moving mountains

Zec 4:7  Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Raising financial support has been the most incredibly challenging task that I have ever been involved in.  There have been many times in which I felt like I was being told to move an immovable mountain.  With that said, I am regularly desperate to hear a word from the Lord that will give me some sense of encouragement in the work.

Several weeks ago I went looking for the verse that says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts,” and I found it to be in Zecheriah 4.  The opening statement to the verse is, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel.”  Anyway, this made me want to know exactly who Zerubbabel was.

It only took a little research to find out that he was the guy who was given the task of re-building the temple of the Lord when the exiles returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah.  Apparently, this guy needed quite a bit of encouragement.  One of the main points of the book of Hagai was focused on encouraging Zerubbabel in his work.  (I’m sure it was difficult trying to rebuild the temple in a city that was constantly in threat of attack!)

So, I figured that I could take some of the words to Him from the Lord as being directed to me in the middle of my seemingly impossible task.  (Afterall, the writer of Hebrews – in chapter 13 verse 5 –  takes a specific word of the Lord to Joshua – chapter 1 verse 5 – and applies it to every single believer in Christ!)

The one I included at the top of this entry (Zech. 4:7) has, by far, been the most encouraging.

The “top stone” refers to the top stone of the temple.  It signifies the completion of the task.  So we see in this verse the Lord talking “trash” to the task of building the temple.  “Who are YOU, o mountain?”

We also see Zecheriah completing his tasks with shouts of “Grace!  Grace!” to it.  (“It” being the mountain – a.k.a. the “task”)

Zecheriah recognized that it was God’s incredible and unmerited favor and power that enabled him to complete the task before him.  And the Lord reminded him over and over that it was indeed His power that made it possible.

So, my anthem for support raising is currently, “Who ARE you, O mountain of support raising?  Before (David Cervenka) you shall become a PLAIN!  And he (David) shall bring forward the last (recurring financial gift) amid shouts of “GRACE!  GRACE!  To it!”

🙂