Young People's Group

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN OUR LIFE

January 12, 2014

The Lord Standing By Us Against Spiritual Opposition

The work of ministry is seldom clear-cut and undemanding. Whenever a person seeks to step up and desires to do the will of God, he must expect that spiritual forces would be pitted against him. In the text of Zechariah 3:1, a great vision was given to the prophet Zechariah concerning how Joshua the high priest was standing before the Angel of the Lord and he was being opposed by Satan.

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.”
Zechariah 3:1

“And the Angel of the Lord stood by.”
Zechariah 3:5

Despite this sinister resistance against Joshua, it is wonderful and encouraging to know that he is not alone in his defence against the evil one. The Lord (The Angel of the Lord) is on his side and ours. He stands by us against the wiles of the devil.

1. He Stands By Us To Protect Us

“And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you , Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?'”
Zechariah 3:2

Satan sought to declare Joshua unfit for ministry by accusing him of his sins. However, the Lord rebuked Satan twice and sought to stand against the evil one on behalf of Joshua. It is truly a great act of mercy to be a brand (burning piece of wood) that was plucked from the fire. Joshua was guilty and thrown into the fire. However, the Lord went beyond that fact and specially protected him. He too can protect us against the accusations of the evil one.

2. He Stands By Us To Pardon Us

“See, I have removed your iniquity from you”
Zechariah 3:4

Joshua was clothed with filthy garments as he stood before the Angel of the Lord. The Lord commanded that Joshua’s dirty clothes be removed as an indication of His pardon of his sins. He is the One who can remove our iniquities and pardon us of all our sins.

3. He Stands By Us To Cleanse Us

“‘I will clothe you with rich robes.’ And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.”
Zechariah 3:4-5

The Lord not only stands by to pardon us. He also cleanses us from our sins. It was commanded by the Lord that a clean turban and rich clothes be placed on Joshua. This is the work of cleansing that the Lord does for us. Pardoning work should be followed with cleansing work.

4. He Stands By His Servants To Reinstate Them Despite Their Sins

“If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts”
Zechariah 3:7

The Lord also stood by Joshua to reinstate him to be the high priest. This was a second chance for him. If Joshua were to walk in God’s ways, there would be His blessings. He would be given charge over the temple of the Lord. Let’s also seek to walk in the ways of the Lord that He may bless us.

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