And Having Done All, Stand: House Church Recap 4/14/13

This week's recap covers the second part of the series, "The Grace by Which I Stand". The disciple of Christ must learn and be grounded in many things in this wicked world. One of the key foundational principles of grounding ourselves is learning to stand - after having "done all".

We must first and foremost learn the lesson of The Grace by Which We Stand. For an introduction to this concept and what it means to dwell in the Grace of Jesus, visit our last House Church Recap. 

Main text for this week is Zechariah 3:1-7: 

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, "Remove the filthy garments from him." Again he said to him, "See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes." Then I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.

And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here."

The activity of Satan is a reality in our world, for he is the little god of this world. We cannot underestimate his effect on our lives and on those around us who are not grounded in faith. It takes faith to resist him and STAND in the work of the cross! This standing requires us to go beyond what we feel. See Ephesians 6:10-13 to read what God's Word says about putting on "the full armor of God". Why must we be so armed? The devoted disciple whose breath of life is the Glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom must learn the lesson that "open doors" and movement of the gospel comes with a challenge, presented in 1st Corinthians 16:9. Many adversaries stand in the way when doors are opened wide.

So, we are called to stand, "having done all". What does that mean? How can I do that when I feel the pain of my past failures?

Cultural Context for this passage: Zechariah the prophet was a contemporary of Joshua, Haggai, Malachi, and many others. In this week's text, we see him as an example of how men stand before God, not before men. Joshua was among several prophets and priests who broke God's law. Haggai was also a prophet who pointed out the complacency and lack of spirituality among the people of Israel. Malachi was sent by God to expose weak worship and unacceptable attitudes. As we often are faced with our failures, Joshua was surrounded by evidence of his spiritual failures and sinful nature. This kind of thing is perfect ammunition for Satan. How can we stand against it when Satan attacks?

Verse 1: Why is Satan standing there waiting to attack?

• He is the accuser of the brethren - it is his nature. Revelation 12:10
• Our own sin allows him a way into our hearts.
• When we give him an opportunity, he takes it. Ephesians 4:26 & 27

Chapter 2 of Zechariah is full of prophecy, and God's promises are presented as Satan stands by to block the work of God. 

Verse 2: Joshua takes a beating from Satan in this verse. Satan comes at us with demands of justice and uses the Law against us with accusation and condemnation. Therefore we must be careful and guard our hearts. When we hear Satan's coarse, hate-filled, condemning voice grating our conscience, we must run to God in repentance and stand on His Grace and on His promises! He always forgives us when we repent. See 1st John 1:9. 

What do we do to run stand this way, to call upon our advocate (1st John 2:1 & 2), the Lord?

• First we apply the blood with sincerity in our broken spirits. Psalms 51:17
• Do not engage in conversation with the adversary, entertaining his condemning facts about our failure. That voice of guilt, shame, fear, and failure will beat you. Move quickly to repentance and dwell on the work of the cross, Christ's blood. 
• Take every thought captive and learn to hide the promises of God in your heart and meditate on them. See Ephesians 6:17 and arm yourself with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. 
• Stand in the knowledge that the Judge of all is your friend, Jesus, who paid it all for our sin. Our sins are already paid for. 

Verse 3: We must learn the lesson of being careful. 

• Remember that we are not saved by works. Ephesians 2:8-10
• All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
• Jesus knew no sin took on ours. He is our righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 5:21

We must also be careful speaking against His Church, even with all of her struggles, she stands clothed in His Righteousness, and we are a part of that, a part of His Bride.  If we try to stand on anything aside from Christ and His work in us, Satan will devour us. 

Verses 4 & 5: Who is doing the work? What did Jesus do?

1. He separates us from our filthy garments (verse 3) our sin, guilt, and shame. 
2. He clothes us with His spotless righteousness. Christ is now our righteousness!

• He choses us to be holy and blameless in Him. Ephesians 1:4
• His grace is lavished upon us. Ephesians 1: 7 & 8

Verses 6 & 7: We must walk in His ways and press on. 

• God's will is that we press on toward the prize of His Calling and wants us to grow. Philippians 3:12-16
• We grow in grace and knowledge in order to glorify Him. 2nd Peter 3:18

God's grace simply calls us to grow and press on, so that we have done all.

1st John 2:12-14:  "I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father.  I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong,                                                                                                                        and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one."