WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:13.855 Let's turn in our Bibles if we could to the book of Zechariah, the book of Zechariah, and we're turning to Zechariah chapter one, and we're gonna take time to read the whole chapter. 00:00:14.415 --> 00:00:19.455 Zechariah chapter one, and this is God's word. 00:00:19.775 --> 00:00:31.660 In the eighth month in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, to the son of Berechaeus son of Edus saying, the Lord was very angry with your fathers. 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:34.860 Therefore say to them, thus declares the Lord of hosts. 00:00:35.180 --> 00:00:40.380 Return to me says the Lord of hosts and I will return to you says the Lord of hosts. 00:00:41.535 --> 00:00:55.375 Do not be like your fathers to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds, but they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 00:00:55.720 --> 00:00:57.560 Your fathers, where are they? 00:00:57.800 --> 00:01:00.280 And the prophets, do they live forever? 00:01:01.160 --> 00:01:07.880 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? 00:01:08.255 --> 00:01:16.335 So they repented and said, as the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so was he dealt with us. 00:01:16.975 --> 00:01:33.330 On the twenty fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shippat in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah to the son of Berechas, son of Edo, saying, I saw in the night and behold a man riding on a red horse. 00:01:33.650 --> 00:01:40.575 He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 00:01:40.815 --> 00:01:43.055 Then I said, what are these, my lord? 00:01:43.055 --> 00:01:47.935 And the angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what they are. 00:01:48.175 --> 00:01:55.310 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, these are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth. 00:01:55.710 --> 00:02:06.510 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, we have patrolled the earth and behold, all the earth remains at rest. 00:02:06.995 --> 00:02:17.635 Then the angel of the Lord said, O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah against which you have been angry these seventy years? 00:02:17.955 --> 00:02:23.900 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:29.100 So the angel who talked with me said to me, cry out, thus says the Lord of hosts. 00:02:29.260 --> 00:02:36.780 I'm exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion, and I'm exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease. 00:02:37.085 --> 00:02:41.405 For while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. 00:02:41.725 --> 00:02:45.965 Therefore thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. 00:02:46.205 --> 00:02:53.970 My house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 00:02:54.050 --> 00:02:56.930 Cry out again, thus says the Lord of hosts. 00:02:57.010 --> 00:03:04.930 My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem. 00:03:05.495 --> 00:03:10.055 And I lifted my eyes and saw and behold four horns. 00:03:10.215 --> 00:03:13.495 And I said to the angel who talked with me, what are these? 00:03:13.495 --> 00:03:18.775 And he said to me, these are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 00:03:19.330 --> 00:03:25.090 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen, and I said, what are these coming to do? 00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:40.585 He said, these are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one raised his head, and these have come to terrify them to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it. 00:03:40.825 --> 00:03:41.305 Amen. 00:03:41.305 --> 00:03:44.185 May God bless His word to our hearts. 00:03:44.185 --> 00:03:53.170 Now this evening, we're recommencing our series on the book of Zechariah, which we're calling longing for God in an age of discouragement. 00:03:53.410 --> 00:03:56.370 And tonight, we're coming to the end of chapter one. 00:03:56.370 --> 00:04:01.090 We're looking specifically and focusing on verses 18 to 21. 00:04:01.330 --> 00:04:07.705 And the title of my message this evening is The Assault and the Defense of God's People. 00:04:07.865 --> 00:04:10.745 The Assault and Defense of God's People. 00:04:11.065 --> 00:04:14.345 Now let me pose a pertinent question to you. 00:04:14.505 --> 00:04:21.700 Can the church of Jesus Christ survive the forces that are ranging and building up against it at this time. 00:04:22.020 --> 00:04:53.510 We look out in the world and we see pressures on Christianity coming from other religions and we see the ever growing new atheism within society today growing up and mocking Christianity as something that's harmful and we see that even with legislation that's being brought by government today and even in Northern Ireland with the conversion therapy bill, which is quite simply a bill to, push Christianity into the corner. 