Bible Readings:
Zechariah 7:1 – 14, James 1:1 – 27
Sermon Outline:
I For me? For me?
Zechariah 7:4–5 (NKJV)
4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 5 “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me?
*Some English translations miss the double “me” in the original Hebrew!
II For the good of others
Zechariah 7:8–9 (NKJV)
8 Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
III Obedience to the Word of God and answered prayer
Zechariah 7:11–13 (NKJV)
11 But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts.
cf – Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.