Title: Whose Side Are You On?
Content 堅? It happened during the war between the North and the South. The South and the North fought. The South was Christian and the North was Christian. The South must also have prayed to God. The North must also have prayed to God. The president of the North was Abraham Lincoln. A man asked Lincoln, “Who will God hear?” Lincoln replied to him, "It is always on God's side, not in the South or in the North."
Guys, who do you want to side with? You will not need to answer. We want to be on God's side. However, in our religious life, there are many times when we are on the opposite side of our wishes. Because they are ignorant and are deceived by Satan. Through the text, we want to learn how to stand on God's side.
Zechariah, the author of today's text, is a prophet in Haggai's day. A group has returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The wall was finally completed through Nehemiah. Haggai and Zechariah worked to build the temple. The temple is in a state where only the foundation has been laid. About 15 of them are left in this state and no one takes care of them. Haggai proclaimed a powerful and severe message of reproof. But the temple remains in ruins. After Haggai left the ministry without success, God sent Zechariah. Zechariah had the same vision as Haggai, but in a different way of communicating it. He approached it graciously in several ways. In the text, Zechariah sees a vision of heaven. High Priest Joshua stands before the angel of the Lord. Satan is standing at his right hand.
1. Satan is opposing Joshua. (Verse 1)
Joshua is the enemy of Satan before the Lord. This is verse 1. Satan is standing at his right hand and accusing him. Guys, what is the content of the adversary? These are the shameful details of the sins Joshua committed. Look at verse 3. “Joshua was clothed in filthy clothes and stood before the angel.” The content of Satan's accusation is true. Satan's criticism is correct. It's true. Satan is a liar, but here he claims with the facts. There is a reason. There is a law. There is morality. There are principles. And there is clear evidence. So Joshua could not give any answer to Satan's accusations. Because the accusation is true.
Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that some people are always waiting for an argument. We live determined to find faults, faults, or weaknesses in the other person. Even if there are nine advantages, I close my eyes. If there is one weak point, they push it. They say it's based on facts. Emphasize the truth. Pointing out and correcting mistakes is the right thing to do.
But guys, you have to be careful. Satan is also opposing Joshua with the facts. There is solid evidence. This is a logically correct opinion. Who else are we? Like Joshua, he is a sinner. He was the high priest. He had to be the most pious man in Israel. Moreover, he stood before Jehovah. It was the most solemn and reverent moment of his life. How was he in his most reverent and holy moment? He was wearing dirty clothes. Dirty clothes represent the shame of sin. It shows a serious sin. Gentlemen, this was the image of Joshua, the high priest. What about us? We don't have to say. We too were wearing dirty clothes. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are all sinners, like Joshua, clothed in dirty clothes. How can we point out and criticize others?
2. God rebuked Satan. (Verse 2)
Satan resisted Joshua. I sued him before God. What is God's answer? This is verse 2. “The LORD said to Satan, Satan, the LORD rebukes you. The LORD, who chose Jerusalem, rebukes you.” God's answer surprises us. God did not rebuke Joshua. I did not agree with Satan's accusation. Rather, God rebuked the accuser Satan. Look at verse 2. It is written twice, “The Lord rebukes you.” God strongly rebuked Satan.
Gentlemen, why does God rebuke Satan? Is it because Satan is accusing Joshua of lying? no. Look at verse 3. “Joshua was clothed in filthy clothes and stood before the angel.” The content of Satan's accusation is true. Satan's criticism is correct. It's true. There is solid evidence. God is also looking at the evidence of Satan. God knows everything. Satan is right.
Then, why does God strongly rebuke Satan? Not because the allegations were false, but for other reasons. God gives the reason to Satan in verse 2. “Isn’t this charred wood from the fire?” Because Joshua is “a scorched tree taken out of the fire.” What does “scorched wood taken out of the fire” mean? Fire is the fruit of sin, destruction and unhappiness. Joshua was in the fire. There are traces of burning and charring. You will soon be wearing dirty clothes. So are you not sorry? The truth is that God is merciful. And, more importantly, the fact that it is a “wood out of the fire.” Who took it out? God Himself. God knows everything. He knows that it is a tree that must be thrown into the fire and destroyed. But God was pitiful and rescued him from the fire.
Folks, this is God's choice. It is God's gracious choice. It is unconditional love given to those who do not deserve it. Guys, what is the difference between Satan and God? Satan judges on the basis of works, but God judges by grace. God works by grace. Therefore, God is rebuking Satan, not Joshua.
Everyone, we all wear our own glasses and see the world. Glasses for seeing with grace or glasses for seeing with deeds. Which glasses are yours? Are they the glasses of God's grace? Or is it the spectacles of Satan's deeds?
We too are “scorched wood taken out of the fire.” We will have people accusing us. get criticized. get criticized. Then, like Joshua, we must remain still. We have nothing to say. But we have someone who judges not by works, but by grace. We have one who defends us by grace. God Himself defends us. 1 John 2:1 also says. “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Please believe it. Amen.
3. God gives blessings of grace in the presence of Satan. (Verses 3-5)
Look at what the Lord did to Joshua when he took him out of the fire. Verses 3-5. This is the purpose that God brought out of the fire by grace. That's why you chose us. What are you guys?
First, he says, “Take off your dirty clothes.” That is, “I have taken away your transgressions.” And he said to Joshua, “I will put on you beautiful clothes.” It is God's declaration. It is entirely by God's grace. God completely forgives the sins of His chosen people and gives them holy and righteous clothes. You are not the only one. God puts a clean crown on his head. We believe that the crown is the crown. It refers to our high status and status. How can you guys do this? It is grace upon God's grace. Think of Satan looking at this scene. You wouldn't believe it. I thought to myself, Isn't God crazy? Gentlemen, our God is a God of grace. Indeed, our God judges by grace and works by grace. do you believe
Nevertheless, if we ever judge and criticize the saints, no matter how justified and right we are, whose side are we on? You are on the side of Satan, not on God's side. Because we deny God who works by grace. Romans 8:31-34 challenges us. “If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can bring charges against God's elect? It is God who justifies; who can condemn?” May all of you be on God's side.
4. God gives a holy calling. (Verses 6-7)
If we do not judge right or wrong and do everything by grace, we may also be concerned, “What will happen?” There is a concern, 'Isn't it very confusing?' There is also the fear of ‘wouldn’t it be chaotic?’ at will. Logically it could be, but in practice it isn't. Verse 7. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, if you walk in my ways and keep my statutes, then you will rule over my house. I will guard my courts, and I will cause you to come and go among those who stand here.” God now tells us to keep the law with a new motive and power.
God is a God of grace. We do not make judgments based on our actions. He judges with grace. You work with grace. This grace gives us freedom. Delivers freedom from the curse of the law. The curse of the law is that we must constantly do something to please God and man. To have freedom from this is freedom from condemnation before God. Freedom from judgment and criticism from others. Freedom from Satan's accusations.
This freedom is motivated by God's unconditional love. We no longer keep God's law out of fear. They do not walk the way of God out of shame or guilt. Because of God's unconditional love, we obey God's Word. will do it with joy. We are free to obey because we want to. You do it by the grace of God.
Guys, whose side do you want to stand on? Is it God's grace? Is it Satan's legalism? You don't have to answer. All are on God's side. But be careful. Unknowingly, we base our judgments on human actions rather than God's grace. judge. This kind of legalism is a staunch enemy of God's grace. It is the toxin of a terrible heresy that is practiced in the church. To prevent this, put on the glasses of God's grace. Please judge everything with grace. Please speak with grace. Please work with grace. Then you will always be on God's side, not Satan's. I pray that you all belong to God's grace.