Pastor Podcast - Zechariah 3 - From the Fire to a Fig Tree

Each week Pastor Mark takes time to go deeper and talk about the week's message!  If you have questions you'd like him to answer or hear more about please send those in by texting us at the link in the show notes!

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A courtroom scene turns into a celebration. We open Zechariah 3 and watch the accuser speak, only to be shut down as the Lord declares rescue, removes filthy garments, and clothes Joshua the high priest with festal glory. From there, the vision moves fast and deep—rebuke, cleansing, a crown, and a calling—until “the Branch” is promised and iniquity is removed in a single day. It’s a compact chapter loaded with hope that doesn’t sidestep the truth about sin, shame, or self‑righteousness.

We share the scriptures that keep us steady in hard seasons and reflect on Jesus in Mark 10, walking ahead toward suffering to save us. That picture reframes leadership as presence and service rather than power and push. The cleansing of Joshua becomes a mirror for our hearts: God doesn’t just expose the stain, He removes it and gives us His righteousness. We talk candidly about repenting not only of obvious sins but of the “good” we do to be seen, and how imputed righteousness frees us from spiritual résumé building.

Grace, though, is not the finish line—it’s the launchpad. Joshua’s new clothes come with stewardship, access, and a charge to serve. We explore what faithful leadership looks like when our goal is to be a sign pointing to God’s glory. Then the horizon widens with the promise of the Messiah—the Branch from the root of Jesse—who brings lasting peace. Picture this future: everyone inviting a neighbor to sit under the vine and fig tree, abundance without fear. That’s not just someday; it reshapes how we live now, opening our tables and our lives to others with courage and joy.

If this conversation strengthens your faith or sparks a new question, share it with a friend, subscribe for the next chapter in Zechariah, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of Zechariah 3 most encouraged you today?

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Intro music by Joey Blair

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Well, hey, Lifehouse family. Welcome back to our Time for Reflection with Pastor Mark and each week Joy. We spend some more time going deeper. If this is your first time joining us, we hope it's a blessing to you if you've been journeying with us. A great time just to continue to dig into the scripture we've been going through and working through Zechariah. So working working forward, chapter three. Just uh taking taking time just to settle on this vision this week. I know last week we covered three. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

So this is the fourth of eight.

Why These Visions Encourage Obedience

SPEAKER_01 0:45

Fourth of eight. So we got more visions to go. So, but a very good one. And so we can start. We can read. It's ten verses, but I know we talked by yesterday, meant to be very honest but encouraging, you know, so much we can get from this. So Zechariah chapter three says, Then he showed me that Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is not this the brand plucked from the fire? Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed in filthy garments, and the angel said to those who were standing before him, Remove the filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have taken away your iniquity, and I will clothe you with pure vestments. And I said, Let them put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head, and clothed him with garments, and the angel of the Lord was standing by. And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, Thus says the Lord of hosts, if you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are assigned. Behold, I will bring my servant the branch, for behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree. So much in this. I know you had to go four points this week. Yeah, I did. Yeah. Ten verses, four points. But yeah, so much we can get out of these. And I know you kind of started with verses that encourage us. And this would definitely be one of those.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

So these visions, this vision in particular, and the eight visions were profoundly encouraging to the people of God, so much so that they did what God wanted them to do. They inspired, they motivated, encouraged the people so that they rose up where they had been disobedient, like they were obedient, like they were so blessed by these words, these uh reiteration of the promises in essence, that they finished the work. Like they the temple needed to be rebuilt. God wanted them to do that, and so they asked, they did it. And so I was just kind of thinking and reflecting. I thought a good way to start this would be to ask, you know, one another, like what's what have been maybe encouraging verses, uh, experiences that you've had that have motivate you, motivated you from disobedience to obedience or discouragement to encouragement, you know. Anything come to your mind?

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Yeah, and so many. I think you know, I always feel like you know where we talk, it's like my favorite, one of my favorite Bible is one of my favorite Bible. There were so many good ones. So many. So hard, but I'm always reminded, I think, especially you know, in certain tough times, I think it's Psalm 31, 15. David talking at the time says that my time is in your God's hands. So just reminding to be patient, that God is always working, you know, that time, especially, you know, we're in a society that's so busy and we want things in our time, for instance, reminding us that time is in God's hands. Yeah. And just so much, you know, as we walk through in our walk, things we wanted, if God had given us what we wanted when we wanted it, we probably wouldn't have been ready or couldn't have handled it. So his timing is always perfect, has been one that's been impactful to me.

