Outline 12.

Sinners. - Let me catch you, by conscience. God will catch you at last out of every pool.

Mourners. - Come to Jesus.

Backsliders. - Escape his net. No more be taken.

Saints. - Catch others.

OUTLINE 12.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it,’’ Zechariah 4:6, 7. I. Temple.

Difficulties in the way of erection, as a great mountain blocking up the way.

Alps, Hannibal.

II. Direction given.

1. Negatively. - “Not by might” of man’s body, soul, parts, wealth. “Nor by power” of temporal and ecclesiastical rulers.

2. Positively. - “But by my Spirit.” He turns the hearts of men, and works effectually when man gives all up. “The Lord of hosts.” Superior might says so.

The power of the Spirit in Elijah, Christ, and his apostles. Man is weakened before God works. Jacob’s thigh.

III. Gracious promise of God.

1. Authority and power of God. - “Who art thou,” Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Sanballat, Satan?

2. “Great mountain.” - Corruptions, prejudice, outward powers, sins.

3. “Before Zerubbabel.” - Christ, the builder of the world and repairer of the breach, raising the temple of his body in three days.

4. “Thou shalt become a plain.” - A valley filled.

5. “The head stone, and foundation stone with shoutings.” - Of all good men, and angels, through joy. Of bad men, through fear.

6. “Grace, grace unto it!”

Grace in God, toward man immense.

APPLICATION. - Apply this,

1. To the difficulties of the undertaking.

2. To the difficulties of our salvation.

Grace is to begin and conclude. Every stone brought is put in with the heavenly shout.

Have you no power? “Not by YOUR power.” Zerubbabel hath power. Have you no might? Christ hath the Spirit. “By my Spirit.” By the power of the spirit of prayer, spirit of faith, love, patience. Look at the sin of the world, a great mountain: before Jesus it was a plain. Look at the state of Christianity. Twelve poor fishermen. It was a plain, instead of a mountain, when Zerubbabel took the matter in hand. Look at the reformation.

Look at the late revival.

Adam lost, Christ regains and gives paradise. As a proof, the thief, his greatest miracle. Breaking of the rocks, graves, the earthquake, rending of the veil of the temple, are less glorious. Trophy! The shame of the company of the two thieves redounded to his greater glory.

OUTLINE 13.

“And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To - day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” Luke 23:42, 43. I. Power of the cross of Christ, and manner of conversion.

1. All men are robbers, murderers, despisers of Christ.

2. The greatest blessings or plagues humble them not.

3. The prayer of Christ, and grace in answer to it, do humble them.

4. Works are not the cause of pardon.

5. The meritorious cause is Christ. He is God. The Lord gives paradise.

6. Instrumental cause, faith and prayer. “Remember me.” II. The heart of Christ is toward sinners.

1. In these dreadful circumstances, Christ takes notice of an ejaculation.

2. “Verily,” truth of the promise.

3. “Thou,’ base, guilty as thou art.

4. “With ME,” what company!

5. “Paradise,” abode of the blessed.

6. “To - day,” no delay, now is the accepted time. III. The marks and effects of true faith.

1. It judges not by appearances. Christ was crucified, yet he was Lord and King.

2. It sees Christ glorious, though before it valued him not.

3. It prays, “Remember me,” humbly. Not, “Let me sit down with thee on thy throne.”

4. It takes Christ’s part, and sees his righteousness, “He hath done nothing amiss.”

5. Hatred of sin. Fear of God. Reproof: “dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?”

6. A vindication of justice: “we indeed justly.”

7. An open confession: “we receive the due reward of our deeds.”

8. He had but a heart and a tongue at liberty: both are used. APPLICATION. - Sinners. - He is exalted still to give repentance and pardon. Abuse not God’s goodness that leads you to it. You cannot outwit God. Thou fool. Wicked servants Matthew 24:48. God will harden you as the other thief. Apoplexy, fever in the brain. As a thief he comes. How will you escape hell and damnation? O be concerned, rise against sin, go as far as the thief.