"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Wall of Fire
ELCOG 2/24/08
Text: Zechariah 2:5
This morning I want to preach a message to remind us that in your life God is going to surround you with His presence and His power. You have heard me say over the last several weeks that life has its difficulties and that you are going to face many trials and many battles, but we need to be reminded that God is going to be in your battles. You need to known this morning that God does not leave you alone on the battlefield. He comes to where you are. He is your protection. But let me also say that not only is God going to be with you in your times of troubles, but He will also be with you in your times of blessings. He will go with you all the way. Over the last 21 days I have been in a major fight with the devil. At times, I could not feel God. I often felt that God was no where to be found, but I remembered…
2 Cor. 5:7
7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
We don’t stand here today because of what we feel. We don’t stand here today and testify of the goodness of God in our lives because of what I am feeling, but I stand here because of what I know. I testify on what I know about God and His word. I am living by faith not by sight. I think at times God wants us to refocus our vision. It is so easy to listen to the people of the world and to listen to the discouraging news, but allow God this morning to refocus your vision. See God in your trouble and be encouraged. He doesn’t want you to see people; He wants you to see Him!
In our text we see God promising to His people to help them because they would not have a wall of protection around them. Remember that in early history, a city would have a wall built around to help protect it. China is the best example of a wall of protect, however, in modern warfare walls do not help.
Back to the text: God gives a promise to be something to these people that they could not be for themselves. God says in verse 5 that he would be a wall of fire around them for their protection. I want to declare this morning that God is a wall of fire around you too. I know that you don’t see the fire, I know that you may not always feel the fire, but you must have faith that God is that wall of fire around you. Everywhere I go, I have a wall of fire around me. When the enemy shoots his fiery darts my way, god’s fire consumes the enemy’s fire. When I feel the on slot of the enemy I know that I have a wall of fire that I can hide behind. His protection is better than life. I know that He will go before me. He is a God of protection! He is your strength!
Zech. 9:8
8And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
Zech. 9:9
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
The King has come.
Matt. 21:5
5Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Matt. 21:6
6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
Matt. 21:7
7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
Matt. 21:8
8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Matt. 21:9
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Christ has taken position in your life. He has His walls of fire around you. So go boldly into the entire world and preach the gospel. Lift up your heads and see that God is here. Rejoice greatly! Shout aloud and see that Jesus has brought salvation! Lift up your eyes and see that the deliver has gone before you and the way is prepared for you to be free. No more bondage. No more addictions. The fire burns up all ropes that bind you up.
Zech. 9:12
12Turn you to the strong hold (Place of security and prosperity), ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; your former prosperity.
You may have been through a lot in your life and you may have found that you have been robbed of many great things. Maybe your joy has been robbed, your peace is gone, your passion is missing let me encourage you to return to the place of security. Return to the wall of fire. God is able to give back to you everything that you have lost. He will restore double unto you. Come back to the place of security. The fire is still burning! The enemy has tried and tried to extinguish this fire, but it still burns. As a matter of fact, it burns just as bright and strong today as it ever did. Be encouraged. God is on your side and he wants you back into his protection. God wants you to come back to the wall of fire. Get back to where you need to be! He is waiting for you!
Now there is something else that is very important that I mention about this wall of fire. Go back to the text and notice what else is important this promise.
God gives us this important promise, "I will be the glory in the midst of her". There is another reason that I need to come back to the wall of fire. God’s glory is found behind this wall. As one of His creations I must have God’s glory in my life. I must have his breath in my nostrils and his strength in my muscles. I need God’s glory in my life.
Are you feeling empty and hopeless? Then return to the place of God’s glory. Are you broken and feel that there is no way you will ever put the pieces back together again? Return to the wall of fire and find God’s glory!
Matt. 11:29
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matt. 11:30
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
God wants you to trade in your problems for His solutions and your battles for His victories.
1 Pet. 5:6
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet. 5:7
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God wants you to be in his fire. I wonder if that is why the Holy Spirit came in the form of tongues of fire and why John the Baptist said.
Matt. 3:11
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
There something special about fire: It houses the glory of God. Oh, how we need the Holy Ghost to fall in this place! Oh, how we need the fire of God to fill this place. We need the glory of God to operate freely in this place. We need his fire to destroy our bondage.
What are you fighting with this morning? Come hide behind his wall of fire. This is where you’ll find his glory. This is where you will find the peace that passeth understanding. The presence of the Lord is here. Where He is there is liberty. The fire will destroy the bondage. You need to get behind His wall of fire.