A Life Where the Impossible Becomes Possible (3)
Bible passage: Zechariah 4:1-7
“1. Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2. He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." 4. I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5. He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied. 6. So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 7. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'"
I have a few Cannons. Don’t be alarmed when I say that I have a few cannons. The "cannons" I’m talking about are not the cannons used in war. Instead, I’m referring to the "canon," which means the Bible.
The words for "cannon" and "canon" are almost the same in English, pronounced as "cannon" and "canon." Since they sound alike, I tried using the expression "I have a few canons." Both words come from the same root, derived from the Greek word "kanne," which means "a hollow reed." It makes sense that a cannon, which has a hollow barrel through which the bomb is fired, would derive from a word meaning "hollow reed." But why does the term "canon" come from the same root? At that time, they didn’t have precise measuring tools like today’s rulers, so reeds were used as measuring instruments. From this, the idea of a "reed" used as an accurate measuring tool developed into the concept of a standard, rule, or norm.
The Bible became known as "canon" because it is the accurate standard and guide for faith and life. Thus, for us Christians, and for all of humanity, we must view the Bible as the "canon," the measuring tool like a ruler, which serves as the standard and guide for faith and life. We must adjust, correct, and live our faith, character, and life according to this standard, and this is expressed in the following passage: 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Through the Word of God, we teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness, equipping ourselves for a complete and righteous life.
There was once a man sentenced to death. At a young age, he tried to steal money from someone and ended up killing them, becoming one sentenced to death by a court of law. On the day of his execution, his mother came to see him for the last time. But at that moment, this man shouted angrily at his mother as he wept bitterly. "Mother, why didn’t you scold me back then? When I stole a friend’s shoes, why didn’t you discipline me? When I brought home those stolen shoes and you didn’t say anything, I thought it was okay to steal. So, I continued stealing, and eventually, I killed someone because of it!" He blamed his mother and then disappeared into the execution chamber. His mother, who had lived in poverty, couldn’t afford to buy her son a pair of shoes. Knowing that he had stolen the shoes, she failed to teach him properly, and this led to a tragic outcome. Last time, I used the Bible, the "canon" or measuring tool like a ruler, to teach, rebuke, and correct some wrongdoings within our church. In Zechariah Chapters 1 to 6, there are a total of eight visions. Since Zechariah has 14 chapters, almost half of the book is filled with visions. Zechariah is one of the prophets who saw many visions. Even though he was an experienced prophet in the realm of visions, he didn’t understand the meaning of the vision in the passage, so he had to ask the angel several times before finally understanding it. As we look at this, we see that faith involves pondering deeply on what God shows us, as we cannot always fully understand its meaning right away. It requires us to meditate on what God reveals, pray over it, study His word, and seek counsel, which leads to spiritual growth.
Although Zechariah was a great prophet who saw many visions, he came to understand the correct meaning only after asking questions multiple times. Zechariah didn’t figure it out on his own. Who provided Zechariah with the correct answers? It was the angels who revealed the true meaning of the visions. So, to live a life where even what seems impossible becomes possible, I mentioned last Sunday that firstly, Zechariah exerted all his effort to understand the exact meaning of God's visions.
2. To live a life where even the impossible becomes possible, we need a guide who will lead us in the right direction.
So, who was the guide for the prophet Zechariah? It was the angel. In Zechariah 4:1, it says, "Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up…….." In Zechariah 4:4, it says, "I asked the angel who talked with me, 'What are these, my lord?'" And in Zechariah 4:5, "So, the angel who talked with me answered………." The angel sent by God acted as a guide, leading Zechariah in the right direction, so that even though he was a great prophet, he wouldn't make mistakes when dealing with sensitive spiritual visions. Since Adam sinned, people became slaves to sin, living under its influence.
Ephesians 2:2 says, “in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” However, for those of us who have now been freed from sin through faith in Jesus Christ, God Himself becomes our guide. Psalm 48:14 says, “For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Especially, the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us like orphans. He stays with us and guides us. John 14:18 says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” This is because we are fragile beings, unable to know even one step ahead, much like orphans who cannot foresee what tomorrow holds.