Personal Scriptures That Sustain Faith

SPEAKER_00 4:32

That's good. Yeah. For me, I think of, and I say this often, is the picture of Jesus. So Mark chapter 10, Jesus tells his disciples on three occasions, Mark 10 being one of them, of what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. And specifically, Mark describes and says that Jesus was walking ahead of the disciples as they were on the road. They were dragging their feet, the disciples were, because they heard what Jesus said about the suffering, you know, that was going to happen and take place there. So they weren't looking forward to getting Jerusalem. And I'm sure Jesus wasn't looking forward to the suffering either, but he was walking ahead of them. And just, you know, coupled with, you know, the prophecy in Isaiah that says that his face would be set like flint, like just the intentionality, the determination, uh, Jesus was going to Jerusalem, not for his sake, but for my sake. And when I picture Jesus on the road in that manner, walking in that way, it just is humbling. And it just, I mean, for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, like putting that all together just really is impactful for me. It puts me in my place and gets me to the right place if I'm in the wrong place, you know.

SPEAKER_01 5:40

So that's much of a leadership lesson in that, too. We know Jesus gives us so much. It's too often people want to treat the Bible as like a leadership manual, but Jesus was the ultimate servant leader, but going before us, you know, he always goes before us, he leads us that way. Too much leadership in our society is often like power-driven and trying to push people rather than going ahead of people and leading them where you want to go. And that's what Christ did for us.

Jesus Leads Toward Suffering To Save

SPEAKER_00 6:04

So he was on a rescue mission, and that's kind of what I see is like he's he's not in a hurry to suffer, he's in a hurry to save, you know. So, yeah, I just I'm blessed by that. So yeah, and that's what this this vision with the eight visions, uh, that God, the word of the Lord that came to Zechariah in the form of these visions, I mean, it was uh extraordinarily encouraging. And so this vision, uh, we see Joshua the high priest, right? This isn't Joshua, uh the son of Nun who fit the battle of Jericho. There's lots of Joshua's in the Bible. This one in particular was the high priest that returned with the exiles from captivity, and he was, this was under the old covenant, high priests were the mediators between God and his people. And so everyone in that community of faith, they knew who Joshua was, and they regarded and respected Joshua as the high priest. And we see him in this vision as a representative of the people. And uh yeah, so the first uh thing that the first point uh that we talked about was uh how the Lord Jesus, we believe the angel of the Lord pictured here or described here is Jesus. And there's many reasons you know why we can come to that conclusion, but in particular, the ministry that we see the angel, like we see intercession here, we see imputation of righteousness. This is what Jesus does, and so because of these facts and uh how he even responds to Satan. So Satan's there to accuse Joshua, right? Standing at the right hand of Joshua in the vision. Uh, but and I love uh the Lord, the angel of the Lord, Jesus, rebukes Satan, oh Satan. And there's exclamation points here. So he's not just like politely saying, you know, sit down, Satan, I don't want to hear whatever. Like he is saying, I rebuke you. Have I not chosen Jerusalem? Is not this a brand plucked from the fire? In other words, like I have a plan for these people. Clearly, I've shown them mercy, so I don't want to hear what you have to say, you know. And they deserve condemnation, right? Right. They deserve to be in the fire, the fires of Babylonian captivity. Like, so in application to us, like the fires of hell, right, where there will be unquenchable fire, weeping and gnashing of teeth, like that's what you know, and it's not uh when that expression, a brand plucked from the fire, so a twig or a stick, the picture is of a fire. We've all been around the campfire. You know, if you let the fire burn, all the sticks are completely consumed and they become ash. But this one stick, representative of the people of God, has been plucked, seized, snatched, not plucked like you pluck petals from a flower, but it's an aggressive Hebrew word that's translated there. Plucked, like aggressively. And Jesus, you know, says to Satan, like, like, I don't want to hear what you had to say, because I have a plan for these people. I've rescued, I've I've set my love upon them, I've plucked them from the fire for a purpose. So encouraging because that that's what he does for us as believers. Anyone who is saved by grace through faith in Jesus, we were on the road when we did not believe, we were condemned, like on the road of condemnation, but we were plucked, seized, snatched from that road, and transferred into the kingdom of the beloved son. So any thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Yeah, I think encouraging but sobering, you know, like we were in the fire. That's where we were headed. And I know we get to the filthy rags, you know, those are our reality apart from Christ, before Christ. That's who we were. And many of us probably have people we know who are still in that situation. So it should really be a sobering reality of without God's mercy, without Christ, that. But then encourage us that we have been plucked from the fire. Plucked from the fire. What we see with the filthy garments being removed, and that we are given we're cleansed, right, by the blood of Christ. We are given the new garments. So very encouraging when that we see that that's not our reality in Christ. Yeah. But what we were kind of always we can be forgetful people sometimes. Forget the government members from.

