henry again says some see these as the four winds, and I do not claim to understand exactly what the four spirits were, but I do understand that they were under God's control and doing His will.  God is always in control of those who represent Him and do His will in the world.   Verse six states, The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.  The angel said that the black and white horses went to the north country, and the grisled went to the south.  Verse seven continues, And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.  Then verse eight concludes, Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.  Whatever we see these horses and chariots as signifying, they represent God's work in the world as He spreads His gospel throughout the world.  We do know that as followers of Christ that we are to go throughout the world sharing the gospel of Christ today.

Zechariah 5:1

 Zechariah 5:1 says,  Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.  Zechariah did not have to be awakened this time, but looked up by his own accord and saw a flying roll, or rolled up scroll.  Matthew Henry says that once a prophet is awakened, he should stay awake, and  I believe that as followers of Christ, we have been awakened to God's truth and should stay awake spiritually.  Verse two states, And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.  The angel asked Zechariah what he saw, and Zechariah responded a large flying roll, about ten yards by five yards in size. Zechariah never seemed to see more than what was physically there by his own abilities.  Verse three adds, Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.  The angel told Zechariah that the scroll contained a curse for those who were not obedient to God's will, citing the examples of stealing and cursing.  We have God's written word today that tells us of the fate of those who do not accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse four declares, I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.  God said that He would bring forth this punishment on those who stole and those who swore falsely by His name.   I believe that stealing was used as an example of failing to love and honor ones neighbor, and of course swearing falsely by God's name dishonored God.  Worse sins than stealing could have been used, but I believe that the point is that all sins bring God's punishment, and not just those that we might consider big sins.  Verse five says, Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.  This time, the angel told Zechariah to look up.  Sometimes, we may need the Holy Spirit to urge us to look up today.  We cannot become so focused on the world that we forget to look up to God.  Verse six adds, And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.  This time Zechariah asked what it was that he was seeing, and the angel answered him.  If we do not understand what God is telling us today, then we simply need to look up to Him and ask.  The angel said that what Zechariah saw was an ephah, or a measuring standard.  Verse seven states, And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  Matthew Henry says the ephah represented the sins of the people of Israel, and the lead represented the inability of the woman sitting there to remove them from the ephah.  Likewise, we today cannot remove sin from our midst by our own abilities.  Verse eight adds, And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.  The angel explained to Zechariah about the wickedness in the midst of the ephah, and the fact that they were sealed so that they could not be removed.  As stated earlier, we are unable to remove sin from our life by our own abilities, but can only have them removed by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nine declares, Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  Zechariah said when he looked up again, he saw two winged women lift up the ephah.  God sends His representatives, in this case two winged women, to do His bidding.  The ephah was suspended between heaven and earth.  Verse ten adds, Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  Zechariah asked the angel where the women were taking the ephah.  Verse eleven concludes, And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.  Matthew Henry says this means that the people of Isreal would never be truly free from dispersion, because they would never accept the Messiah Who was to come.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will always be under the power of sin and separated from God.

Zechariah 4:6

 Zechariah 4:6 aays, 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.  Zechariah did not understand what the vision he had seen meant, so the angel told him the meaning.  The angel said that this was the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel and it meant that nothing was going to be accomplished by might and power, but would only be accomplished by the Spirit of God.  This is true of salvation today.  We cannot gain salvation by any earthly power, but can only attain it by the power of God leading us to Him through power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seven declares, 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.  God asked what the mountains were to stand in the way of Zerubbabel accomplishing God's purpose.  No matter what obstacles we see before us today, we are told that with the faith of a mustard seed that we can move mountains if it is necessary to do so to accomplish what God has called us to do.  Verse eight states, Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  Verse nine adds, 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.  The word of God came to Zechariah saying that Zerubbabel had laid the foundation of the temple, and that he would finish building it.  This would be proof that God had sent Zechariah.  The proof that we will have of our salvation will ultimately come when Jesus Christ returns, and until then we need to simply continue to build His church on the foundation that He has laid.  Verse ten continues, 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.  Zechariah was told that those who despised the small things would rejoice when the temple was completed.  Matthew Henry says many people, even some of the Jews, despised the temple that was being rebuilt because it was inferior to the original in their eyes.  We know that Jesus Christ said that He would replace the temple, and many people despise this, because they want some earthly place to represent God.  God also said that He was watching the whole world and not just the temple and those near it.  He is still doing so today.  Verse eleven says, Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  Zechariah asked what the two olive trees on the sides of the candlestick represented.  Once more, Zechariah did not understand the vision by his own understanding, and he asked what it meant.  If we do not understand what God is saying to us today, we need to simply ask Him.  I don't believe God will ever leave us confused about what He is telling us.  Verse twelve adds, And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  Evidently the answer did not come immediately, so Zechariah asked once more what they meant.  If God's answer does not come immediately to questions that we have, we need to continue to prayerffully wait for His answer.  Verse thirteen states, And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  The angel then asked Zechariah if he did not understand what they meant, and Zechariah said that he didn't.  God was giving Zechariah a chance to understand what He was saying, but he still didn't.  God may wait on us to understand what He is saying to us by our own abilities today, but if we don't, He will not leave us in confusion.   Verse fourteen adds, Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.  Matthew Henry offers more than one explanation for what the two anointed ones might mean, but I believe they represent Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is also one of Matthew Henry's interpretations.   This is not two God's, but two manifestations of the one true God. 