James 4:14 says, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Not only humans, but even animals have guides in their world. The Himalayas mountain are often called "the roof of the world," and because they are so high, even birds rarely cross over. However, the Indian goose, known for flying the highest in the world, crosses the Himalayas each winter to travel from Mongolia to warmer regions in India. When a flock of geese flies in a V-formation, the leader at the front pushes through strong winds, making it easier for the geese behind to follow. The leader guides the others. When passing over areas where eagles nest, before crossing the mountains, each goose holds a pebble in its beak. Even if one goose makes a sound, they could all become prey for the eagles. These geese fly for about 8 hours, relying solely on their wings, soaring through the sky where there is barely any oxygen. Throughout the journey, they continuously call out to each other, encouraging the leader as he struggles through the harsh winds, guiding them along. I believe that our Lord, who leads us higher, farther, stronger, and more safely than even the highest-flying Indian goose, is our ultimate guide. In John 10:11, we see Jesus declare His true identity: He says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” This is the scene where Jesus declares that He is the "Good Shepherd." The role of a shepherd is to guide the sheep.
But not just any shepherd - He is the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd leads the sheep, even to the point of laying down His life, and He says that the sheep know and follow the shepherd. John 10:14–15 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me - just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father - and I lay down My life for the sheep.” Sheep also have their own personalities. Some sheep don’t like certain types of grass, while there is grass that all sheep enjoy. The Good Shepherd knows the individuality of each sheep. Parents, too, must raise their children in this way. Good parents understand the individuality of their children.
It’s not about making their children follow blindly, but about understanding if they are introverted or extroverted, if they dislike too much talking, or if they prefer more conversation. This is how effective parenting works. Similarly, the sheep must also recognize and follow the shepherd. It is important for the sheep to know their shepherd. If a sheep mistakenly follows the wrong shepherd, they could fall into a pit of death instead of walking on the path of life. They could be led astray to a false church or deceived by a false prophet. While there are animals with highly developed senses of smell, sheep have welldeveloped hearing. They can distinguish between voices and know who their true shepherd is. John 10:27 says, "My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." It says, "My sheep listen to my voice." This means that the sheep hear the voice of their shepherd and follow him.
If a sheep doesn’t follow the voice of its shepherd, it can stray out of the shepherd’s sight. When that happens, the sheep may get lost or be devoured by wild animals, essentially becoming a lost cause. Therefore, sheep must listen to the voice of their shepherd. They recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him. During Jesus' time, shepherds would often place their sheep in a communal sheepfold at night because there weren’t enough facilities in the wilderness for individual folds. They built communal sheepfolds, and multiple shepherds kept their sheep together. In the morning, when it was time to leave the sheepfold, the shepherd would stand at the gate and call his sheep by name.
Despite being mixed with other sheep, the sheep would recognize their shepherd’s voice and follow only their own shepherd. So, who is our shepherd today? In 1 Peter 5:4, the term "Chief Shepherd" is mentioned: It says, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” This means that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is our Chief Shepherd. Hebrews 13:20 says, “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.” Among shepherds, Jesus is the "Great Shepherd of the sheep." Jesus is called both the "Chief Shepherd" and the "Great Shepherd," so today’s pastors and ministers in the church are "under-shepherds." Just as the resurrected Jesus met Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and asked him, "Do you love me?" followed by, "Feed my sheep," the ministers who lead congregations today are shepherds and guides for their flock. In John 21:15, 16, 17, it says, “Feed my lambs,” “Take care of my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” However, pastors, though shepherds, are under-shepherds who must resemble the Good Shepherd. They must not become hirelings. John 10:11–13 says, [11] I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. [13] The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. Therefore, pastors must listen carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit, following His guidance as they lead the sheep to green pastures and still waters, being strong and trustworthy guides.