Joshua The High Priest As Representative

SPEAKER_00 10:12

But that's where I think that this is so impactful because you know, I think that there is a degree of, you know, sometimes it's ignorance. People just don't realize, no. I mean, I think about in regards to plucking or snatching someone from the fire, I think about my grandkids, right, two and three years old, you know, sometimes oblivious to the dangers that surround them. And, you know, in this, in essence, they can be running to the street or get a little close to the campfire, and you have to snatch them, you know, to rescue them and deliver them from harm, from hurt. And so that's in essence what what what you know we see in this picture. Um, but secondly, the second point is he doesn't just snatch us from the fire, he purifies us from sin and sinfulness. And, you know, the next part of the vision, Zechariah says that he sees Joshua, the high priest, clothed in filthy garments. And what's interesting that may not translate to us is the word that's translated as filthy, like there's not a more or a stronger Hebrew word that's used. So it was literally disgusting, grotesque garments. You know, I mean, think of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:14

Like a little stain, you know.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

No, it wasn't just like, yeah, and really, you know, what the Lord requires is holiness, purity, he hates sin. And really, that is a representation. Those filthy garments are a representation of sin and sinfulness. And so this high priest, as a representation of the people, was filthy standing before the angel of the Lord, before the righteous judge. And so that's a, you know, when you think about your own life, but but he doesn't just stay there in those filthy garments. What does what happens next?

SPEAKER_01 11:43

Right. Those are removed. We are given clean garments, new garments, given that new creation put on Christ's righteousness, not our own, imputed to us is it's a beautiful picture. It is a beautiful picture.

The Accuser Rebuked And Mercy Declared

SPEAKER_00 11:56

And I think that so oftentimes we were talking before this video, you know. I think about my own testimony, and I grew up in church, uh, was involved. We were, you know, I mean, we were all in, but I was not saved. I had a false sense of security. And when I got saved, actually saved, part of that was the Lord graciously revealing to me in a profound way my depravity, my filth, you know, despite the verses that I had memorized and sang, you know, and despite the way I dressed and the fight, the fact that I didn't, I, you know, I didn't do what other people did in regards to licentiousness and drunkenness. So I felt pretty good about myself, but I didn't realize that I didn't just fall short of the glory of God, but that I too was a sinner in desperate need of a savior. And so there's that, like this revelation of the need, but it's not just that revelation, that exposure or that exposing. It's also in conjunction with the exposing of the need, the exposing or the the revealing of the answer to the need. It's not just like hey, you got cancer, good luck, go on your way, or you know, you stink, you're filthy, get out of my presence. It's hey, you're filthy. Like, let's do something about it. And the angel of the Lord removed the filthy garments and then clothed with pure vestments or festal garments. And so we're talking in describing that that points to not just any old uh outfit, right? Not just better than the filthy, but festal garments. And so like clothes that you would have worn to a wedding celebration or like a formal, you know, this were these these were clothes that were intended like the best, you know. It's beautiful. The transition, like you think about like those, we we've seen those makeover shows, right? You know, but a tangible description or or reality, like there's there, that's what takes place, spiritually speaking, when our sins are washed away in the blood of Christ. There's a complete transformation, and it's a beautiful thing, and this is our story, right?