Zechariah 4:1

 Zechariah 4:1 says, And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,  Zechariah said the angel came to him again and awakened him as one is wakened out of his sleep.  God may have to occasionally awaken us out of a spiritual sleep.  Verse two adds, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:  The angel told Zechariah to look around and tell him what he saw.  As followers of Christ today, God will continually ask us to look around us and observe what we see through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We may not have a vision as Zechariah did, but we do need to have a vision of what God wants us to see and do in the world today.  Zechariah said he saw a golden candlestick with a bowl on the top and seven lamps with seven pipes feeding them.  Matthew Henry says the golden candlestick was like the one that had been in the temple, and that the church is the candlestick now set up to enlighten the world.  The seven branches represented the spreading of the gospel by not just the Jewish people but by the Gentile believers as well.  Verse three continues, And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  Zechariah said that there were two olive branches by the candlestick, one on the left side and one on the right side.  Matthew Henry says these two olive trees continually provided oil for the main candlestick, which provided oil for the others without any need for anyone to tend to it.  God provides the Light of the world today through Jesus Christ, and He does not rely on anyone to provide that Light.  We are to share the Light of Christ, but we do not cause it to shine.  We simply point people to it.  Verse four asks, So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?  Zechariah said that he did not understand the meaning of what he was seeing, so he asked the angel to tell him the meaning.   Anytime that we don't understand what God is telling us or showing us, we simply need to ask.  Verse five adds, Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  The angel asked Zechariah if he understood what he was seeing, and Zechariah said no.  If God speaks to us today as Christians and we o not understand what He is saying, we should never just continue on as if we do.  God will not leave us confused about what He is saying to us if we only ask Him to help us understand. 

 

Zechariah 3:1

 Zechariah 3:1 says, And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.  Joshua had been the deliverer of Israel, but as Matthew Henry points out, it is also the same name as Jesus, and I believe this would be an accurate description of Who Zechariah saw.  Zechariah was familiar with the angel of the LORD by now, but he had to see him spiritually in order to receive God's vision.  Zechariah saw Satan attempting to argue with Joshua the high priest.  Satan is still attempting to resist Jesus Christ, our High Priest today.  Verse two declares,  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?  Zechariah said he heard the LORD rebuke Satan.  Satan was attempting to discredit those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ Himself told Satan that they were already plucked out of the fire.  Satan will do all that he can to discredit Christians today and to hinder the spreading of the gospel, but if we are followers of Christ, we are forever plucked out of the fire.  Verse three adds, Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.  I believe that Joshua being clothed in filthy garments represents Jesus as He took on our sins so that He could redeem us.  Verse four continues, And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.  Joshua, the High Priest, as I stated I believe was Jesus, had His filthy garments removed, which represents the removal of our sins by His sacrifice, and had them replaced with clean clothes.  Jesus takes on our sins, and when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, He replaces our filthy clothes of sin with His clean clothes of righteousness.  This is something that Jesus Christ alone can do.  Verse five states, And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.  Zechariah said that the miter was set on the head of Joshua, or Jesus.  Then, the angel of the LORD stood by waiting for his next task.  Jesus Christ is our High Priest, and all the angels stand by to do His bidding.  Verse six says, And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,  Verse seven adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.  Zechariah said the angel of the LORD called on him to walk in God's ways, and if he did that God would give him the responsibility of judging the obedience of those around him had with walking in the ways of God.   As Christians, we are not called to judge others, but we do have a responsibility to make sure that those who profess to be Christians are walking on the path of God.  Verse eight declares, Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.  Those priests of God who had come before were to see the true High Priest, called the BRANCH here, to come forth.  This is Jesus Christ, Who at that time had not been born and lived and died for all our sins, but He, the BRACNCH of God, was promised to come.  We today can look back on the fact that this promise of God was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.  Verse nine adds, For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.  God said when Jesus Christ came as the Savior of mankind, He came as the eternal Savior, and He will always be exalted by the heavenly Father.  God also said that Jesus Christ would accomplish this in one day, and that was the day that He died on the cross as a sacrifice for all sins.  Verse ten concludes, In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.  Through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we as His followers are free to enjoy the truly good things in life.  

