Bible Study – Mar. 26th, 2025📝

👉🏾Last Week Recap: The Faith-Fueled Life

📍Min. Nasir I. Randolph – Teacher

1️⃣ Flourishing is Our Portion

Bishop reminded us that thriving isn’t just a cute church word—it’s biblical. From Psalm 92, we learned that the righteous will flourish like palm trees and bear fruit even in old age. That means God’s plan is not just survival—it’s supernatural growth, fruitfulness, and longevity, no matter the season.

2️⃣ Shedding Precedes Growth

Before the breakthrough, there’s often a breaking. Bishop told us growth doesn’t come without cutting away—a pruning season where God sheds distractions, habits, or people to make room for real increase. Painful? Yes. Pointless? Never. That process is preparation.

3️⃣ Faith Must Be Activated

He challenged us to move beyond the simple belief into faith that WORKS. We’re not just surviving—we’re supposed to be walking billboards of miracles, favor, and power. You don’t need permission to thrive—you need boldness to walk through the doors God has already opened.

4️⃣ Faith is visible, measurable & undeniable

This season of thriving isn’t going to be secret. Bishop declared that your fruit will be seen, measured, and undeniable. The seeds you sowed in previous seasons—some of which you forgot—are about to catch up with you. And when it happens? Nobody but God will be able to take credit.

📝Topic: Faith to Move Beyond Survival!

Subtopic: There’s Life After Babylon!

Scripture Base: Zechariah 1:15; 2:6-8, 16 KJV & NLT

1. When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2. “Where are you going?” I asked. He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”
   1. This is an example of measurable faith
3. The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls.
   1. This is an example of visual
4. Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’””
   1. This is an example of undeniable faith

1. “Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.””

📝Lesson key points

1. It requires faith to move beyond your level of exposure
2. It requires faith to sacrifice your substance (especially when you’ve had to build from the ground up)
3. It requires faith to trust that God‘s master class has a purpose

👉🏾Scripture Background

The book of Zechariah was written to the Jewish exiles who had just returned from Babylonian captivity. They were trying to rebuild their lives—and more importantly, rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed. But morale was low, resources were scarce, and it was hard to believe that God was still with them.

So, Zechariah gets this vision from God. In this vision, Zechariah sees a man measuring Jerusalem, which symbolizes that God is getting ready to restore and expand it—no walls necessary, because God’s presence will be their protection.

👉🏾The Jews & Babylon. Why does it matter?

At the time of Zechariah’s prophecy, the Jews had just returned from 70 years of Babylonian exile. An entire generation had lived, suffered, and in many cases died in a foreign land. The trauma was deep. Their city (Jerusalem) had been destroyed, their temple burned to the ground, and their identity as God’s chosen people felt shattered.

1. Babylon = God’s Tool of Discipline
   • God used Babylon to execute judgment on Judah because of centuries of rebellion, idolatry, and injustice.
   • Babylon destroyed the temple in 586 BCE and deported the best and brightest of Jewish society (think Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.).
   • But the exile wasn’t just political—it was deeply spiritual. It felt like being cut off from God’s promises.

1. Babylon = Symbol of Oppression
   • Even after their fall, Babylon represented the epitome of pride, idolatry, and empire that stood against God’s people.
   • Babylon wasn’t just an empire—it became a metaphor for any system that exalts itself against God.

At the time this vision, Babylon had already fallen to the Persians under King Cyrus.

King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4) but even though the captivity was technically over, many Jews stayed in Persia/Babylon in emotionally and economically bondage

They stay because

• They had built lives there.
• Fear of the unknown.
• Jerusalem was still in ruins—it wasn’t an attractive comeback.
• Trauma made them hesitant to hope again.

God wasn’t just saying, “You can go home.” In verse 6-7,

👉🏾How does this connect to Faith to move beyond survival!

Point 1️⃣: Don’t Mistake People’s Evil for God’s Will

Just because God allowed a hard season doesn’t mean He approved of how people treated you in it.

Zechariah 1:15 reminds us that while God was only “a little angry” with Israel, the nations—especially Babylon—went too far. They exploited the moment for their own pride and power.

 

Key Takeaway: Don’t internalize the cruelty of others as God’s final verdict on your life.

God saw it. He didn’t approve of it. And He’s coming to deal with it.

 

Point 2️⃣: Deliverance Doesn’t Erase Discipline

Yes, you’re saved. Yes, God loves you. But let’s be real—your choices still have consequences.

Israel’s captivity happened because of their repeated disobedience. Babylon had access because Israel opened the door.

 

Key Takeaway: Grace doesn’t cancel accountability⚠️

Just because you’re in a season of healing doesn’t mean God ignores the harm you caused or the discipline He ordained.

 

Hard truth: Walking in holiness doesn’t delete the lessons God still needs you to learn from your past.

 

Point 3️⃣: Don’t Camp in the Classroom

Zechariah 2:6-7 is God yelling “Come out!”

Exile was a classroom—not a forever home. Babylon was a place of correction, not a permanent address.

But many of the Jews stayed because:

•They got used to survival.

•They feared rebuilding.

•They forgot what freedom felt like.

 

Key Takeaway: Just because God used a place to teach you doesn’t mean you’re supposed to stay there forever.

First grade doesn’t last forever—unless you stop growing. And spiritual stagnation isn’t God’s plan.

 

Point 4️⃣: It Takes Faith to Trust the Silence

Zechariah 2:13 is God telling the whole world to shut up and watch Him work.

But let’s be honest—silence can feel scary almost debilitating after trauma.

After chaos, we crave clarity. And when God is quiet, we often assume He’s distant or disappointed.

But the text says His silence is because He’s “springing into action.”

 

Key Takeaway: Faith isn’t just about surviving exile—it’s about trusting God’s character when you don’t hear His voice‼️‼️‼️‼️

Silence isn’t abandonment. It’s often the sound of God building behind the scenes.