Encouragement & Exhortation

Okay...I know that you all think I am crazy for how much I love horses, but isn't this a cool picture?!?!?  When I found this representation of the horses mentioned in this intriguing book, I just had to put it into my post for today! 

Both Mrs. Barbara and Mrs. Jaybrena have done such an amazing job with the book of Haggai and the first half of Zechariah.  These two books are so interwoven in their purpose and message, it is hard to talk of one without recognizing the impact of the other.  Very different approaches...similar messages.  Both of these books center around the same time in history and are focused on the same set of problems (The Legacy Bible).  However, two things are added in the book of Zechariah:  prophetic visions and prophecies about the Messiah.  As a matter of fact, in my research about this book, I discovered that next to the book of Isaiah, this book has the most prophecies about the coming of Jesus and has the most Messianic prophecies of any of the minor prophets.
 
Let me show you this really cool pictorial outline of the book of Zechariah I found on the Internet:

PLEASE take a minute to really check this out.  It does a wonderful job of giving us a visual summary of this book and often times this type of thing helps us to make things "stick" in our minds.  The Legacy Bible makes several excellent points in the introduction to this book and I want to share them with you:

1. Zechariah the priest wove throughout his book tremendous words of encouragement and exhortation.
2. Encouragement can serve a variety of purposes.  It can motivate others to persevere in a task, to excel in character and to bring about change in circumstances.
3. To modern legacy builders, Zechariah's encouragement to display strong faith and diligent effort is a timeless reminder that a life of faith requires daily attention.  If it is well taken care of, and if we heed the kind words of those who champion us, encouragement can bring about remarkable change.
4. Zechariah encouraged the people to hope in the coming Messiah and to anticipate the day of God's salvation and restoration.

Okay, this is ANOTHER fantastic chart that does an amazing job of outlining this book.  PLEASE notice the many references to the coming Messiah that this book presents at the bottom of the chart.  So, in the attempt to put all of this information that I have given you into practical application, let me ask you a some key questions: 

1. What kind of words do you use the most when you are talking with and interacting with others?  Do you use words that build up others and edify them or do you use words to tear down and destroy?  Is the goal of your speech encouragement?
2. Do we hope in the day that our Savior will return as the people in Zechariah's day hoped in His first coming?  Do we encourage each other and strengthen each other with this hope?  How many days go by that you do not even think about the fact that our Lord and Savior is coming and coming soon?  Do you truly anticipate with joy and excitement the second coming of Jesus?  Are you REALLY ready for Him to return?

Let me assure you of one thing, and that is this:  Our Savior WILL NOT be coming back on a donkey as a lowly servant, HE WILL BE RETURNING AS A MIGHTY WARRIOR AND THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS THAT HE IS...ON A BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE!!!  BE READY...BE READY!!!!

Revelation 19:11  "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war."

Let us keep all of this in our minds and in our hearts as we anticipate on Monday our entrance into the reading about our Messiah's first coming.  Amen and Amen...come quickly Lord Jesus!!!