THE HORNS THAT SCATTERED

1. “Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns.
2. And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So, he answered me, “THESE ARE THE HORNS THAT HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
3. Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.
4. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” So, he said, “THESE ARE THE HORNS THAT SCATTERED JUDAH, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
   Zechariah 1:18-21 (NKJV)

• When the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity, after seventy years, it was difficult for them to coordinate themselves to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

• For a dozen years or more, the task of rebuilding the temple was half completed. They never knew there were powers, horns, fighting the work.
• They could only see the people of those nations who were brought to dwell in the land, rising against them; but those people who are fighting them were being masterminded by the horns, powers, that is, demons (Ezra 3:3).

1. "Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel,
2. Then THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND TRIED TO DISCOURAGE THE PEOPLE of JUDAH. THEY TROUBLED THEM IN BUILDING,
3. and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”
   Ezra 4:1,4,5 (NKJV)

• In Zechariah's vision he saw horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem (Zechariah 4:19).

• In the same vision he saw four craftsmen who have come to terrify the horns. Other words for horns are kingdoms, powers [demonic powers] (Zechariah 4:20,21).
• The problem the Jews had in rebuilding the temple after they returned from captivity had a spiritual undertone.
• They had challenges, difficulties and confrontations from the people, the adversaries of Judah (Ezra 4;1,4-6).
• The adversaries were human beings, they came physically to stand against the Jews, however, there were horns, powers, behind what the adversaries were doing.

• Spiritual Undertone

• Mostly a lot of Christians pray when they have challenges, confrontations, from people; thinking they are dealing with human beings.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

• When you are being challenged, confronted, in your assignment, in your God-given vision; know that you are not dealing with human beings who are challenging you—look beyond the physical.
• The Lord revealed the secret of the Jews' problems to Zechariah in a vision, there were powers scattering Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem (Zechariah 4:21).
• The horns were scattering Judah so that no one would lift up his head to lead and spearhead a move for the people (Zechariah 4:21).
• When there is no head, central government, the people would be perpetually kept under bondage.
• The enemies of Jews did not want them to gain freedom and take their land back.
• There are human beings who may not want you to fulfil your assignment. The people are not the real problem but the powers behind them, instigating them to stand against you.

• The truth is, the devil 😈 would not fold his hands watching you progressing, he would want to stop you, frustrate your plans and efforts. He did not watch Jesus fulfilling His assignment, he stood against him, stirred the religious leaders of his day to stand against Him—they crucified Him (Acts 4:10).

• When you are being challenged, know that your archenemy is the devil and his cohorts with him.
• God gave the vision to Zachariah that he would not be fighting as one who beats the air.

“Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air.”
1 Corinthians 9:26 (NKJV)

• God wants you to pray with a target.

• He does not want you to dissipate your energy.
• God wants you to know what you are dealing with, but He does not want you to fight the battle by yourself without Him.

1. “And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S.”
   2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV)

• The battle is God’s if you allow Him.
  ~ Some believers are fighting by themselves.
  ~ Some allow God to fight in collaboration with them.
  ~ While some allow God to fight for them.
• Take note:
  ~ If you fight by yourself, you cannot win, because you cannot prevail with the arm of flesh: “No one will succeed by strength alone" (I Samuel 2:9).
  ~ If you permit God to join hands with you to fight, you may win but with a lot of rigor, and there may be casualties.
  ~ However, if you do allow God to fight for you, He will personally do the fighting without your involvement (2 Kings 19:1,20,35; 2 Chronicles 20:15,17).
• Who can battle with the LORD? Nobody! Instead of you having causalities you will rather have spoils, booties to gather (2 Chronicles 20:24-26).

• Craftsmen

• God is raising craftsmen, spiritual carpenters, who will stand to terrify the horns of the enemies.
• God will not do a thing without the prayer of the elects.
• God can only intervene in a matter when someone or some people call on Him to do it.
• If there are no craftsmen, intercessors, He will not be able to do anything—He works with the prayer of the saints (Revelation 5:8; 8:3,4).
• It is our prayers that give God permission to operate on earth.
• Whatever you see God doing on the earth, someone or some people are petitioning Him for it—it is an answer to someone's or some people's prayers.
• Whenever God wants to do a thing on earth, He looks for someone to stand in the gap in prayer (Ezekiel 13:5; 22:30; Genesis 18:22-32; Ephesians 6;18; 1 Timothy 2:1,2).
• Whether on an individual issue or issue that concerns a community, city, or nation, He always seeks for someone to stand in the gap—to petition Him in prayer before He could do anything.

• Principles

• In the vision of Zechariah, we discover two principles:
  ~ For every problem there are horns, powers, behind the surface, festering the problem.
  ~ God always needs craftsmen who will terrify the HORNS.
• In your God-given vision, as an individual, you need to deal with the horns, powers, of the enemy that may not want you succeed.
• In the matter of your country, God wants you to stand as a craftsman to terrify the powers: horns which are fighting the move of God in your country; horns fighting the economy of the land; horns fighting the political leaderships; and horns fighting different areas of activity—different sectors.

• Recruitment

• God is recruiting people, drafting Christians to stand as craftsmen, carpenters, to fight the horns troubling their Land.
• There is a call-ups to serve in God's army. God is drafting Christians as armies of prayer to establish His kingdom on earth. The mandate is “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 (KJV).
• God wants the people who will occupy for Him: the people who will dominate where they work, where they live, and at all their sphere of influence.

• Are you ready to be used of the Lord?

• As you make yourself available to serve in God's army, you shall not be let down in Jesus' name.

• You shall prevail in Jesus' name.
Peace!