Because Jesus is the "Chief Shepherd" and the "Great Shepherd," pastors must strive to become under-shepherds aligned with the will of Christ, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and following His leading. In today’s passage, we see Zechariah repeatedly asking the angel sent by God, "What is this?" and "What does this mean?" Though he conversed with an angel, since the angel was sent by God, Zechariah essentially relied on God as his guide. He constantly meditated on and depended on God, seeking His will and following it. Even though it had been 16 years since the Israelites had stopped building the temple, and they were in a frustrating situation where things weren’t progressing, they eventually broke through their problems by taking God as their guide. In this context, as we reflect today in our healing service, whether it be in the church, in our homes, or in our personal lives, there may be some among us who, like the Israelites in this passage, are in frustrating situations where "what should happen doesn’t, and what shouldn’t happen worsens." If there are such believers, they should repent for trying to live by their own strength, making decisions and using their own methods without a guide. Like Zechariah, they should make God, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit their guide, asking for guidance, receiving answers, and following in obedience. In doing so, even what seemed impossible will become possible, and what should happen will happen even better.
3. To live a life where even the impossible becomes possible, we must rely on the Holy Spirit, not on our own strength and abilities.
There is a hymn titled "Life" in the Manmin Praise collection, and the first line goes like this: "I thought someone like me could never make it, but the Shepherd said it was possible." Even though it seems like an impossible situation, why did the Shepherd say it was possible? The title of today’s message is “A Life Where (Even) the Impossible Becomes Possible.” But how can something that seems impossible become possible? In today’s scripture, verse 6 says: “So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” When Lazarus, who was dead, was brought back to life; when the dry bones in Ezekiel’s valley came to life and became an army; when the lame walked and leaped; when lepers were healed; when epilepsy was cured; and when demons were cast out,” worldly people would say, "How can such things happen?" It’s true that in the human world, such things don’t happen.
But in the Kingdom of God, such things do happen. In Romans 8:1–3, it says, “………..For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son……...” I found on the internet that different countries have their own unique laws - some are funny, some are absurd, and some are just amusing. In the small Pacific island nation of Samoa, it is illegal for a husband to forget his wife’s birthday. If the wife reports it, the husband will spend a night in jail.
On Germany’s expressway, there’s a fine of 110,000 korean won (about 100 us dollars) for driving until your gas runs out. In Switzerland, flushing the toilet after 10 p.m. is illegal because the noise could disturb the neighbors and cause disputes. In Michigan, USA, it is a crime for a wife to cut her hair without her husband’s permission. And in Milan, Italy, it is illegal to frown or have an unsmiling face in public - doing so can result in a fine. Kenya doesn’t have laws like these, right? But in other countries, these kinds of laws exist. Even though these laws may not exist in the physical world, in the spiritual world, such things can definitely happen. After the Israelites had finished their long exile, they returned to their homeland with great joy. However, when they arrived back home, they found their country in ruins. The Israelites devoted all their efforts to rebuilding the temple, but due to the intense opposition and threats from the surrounding Gentiles, they gave up on rebuilding the temple.
For 16 years, they couldn’t complete the construction. In this frustrating situation, God showed a vision to the prophet Zechariah and gave a decisive message that would enable the Israelites to successfully rebuild the temple. In the latter part of verse 6, it says, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Here, “might” refers to military strength, from the Hebrew word "khayil," and “power” refers to human will and effort, from the Hebrew word "koach." God’s work cannot be accomplished, no matter how well-trained the army or how wise and determined the people are, no matter how much effort they put in. So, how can it be done? The latter part of verse 6 says again: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” They were trying to rebuild the temple, but it wasn’t enough. In this sluggish state, 16 years later, God gave His message to Zerubbabel and the Israelites.