00:04:53.910 --> 00:05:03.695 And then, of course, there's violent persecution being faced by brothers and sisters in other countries this evening for whom death for Jesus' sake is really no theory. 00:05:03.855 --> 00:05:05.055 It's the real thing. 00:05:05.695 --> 00:05:08.495 And the church in the West often seems to be weak. 00:05:08.575 --> 00:05:10.095 It seems to be anemic. 00:05:10.095 --> 00:05:11.775 It seems to be apologetic. 00:05:11.775 --> 00:05:18.900 It seems to be more interested in getting targets down as far as carbon zero is concerned. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:30.165 They're more concerned, I was in, let me see where it was, it was in Litchfield Cathedral and in Litchfield Cathedral the the great theme of Litchfield Cathedral was save the wheel. 00:05:30.165 --> 00:05:39.765 They were gonna save the wheel, and they had big wheels all coming down from the ceiling, and they had a 180 photographs of wheels, and they were really concerned about wheels. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:51.260 And you know the church in the West is slowly but surely finding itself becoming weak and anemic. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:57.375 And you know history shows places that once had a great influence for Christ. 00:05:57.375 --> 00:06:16.850 You had North Africa, we're familiar with the seven churches in Asia Minor where the church has largely vanished or meets now in secret meets in fear And could such things come to be our own part, be part of our world here in our country? 00:06:16.930 --> 00:06:24.625 Could such things be seen and experienced by us in The United Kingdom and more specifically in Northern Ireland. 00:06:25.105 --> 00:06:30.225 It certainly seems that the people of God are under attack and the churches are closing everywhere. 00:06:30.225 --> 00:06:46.630 There is growth in other parts of the world, but in our parts of the world you've in Edinburgh, London, Belfast and Cardiff particularly in the Welsh Valleys there's this moving away churches are closing what is really to become of us in these days. 00:06:47.270 --> 00:06:50.550 Well Zechariah's second vision, Zechariah has five visions. 00:06:50.935 --> 00:07:11.580 We have looked at the first vision which concerned the horses and now we're coming and we're looking at the second vision this evening that's outlined for us in chapter one verses eighteen and twenty one and he answers this question in relation to the church, the conflict that the church experiences, the defense that the church must make. 00:07:13.020 --> 00:07:16.300 And there are two things that we want to look at this evening. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:24.115 We want to look at the assault on God's people, that's the first thing, and then secondly the defense of God's people. 00:07:24.115 --> 00:07:28.915 So those are the two things that we're going to spend our time looking at this evening. 00:07:28.915 --> 00:07:31.795 The assault and the defense of God's people. 00:07:31.795 --> 00:07:35.310 So first of all, the assault on God's people. 00:07:35.310 --> 00:07:36.590 The assault on God's people. 00:07:36.590 --> 00:07:39.710 Now look at what we're told here in verse 18. 00:07:39.710 --> 00:07:44.270 And I lifted my eyes and saw and behold four horns. 00:07:44.830 --> 00:07:52.855 And there's a mystery in this vision and we're not told if the horns were attached to anything or that they were floating but their significance is clear. 00:07:52.855 --> 00:08:00.935 We know horns in Scripture symbolizes the strength and the power and the might of nations and other things. 00:08:02.020 --> 00:08:09.860 Further Zechariah informs us in verse 19 that these are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. 00:08:10.020 --> 00:08:18.825 And the picture is of a wild animal I suppose charging or goring or trampling and scattering the people into exile. 00:08:19.625 --> 00:08:23.785 And in the first instance this points to the Babylonian exile. 00:08:23.785 --> 00:08:33.790 As you know the children of Israel have been taken into captivity in Babylon for seventy years and there's mention of Judah and Israel. 00:08:33.790 --> 00:08:36.270 These are names for the covenant people of God. 00:08:36.270 --> 00:08:47.745 It's really referring specifically to the Southern Kingdom because that's who Zechariah was ministering to God's chosen nation and the city where God said that he dwelt. 