Zechariah 2:6

 Zechariah 2:6 says, Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.  God had once more given the people of Israel and Judah their land back, but not all were eager to return.  Some were more content to stay where they were than to face the possible struggles of returning, and there are people today who would rather continue to live where they are, which is under the bondage of sin no matter how successful they may be, than to claim the promised land of God because doing so might cost them something in the world.  God said He had scattered them to the four winds, and now He was calling them to return.  God still calls people from all over the world today.  Verse seven declares, Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.  God called on those living in Babylon to deliver themselves by returning to Him and the land that He had given them.  Each individual must make the decision today to deliver themselves from the bandage of sin by putting their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We cannot save ourselves, but we must deliver ourselves to Jesus Christ to be saved..  Verse  eight adds, For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.  God said that He was going to deliver His people, and that He would punish anyone who harmed them.  They were reluctant to return to God because of the struggles that those who had already returned to the promised land were having, but God said that He was with them.  We need never be afraid to follow God's call to salvation, because once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then God will protect us spiritually forever.  Verse nine continues, For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.  Though spoken to the people of that time, this refers to the ultimate victory made possible by Jesus Christ.  He  was, is, and always will be the only way to salvation and victory over the sins of this world.  Verse ten states, Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst. of thee, saith the LORD.  The people of Israel and Judah in that day were called on to rejoice in the LORD, not when everything was perfect, but always.  We today need to rejoice in the Lord always.  Our wordly condition should not determine whether we rejoice in the Lord or not.  Verse eleven adds, And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.  Many of God's chosen people might refuse to come back to Him, but God was going to call people from all nations to come and be a part of His people.  This is where we as Gentiles come into the family of God.  Those of God's chosen people who refuse to come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ are still outside of His kingdom.  Verse twelve declares, And they  shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.  God said that He was going to reclaim Judah and Jerusalem as His own.  This is all God's world, and one day Jesus Christ is going to return and reclaim it all.  Those who have put their faith in Him will be a part of that reclamation.  Verse thirteen says, Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.  The whole world will one day stand silent before the Lord.  We will have nothing that we can say to make us worthy of the salvation of Christ. 

Zechariah 2:1

 Zechariah 2:1 says, I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.  Zechariah said he looked up once more and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.  We should always look up to God to get His vision for what He wants us to do.  Verse two states, Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.  Zechariah said he asked the man where He was going, and the Man said that He was going to measure the breadth and depth of Jerusalem.  Matthew Henry tells us that this Man was Jesus.  Verse three declares, And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,  Zechariah said that the angel that had been talking with him and another angel went to meet the Man with the measuring line.  Jesus is the founder and builder of His church, and the angels do His bidding.  Verse four adds, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:  The Man sent an angel back to Zechariah to tell him what the vision meant.  Jerusalem was going to be rebuilt as a town without walls so that it would be able to hold all who came there.  God did not leave Zechariah guessing as to the meaning of what he saw, and He won't leave us guessing as to what He wants of us today.  I believe that Jerusalem, the city of God, being rebuilt without walls showed its ability to hold all who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, and also the fact that God is the protector of His city.  Not only do we not need to be walled in as Christians, we shouldn't be walled in.  God sends us into the world and protects us when He sends us.  Verse five declares,  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.  God said without any chance of misunderstanding that He was the protector of Jerusalem and that His glory would be in the midst of her.  God is our protector today wherever we are, and as followers of Christ we are a part of His holy city.  For that reason, all that we do should reflect God's glory. 

