Zechariah 3:1-10  
Minor Prophets: Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Joel were appearing between 600BC to 400BC.
Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries lived between 520BC and 518BC.
Two great leaders in Zechariah’s day emerged, Joshua, the high priest and Zerubbabel, the Governor. 
Joshua and Zerubbabel were instrumental in urging the people:
a) To rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel
b) To re-establish a purified priesthood under Joshua
c) To remove all foreign influences on their religious life
d) To lead a proper moral life according to the Mosaic Law.
In the book of Zechariah records 8 visions and the present text falls under 4th vision.
THE ACCUSED AND THE ACCUSER (1-3)
The accused is Joshua, the High Priest or the nation of Israel
The accuser is Satan, the Adversary.
Joshua stood before the LORD in the place of nation of Israel.
Zechariah sees Joshua standing before the Lord for HIS service or priesthood.
It means the nation of Israel was trying to serve the Lord in an unworthy manner.
The Angel of the Lord is Christ in HIS pre-incarnation manifestation.
“The emphasis here is on the nation of Israel and not on Joshua” (Pastor Wiersbe)
Satan is accusing of the filthiness of Joshua’s garments which is a reflection of defiled status of Israel.
Most of the people in Zechariah’s day were born in Babylon and returned to Israel from exile.
They never grown up temple worship and observed the Mosaic Law diligently.
Here Joshua as a high priest at Jerusalem representing the Jews from the Babylonian captivity who were spiritual babies. 
So Satan is accusing the priesthood that was terribly polluted and unfit to offer acceptable sacrifice to God. 
THE ADVOCATE (4-5)
The advocate, Pre-Incarnate Christ monitors the transformation in Joshua’s status.
HE orders to take away the filthy clothes and declares the Joshua’s sin is removed. 
This is a direct answer to the accusation of Satan.
We know it as the forgiveness of sins through Christ our Lord.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ has a twofold ministry in heaven.
First HE is our Advocate representing us before the Throne of God and reminding God the Father always with the marks of HIS resurrection.
The redeemed still sin but God forgives us because of the intersession of Jesus.
Secondly Christ is our High Priest and interceding on our behalf daily for God’s grace. 
We need God’s grace for our earthly life.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT (6-10)
A. The Charge
The Lord gives a charge to Joshua to serve HIM faithfully because cleansing and restoration involves a greater responsibility.
As redeemed people of God we have to serve HIM faithfully – walk in obedience –living out our salvation every day.
B. The Prophecy
Two different images of the coming Messiah:
The Branch and The Stone
The Branch means from David’s lineage, a direct descendant of David’s the family.
The Stone – The corner stone – The Rock - 7 eyes means all knowing God.
9th verse refers to a single day – that happens when the Lord comes for the second time with HIS church to rule from Jerusalem
On that day Israel will be convicted of their sin and accept that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and seek HIS forgiveness.
May we not forget that Christ is our Advocate and High Priest interceding for us always. 
(Parts of the outline and few thoughts were based on Pastor Wiersbe’s commentary.)

Principles of Christian Conduct reflected in our social life, personal life, public life and in our activities, behavior, speech and thinking.
1. Is there any glory for God in it? 1 Cor 10:31 & Eph 6:5-7
2. Is it of the world? (the source) 1 John 2:25; James 4:4
3. Would Jesus have done it? 1 Pet 2:21 & Romans 1:14
4. Would you like to be found doing it when Lord Jesus returns? 1 John 3:3
5. Which nature (physical or spiritual) do we feed on a regular basis? Gal 5:17
6. Can you feel free to do it when you remember that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? 1 Cor 6:19
7. Is it a fitting behavior for a child of God indulging in certain activities? Eph 5:8 & Colossians 1:10
8. If it involves money, could the money be better spent in the Lord’s service? Luke 16:9
9. Could the time be better spent?
10. What effect your conduct has on others? 1 Cor 10:23b; Romans 14:15. 20a
11. Is it doubtful and debatable?  Rom 14:23
12. Does it have any evil influence?
13. Is it a weight and burdensome? Heb 12:1
14. Is it enslaving and tempting? 1 Cor 6:12b
15. How does it appear in the eyes of Christ?
The author is Bro Raj Nathan who compiled these thoughts and put them in question form.
He based these questions and thoughts from multiple sources and gives credit to every one of them. 

