Title: Not by Might nor by Power but by My Spirit
Theme: To show the importance of letting God’s spirit take control.
Text: Zechariah 4:6
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Introduction
Zerubbabel, governor of Jerusalem, was faced with what seemed to be an impossible task. God had spoken to his heart and told him to rebuild the temple. It is one thing to build one time but to rebuild is almost nearly impossible.
One of the hardest spiritual experience you will have in your life will not be a new experience but it will be “revival” experiences. Refreshing and rebuilding and rekindling the fires.
2 Timothy 1:6 ¶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Zerubbabel realized this and opposition came. You may remember that we talked about Nehemiah a few weeks ago. In that we learned that Nehemiah came with the same vision, rebuild the city of Jerusalem by it walls. In that story we learned of great opposition.
Zerubbabel was faced with the same areas. 1. The people surrounding this city were trying to do what it took to discourage the people. Frightening them, stealing their supplies, making them distracted with their own belongings then what belongs to God.
The devil will try to frighten us, devour us and distract us.
This happens to us today. The devil knows that if he can discourage us then we are useless for God’s kingdom. Discouragement shackles our vision to do something for the Lord. It hinders us. And notice that the devil uses the same tactics. Fear, he will frighten us with lack of faith, and unbelief. He knows that fear will control us and shackle us.
But praise God 2Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear is not from God nor of God only a fear (or reverence of God). Fear has no place in your circumstances. If you are making your decisions based on fear then you never accomplish much for the Lord.
Not only will he try to frighten us but he will also steal our joy if we don’t watch it.
Finally we notice that he will try to distract us. Give us the idea that we need to worry about what is around us more that his work.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 AV)
Yet Zerubbabel was caught in the trap of discouragement. Things were not going as he had expected. Things were not moving as fast. As a matter of fact they had come to a stand still. People had left the work of the temple and began to work on their own houses. They had even gotten comfortable with the fact the temple of the Lord was not being built.
There were some that were saying, “Put it off to the next generation”. But let me tell you there won’t be much of the next generation if this generation sits on their faith for God. We learn by example.
So God speaks to Zerubbabel through the prophet Zechariah. He says tell Zerubbabel that this temple will be built by him but it will not be, “by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts.
I love to read on past this passage and read of the guaranteeing words of the Lord. He t it will be built and by Zerubbabel.
Zechariah 4:7 NKJV ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"’" 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."
NIV 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
God’s wants to prove himself
Why is God so adamant about this? Because he wants to prove himself to Zerubbabel and this remnant in Jerusalem. He opens himself up to being challenged. He opens himself up to a test.
This is what the Lord wants to do in your life. He wants to prove himself to you. First by salvation but even more by the miracles he works around you. As we learned last Sunday we were challenged to pay tithes to the Lord so that he can
“and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. (Malachi 3:10 AV)
Oh how God wants to prove himself to you.
Three areas dealt with
As the Lord laid this message in my heart he spoke to me and said that this will be for three kinds of people that will be here today.
1. Some of you are dealing with circumstances in your life that is almost out of control. You see no hope and the only light at the end of the tunnel is a train. You are discouraged and don’t know which way to turn.
To be honest you have tried all you can try and done all you can do now it is time to give it to the Lord. God says to you, “It is not by your might, nor by your power but by His Spirit says the Lord of Hosts”.
2. Secondly some of you have made this decision to give it to the Lord. In your mind you keep telling the Lord, “It is out of my hands, it is out of my control.” Yet the Lord says, “You have got to pull your hand out of it.” We talk about, “God is in control”. I will let God be God yet we keep putting our hand in it and to be honest, “Mess everything up”. God says you have got to remove your hand and any resemblance of work you did. Let him be God that is what he is good at.
3. Finally some of you just need God to prove himself to you. There is nothing wrong with this as long as you are searching and open to the Lord.
Conclusion
Let me close by allowing you to come and be prayed for. God has spoke to my heart this week and let me know that if you fit into these categories and come and get prayed for he will bring a change in your life.
