Tag: not by might
Not by might!
Scripture reading for September 29th: Zechariah 3-4
When we face a difficult task for the Lord, we begin to take inventory of our resources. God’s people and their leaders faced a task that looked impossible: the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem! God sent visions to Zechariah to expand their resources and bring encouragement!
The second of eight visions pictured Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Lord, and Satan there accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan and spoke of Joshua as a burning stick snatched from the fire! (Zechariah 3:2) (Jude 22,23) He then ordered Joshua’s filthy clothes to be removed and clothed him in clean garments. Joshua was told that if he walked in the Lord’s ways, he would govern God’s house and have a place among those standing there by the throne of God.
Joshua the high priest was symbolic of things to come. God would send His servant, the Branch, and would remove the sin of Israel in a single day. Jesus Christ was the servant of the Lord who was sent by God. He fully obeyed all of God’s requirements and walked in His ways. He became sin and was made like the burning stick, under the fires of God’s judgment for us. God raised Him from the dead, snatching Him from the fire, and seated Him at His right hand!
Zechariah saw a golden lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it. There were two olive trees standing on either side of the bowl. “So 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.” (Zechariah 4:6) It was not their might, power, or ability that would accomplish the task. God would bless their efforts and He would see it through by His Spirit!
As I reflect on this last vision, I see the church as the lamp stand and the light in the world. The Spirit is the oil that brings the energy for the light. God’s anointed leaders help with the dispensing of the anointing oil as they live by faith and do their assigned jobs! Their lives of faith reflect God’s Glory and the work goes forward! In the power of His Spirit, the mountain of impossibility will become a plain!
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Not by Might!
Dear Spirit-filled Friends,
Greetings on another day of rest and reflection! We have covered most of the Old Testament and many of the minor prophets. Their message has been one of coming judgment and hope for God’s people. They spoke of the coming King who would rule to the ends of the earth and destroy the wicked. They called God’s people to seek Him humbly and to walk by faith, encouraging them with the promise of eternal rewards and a time of everlasting peace. The ‘day of the Lord’ was a common theme in many of these prophet’s ministries.
As I reflect back on the past week, a scripture from Zechariah comes quickly to my mind! “So 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 Almighty.”” (Zechariah 4:4) As we think of all the happenings of the coming end times and the day of the Lord, we can become overwhelmed by how we are going to make it and be ready. We see the work yet to be done in reaching this world with the Gospel and think how difficult it is. Zechariah was given a word of God by an angel who spoke to him. This angel relayed God’s encouragement to His people of all generations. We are not to rely on our own strength or power to accomplish the work of building the temple any more than Zechariah and his people were told not to! God, Himself, by His Spirit will empower His people.
This is good news for us today! We need to be reminded that God has everything under his control. He is bringing about His plans and His purposes are established forever! (Psalm 33:9-10) Those things that look like mountains will become level by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is building His Temple and by His Spirit it will be accomplished! We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit and we will have nothing to be concerned about! God bless you and your family!
In His Love, Pastor John
The Branch and Stone
Scripture reading for September 29th: Zechariah 3-4
Zechariah’s prophesies are a rich source of encouragement for believers of all cultures and times. It is amazing how Zechariah, speaking about 500 years before Christ, foretold so many details about His life and reign. In today’s reading, Zechariah picks up on two terms used by other earlier prophets to describe the coming Messiah.
“Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come; I am going to bring My servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord Almighty, and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:8-9) Zechariah told the high priest, Joshua, that he and his associates were symbolic of things to come in the future. God would send a future servant, “the Branch”, who would also be a high priest! According to Isaiah’s prophesy, the “Branch” would come from the stump of Jesse. He would have the seven-fold Spirit of God upon Him. (Isaiah 11:1-4) According to Jeremiah’s prophesy, this “Branch” would be from the line of David and He would do what was just and right. Under His leadership, Judah would be saved. (Jeremiah 33:15-16)
Looking back from our perspective, Jesus Christ did come from Jesse’s stump, because Jesse was the father of King David! Jesus is the cornerstone of the new temple composed of those who by faith put their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Matthew 21:42) He was filled with the Holy Spirit of God and manifested that Spirit as He lived and ministered on earth. (Luke 4:1) Jesus Christ offered Himself as the final sinless sacrifice for the sins of Judah and the whole world. In one day, God did away with sin and it’s penalty through the sacrifice of His own Son! God installed Jesus as our High Priest of a new order and He ever lives to intercede for us! (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Zechariah wrote down these descriptions to help us know that God’s plans are sure and always come to pass. “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’ says the Lord Almighty.” God’s power will bring to pass every promise in His word. Make sure your life is placed on the Stone with the seven eyes!
A Burning Stick, Snatched From the fire!
Scripture reading for September 29th: Zechariah 3-4
When we face an impossible looking task for the Lord, we begin to take inventory of our resources. We check our bank account to see how much money we have; we check our physical and mental abilities to solve the problem; we consult those who might help us with the work to see if we have enough manpower to do the job we look at all the obstacles and see how the task might be accomplished. God’s people and their leaders faced a task that looked impossible: the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem! God sent visions to Zechariah to expand their resources and bring encouragement!
The second of eight visions pictured Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Lord, and Satan there accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan and spoke of Joshua as a burning stick snatched from the fire!(Zechariah 3: (Jude 22,23) He then ordered Joshua’s filthy clothes to be removed and clothed him in clean garments. Joshua was told that if he walked in the Lord’s ways and kept His requirements, he would govern God’s house and have a place among those standing there by the throne of God.
In this vision, Joshua the high priest was symbolic of things to come. God would send His servant, the Branch, and would remove the sin of Israel in a single day. Wow! Zechariah is getting vision of things to come that we now see and understand! Jesus Christ was the servant of the Lord who was sent by God. He was and is the Son of God. He fully obeyed all of God’s requirements and walked in His ways. He became sin and was made like the burning stick, under the fires of God’s judgment for us. God raised Him from the dead, snatching Him from the fire, and seated Him at His right hand! In obeying His Father, Jesus Christ removed the sin from the land and from all people in one day!
And that wasn’t all of the visions from the Lord. Next, Zechariah saw a golden lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it. There were two olive trees standing on either side of the bowl. Zechariah again asked for understanding. “So 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.” (Zechariah 4:6) God was again giving vision to those leading the rebuilding. It was not their might, power, or ability that would accomplish the task. God would bless their efforts and He would see it through by His Spirit!
As I reflect on this last vision, I see the church as the lamp stand and the lights in the world. The Spirit is the oil that brings the energy for the work and light. God’s anointed leaders help with the dispensing of the anointing oil as they live by faith and do their assigned jobs! Their lives of faith reflect God’s Glory and the work goes forward! It may seem like our work is small–only a plumb line to measure the progress! Don’t despise it– live by faith in the power of His Spirit! The mountain will become a plain!