Zechariah 1:12

 Zechariah 1:12 says, Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?   The angel of the LORD asked how much longer He would continue to not show mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah.  The LORD had allowed them to suffer for seventy years by now.  The sins of the people of Israel had long lasting consequences, and sin still does today.  Of course, God's mercy is extended to us continually, but it is up to Io us whether we accept it or not.  Verse thirteen states, And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.  Zechariah heard the angel as he was talking with the LORD.  The LORD answered the angel by speaking with good and comforting words.  God awaits to speak to us today with good and comforting words if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen declares, So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.  Zechariah said that the angel now spoke directly to him telling him of God's jealousy, or desire, for Jerusalem and Zion to be His alone, with no other gods in their midst.  This is still what God demands of us today if we are to be His people.  Verse fifteen adds, And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.  God said that He was displeased with the heathens, those who did not believe in Him, since they were at ease in the world.  God also said that He had allowed them to be victorious over His people in Jerusalem and Judah, but it was to be only for a little while.  God may allow those who do not believe in Him to be victorious in the world today, but no matter how long that may be, it is but a little while from God's perspective.  Verse sixteen declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.  The LORD then said that He had returned to Jerusalem with mercy and that His house would be built there.  God had not gone away, but as long as the people of Jerusalem and Judah were rebellious against Him,He had withheld His mercy.  God has not gone away today, but if we rebel against Him, He will withhold His mercy from us.  Verse seventeen adds, Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.  Zechariah was told to proclaim that God's cities were once again to be prosperous.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will  know spiritual prosperity from God's grace.  Verse eighteen states, Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.  Zechariah said that he then looked up and saw a vision of four horns.  Verse nineteen adds, And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  Zechariah asked the angel what these four horns meant, and the angel said they represented the nations that had scattered God's people, Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  If we have questions today, we need to look up to God in faith, and He will answer us.  Verse twenty says, And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.  Next, the LORD showed Zechariah four carpenters.   Verse twenty-one adds, Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.  Zechariah asked what the carpenters had come to do, and the LORD answered that they had come to cast out the Gentiles and restore God's land to His chosen people.  As followers of Christ today, we are a part of God's chosen people, and as such, He will bring us the ultimate victory, which is everlasting life with Him in our heavenly home. 

Zechariah 1:1

 Zechariah 1:1 says, In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,  Zechariah begins by stating when the word of God came to him and who he was.  We may think of the prophets as always being alone in prophesying for God, but as Matthew Henry points out, Zechariah and Haggai began prophesying at about the same time.  We may sometimes feel that we are alone in witnessing for God, but we never are.  Verse two declares, The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.  Zechariah told them that God had been sorely displeased with their fathers.  I believe that the warning was that God would continue to be very displeased with them if they did not return to Him.  What our parents did or did not do in their relationship with God can neither condemn nor save us.  Verse three adds, Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.   Zechariah said God told Him to turn to Him and He would turn to them as well.  This is the call and promise of God to us today.  We come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, and He comes to us as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.  Zechariah said that God called on them to not be like their fathers, who did not listen to the prophets when they called on them to turn from their evil ways.  The fact that our fathers and mothers may not be followers of Christ does not mean that we cannot be.  Verse five asks, Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?  God asked the people where the former prophets and their fathers were, and if they lived forever.  The answer was that they were either dead or would be, because like them, we cannot live forever in this world.  Verse six continues, But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.  God asked if His word and laws had died with those who had died, and the answer was no.  God's word and law will live forever, but we will not in this world.  Verse seven declares, Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,  A few months after God first spoke to Zechariah giving him a message for the people, He spoke to him again.  Verse eight states, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.  This time God spoke to Zechariah in a vision, which was of a man on a red horse in the myrtle trees, and there were red and white speckled horses behind him.  Zechariah did not immediately understand what this meant, so he asked God for the meaning.  If we do not understand what God is saying to us today, we need to simply go to Him and ask.  Verse nine adds, Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.  Zechariah said that he did ask God what this dream or vision meant, and that the angel who talked with him said that he would show him.  We have One much greater than an angel to help us understand God's word, and that is the Holy Spirit.  Verse ten says, And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. The Man in the myrtle trees told Zechariah that those that He saw represented those that God had sent to walk to and fro through the earth.  Matthew Henry says the Man was Jesus Christ Himself, and that He provided the answer.  We can be certain that if we have questions concerning God today that if we come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ that He will provide us with the answer.  Verse eleven adds, And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. The angel said this represented those that God had sent to walk back and forth through the earth, and that the earth was at rest.  When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can walk anywhere in the world and be at rest.

Philippians review continued

Paul told the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, and this should be true for us today as followers of Christ as well.  We should not allow anything that is happening in the world or our life in particular to keep us from rejoicing in the Lord.  Paul also warned them to beware of false teachers who would sow concision among them.  Some people who profess to be followers of Christ seem to like nothing more than to create friction with other Christians, and Paul warns us to stay away from them.  Paul also told the believers at Philippi, and tells us today, that human credentials, the things that we might think would make us acceptable to God, will never bring us salvation.  They, nor we, can never be more qualified than Paul was, and he counted all his qualifications as nothing.  It doesn't matter where we were born, who are parents are, how much we may have studied the Bible or even done in the name of God if we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Paul said that he forgot all those things that went before his meeting of Jesus Christ and accepting Him as His Savior and Lord, and so should we.  Just as Paul said he was, we should be pressing toward the mark, the standard, set by Jesus Christ.  What came before that time cannot save us nor prevent us from claiming salvation.  Paul also called for those in the church at Philippi to settle their differences.  We cannot effectively serve God and share the gospel if we are fighting amongst ourselves.  We as followers of Christ must be united with one another spiritually in order to advance God's kingdom.  Finally, we learn that we are to support God's work financially.  Just as Paul commended the Christians at Philippi for their giving, we should also give to support God's work, not so that we will be praised, but so that God's work might be done.  A secondary point is that we should never demand that anyone give to us financially.  We should just allow God to direct us in our giving.  