SPEAKER_01 14:17

You know, 100% is. And like you said, remember minded we were talking Isaiah, you know, our good works. You know, that was you, me, me before I thought, hey, you know, I gotta be like maybe in the top third, you know, I'm not that bad, you know, do enough things, put enough money in the offering plate. But Isaiah says our good works, thing that we do because we think we're going to earn something, are filthy rags. Yeah, you know, and so I think that not only your sin, but sometimes your you know, self-righteousness is also filth, you know, because you're really doing it for yourself. You know, the Tim Keller quote that I thought was really good. He says sometimes you have to repent of your goodness. You know, sometimes many people understand their sin as the bad things they do. A lot of people don't understand that the good things that they do, but I'm trying to do something for me. I'm trying to earn my salvation. Well, you're not really doing good for the other person, you're doing it for yourself. It's out of pride. And so a lot of times we have to prevent, uh repent of our goodness and recognize that it's not good works.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

Yeah, I mean, that that's what I relate to. And just the motivation behind my good works were not to glorify God. They were not about God. Really, at the end of the day, what was revealed was they were about me, promoting my say itself, building my spiritual resume so that I could be seen, so that I could be noticed, so that I could be lauded and applauded, so that I could be glorified in my mind. And so that was the motive behind it. And it wasn't intentional. It was just, you know, I was that's why it was so sobering to me when the Lord revealed it to me. Filthy rags. I don't want you, I don't want your Bible verses or your songs or your service, if that's the mentality or the goal behind it. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Those who realize that when it comes to salvation, being a part of the kingdom, they bring nothing to the table. Like it is completely relying on Jesus to do this for him to clothe us, for him to remove the filth. And so, yeah, like this, this, this vision like really hits home for me. I relate to it so much, and really I think if any believer thinks about it, maybe in a different way, but this this is relevant to who we are and very encouraging.

From Filthy Garments To Pure Vestments

SPEAKER_01 16:29

I've shared at Forge this weekend. I had a conversation with a guy who was a was Hindu, and you know, he understood the need for salvation, but his mindset was he was going to earn it. He was going to do all these things, and it was like a you know eye-opening thing. I'm like, so you're not really doing for other people, you're doing for yourself. Helping the old lady across the street or giving some money. You don't actually care about them, you care about you. And so it has that self-centeredness that is so prideful, ultimately makes us think that God's gonna owe us something, right? We get to that mindset of like, if I do enough good things, God must bless me or God must let me into heaven. And yeah, it's completely wrong, you know, completely wrong. And I think that's what even the high priest here, we talked a little bit, Pharisees, your righteousness must exceed the Pharisees, because hey, this is what that looks like.

SPEAKER_00 17:19

Yeah. Another thing that really just really just brings joy to my heart is I read verse five, what when it when Zechariah testifies, and I said, So up to this point, Zechariah's just been observing, watching, seeing, probably mouth on the floor, like you know, Joshua in filthy garments, like Joshua, you know, Joshua, Satan standing before him to accuse him. But then, like to see all this take place and this transition, like that holy spiritual makeover, if you will, like Joshua, like he can't keep silent. Like he chimes in and says, Then I said, like, like I couldn't hold my contain myself, put a turban on his head too. Like, and that can be translated as crown or diadem. Um, and so that's just a beautiful thing, too. Like, just and the angel of the Lord was standing by because the response to Joshua's suggestion was they put a clean turban on his head. And so from head to toe, Joshua transformed in appearance. And and really, this speaks to our imputed righteousness. Like, like Joshua didn't change himself, he didn't go wash his clothes and then come back. Like, no, filthy clues from from filthy to festal, right? From gross to glorious. It was a transition. And Zechariah was so blessed and encouraged, and really he was picking up what was being laid down in the vision. He wasn't confused, he knew exactly what this meant that that the Lord was exceedingly jealous for his people, that he loved them, had for not forgotten or forsaken them, and that he was doing this in essence and would do this uh in a way that only he could.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

So it should be very encouraging, remind us who we were before Christ, but reminding us of that newness of life that we have. But he keeps moving forward, right? Like it doesn't stop there. Right. Now the third point, preparing us for service. Like, hey, yeah, in this newness of life, this is what we look like. Like the statute, the the way God has for us to live are for our good, for our benefit. We get to, he even says, You'll be a sign, you know, when we are in Christ, how our life has changed allows us to point others, you know. God says you studied or around that point.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

