The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zechariah 4:6,
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."
This is the Lord's message to Zerubbabel. In his admonishment and exhortation to the Israelite remnant to complete the building of the temple, the Lord reminds Zerubbabel that it will not be through Zerubbabel's own or power that he will complete the work he had once started sixteen years earlier.
The foundation of the replacement temple had been completed, but the construction of the rest of it had been left dormant for a number of years. The Lord tells Zechariah that Zerubbabel had started the work and that he would also complete the work, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." Verse 9.
However, it will not be by the might or power of Zerubbabel, but that of the Holy Spirit that will enable Zerubbabel to complete the job.
I am reminded that today, God's people participate in God's agenda of building his kingdom, the "temple" of his people, not by their own might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord told his followers on the day he ascended into heaven, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Paul speaks of this as an accomplished thing within the church, "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us." 1 Corinthians 2:2. It is through the enablement of the Holy Spirit that we participate with the Lord in the building of his temple today, that is, his family, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. Those "gifts" are what the Holy Spirit provides us as we participate with the Lord in his work.
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."
This is the Lord's message to Zerubbabel. In his admonishment and exhortation to the Israelite remnant to complete the building of the temple, the Lord reminds Zerubbabel that it will not be through Zerubbabel's own or power that he will complete the work he had once started sixteen years earlier.
The foundation of the replacement temple had been completed, but the construction of the rest of it had been left dormant for a number of years. The Lord tells Zechariah that Zerubbabel had started the work and that he would also complete the work, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." Verse 9.
However, it will not be by the might or power of Zerubbabel, but that of the Holy Spirit that will enable Zerubbabel to complete the job.
I am reminded that today, God's people participate in God's agenda of building his kingdom, the "temple" of his people, not by their own might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord told his followers on the day he ascended into heaven, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Paul speaks of this as an accomplished thing within the church, "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us." 1 Corinthians 2:2. It is through the enablement of the Holy Spirit that we participate with the Lord in the building of his temple today, that is, his family, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. Those "gifts" are what the Holy Spirit provides us as we participate with the Lord in his work.
For those amazing things that get done for the advancement of the gospel and the building of God's family, the great men and women involved should be recognized for their availability to the Lord, but it is the Lord himself, the Holy Spirit that deserves the recognition for what gets accomplished.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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