Deuteronomy 11:10-25
THE CONTEXT
Moses was instructing the people of Israel before they move into the Promised Land.
God was speaking through Moses telling them how much HE cares for them.
Only thing God is demanding from them was their obedience, faithfulness and love.
Election of Israel led people of Israel to depend on God entirely.
God covenant people (10-12)
Dependent on God means to OBEY their Creator – It is not to seek blessings but a natural response to their election as God’s people.
God’s blessings are part of the deal but not the deal.
God poured our HIS blessings on this land to yield its fruit without much hassle.
God’s going to watch over them all the days of the year and caring for them daily.
The spillover of HIS blessings is passed on to the other people in the land.
We are also God’s covenant people under New Covenant through Lord Jesus and depend upon God as Israel did.
The key to receive HIS blessings (13-15)
The key to HIS blessings is to worship HIM with an obedient heart.
Worship has two distinct aspects: adoration and praise and obedience and service. 
Worship is not outward actions as much as inner devotion.
Service grows out of love and devotion to the Sovereign Lord.
Lord demands obedience, faithfulness, service and love for HIM.
The danger of dis-obedience (16-17)
There is an element of caution from God – don’t take me for granted.
Be very careful how we WORSHIP GOD, how we OBEY HIM, and how we SERVE HIM.
If we push HIM to the back burner status HE will push us to the back burner
If God became other than #1 priority we resort to idol worship of many kinds.
Idols of our own making that can easily replace God in our life.
The Lord may discipline us through situations –sickness – serious implications.
The importance of God’s Word (18-21)
HE is absolutely serious about HIMSELF and HIS will for our lives.
God wants us to be serious and commands us that we teach our children about HIM.
God’s minimum expectation is that we read HIS Word daily.
Meditate on it throughout the day so that HIS Word may implant in our mind, in our thoughts and exhibit in our actions. 
God’s word should be displayed in each room of our home.
If we honor HIS Word God promises HIS presence, mercy, grace and kindness always.
The over-comers (22-25)
God commands the people of Israel to observe and follow the commands so that they can love HIM and walk in obedience to HIM and hold-fast to HIM.
HE wants us to remember our salvation daily and live out our lives in obedience to HIS Word and walk in the light of HIS revealed Word.
Not just obeying, not just loving HIM but clinging to HIM in all circumstances.
25 No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.
This is our New Year’s promise.
Nothing will dampen our spirits and cause us to fear the outcomes in any given situations.
People may challenge us from time to time, put us in difficult situations but they will fear us, respect us and take notice of us.
As we move on in 2015, we are reminded by the Lord today not to forget that as covenant people under new covenant to obey the Lord – making HIM # 1 priority – love HIM and worship HIM – read and meditate on HIS word daily.
HIS promise in 2015 will be that we are over-comers in life by HIS grace.

Philippians 3:12 -16
It seems that with each passing year we feel that time is just flying. 
All of us admit that in 2014 we failed in many ways and we made many mistakes.
But that should not pull us down or dampen our spirits for welcoming Year 2015.
We see every year brings choices, changes, challenges and crises.
As we look to the year 2015 two things become clear to us.
1. There is nothing we can do to change what happened in 2014. 
2. We can learn some important lessons from last year’s experiences and move on.
Apostle Paul had a great attitude in his life dealing with what life brought to his plate.
As we face 2015, we may follow Paul’s guidance in these few verses.
Four guidelines stand out clearly in this passage.
PRESS ON
Verse 12 has reflected on verses 10 & 11.
To know the power of HIS resurrection
To participate in HIS suffering
To become like HIM in HIS death
To attain resurrection from the dead like Christ
He was willing to apply pressure on himself to become a useful tool in Christ’s hand.
Press on can be pushing forward – implies pressure on one’s self.
So long as we live here on the earth we are under pressure always but we press on. 
Pressures related to disappointments, temptations, financial and family.
The Christian needs to press on to obtain what Paul was trying to obtain.
FORGETTING AND REACHING FORWARD
Verse 13 “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”
Forgetting our past mistakes and sinful nature is required to move forward in life.
Forgetting implies that we need to let go some thing of the past.
If not the pain of the past will drag us from moving forward.
If our pain was the result of some sin in our life, we need to seek the Lord’s forgiveness before we move on.
We cannot move on with sin corrupting our thinking and way of life.
We have to learn from our own experience and past mistakes.
We must pray for strength and help from God to forget those things in 2014. 
In all relationships the only way for the necessary healing to take place is to forget and move forward.
ULTIMATE PRIZE
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
God calls every believer in Christ toward the ultimate destination – to win the prize – eternity with Christ Jesus.
That is what Apostle Paul pressing toward the future goal of heaven with Christ.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 
Paul is encouraging us as mature Christians to set our mind on that prize.
If there is any confusion on the road, God will make it clear as we move on in life.
WALKING IN FAITH
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
We understand that walking involves - action toward a destination.
We are at the edge of 2015 - no idea what it has for every one of us
We need to exercise our faith in the all-powerful God, in HIS unfailing promises and in HIS unchanging character.
Paul is saying simply to live up to our spiritual potential as mature Christians.
In order to walk in faith we have to walk by faith.