Yeah, so he plucks us from the fire, he purifies us of our sin, and he prepares us for service. And so, yeah, we we we are saved for service. Like we have a purpose. Like Joshua, it's not just like, hey, feel good about yourself. Now you're clean, you're not filthy anymore. Like, go go have fun. Don't roll in the mud again. No, but but it is like go find joy in serving me, find joy in being a part of my plan. And I've given you what you need, like, namely, you know, my uh words, my ways, like you know what to do. Like, I'm not gonna leave you hanging for you to figure it out, figure it out by yourself. Like, he knows. And then he says, if, so there's there's this if-then promise here, like if you, you know, walk in my ways and keep my charge, verse seven, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I'll give you the right of access among those who are standing here. And so I really see this as uh leadership. Like the people of God are to lead, right? Like we're to be, you know, like John the Baptist and Ezekiel, like all these servants, faithful servants of God that are like pointing people, like like this is the way. Like walk in it, like follow me as I follow Christ, the apostle Paul said. Like, and so, and then we have access. Like, we we we don't have to wait like till we can have a meeting with the high priest, like we can have access, we can come through Christ, we us can can boldly come before his throne of grace and approach him, you know. And we're we're in his family, like adopted. And so, this what greater blessing could there be than that? And so we have a purpose. And so we I think it's important for us to know and understand that. And that's not like for us to feel like, oh man, like there's a there's a catch, right? No, this is a joy. Like we get to do these things, we get to serve, we we can take advantage of the knowledge and the wisdom and the understanding that the spirit has revealed to us that the word of God speaks to us and honor God in that way.

Repenting Of Self‑Righteous “Goodness”

SPEAKER_01 21:17

Yeah, I think not just leadership, but we have a stewardship, you know. God's giving us, you know, this opportunity to be faithfully different. We've talked about that all year. And so when we walk in his ways, when we are faithfully faithful and obedient, it's a blessing and it shows others God's glory. We do it for his glory because it's change, right? We're repenting of that goodness. Now our reason, our motivation, our driver is, and I know we'll get to it next week, right? By spirit. You know, so God makes us stewards of that, and we continually give him the glory, and you know, the the stewards of you know, if those who are faithful in a little bit, you know, God continues to bless and pour out, not in a you know, physical, you know, people prosperity gospel, but he just fills us up with his spirit the more we are faithful, I believe. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

And kind of to close this point, ultimately, you know, the the angel of the Lord says, Here now, Lord, you know or Joshua, like you and your friends are to be a sign, you know, not a spectacle. It's not about them. It's not people are gonna see you and laud and applaud you. Like this is like we want to be his witnesses, we wanna be conduits, vessels that point people. We want people to see our good works and give him glory. So a sign that points, if you think about, I mean, your traffic signs from your past, you know, the arrows that point this way, you know. I mean, in a way that is conspicuous and not confusing, like this is the way. We want to be like those signs as we live our lives in faithfulness, following, walking in his ways, like obeying his charges, his commands to us. We want to say, like, this is the way, like, like an arrow, you know, like a traffic sign.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Yep. Yeah. And again, leads to pointing to my servant the branch, capital B. Yeah. So maybe talk about that how we can.

SPEAKER_00 23:06

This is undeniably the promise of the Messiah, you know. Uh, and again, this is all to encourage the people of God. I've not forgotten you, I've not forsaken you, all throughout the Old Testament, like all the way back into Genesis, right? Chapter three, I think it is, where promise of a Messiah, right? And the most common uh title for the Messiah in the Old Testament, and well known for ancient Jews, was my servant. Isaiah, namely Isaiah 52 and 53, you know, where we see, you know, I was pierced for he was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement that brought us peace was laid upon him. By his wounds we are healed. Like that was talking about the suffering servant. And Jesus says, I've come not to be served, but to serve, right? And he was the servant of the Lord, the Messiah. So this is a promise. Like again, like this is uh a he uh solemnly assured him, whereas uh he solemnly assured verse six, like, hear these words, like I will bring my servant the branch. And so it's not just even I will bring my servant, that would have been sufficient, but this is like two titles. The branch is also and was also capital B branch, right? Right, not just any old branch. This branch wasn't plucked from the fire. This is the capital B branch, the stump, the root of Jesse, right, right? And there's several prophecies referring to the Messiah as the branch. And so this is the promise of the Messiah. Like I'm sending my Messiah, like the deliverer, the the supreme ruler, that that's greater than Solomon, you're greater than King David. Um, that's what's promised here.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

The the shoot from the stump of Jesse, all of these prophecies, and like I say, don't miss the capital B. You know, this is the you know, way that it will be. And ultimately, we'll remove the sin. You know, it's pointing to the day of removing in a single day, you know, this is iniquity will be removed from the land.