Philippians Review

The first thing we learn from the book of Philippians is that we should always thank God for our fellow Christians.  We are not alone in serving God as followers of Christ.  We need to pray for our fellow believers and hopefully they will be praying for us as well.  Next, like Paul, we need to understand that whatever is happening in our life, if we are being obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit it will be for the furtherance of the gospel.  We cannot believe that unless we are happy and materially successful that we God is not with us and blessing us.  Then, we need to love one another with a Christ like love.  If we do, then we will always put the welfare of others above our own.  We also need to be confident in our calling as Christians and boldly declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Just as Paul warned the Christians at Philippi, we need to be aware that there are many who proclaim a perverted gospel and cause dissension in the church.  Paul also said that if the gospel, the truth that salvation comes from Jesus Christ alone, is being preached, it is still a good thing.  The message, and not the messenger, is what is important.  We also learn that we may be at war within ourselves between the need to stay here and do the work of Christ and the desire to depart this sinful world and be with Christ forever.  Paul said he had this war within himself, but he knew that what was best for him, going on to be with Christ, was not what was best for his fellow Christians.  We need to also let our conversation be such that it will be pleasing to God.  Paul said that it was given to the Christians at Philippi not only the ability to believe on Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for Him.  This is far from a name it and claim it because God wants me to be happy concept of following Jesus Christ.  We are also told that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.  This does not mean that we create our own plan of salvation, but that we individually accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and we let the Holy Spirit guide us in living by faith.  Our inability to gain salvation through our own abilities should leave us fearful and trembling before God until we accept His gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 4:11

Philippians 4:11 says, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Paul had just written about the help that he received from the church at Philippi, but he now said that he didn't allow that to influence what he had written to them.  Paul said he had learned to be content no matter what his physical or material status might have been, and as followers of Christ, we need to learn the same thing.  Verse twelve adds, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  Paul basically said that he had known bad times and good times, and neither changed him.  I believe that we often have more faith in God in the bad times than we do in the good times, but our faith should remain the same no matter what is happening in our life.  Verse thirteen continues, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Paul said that he could do all things, not by his own strength, but by the strength that Christ empowered him with.  If we begin to feel weak or defeated in the world today, we as Christians must simply rely on the strength of Christ to be empowered to do whatever He calls us to do.  Verse fourteen states, Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.  Paul said that in spite of the fact that he was content no matter what and knew that Christ would empower him to do anything that He called on him to do, that the church at Philippi had done well to help him during his affliction.  I believe Paul saw their help as coming from God, but he wanted them to know that he appreciated their generosity in helping him.  We should always show our appreciation to those who help us in our work for God and never feel that it is just something that we deserve.  Verse fifteen adds, Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.  Paul said at the beginning of his ministry after leaving Macedonia that the church at Philippi was the only one that communicated with him concerning giving and receiving.  They had been there to help Paul for a long time, and he commended them for it.  We  need to truly appreciate those who have helped us spiritually from the beginning of our Christian life, no matter how they may have shown that support.  Verse sixteen continues, For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.   Paul said that their support had been an ongoing thing, even helping him while he was in Thessalonica.  Again,  Paul said that this was to help meet his necessities in life and not to enrich him.  Verse seventeen says, Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  Paul said that he wasn't commending them because he wanted another gift but was commending them because he wanted them to know the spiritual fruit of their gifts.  We should never give nor receive gifts, or material support, from God for our own enrichment, but always give to others or receive His gifts from them for the advancement of the gospel and for God's glory.   Verse eighteen adds, But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  Paul said because of the help that the Philippians had sent by Epaphroditus that he had all that he needed and even more, and that their sacrifice in helping him was well pleasing to God.  This should be our ultimate test whether what we are doing is well pleasing to God or not.  Verse nineteen continues, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Paul said that just as God had provided for his needs partly by their help, that his God, the only true God, would provide for their needs as well.  We should never refuse to help others, especially our fellow Christians, because we are afraid that we cannot afford to do so if God is directing us to do it.  Verse twenty states, Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul asked that everything that they or he did be done for the glory of God, and this should be our desire today as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-one adds, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.  Paul begins the close of his letter by asking them to salute, or show respect to, all the believers in Christ that they knew or met.  He also said that those with him saluted the believers at Philippi as well.  We should have a mutual respect for all Christians.  Verse twenty-two continues, All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  Paul said all the saints, especially those of the household of Caesar, saluted them.  Saints were not some group of super Christians but were simply those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ.  We are all a part of the priesthood of believers as followers of Christ and we should support and respect one another.  Verse twenty-three concludes, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. It was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  Paul asked that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and his, be with them.  We definitely need that grace in our lives today.

