“You Cannot Do God’s Work Without God’s power.”
Text: “Then 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 of hosts’” (Zech. 4:6 RSV).
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 4:1–10
The words of our text were designed to encourage the heart of Zerubbabel, providing he would think God’s thoughts and walk in God’s ways. The text could throw one off especially if they are a part of those who seek to accomplish God’s work with one’s own abilities and strength. It takes the presence, enablement, and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to fulfill “Gods will right here on earth.”
The Holy Spirit is the One who stimulates all corporate and individual revival, as well as all effective ministry.
If you need the power of God in your life, Jesus has a word for you. Just before he ascended to heaven, He knew his disciples needed power to do the works of his kingdom on earth. So he instructed them, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
The instruction was simple: “Stay in the city.” But note this stipulation: “…until…” Jesus was saying, “Your lives will remain the same until the Holy Spirit comes upon you with power.”
“You cannot do God’s work without God’s power.”
This truth is affirmed in the words of the text: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Jesus’ message in Luke 24:49 is clear: “Wait on the Spirit! Don’t rush…...but Wait! You can’t will your way to accomplishing the works of the kingdom. Wait in faith, and you’ll be endued with power from on high.” As a result of their waiting, Suddenly……..it happened just as he promised. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with a powerful anointing from God that the world had never seen. Here we are Two thousand years later and the world has never been the same.
For the disciples, waiting was a matter of weeks but they got it.
Today, a lot of people “show their selves anointed and appointed ” before God’s appointed time and as a result of them not waiting on the Power of the Holy Ghost. They end up spinning their wheels, tiring themselves out, they become weary in doing God’s work and they eventually get played out.
The only power you will ever have or need for God’s work will come from time spent with Him in prayer.
For many of us, any kind of waiting can be extremely uncomfortable; it speaks of weariness, suffering, crying and tiredness. But the Bible paints a different picture of the disciples’ "waiting period".
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” in other-words they went to the Upper Room and had some church until the power of the Lord came down. (Luke 24:51-53).
Reminds me of that song ……"When the saints began to pray ….Let the Lord have his way….the glory of the Lord came down."
If you've been trying to do God’s work without God’s power.
If you’ve been trying to develop a personality without the help of the Holy Spirit. If you’ve been seeking to teach a Bible class without a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit for God’s enabling power. If you’ve been seeking to speak to those who do not know Jesus as Savior without a sincere dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit to make your efforts effective. I’m here to tell you that you will not, cannot and will ever be effective in your life if you don’t have the Holy Ghost!
Much of the weakness and failure of God’s people today can be traced directly to the fact that they are helpless without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit’s help, you are helpless and the future is hopeless.
Zerubbabel could not accomplish his purpose by the might and strength of military action.
No human power could enable the prophet to accomplish his divine mission. We experience great failure and our lives are unfruitful if we attempt to do the work of God without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit’s help everything divine is impossible.
Human effort alone cannot produce divine effects in our lives or the lives of others…..this is why we need His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit effects the rejuvenating process of the new birth in the believers hearts.
It is the Holy Spirit that bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Romans 8:16
It is the Holy Spirit that takes up residence in believers’ bodies at the moment of conversion.
1 Corinthians 3:16 says, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
It is the Holy Spirit that works in the hearts, minds and wills of His people.
It is the Holy Spirit who is working on the inside that brings about a change in your life.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It’s the Holy Spirit who dwells within every believer, seeking to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The Holy Spirit wants to present each of us as an exhibit of what Jesus can do in those who will trust him.
When the Spirit fully controls the life of a believer, He produces all of these graces. The first three concern our attitude toward God, the second three deals with our social relationships, and the third group describes principles that guide a Believers conduct.
It is the Holy Spirit who energizes believers for service and makes them strong for the struggle against evil. He gives us the ability to stand against the forces of hell. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Paul, not only warns us of a spiritual structure in the invisible realm; he instructs us to put on the whole armor of God in order to maintain a “battle-stance” against this unseen satanic structure. This is why the Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
It’s the Holy Spirit that seeks to teach us the truth of God as it is revealed in and taught by Jesus Christ.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13-14
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
All of these truths prove that the Father God does not intend that we labor in human strength alone. It is not his will that we experience the despair of failure. He has provided the help of the Holy Spirit that we might not be helpless.
Psalms 121 David said,
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD,
which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper:
the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
from this time forth, and even for evermore.
This is more than about learning how to preach and exegesis (interpreting or explaining) the text it’s about healing the sick….casting out evil spirits…..working and performing miracles…..Mark 16:17 Jesus said,
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues… the old saints didn’t have a lot of education or commentary about the Bible but they had the Holy Ghost! ……the old saints didn’t have a lot of education or commentary about the Bible but they Power!….. the old saints didn’t have a lot of education or commentary about the Bible but they knew how to pray! They understood the concept of much prayer, much power, little prayer little power, no prayer no power…..they understood the concept that God didn’t need no matches because He was fire by Himself…. the old saints didn’t have a lot of education or commentary about the Bible but they understood that they couldn’t do nothing until the Lord let His Holy Ghost come down!
That’s why they always cried……send it down!
Because they understood that we can’t do nothing until you send it on down.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee!
The word was in them but they prayed and tarried until the Power of the Holy Ghost fell down on them.
They prayed and praised God until they broke through to heaven.
Conclusion
Church, if we’re failing today, is it because we’re not waiting on God’s power? Is it because we’re “showing” ourselves rather than “hiding” ourselves? I exhort you toward your holy calling to wait on Jesus. You are helpless without the help of the Holy Spirit. You cannot convert a soul to Christ without the Holy Spirit’s help. You cannot develop a Christian personality or character without the Holy Spirit’s help. You cannot understand the real truth of the Bible without the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. You cannot pray effectively without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
Today the Holy Spirit exalts Jesus Christ as the adequate, loving, powerful Savior who is eager to come into your life. Today the Holy Spirit calls you to total trust and loving obedience to Jesus Christ. Today the Holy Spirit wants to begin God’s good work in you, and you can trust him to continue it until the Lord returns or until he calls you home.
