“Zerubbabel … arose and built the altar of the God of Israel …” (Ezra 3:2, OAV)
The spirit of Zerubbabel is still under discussion. In his book: Zerubbabel and the Two Witnesses, Frank Borg suggests that “just as there was a Zerubbabel in the Old Testament who built the physical temple, there is also a New Testament Zerubbabel who builds the Church – or – spiritual temple”. In the previous teachings we already discussed the eight characteristic manifestations of this corporate spirit, that primarily empowers believers in the Bride of Christ to build this third, spiritual temple.
The ninth characteristic of the mantle or spirit of Zerubbabel that we would like to point out, is mentioned about him in Ezra 3:8: “… Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel … began work …”, and the verse in Ezra 3:2 which offers its compliment: “Zerubbabel … arose and built the altar of the God of Israel”, in other words, finished the job (the word “arose” in Hebrew carries the implied meaning of finishing the assignment).
People are usually either good with starting something, or good with carrying something through, they’re either beginners or fulfillers.
Years ago I was feeling quite despondent, as I had a tendency to start things, but never to finish them. I decided to call together “a counsel of many” (Prov. 11:14, ISV), to pray with me and inquire from God what the origin of this problem might be. [Sometimes we are so involved with a matter that it is difficult for us to hear what God is saying about it, and thus we hear conflicting things, or we hear in a contaminated manner, or not at all – everyone has some form of blind spot in terms of the answers they expect from the Lord. Often we also have an idol in our hearts, and God sends a lying spirit to answer us according to this idol (1 Kings 22:22). If you are unsure about a big decision, or have an issue about which you are not getting an answer from God, one can call together ‘a counsel of many’. Such a counsel, Prov. 11:14 indicates, brings “wisdom”, and from 1 Cor. 1:24 we know that “wisdom” is a typological name for Christ. If you consult a group of believers about your issue, you can expect that God will use the group to speak to you about His will.]
This counsel was different from other ‘counsels of many’ I had been part of or had led in the past, as no one had received a word from the Lord, except for one strange word received by a brother, who just got one word: Chrysler. He didn’t know what it meant, neither did I. I left with no conclusive guidance.
The next day I traveled to Zimbabwe to minister there, and whilst in line waiting to board my plane, the man in front of me turned around and said: “You are a Chrysler.” I was amazed! This is all he said, before walking away. I tried to follow him, but in the maze of the crowd lost his trail. On the flight back, the man was again ahead of me in line. I finally had the chance to ask him what it meant to be a Chrysler, and he explained that Walter Chrysler was the first person to start experimenting with what we know today as the modern motor car. The idea originated with him and he tried to build it, but eventually, because of his temperament and the slow realisation of his plans he had to eventually bow the knee before Henry Ford, who perfected the plan and then largely won the market. He explained that Chryslers are thus often the visionaries, but they need Ford to turn their dreams into practice.
According to God, I was a Chrysler.
Interestingly enough, Zerubbabel does not fit into this revelation, as the ninth characteristic of the spirit/mantle of Zerubabbel offers an alternative to being either a Chrysler or a Ford – Zerubbabel had to integrate the two, and be both. Zerubbabel began it, and Zerubbabel fulfilled it.
In the Body of Christ there are too many initiators who have big plans and jump into projects before calculating the cost (Luke 14:28). On the other end of the spectrum many Fords are often kept paralysed by their fear or starting something new. They prefer the comfort zone of what they’re engaged in already, and would rather work within someone else’s business or ministry than start their own.
The spirit of Zerubbabel requires that you be both a Chrysler and a Ford. Every individual in the Bride who carries this mantle is will learn that God requires both these sets of skills/abilities. Zech. 4:9 beautifully encapsulates this idea: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it.”
As we are in the process of restoration, to resemble the true character of God (2 Cor. 4:4), these “abilities” must be in accordance with Isa. 46:9-10: “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’.” The Bride moves within the perfect will of God, and thus knows what is God’s blueprint for their lives and for the world, therefore they are able to easily begin something new and complete the project.
The tenth characteristic of the spirit/mantle of Zerubbabel is found in Zech. 4:6: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Natural man wants his own way at all costs, and at all times. He drives a matter, manipulates or intimidates to get his way, is controlling and forces people to do things, and often gets a lot done in this way. He does not operate in God’s rest, but works with a preset agenda which he manages to make happen, come what may.
This is alas not the way in which things happen in the kingdom of God. In the Old Testament it is clear that God is the one saving his people, that it doesn’t happen “by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.” (Hos. 1:7). In the New Testament it is an absolute guideline of the Spirit-filled person. His invitation in Matt. 11:29-30 makes clear Jesus’s attitude in this regard: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” To this Paul says: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5). Jesus explains this simply and directly in Matt. 20:25:28: “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”
One could make a study of this attitude of absolute authority coupled with absolute humility, which Jesus demonstrated perfectly. Look at how this important guideline later also becomes Paul’s modus operandi: “just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many …” (1 Cor. 10:33). In 1 Cor. 2:4-5 he explains it as follows: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Or Peter who describes himself and others “nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
It is very important to realise that it is the Spirit that works things WITHIN you to develop this attitude – it is not a behaviour that can be learnt. As 2 Cor. 10:4 explains, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” Stubbornness, inaccessibility and rebellion grieves the Holy Spirit – “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.” (Isa. 63:10).
There is also immense comfort in the idea that you should not try and get something done at all costs, through violence and might, but that it’ll happen through the Spirit.
The eleventh characteristic of the mantle of Zerubbabel is spelled out in Zech. 4:7: “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” Within this lies an immensely big truth, which Jesus also later emphasized, in Matt. 21:21-22: “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’”
It is the anointing of Zerubbabel which brings about this positioning of faith. The mountain, according to the Amplified Bible, is a symbol of “heaps of human obstacles”. Jesus does not phrase this in terms of the negative, in the sense that your problems will be addressed and then removed. Instead he qualifies it by saying that everything you (TAKE NOTE: the plural you, not only you as individual) ask in prayer, will be received if you believe. There is in other words a very specific sense of the corporate that is involved in this mantle or anointing. The word is closely linked to the wondrous promise Jesus makes in John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” The words Jesus is referring to, are rhema-words, in other words the identities of each one in Christ! If the anointing of Zerubbabel lies in the foundation, we concluded earlier, the rhema-words are the living stones he uses to do that!
This corporate mantle thus has the ability to use the “ancient words” of Christ, to move them in a way that brings forth spiritual dynamism and synergy, power (1 Cor. 1:24). This conglomerate or cluster is what Ezek. 1:16 calls “a wheel within a wheel”, pockets of unity and excellence, within the Bride at large, and as verse 20 notes: “Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.”
An interesting Scripture in Isa. 40:4-5 (which is prophetically confirmed in Luke 3:5-6) phrases it as follows: “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” What a wondrous prospect – this mantle trailing across the earth, Zerubbabel finishing what God started!
- Selah: Explain Hab. 2:14 to someone in the light of the last three paragraphs.
- Read: 31-34; Prov. 15-17; Ps. 139.
- Memorise: 32:13.