00:08:48.065 --> 00:08:50.945 And they had been trampled and they had been scattered. 00:08:51.665 --> 00:09:00.520 And then they had returned and the older returnees remembered or at least knew of fathers and grandfathers who had been carted off to Babylon. 00:09:00.680 --> 00:09:02.120 The walls were down. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:05.240 The temple was slowly being built. 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:09.720 The place is really a wreck because of the horns of the nations. 00:09:10.455 --> 00:09:19.735 And yet the reference goes wider here because in verse 21 it speaks of the nations plural, who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah. 00:09:19.975 --> 00:09:24.490 It embraces all who attacked God's people throughout Israel's history. 00:09:24.490 --> 00:09:26.890 Again and again cities were laid waste. 00:09:27.050 --> 00:09:28.330 People were suffering. 00:09:28.570 --> 00:09:38.705 Prophecy often has a near fulfillment as we know and then a wider application ultimately finding its heart in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:38.785 --> 00:09:56.420 So the four horns stand for all the enemies of the people of God in every age, individuals, rulers, nations, institutions, false religions, horns of every kind have always assaulted the church. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:11.715 And because life has been relatively easy for Christians in some parts of the world for several generations, we can think of our own land, we can assume ease is normal and we're surprised when hardships come. 00:10:11.715 --> 00:10:23.650 I was talking to two men from the Brethren who had been out around in a state and they were going door to door and they said to me they couldn't get over how aggressive people were with them, how things had changed. 00:10:24.050 --> 00:10:26.690 And I said well nothing is really new. 00:10:28.690 --> 00:10:29.970 Nothing is new. 00:10:30.210 --> 00:10:34.995 And you know we we have to realize that we shouldn't be surprised when hardship comes. 00:10:35.075 --> 00:10:39.715 In the sweep of history prolonged peace for the church is an exceptional thing. 00:10:39.715 --> 00:10:44.595 The usual condition is opposition and Jesus warned us. 00:10:44.790 --> 00:11:01.755 We know in John chapter 16 in verse 33 in this world you will have tribulation and yet even before that in the preceding chapter in John 15 verse 20 Jesus stated if they persecuted me they will persecute you also. 00:11:02.075 --> 00:11:08.235 And the world treated the sinless savior as we know with great contempt. 00:11:08.555 --> 00:11:09.755 They hated him. 00:11:09.915 --> 00:11:16.180 They projected violence upon him, nailing him to a cross, and we shouldn't expect any better. 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:23.140 And in Psalm 22 on the Savior's lips at the cross, of course, he said, see of me from the horns of the wild ox. 00:11:24.020 --> 00:11:30.765 And the pattern was set early after Stephen's death if you remember reference made to that in Acts chapter eight and verse one. 00:11:30.765 --> 00:11:40.770 There arose in that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem and they were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. 00:11:41.010 --> 00:11:42.770 Church history confirms it. 00:11:42.770 --> 00:11:54.165 We only have to look at the Roman persecutions in the first three centuries of the beginning of the church AD. 00:11:54.805 --> 00:12:04.245 And then we can move to the Waldensians in Italy and we can move to other groups like the Huguenos in France under the cross and the Covenanters in Scotland. 00:12:04.405 --> 00:12:10.190 And then we've got the church under communism and believers suffering today under Islam. 00:12:11.230 --> 00:12:18.830 And behind the horns of course stands the devil himself who's prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 00:12:19.150 --> 00:12:31.855 Uses, he uses outward attacks and then he uses more subtle assaults of false teaching and division and immorality and sometimes the damage has been devastating and the assaults on God's people are real. 00:12:33.695 --> 00:12:35.215 Now what does this mean for us? 00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:44.340 Well, first of all, let's stop being surprised at how the church is being derided in these days. 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:59.515 When opposition arrives arises, whether it be mockery at work, whether pressure on our children, hostility in the public square, or news of persecution elsewhere, do not act as if something strange were happening. 