By My Spirit

BY MY SPIRIT

Zech. 4:2-9

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: FOOTBALL A DULL GAME

1. A Tennessee hillbilly girl moved to Texas. She attended her first football game at Bower’s stadium at SHSU.

2. After the game she told her new friends, “That was the dullest game I’ve ever gone to. At the beginning they flipped a quarter, and the whole rest of the game they kept saying, ‘Get the quarter back!’”

B. SCRIPTURE

2 He [the Angel] asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand … and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." 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. 7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' " 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.” Zech. 4:2-3,6-9.

C. THESIS

1. We are still on the Burly Series today & we’re looking at being “Strong in Spirit!” Zechariah’s vision showed how it’s necessity that we depend upon God’s Spirit.

2. The back-story of this passage is that Israel, because of sin, had been defeated by Babylon. The Temple of Solomon was destroyed and about 50,000 of the leaders and their families of Israel were forcibly removed 800 miles away to Babylonian territory.

3. After King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon, He gave permission for all Jews to return to their homeland, resettle it, and rebuild their Temple. But the people who had moved into their territory tried to stop them from rebuilding the Temple.

4. At last, God raised up two prophets, Zechariah and Haggai, to stir-up the spirit of His people so they would rebuild the Temple (Ezra 5:1-2) & the Temple was completed four years later in 516 BC.

I. FIRST: GOD IS AMONG HIS PEOPLE

A. MEANING OF THE SYMBOLS

1. God showed them a vision of a golden lampstand/ Menorah with its seven burning lights. This same type of image was shown to John on the island of Patmos when he saw Christ in the midst of the 7 candlesticks, representing the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 1:12-16).

2. You see, you may not feel it, you may not see it, or be aware of it, but God is with you at all times, to help you, if you will call upon Him!

3. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” God says, “I am with you and will save you and deliver you” Jer. 42:11. He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you;” “I am with you always, even to the end of the world!” Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. He is Emmanuel, “God with us.” Never doubt it; stake your life on it. God is with you and will never leave you!

4. Secondly, Zechariah saw two Olive trees from which oil was flowing to the Lampstand with anointing. The 2 Olive trees represent Zerubbabel & Joshua the High Priest.

5. But more important is the OIL! This is the Holy Spirit flowing through leadership out to all the people of God. The Holy Spirit is what changed the situation they were in, from one of hopelessness, into victory. The Holy Spirit filling YOUR LIFE will do the same thing!

B. GOD’S PROMISE OF VICTORY

1. "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.' 'What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become level ground.' Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'” Zech. 4:6-7.

2. The “mighty mountain” before Zerubbabel was the task of rebuilding Solomon’s Temple. That Temple was probably the greatest building built in ancient times. It took 286,000 men seven years to build it. 30,000 men cut trees; 70,000 were carriers; 80,000 were stonecutters. The budget for its building was $87 billion. No wonder it seemed an impossible task to complete. But God promised that this mountain/challenge would be moved!

C. WE ALL HAVE MOUNTAINS

1. Your mountain may be...

Sickness marriage problems

Financial troubles family conflicts

Problems at work anxiety/ depression

2. They seem impossible to overcome. But God’s promise of victory is certain -- It’s ‘Not by might, nor by power, but By My Spirit, says the Lord.