Philippians 4:1

Philippians 4:1 says, Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  Paul expressed his great love for the Christians at Philippi.  This was a Godly love, in which he put their welfare above his own.  He also called on them to stand fast in their faith in Jesus Christ, and not in their faith in Paul himself.  We should also have a deep, Godly love for our fellow Christians, and want their well-being and for them to stand fast in their faith.  Verse two adds, I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  Paul cited two women who were evidently at odds with each other and called on them to be like minded in Christ.  As long as these two women and we today as followers of Christ are guided by our faith in Christ, we should never have disagreements to come between us as we work for the advancement of God's kingdom.  Verse three continues, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.  Paul also called on someone that he called a true yokefellow to help those women and Clement who had worked to help support him in his ministry.  Paul may not have been with them physically anymore, but he was with them spiritually.  We need to always pray for the spiritual wellbeing of our fellow laborers in Christ, wherever they may be.  Verse four declares, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, not just some of the time, but always.  We need to likewise always rejoice in the Lord, no matter what is going on in our life.  Verse five adds, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Paul called on them to live lives of moderation, which would be known by all those around them.  Paul called on them to do this because he said that the Lord was at hand.  We should live lives of moderation that reflect the values of Jesus Christ, because He is always at hand spiritually.  Verse six continues, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Paul called on them to not be guided by worries about material things, but with prayer and supplication to give thanksgiving to God and make their requests for what they needed known to Him.  We should not be guided by material desires but should put our faith in God to meet our needs, but not to satisfy our wants.  Verse seven concludes, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Paul said that when they, and we, put our faith in Christ in all things and at all times that He will give us a peace that passes all understanding.  The lost people of the world will never understand how we as followers of Christ can be at peace in the world today, and we may not fully understand it ourselves, but if we put our faith in Christ, we should be at peace no matter what is going on.  Verse eight declares, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Paul then called on the Christians at Philippi to think on the things of God.  We can look around us and see all the evil that is going on in the world today, but we are not to let our thoughts be filled with these things but are to let our thoughts be filled with the things of God.  Verse nine adds, Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  Paul called on them to do the things that they had learned from him, both by his words and actions.  He then said that if they did that the God of peace would be with them.  This did not mean that they were to look to Paul for salvation, but that they could look to him for an example of how to live life after receiving salvation through Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  Paul said that he gave thanks to the Lord for the help that they were now able to offer him.  We should always give thanks to God anytime someone helps us in our spiritual walk in the world. 

