You Cannot Do God’s Work Without God’s Power

“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