Crowned And Clothed: Imputed Righteousness

SPEAKER_00 25:11

And it's not just the iniquity, but it's also referring to the consequences of iniquity, the corruption attached to iniquity. I mean, they at this time in Zechariah's day, like they were reaping the consequences of unfaithfulness, of sin and sinfulness, and they were still dealing, even from the sins of their fathers that had happened 70 years and 80 years and 100 years prior, but they were still reaping the consequences of that, and they were miserable. No longer were they living and experiencing the abundance that had once been experienced during Solomon's reign, King Solomon, like when the queen of Sheba came and her breath was taken away because it was so amazing, and everyone was at peace and living and thriving in abundance. And so what this vision closes with is that promise. And I it really hit me like everyone, you know, like when I send, when I will bring my servant, the branch, and when iniquity is completely removed, taken away, you know, from the land, every one of you will invite his neighbor over to sit under his vine and under his fig tree. Like every one of you, like no one is going to lack. And there will be such abundance that and such peace, no one will live or struggle with fear anymore. Sin, sorrow, suffering will not be a part of the equation. Like it's gonna be a great time, so much that you can come and in peace and sit under your very own fig tree, inviting your neighbor over. And so that is a beautiful promise that just I don't know. I can pick up what's being laid down here, and I'm so encouraged by this promise because this is what's promised to us. That phrase uh describes there's a verse in 1 Kings that that describes what Solomon's kingdom and what it was like to live under and during the reign of Solomon in that land, and it was said that everyone sat under his vine and under his fig tree. And then in Micah 4, 4, it was again promised. So this is just a reiteration of that promise. One day, like no one will be afraid anymore, but everyone will sit under his own fig tree and under his own vine. And so this is what we're promised, and I'm looking forward to that, right?

SPEAKER_01 27:22

And an encouragement, invite your neighbor. You know, this is something I even see here too. When we have that, when we have the new garments, you know, we have that, you know, again, we talk, we go so many places in the Bible that you know tells such a beautiful story and crisscross all over the place. But when we have that, invite your neighbor. Like, why would you not want to share and be that sign? We want them to be there too. We want them to have their own fig tree.

SPEAKER_00 27:48

But I do think that that is, as we close, um, one thing that is a temptation for us when we're experiencing trials and tribulations, when things are lean or where we're feeling, you know, like tired, like it's really our focus gets off of others and all onto ourselves. And that's just not how we're to live as believers. Like we're to love our neighbors, right? Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but love our neighbors as ourselves. We're to have a heart for the people that God has a heart for. We're to love those he loves. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And so, yeah, like our neighbors, that's an important piece of this, I think, and something to look forward to. Like in that perfect world that we have coming, like it's people aren't all about themselves, self-absorbed. Like we have eyes out for others and the desire. This is quantity of fellowship uh pointed to. And so we should seek to do that now and experience that now by inviting neighbors over, loving them, you know, in tangible, practical ways.

Prepared For Service And Stewardship

SPEAKER_01 28:49

Should encourage us to live out our faith. You know, the second half of this so much the reality and the encouragement, and then walk in my ways, invite your neighbor, you know, live who I've called you to be, you know, living out that identity, the kingdom identity that we have in Christ. This is what it'll look like, you know, inviting our neighbors, living in peace, like you said, even in the difficult times, being a light, you know, those are the times you can share the gospel the most. Like, man, things are falling apart. Why are you so peaceful? Well, because this is my identity, this is where I'm at with the Lord, and so I have this promise that I'm walking towards and living out. So should encourage us so much. Yeah. Just a great chapter. And so Pastor Mark, as always, thanks for taking some time to continue to dig. Lifehouse family, thanks for joining us. Again, if you have any questions, you know, we're definitely glad to field questions during this time as well. But we appreciate you taking some time. Any preview of chapter four next week? Any uh, just looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 29:45

You know, I really am. This has been it's been such a joy for me, you know, so encouraging and comforting to me. You know, I mean, I think, and impactful and inspiring and so uh motivating. And so, yeah, just looking forward to next week, too. Very good.

SPEAKER_01 29:59

Well, Life House family, thanks again for joining us. We'll see you next time.