Philippians 3:9

Philippians 3:9 says, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Paul had listed all his qualifications to be called a child of God, then now says that he does not want to be judged by them, but by faith in Christ.  He wanted to be found in Christ and not his own righteousness.  No matter how righteous we may believe we are, our own righteousness will never save us.  We, like Paul, can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse ten adds, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  Paul said that he wanted to know Christ, and not to just know of Him.  He wanted a personal relationship with Christ and wanted a fellowship with Him even in His sufferings and death.  Paul did not ask for material riches through his faith in Christ, but asked for faith that would sustain him through suffering and even death.  This is the faith that we need today.   Verse eleven continues, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  Paul said that he would suffer for his faith in Christ or even die for it so that he might gain everlasting life.  This is our ultimate goal today as followers of Christ.  Verse twelve concludes, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Paul said that he did not claim to be perfect already, but that he lived to be made perfect through his faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul said he was apprehended by, or under the control of, Jesus Christ.  We are not perfect as Christians, but we are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse thirteen declares, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  Paul said that he did not claim to have apprehended complete righteousness, but that he was reaching for it while forgetting the things that went before, which included the good and the bad.  We cannot stand on our past accomplishments nor allow our past failures to keep us from God.  We can only live our life dedicated to following Jesus Christ every day.  Verse fourteen adds, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Paul said that he lived by pressing toward the mark or the prize of the high calling of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  As Christians, this should be our goal every day.  We are pressing on toward God's everlasting home that He has waiting for us through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen states, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Paul called on those who were made perfect before the heavenly Father to be like minded in their faith to Jesus Christ.  We as followers of Jesus Christ are not perfect, but we strive toward perfection through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse sixteen adds, Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Paul said that those who had been saved by Jesus Christ, therefore being made perfect before the heavenly Father by the salvation of Jesus Christ, should be likeminded.  We as Christians should all be united in following God's will.  Verse seventeen says, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Paul said that the Christians at Philippi should follow his example of faithful living, as well as the example of other faithful Christians.   I do not believe that Paul was calling on them to put their faith in him or any other Christian, but to learn how to be obedient to Jesus Christ by the example that he and others set.  We should learn from the example of other faithful Christians, but we can put our faith in Jesus Christ alone if we are to be saved.  Verse eighteen declares, (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  I believe that Paul is talking here about those who professed to be following Jesus Christ but really were enemies of the cross of Christ.  We cannot be followers of Jesus Christ and enemies of the cross, of a willingness to die to self, as well.  Verse nineteen adds, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  Paul said that those who only wanted the blessings of God without being willing to die for their faith would find only destruction.  We are called to die to self and earthly desires when we take up our cross daily.   Verse twenty continues, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul said our conversation should be about the things of heaven and not the things of this world.  Verse twenty-one concludes, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  Paul tells us that we should be transformed from the vile person that we are to the forgiven person that faith in Jesus Christ makes us.  This will ultimately occur at the return of Jesus Christ, but we are to strive for that state daily. 

Philippians 3:1

Philippians 3:1 says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, and so should we today.  Paul said what he wrote to them did not cause him grief and that it was safe for them to hear it.  Even though Paul was about to warn the believers in Philippi about some among them who were teaching false things about Christianity, he was not grieved by it, and he did so for their safety.  We should never be grieved by having to point out false teachings to other Christians. Verse two adds, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  Paul warned them to beware of those that he called dogs, evil workers, and those who spread concision.  Some people who processed to be Christians were teaching false things about what it meant to be a Christian, and this was causing problems in the church, and if we allow false teachings into the church today, it will cause problems, or contention, as well.  Verse three continues, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  Paul said that the true circumcision, which some were claiming was necessary for salvation, came from faith in Jesus Christ, and not from any physical act.  Salvation can come only through faith in Jesus Christ, and if anyone begins to add anything to that, then they are leading people astray.  Salvation is not controlled by any group of believers, but comes only by individual faith in Jesus Christ, and no one can take away an individual's salvation away.  Verse four declares, Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Paul said that if anyone thought that he or she could put their faith in the flesh, or in the keeping of religious rules, that he could do so even more.  No matter how many rules we may follow attempting to become worthy of salvation, it will never bring us salvation.  We are all unworthy and can only attain salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five adds, Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  Paul began to list his earthly credentials that many would have looked at to call him a great man of God.  He was born a Jew, circumcised the eighth day, and became a Pharisee when he was grown.  We may be able to list great credentials today that we would claim make us a follower of Christ, but they will never be of any real value.  Verse six continues, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Paul said that he had been blameless in the law and had even zealously persecuted the church before he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord.  Paul did not count his actions in the name of God as bringing him into a right relationship with God, and neither can we today.  If we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, no matter how good we may feel we are, nothing else matters.  Verse seven states, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Paul said he counted all those things that would seem to make him a great Jew, or man of God, as a lose because of his relationship with Jesus Christ.  We cannot attempt to justify ourselves by our own actions but can be justified toward God only by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Anything and everything else does not matter.  Verse eight adds, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  Paul emphatically stated that he counted all his personal achievements as a loss when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, and so must we.  We cannot have a personal relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ plus anything else but can only have that relationship through faith in Christ alone.

