Go! And Rely On The Spirit - Zechariah 4:6 Series

Go! And Rely on the Spirit - Zechariah 4:6

Introduction

Today, we continue our "Go! And..." series with an essential truth from the book of Zechariah. In a world that often tells us to rely on our own strength, our own abilities, our own wisdom, we come to a powerful reminder from Scripture: true success in God's kingdom is not by our power, not by our might, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

Our key text today is Zechariah 4:6 (NLT): "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies."

This verse was spoken to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple after the Babylonian exile. God reminds him—and us—that His work is accomplished not by human power but by His Spirit. Today, let us explore what it means to Go! And Rely on the Spirit.

Point 1: God's Work Requires God's Power

Zechariah 4:6 is a divine declaration that spiritual victories are not won by human effort alone.

The Hebrew word for force (chayil) can mean strength, efficiency, or even military power. The word for strength (koach) refers to human capacity and ability. God is making it clear: no human army, no human ingenuity, no human effort will be sufficient. Only by His Spirit (ruach, meaning breath or wind, signifying the divine presence) can the work be accomplished.

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Human strength has limits, but God’s power is unlimited.

Think of a power drill. Without being plugged in, it’s useless. The drill does not work by its own effort—it needs an external power source. We are the same; without the Holy Spirit, we will fail.

Are we trying to serve God in our own strength, or are we relying on the Spirit? Have we surrendered our plans to His leading?

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless."

Point 2: The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for the Mission

Jesus confirmed this truth in the New Testament when He told His disciples to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before beginning their mission.

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, and the disciples were eager to go and preach. But Jesus told them to wait.

The Greek word for power here is dunamis, from which we get the word dynamite—explosive, supernatural ability.

Are we moving in our own strength or His power? The Holy Spirit equips us with courage, wisdom, and effectiveness in ministry.

Imagine a lamp. It may be beautifully designed, but without being plugged into the power source, it remains dark. Likewise, we need the Holy Spirit to shine brightly.

A.W. Tozer wrote, "If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the early church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."

Point 3: Victory Comes Through Dependence on the Spirit

The ultimate lesson of Zechariah 4:6 is that our success in God’s kingdom comes through dependence on Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Paul acknowledges that weakness allows God’s power to be displayed.

When we feel unqualified, inadequate, or overwhelmed, we are in the perfect position for God to move.

In the story of Gideon (Judges 7), God reduced his army from 32,000 to just 300 men. Why? So that Israel would know the victory was by God's power, not their own.

Francis Chan writes, "The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn't normally want or choose to do. The Holy Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross."

Conclusion: Go! And Rely on the Spirit

Zechariah 4:6 calls us to rely fully on God. We are not meant to serve, minister, or live in our own power but in the strength of the Holy Spirit.