Zech 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.
The will of God will never lead to where the grace of God cannot keep you.
• When He calls us to do a task, He will give us the strength to do it.
• When He calls us to move, He will show us the way.
• Whatever God calls us to do, it must be something that can be done.
The people of Israel experienced this truth in Zechariah 4.
• They had just returned home to Jerusalem, their homeland, after 70 years in captivity.
• Everything had been destroyed, and the place in ruins for 70 years.
• They have to start everything from scratch – rebuild their homes, build the Temple of God where they can gather to worship, and to rebuild the city walls.
Zerubbabel was the leader of the group. He organised the people to rebuild the Temple. They started on the work but became very discouraged.
• Their numbers were small and their efforts seemed feeble, when compared with what their ancestors had accomplished before.
• The people were depressed and wanted to give up. The work was difficult and their resources limited.
• Can they really do it? Will their efforts make a difference?
It was at this time the Lord came and spoke to them through the prophet Zechariah.
• God gave Zechariah 8 messages through 8 visions in one night.
• The passage we read today was God’s 5th message: The Lord said to Zerubbabel, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
(1) BY HIS SPIRIT, THEREFORE PRAY
If it is by His Spirit, it means we need to pray for the work we are doing today.
• It is not a good-to-have, but we must pray.
God assured them that they would finish the temple (4:9) because He will help them.
• It will not be by human efforts. This cannot accomplish the task.
• “But by My Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty
• If He is Almighty, then the work will surely be done.
• And when it is completed, the prophet says in verse 9: “Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.”
If this was God’s plan, then no one can thwart His will.
• God planned for them to return after 70 years. God planned for them to rebuild the nation Israel. God wanted them to rebuild the Temple and the city walls.
• If it is God’s will, then He will enable them to complete it.
• It is not about man’s strength or resources, but God’s will.
• If it is God’s plan, the people have to learn to trust God and persevere in faith.
The Lord says, any obstacle to this work, even if it is as great as a “mighty mountain” (4:7), will be removed. It will become level ground.
• “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it.” (4:9)
It will be BY MY SPIRIT that the work is completed.
• Spiritual work will require the Spirit’s work.
• The people need to look to God and not at their difficulties.
• Therefore we need to PRAY for the work we are doing today. Prayer is our only guarantee of success. We need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Eventually the people will see and know that this is the work of God.
• When the capstone is brought out (4:7), in order words, when the last piece of stone is laid, when it is completed, people will shout: “God blessed it! God blessed it!”
• Don’t give up too easily. Paul says to the Galatians, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)
(2) THE WORK CAN BE DONE, THEREFORE HAVE FAITH IN GOD
The work is not easy but it is God’s will. And we are called to do it.
• In the Bible, we see that when God calls people to do His work, He rarely calls them to do easy tasks.
• He did not call Moses over to a burning bush, and ask him if he can take care of a few more sheep. He has to face Pharaoh and bring the people out of Egypt.
• God asked Noah to build an ark, something he has never seen or heard before. And to bring a pair of every kinds of animals into it.
• Abraham was to leave his home and move to a place God would show him, not knowing beforehand where that is.
• Paul was called to preach the Gospel throughout Asia Minor, but he faced constant persecution and imprisonment, and for most of the time, if not on the run for his life, he was in prison.
We are called to be faithful in doing what God has called us to do.
• You may feel you are inadequate, but the Lord says it is not by your might or power. We are asked to trust Him.
• “It is by My Spirit” the Lord says, that the work will be done.
History tells us the people of Israel did finish the work.
• God can do the same for us today. God is looking for faithful workers.
• God is looking for a willing heart, and a determination not to give up.
(3) GOD USES THE WEAK, THEREFORE BE WILLING TO SERVE
The Lord says in verse 10: “Who despises the day of small things?”
• God can do a lot with a little. A little is a lot with God.
• God used Moses’ rod and led a whole nation across the Red Sea.
• He used David’s sling and knock down the giant enemy Goliath.
• He used a basket to lower down Paul from a wall and saved his life from those who were trying to kill him.
• Jesus fed over 5000 people with 5 small loaves and 2 small fish (John 6:10-11).
Little becomes much when we place it in God’s hand.
• Twelve faithful disciples, by the help of the Holy Spirit, changed the world.
• It is not about how small you are, but how big is your God.
• If the God we worship is the Lord Almighty, then we need to trust Him.
• We are called to do His work and He has promised us that He will be with us in it.
• So we will not quit until His work is done.
Frankly, we are powerless to accomplish God’s work, without the Spirit’s help.
• We cannot cause a sinner to repent. We have no ability to change lives.
• Spiritual work requires the Spirit’s work. But God has already promised that He will work with us.
• We believe God can accomplish what He wants, through us, no matter how insignificant it may appear in the eyes of people.
Listen to what Jesus says in John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
• When He goes to the Father, the Holy Spirit came down and has been helping us since then.
• We are going to do the work God has for us, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• But this is possible, the Lord says, to “anyone who has faith in me”.
We see in the Gospel accounts how Jesus calls the ordinary, seemingly insignificant and weak people (like the uneducated fishermen) and use them in a mighty way.
• Paul said in 1 Cor 1:26-29, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”
• The Lord does not see as men see. He is a better judge than we are of what instruments will best serve His purpose.
Hudson Taylor was once asked, “Why do you think God chose you to start China Inland Mission.” He replied, “God picked out somebody who was so weak that apart from Him I knew I could do nothing.”
God despises the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Are you willing to do something for God in your generation?
We need to be faithful in doing small tasks.
• Jesus: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much & whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10)
• If we cannot do a small task well, how can God trust us for bigger things?
Conclusion:
(1) Let us PRAY for the work we are doing today.
(2) Have faith in God and persevere. Do not give up easily.
(3) God will do His part. Be willing to do your part.
We are never alone, dear friends. We have a God who loves us and cares for us. And we are called to live for Him and serve Him.
If you’re here today, and you’re not a Christian, I want to you know that the same power that has been changing lives for the past 2000 years is available to you.
• God changes our sinful life and give us an abundant life, one filled with meaning and purpose.
• But you need to repent of your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
• He died in your place. Put your trust in Christ today.
• 1 Cor 15:3 says Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, and then He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures to be our Lord and Saviour.
• And if you believe this in your heart and confess it with your month, you will be saved. All your sins will be forgiven. And you will never have to be afraid of dying, because the moment that happens, you will be enjoying eternal life in the Lord’s presence.
• It is true for me, and it can be true for you today.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Spend a moment to pray on your own.
• Dear friends, ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord and Saviour.
• Dear brothers and sisters, pray that God will use your life to touch other lives.