00:13:00.235 --> 00:13:03.435 The Lord told us it would be so. 00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:11.400 The second thing is examine your own heart and life and have the years of relative ease made us soft? 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:13.400 Have they made us worldly? 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:15.080 Have they silenced us? 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:25.415 The horns are not only outside as I've already pointed out, the devil loves to work inside the camp through compromise and division, unchecked sin, false teaching. 00:13:26.295 --> 00:13:32.295 And we have to guard our churches and we have to guard our homes and we have to guard our walk. 00:13:32.890 --> 00:13:45.290 And then thirdly, remember and pray for the suffering church because we have brothers and sisters around the world tonight who face the horns and they face it every day. 00:13:46.515 --> 00:13:49.315 And they really, in many ways, don't need our sympathy. 00:13:49.315 --> 00:13:55.235 They need our earnest intercession and where possible they need our practical support. 00:13:55.555 --> 00:14:02.620 And finally, we should prepare ourselves and we should prepare our families for what is coming. 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:07.500 We've got to teach our children that following Christ is going to cost. 00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:16.355 We've got to strengthen one another now while there's still the opportunity so that when the pressure increases, we're not found unready or ashamed. 00:14:16.435 --> 00:14:31.380 The assault on God's people, that's what Zachariah is talking about here and he's talking about it in the context, yes, of Judah of old, but he's talking about it also in the context of the church of today. 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:40.885 But then secondly, I want you to see the defense of God's people, The defense of God's people. 00:14:41.285 --> 00:14:44.245 Praise God, that's not the whole of the vision. 00:14:44.565 --> 00:14:46.725 There's something very encouraging here. 00:14:46.805 --> 00:14:51.685 And note what we're told in verse 20, then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 00:14:52.530 --> 00:15:04.050 And then verse 21 continues, and these have come to terrify them to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it. 00:15:04.530 --> 00:15:07.730 Four horns are met by four craftsmen. 00:15:08.425 --> 00:15:10.265 And God has made adequate provision. 00:15:10.265 --> 00:15:11.625 That's what we're seeing here. 00:15:11.785 --> 00:15:14.585 The visions were given to encourage. 00:15:15.225 --> 00:15:22.540 That's why they were given to Zechariah that he might go preach and encourage the people, not to terrify them. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:26.060 And the exiles knew the power of the horns from better experience. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.380 They knew the history of Israel. 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:34.460 They knew how they've been taken off to captivity in Babylon, but that's not the most important part of the story. 00:15:34.745 --> 00:15:39.625 What matters is what God actually does to these horns. 00:15:40.745 --> 00:15:44.665 This doesn't mean of course that Christians will not suffer. 00:15:44.665 --> 00:15:45.465 They'll never suffer. 00:15:45.465 --> 00:15:54.100 Jesus we know promised as we have already looked at tribulation and those today who claim enough faith removes suffering. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:16:02.340 It's absolutely unbiblical and yet suffering doesn't mean events are out of God's control or that he has ceased to protect his church. 00:16:02.945 --> 00:16:06.865 The true people of God will not be finally overcome. 00:16:07.505 --> 00:16:14.785 Remember what we're told in Isaiah chapter 54 and verse 17, No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed. 00:16:14.785 --> 00:16:16.465 We're talking about this eternally. 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:27.080 The horns are real and can inflict real pain for a time and at the end of the day they cannot prevail and will not have the final victory. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.320 Consider Babylon. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:38.045 So powerful, the temples and ruins, Jerusalem is wrecked, Jerusalem's walls are torn down. 00:16:38.765 --> 00:16:39.965 Where is it now? 00:16:40.365 --> 00:16:45.430 Where is Babylon now after doing that to Jerusalem and the temple? 