“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
Dear Ones:
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, certainly to be able to speak to Him personally without the distraction of others, the Lord spoke very directly to him: “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:5) He then states a very important distinction: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (v.6) The Lord reveals to Nicodemus the reality of physical existence, and life, from a natural standpoint. But then, he goes on to say with equal certainty that there is a spiritual existence that has its beginning and essence in God. Jesus then speaks of being born again, born of the Spirit. The primary point is this: God comes to naturally existing man, to impart Christ’s life by the Spirit. As there is the absolute impossibility of the natural inheriting the eternal without Christ, so it is absolutely possible that God WILL give power to those who receive Him, to those who choose and will to believe on His name. (Jn. 1:12)
When Joshua and the children of Israel were marching around the walled city of Jericho on the seventh day, there was no indication of those walls cracking, and falling down. Following the orders that God had given Joshua for the people, there came the moment when they were to shout. The people were acting in faith, according to the word of God, for the Lord had told them that if they obeyed Him, by obeying Joshua, the walls would fall flat when they shouted. This is exactly what occurred. The physical world, and fortress of Jericho, stood in defiance to the people of God. But there was another “world,” a spiritual one over which the Lord of Hosts reigned. It would be BY the Spirit of God that the walls would fall down.
In the history of Israel, after the exile, when the people were returning to the promised land, specifically to Jerusalem, God had commanded them to rebuild the temple. Work on the temple had begun, but because of resistance by Israel’s enemies, the work had ceased. Through the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the people were stirred again to begin the work. God would then give a vision to Zechariah concerning Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. In that vision, the Lord would reveal His perspective of what Israel WAS TO BE in His eyes, “…a candlestick all of gold.” (Zech. 4:2) The purpose of this candlestick was to give light unto the world, the light of the truth of God in Christ, by the Spirit. Essential to the realization of that vision was a word from the Lord to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by MY Spirit,’ saith the Lord.” Why did the Lord say this at this time? It is because of the difference between the physical and the spiritual, that which is of man and that which is of God. The building of the temple “in tumultuous times” was primarily a spiritual Divine venture, and intervention. It was the same with the falling down of the walls of Jericho. There was very much more than the physical that was in play.
In the book of Matthew, the Lord Jesus makes a very clear statement on this matter with regard to His kingdom, and reaching the world for Christ. “I will build MY church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) Though Christ would send His disciples into all the world to make disciples, and though churches would be born all over the then known world, the great essential was the very intervention of God. Christ alone can do HIS work, and this, by the Spirit. And this He will do, IF He can find in us a heart of faith, and obedience.
Dear Father, give us to truly trust only in Thee and Thy power. Give us grace to fix our eyes on Jesus, trusting in the leading and enabling of the Spirit. Then, Thy kingdom will come and Your will will be done. We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad