Advent: How To Get Things Done In Your Spiritual Life Series

Last week we saw that life’s circumstances do not show whether God’s favor is with you.We saw, that we have hard times, bad circumstances……desperate circumstances, times when bad things pile up. They are in no way a sign that God’s blessing is not upon you.We saw, that in fact those who are highly favored by God can have very difficult circumstances. Mary and Joseph were our example: We would assume that certainly the family of Jesus wouldn’t have hard times. Yet they did, very hard times. God is with us, there in the best of times…and the worst times you simply want to be over.

Yesterday was Christmas. Did you have a wonderful Christmas? I sure did. I got a reciprocating saw and a lot of chocolate. What could be better than power tools and chocolate? Even if you had the best Christmas ever, you know there is more. You could have the worst Christmas ever and still be at peace, which, by the way, is very freeing.

How do we do that? How can we possibly live that? How do I experience the peace and freedom of Christ, even when my life is falling apart?

See it all revolves around how we get things done in out lives, especially our spiritual lives.

Last week we left off with this verse to think about: Zech. 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might

nor by power,

but by my Spirit,’

says the LORD Almighty.

This is one of the most powerful, life changing, pieces of advice Scripture can give.

Let’s all turn to this verse PAGE: in the red pew bible

Let’s all read it together….after the name Zerubbabel, Which is one of those wonderful biblical names that just rolls off your tongue, but no one in their right mind will ever name their child.

(Give Time) – Ready

‘Not by might

nor by power,

but by my Spirit,’

says the LORD Almighty.

First off, if there was ever a verse to memorize – this is it.

When you know it, when those circumstances come, you will remember it.

‘Not by might

nor by power,

but by my Spirit,’

Let’s say I have a generic difficult circumstance before me. From a biblical perspective, from a spiritual perspective, how do I get through this? Not by might, Nor by power. How do I? But by my Spirit. (that is the Holy Spirit)

A couple of things we will come to understand about ourselves today:

In what do you honestly place your trust? How do I get things done?

Trust.

We may say one thing, but in reality live another. We may say we trust in God – but how we live may say we trust otherwise. Why is that?Control. In our life we have two types of circumstances come at us:

Circumstances in our control; Circumstances not in our control. Circumstances not in our control are easy to give to God. In our spiritual lives, are much easier to deal with.

Friends: Son in Jail.

He had a drunk driving accident, killed another person. They certainly can only do so much. They have been highly involved, but they told God we can do no more….it is up to you.

You’re in a situation like that – what else can you do? Whatever will be, will be.

But most situations in our lives are not like that. In most situations, by far, we are able to do something about what is happening. In those circumstances where we have some control, it is difficult if not almost impossible to give to over God.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

The writer is saying that, above all I put my trust in the Lord. Notice:

This is in the context of readiness, readiness for war in this instance.

He doesn’t say I don’t have chariots and horses or forget about chariots and horses - they are useless. He doesn’t say – just depend upon the Lord and just do nothing. He says, we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Trusting is not the act of doing nothing. Trusting is about giving, even those things we are I control of over to God. Trusting has everything to do with getting things done. Sometimes I wonder….Perhaps God gives us things beyond our control to have us turn to the Spirit.

How Do I get Things Done?

Let’s go back to our verse from Zech

‘Not by might

nor by power,

but by my Spirit,’

says the LORD Almighty

To understand how to get things done, we must know how NOT to get things done. Unfortunately it is how we usually try to get things done.