Your victory is in Christ and Christ’s victory is guaranteed.

Outline: Three promises to make us confident in the victory of God’s Kingdom:

God’s kingdom has been decreed (vv. 20-21)

God’s kingdom will succeed (v. 22)

God’s kingdom is guaranteed (v. 23)

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1. The image of a candle in the wind was used to describe the experience of being in a weak moment as followers of God either with respect to culture or with respect to individual struggles. In what ways can you relate to this imagery in your faith?

2. Andrew Murray stated: “Just as the farmer cannot gather the fruit until it is ripe, God knows when we are spiritually ready to reap the blessing for our greatest profit and His glory.” Do you have an experience where God’s answer to you seemed delayed, but when it came, its delay made good sense to you? How can such knowledge help you wait for the coming of the Kingdom?

3. Though the final shaking is still future, we have seen many kingdoms rise and fall, while the church remains. How might you use this historical reality to offer confidence to a believer who is having doubts that God’s kingdom is really coming?

4. Read Hebrews 12:26 -28. What are some ways we can self-examine our lives for areas that will crumble when God shakes the world? How can we grow our assurance that we are firmly planted upon the gospel?

5. Read Haggai 2:23 and Matthew 1:12 . How could you use these verses to show an unbeliever that God’s word is true and reliable?

6. The message of Zerubbabel is that God’s mercy can take us from whatever mess we fall into and place us securely in His Kingdom. Where is this specifically good news for you this week?