Today, there are likely people among you who need to hear this message. Many of you probably got married with the intention of building a happy and wonderful family. You had your first child and then your second, with high hopes and determination to raise them well, bringing you to where you are today. But like the state of Zerubbabel and the Israelites after 16 years of stagnation, there may be people here who are living with little progress, just surviving. It’s not something that can be achieved by gathering military power or smart people, nor through immense effort. It’s only by God’s power, by the Holy Spirit, that things will be accomplished. We have already announced the construction of a sanctuary that can accommodate 3,000 people. Some might think, “The construction costs will be huge, and raising building funds will be very difficult.” But we cannot do it by our own strength and ability. However, if the Holy Spirit moves, everything is possible. As we pray and come together in unity, I believe the difficult will become easy. When I went to Korea to attend the anniversary ceremony of our headquarter church in Seoul, I told my mother, "We are planning to build the Manmin Church in Nairobi."
To my surprise, even though I had not expected it, my mother offered to contribute to the building fund, giving me money for the cause. My mother is 95 years old, so what kind of money could she have? Yet she gave me 4 million Korean won, which is about 380,000 Kenyan shillings, saying it was for the building fund. Isn’t this also the work of the Holy Spirit? I didn’t ask her for money, and while it may not seem like a large sum compared to the total construction costs, I believe that when the Holy Spirit works, such offerings will accumulate to accomplish great things. That’s why Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? Is it like drinking a lot of water to fill our stomachs with it, or like taking deep breaths to fill ourselves with air? In the original text, it means "be filled by the Spirit." We are not the subject; the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is not a tool but a personal God who gives fullness. It’s not about drinking or breathing in the Holy Spirit, as one might drink water or inhale air. We must throw ourselves into the embrace of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine a swimming pool filled with water. Instead of scooping up the water to drink, we must dive into the pool and immerse our entire body in the water. In the same way, we must throw ourselves into the embrace of the Holy Spirit, feel His love fully, and be filled with His power. To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to place ourselves under His complete influence and control. In Ephesians 5:18, being filled with the Holy Spirit is contrasted with being drunk on wine: saying, “Do not get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit.” Why does it say not to get drunk on wine? What happens if you drive a car while drunk? Even the calmest person may drive recklessly, ignoring traffic laws. Being drunk impairs your ability because the alcohol controls you. You are no longer in control of yourself - the alcohol has taken over. Being filled with the Holy Spirit works in a similar way. For example, if you have lost your phone and can’t find your keys, you might pray, "Holy Spirit, please help me find my keys quickly.
I promise to be more careful next time." It’s not just about asking the Holy Spirit to help with small things like finding a phone. The point is to involve the Holy Spirit in every aspect of your life and recognize His presence. Whether you are doing housework, meeting someone, or working, you must always be aware of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to govern and guide your life. This is what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe that when all of us gathered here today are filled with the Holy Spirit, amazing healing and answers will come. There are many churches, but the ones that are growing are those filled with the Holy Spirit. In a Spirit-filled church, people are moved to tears, filled with joy, and touched by the Holy Spirit even before the service begins. When the headquarter church in Korea still had the old sanctuary, members would come an hour or two before service, waiting eagerly for the worship service. If they didn’t come early, they would have to sit in an overflow room. This is the mark of Spirit-filled believers and a Spirit-filled church. I believe our church will also become a Spirit-filled church, where people come early to sit in the front, preparing for worship with prayer, waiting in line to enter the sanctuary, and fervently praying during prayer meetings. That’s why I emphasize the "Upper Room Movement" in Mark’s Gospel. Our church must become like the Upper Room described in Acts Chapter 2. What will happen if we do? Let’s read Acts 2:1–7.
It’s a long passage, but let’s read it. When the Holy Spirit moves like fire, diseases are healed, prayers are answered, joy abounds, people have spiritual experiences, and God is glorified. People around us will be amazed, praise God, and join us in giving glory to Him. To conclude: In Zechariah 4:7, it says, “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ” The "great mountain" represents obstacles - the ones that prevented the Israelites from rebuilding the temple for 16 years.
God declares that the temple will certainly be rebuilt. At that time, all the people will say, "This was by God’s grace. God did this. He will be praised." Our Manmin Church must be a place that has a positive influence. People should notice something different about Manmin members.
I hope that each of you here today will be led by the Holy Spirit, our guide. And may you have faith that through the fiery help of the Holy Spirit, even the things that have been impossible until now will become possible. - END -