00:16:45.670 --> 00:16:54.070 It's a relic in the sounds of Iraq somewhere and when it had served God's purpose of chastening Judah, He tossed it aside. 00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:56.790 One night as you know Belshazzar defied God. 00:16:57.635 --> 00:17:01.555 By morning of course the Persians had taken the kingdom. 00:17:01.875 --> 00:17:04.035 And where's the Persian Empire today? 00:17:04.195 --> 00:17:06.515 Well Alexander the Great swept it away. 00:17:06.835 --> 00:17:12.595 The four great kingdoms of Daniel chapter seven, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. 00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:13.880 They're gone. 00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:20.520 And when they finished the work that God had appointed them to do, He swept them into oblivion. 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:25.960 The vision underlines of course for us the sovereignty of God, not the sovereignty of the nations. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.505 His church cannot be destroyed. 00:17:28.505 --> 00:17:36.185 It may suffer in places, it may even disappear in places, but the church of Jesus Christ is indestructible. 00:17:36.905 --> 00:17:38.585 And our God is eternal. 00:17:38.585 --> 00:17:48.590 Our God is Almighty and even Satan cannot take one step beyond what our God permits as the opening chapters of the book of Job demonstrate to us. 00:17:49.310 --> 00:17:51.630 He's like a dangerous dog on a leash. 00:17:51.790 --> 00:17:53.470 That's what the devil is. 00:17:53.470 --> 00:17:55.070 He's limited by the hand of God. 00:17:56.475 --> 00:17:58.635 Who are these four craftsmen? 00:17:58.795 --> 00:18:02.635 This can also be translated blacksmiths or masons. 00:18:02.635 --> 00:18:03.515 Who are these? 00:18:03.515 --> 00:18:11.035 Well they're symbolic of every means God uses in His infinite wisdom to protect the church and destroy His enemies. 00:18:11.490 --> 00:18:17.730 Individuals such as Cyrus were raised up to allow the children of Israel to return. 00:18:18.130 --> 00:18:27.805 It refers to governments and institutions, direct divine intervention we may never even see, but God is moving behind the scenes. 00:18:28.205 --> 00:18:31.885 And central to that defense, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 00:18:31.885 --> 00:18:35.965 We we go to Psalm two, and it shows the nations raging. 00:18:35.965 --> 00:18:39.885 God's response is to install His king in Zion. 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:51.020 And that King is none other than Christ who shed His blood for the church who bought His people at such a cost crucified, risen and glorified. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:19:00.125 And Paul tells us and He the Father put all things under His Christ's feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church. 00:19:00.525 --> 00:19:08.765 Supremely Christ is the craftsman who throws down, who destroys these horns. 00:19:09.005 --> 00:19:11.005 And that's why the church cannot be destroyed. 00:19:11.520 --> 00:19:13.280 It's Christ's church. 00:19:13.520 --> 00:19:15.040 It's precious to Him. 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:17.200 He will judge all who will attack it. 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:22.480 And at the last day every enemy of course will be put under his feet. 00:19:23.495 --> 00:19:28.295 Revelation chapter 19 shows the rider on the white horse going forth to conquer. 00:19:28.295 --> 00:19:32.455 The decisive victory was already won at the cross in the empty tomb. 00:19:32.535 --> 00:19:33.575 It's finished. 00:19:34.375 --> 00:19:36.215 Not one of his people will be lost. 00:19:36.215 --> 00:19:42.290 Everyone brought or bought with his blood will be kept secure in the day of glory. 00:19:42.690 --> 00:19:49.330 And though Satan rages and the horns cause pain, not one believer can be snatched from Christ's hand. 00:19:51.775 --> 00:19:53.855 How are we to live in the light of that? 00:19:54.815 --> 00:19:57.295 Well, first we've got to take courage, haven't we? 00:19:57.455 --> 00:20:02.015 The church is not a fragile institution, limping towards extinction. 00:20:02.015 --> 00:20:08.220 It's a blood bought people of the risen King and he will not let it fall. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:13.100 And we have got to lift up our heads and we have got to take courage in who our God is. 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:18.140 Second, we have got to fix our eyes on the craftsman, not on the horns. 00:20:18.785 --> 00:20:29.585 When the news is dark, when the culture turns hostile, when your own heart trembles, have got to look to Christ crucified, risen and reigning. 