Philippians 2:21

Philippians 2:21 says, For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.  Paul said that everyone was seeking what they wanted instead of what Jesus Christ wanted.  We know this is true of those who had not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but we cannot allow it to be true of us if we have accepted Him.  This is part of the problem with a name it and claim it religion. In such, we are seeking our own things and not the things of Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-two adds, But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.  Paul said Timothy was not seeking his own wealth, but was as a son to him, serving for the gospel of Christ with Paul.  This needs to be what people say about our life as Christians, that we are serving for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-three declares, Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.  Paul said he hoped to send Timothy to the Christians at Philippi soon, but he had to wait and see what happened to himself.  I believe this means that Paul was waiting to have God's will revealed to him.  If he were freed, he would likely be planning to come with Timothy, unless he felt that God had other plans.  There is nothing wrong with making plans, as long as we make them in accordance with God's plan for our life.  Verse twenty-four adds, But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.  As just stated,  Paul hoped to come to Philippi soon himself,  but he put it all under God's control.  At no point did he say that he wanted to come and he was going to pray about it and since that was what he desired that God would grant it.  As followers of Christ, we must never believe that what we want from our own desire is what God wants for us.  Verse twenty-five states, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.   Paul said that he felt it necessary to send Epaphroditus, his brother, companion in the work of Christ, and fellow soldier in the army of Jesus Christ, to the believers at Philippi.  Though Epaphroditus was very close to Paul, he was not selfishly saying that he must remain with him.  Like Paul, we may at times have to give up someone close to us to go elsewhere to do the work of Christ.  Verse twenty-six adds, For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.  Paul said that Epaphroditus longed to come to Philippi, because they had heard that he had been sick.  He waited to relieve their worry.  Verse twenty-seven continues, For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  Paul said that Epaphroditus had been very sick, but that God had been merciful to him and healed him.  Paul also said that God was merciful to him when He healed Epaphroditus, because if Epaphroditus had died he would have had sorrow on sorrow.  God's mercy does not just affect the one it is shown to, but often affects those close to them as well.  Verse twenty-eight declares, I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.  Paul said that he sent Epaphroditus to them again so that they might rejoice.  I believe Paul did this because he knew it was what God wanted and not just to cause the followers of Christ at Philippi to rejoice.   Paul also said sending Epaphroditus to them made him less sorrowful, I believe because their sadness over what they believed had happened to Epaphroditus also saddened Paul.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:  Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to receive Epaphroditus in the Lord with gladness.   Verse thirty concludes, Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.  Paul said that because of the work of Epaphroditus for the Jesus Christ that he had nearly died, but he still was not concerned with his life, but instead was concerned with meeting Paul's needs, which the church at Philippi had failed to do.  I don't believe that Paul said this to condemn them, but did so to point out how important Epaphroditus was to him, but also to point out how important they, the believers at Philippi, were as well.  We should never selfishly do what we believe is best for us individually if it is at the cost of what is best for our fellow Christians.  Of course, as long as we are following God's will, the two things, what I may want and the will of God, will be the same.

Philippians 2:12

Philippians 2:12 says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Paul said the Christians at Philippi had always obeyed God.  Paul said that they did this not only when he was present, which might have been done simply to impress him, but when he was absent as well.  He then called on them to work out their own salvation, which did not mean create their own salvation plan, but meant for them to grow in Christ without him.  They were to do so with fear and trembling or understanding the importance of their salvation.  We cannot rely on anyone or anything to bring us salvation but Jesus Christ, and once we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we must then individually grow in our faith.  Verse thirteen adds, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Paul told them this was true because it was God Who worked in them to do what was pleasing to Him, and not Paul.  We are to acknowledge that God alone saves us, and not the person who may have led us to Christ.  Verse fourteen states, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  Paul really didn't say do some things, or even things related to the church, without murmurings and disputings, but to do all things without them.  I believe we sometimes want to separate the world into spiritual and material, but as Christians we should live every moment of our life under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and there is no separation.  What we do when we are out in the world should be guided by God just as much as what we do when we are gathered to worship Him.  Verse fifteen adds, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  What Paul said here I believe further reinforces the fact that he was speaking of every aspect of our life.  The crooked and perverse nation may not really note what we do when we are gathered together in worship, but when we are out among them they should see the shining light of Jesus in our lives.  Verse sixteen declares, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Paul called on them to hold on to the word of life, salvation through Jesus Christ, so that his witnessing and teaching them would not have been in vain.  If they were only trying to please Paul or were putting their faith in him instead of God and lost their faith when he wasn't there, then his work would have been for nothing.  Our faith must never be in a preacher or teacher but must always be in Christ alone.  Verse seventeen adds, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.  Paul said that if he was offered up because of his witnessing to them that he would still rejoice in them.  Whatever happens to us because of our faith, we should rejoice in our fellow believers.  They will be the ones to continue God's work.  Verse eighteen continues, For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.  Paul said because of their faith that they were to rejoice in him also, no matter what his situation in the world might be.  We are to rejoice in and with our fellow Christians today, no matter what their situation in the world might be.  Verse nineteen says, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.  Paul said that he trusted that God would allow him to send Timothy to them so that he could get a first-hand report of how they were doing as they followed Christ, and not how they were doing as they followed Paul.  Paul wasn't concerned with how their faith made him look, but with how their faith glorified Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty adds, For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  Paul said he had no one else but Timothy to send who was likeminded with him about the spiritual welfare of the Christians at Philippi.