00:20:30.225 --> 00:20:32.385 He's already victorious. 00:20:33.260 --> 00:20:38.380 Third servants speak with holy boldness because the final outcome is certain. 00:20:39.020 --> 00:20:40.300 Needn't be paralyzed. 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:41.900 We needn't fear in any way. 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:43.580 We've got to preach the gospel. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:46.780 We have got to tell people about the truth. 00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:48.460 We have got to stand for righteousness. 00:20:48.645 --> 00:20:55.205 We have got to love the brethren knowing that no weapon forged against us will ultimately prosper. 00:20:56.245 --> 00:21:01.525 And the craftsmen of this vision remind us of what God said through Jeremiah. 00:21:01.525 --> 00:21:04.005 If you remember, it is not my word, Jeremiah said. 00:21:04.430 --> 00:21:11.150 It is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. 00:21:11.630 --> 00:21:14.990 God's Word, the Bible is ever sufficient. 00:21:15.470 --> 00:21:25.725 It's an ever sufficient weapon in the battle both corporately for the church and individually for the Christian capable of knocking down every upraised horn. 00:21:26.765 --> 00:21:38.570 Paul writes, if you remember in two Corinthians ten:four-five, For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 00:21:38.890 --> 00:21:47.610 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 00:21:48.165 --> 00:22:00.965 The same word, this hammer that's so useful for building, building us up spiritually is equally useful in battle with every spiritual foe. 00:22:01.760 --> 00:22:22.125 And then the fourth thing is we've got to rest in God's sovereignty, even the rage of Satan, the fact that he's on a leash, nothing reaches you except through the wise permission of your father and therefore don't give way to panic or despair and give yourself to prayer, to faithfulness, to quiet confidence. 00:22:22.125 --> 00:22:26.205 Encourage one another with these words, The craftsmen are at work. 00:22:26.685 --> 00:22:27.645 God is at work. 00:22:28.430 --> 00:22:31.870 His great craftsman Jesus Christ is going before us. 00:22:31.870 --> 00:22:36.590 Christ is defending His own, the defence of God's people. 00:22:37.710 --> 00:22:41.070 The assault and the defence of God's people. 00:22:41.895 --> 00:22:43.655 What are the lessons that we have learned? 00:22:43.655 --> 00:22:48.135 Well first the assaults are real and they shouldn't surprise us. 00:22:48.295 --> 00:23:00.030 The horns have always been there, outward persecution, inward corruption because the world that hated the master will hate his servants and the devil of course will seek to devour. 00:23:00.110 --> 00:23:02.910 Ease is not the church's normal condition. 00:23:04.350 --> 00:23:08.350 Second, the defense is sure and should steady us. 00:23:08.830 --> 00:23:10.270 God has made full provision. 00:23:10.270 --> 00:23:11.470 There's four craftsmen. 00:23:12.045 --> 00:23:13.725 It's the answer to four horns. 00:23:13.725 --> 00:23:17.325 No weapon forged against God's people will finally prevail. 00:23:17.325 --> 00:23:19.565 He smashes them in pieces. 00:23:19.725 --> 00:23:22.125 Empires rise and fall at His word. 00:23:22.285 --> 00:23:28.720 Satan is leashed above all Christ the King who bought the church with His blood defends it. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.160 His victory is finished. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.600 His people are secure. 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:33.280 His enemies are destroyed. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:44.375 And therefore we don't minimize the battle nor do we fix our eyes on the horns so that the enemy looms large and perhaps we grow intimidated. 00:23:44.935 --> 00:23:47.095 We fix our eyes on the Lord. 00:23:47.415 --> 00:23:57.230 We fix our eyes on the defense of his people in and through Christ and the Savior who bought us will not let us go and will not let our salvation feel. 00:23:57.230 --> 00:24:08.145 The craftsmen of God are at work and the victory is certain and Satan is defeated and Christ is King and his church is secure. 00:24:08.145 --> 00:24:28.210 So let us this evening realise that and take it on board, that our God is in control, that our Saviour is the one who has accomplished the victory, and in all that is happening, he's got us here for such a time as this, and that we are to make our stand for him. 00:24:28.290 --> 00:24:30.850 May God bless his word to our hearts.