“Not By Might, Nor By Power, But By My Spirit"

 

Bible Text: "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).

 

The success of all types of worldly undertakings depends on the ability of man. In this unrighteous society, certain enterprises can hardly materialize without authoritative influence. However, when Zerubbabel led the chosen ones out of Babylon to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild God's temple, he was directed by God to depend solely on His Spirit. Now the Latter Rain has poured down to revive the spiritual temple i.e. the True Jesus Church, throughout the world (cf: Joel 2:23, 28-32; Amos 9: 11 ). But in the last days, men will be lovers of money, proud, arrogant, unholy ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Tim 3:1-5). If we do not depend fully on His mighty power, the gospel will not be spread far and wide and the growth of the church will also be hindered (cf: Ps 60:11, 12).

 

The following examples will throw further light on the work done by the Holy Spirit in the early churches. It is earnestly hoped that all of us who are of Christ will be encouraged to depend entirely on Him so as to carry out the redemptive mission entrusted upon us by the Lord Jesus in the last days.

 

1. The Holy Spirit moves man to believe in Lord Jesus (1 Cor 12:3).

a. Peter was moved to know that Jesus is the Christ (Mt 16:15-17).

b. Lydia believed in Christ and was baptized after being moved (Acts 16: 12-15).

c. Three thousand Jews, moved to believe in Christ, repented and were baptized (Acts 2: 37,41).

 

2. The Holy Spirit leads man to Lord Jesus (Jn 6:44).

a. The Spirit led an Ethiopian eunuch to Him (Acts 8:26-39).

b. The Spirit led Cornelius to Him (Acts 1 0:1-48).

c. The Spirit led the Macedonians to Him (Acts 16: 6-34).

 

3. The Holy Spirit enables man to perform miracles (1 Cor 12:9,10).

a. The Holy Spirit, through the apostles, had performed miracles to lead more people to believe in Him (Acts 5:12-16).

b. The Holy Spirit, through Philip, performed miracles, leading the people of Samaria to believe in Him (Acts 8:4-13).

c. The Holy Spirit, through the mouth of Paul, performed miracles to convince a proconsul to believe in Him (Acts 13: 6-12).

 

4: The Holy Spirit enables man to witness for Him zealously (Acts 1 :8).

a. After the day of Pentecost, Peter became bold to witness for Christ (Acts 4:18-20).

b. Philip, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, preached zealously for Christ (Acts 6:5; 8:4,5).

c. Paul, with the Spirit provoking within him, preached the gospel to the Athenians (Acts 17: 16,17).

 

5. The Holy Spirit enables man to overcome evil (Rom 7: 24,25).

a. Only by the Holy Spirit can the deeds of the body be put to death (Rom 8:13).

b. Only by the Holy Spirit can one be sanctified (Rom 15:16).

c. Only by the Holy Spirit can His likeness be shown (2 Cor 3:17,18).

 

6. The Holy Spirit enables man to be united (Eph 4:2,3).

a. After the day of Pentecost, about three thousand disciples were together day after day (Acts 2:46).

b. Though the number of disciples increased, the disciples could still be of one heart and soul (Acts 4:4,32).

c. The church members of Philippi who were filled with the Holy Spirit had from the first day worked in unity to flourish the gospel (Phil 1 :5,6).

 

7. The Holy Spirit moves man to give offerings and surrender himself to God.

a. The disciples who had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost were willing to offer their possessions and goods (Acts 2:44,45).

b. The disciples who were filled with the Holy Spirit offered their possessions and had everything in common (Acts 4:31-35).

c. Barnabas who was full of the Holy Spirit, sold his field, offered the money and surrendered himself to serve Jesus Christ (Acts 11 :24; 4:36, 37; 13:2).

 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and is also the Spirit of God because Lord Jesus and the Father are one (Rom 8:9; Jn 1 0:30). Lord Jesus had pro;. mised to give the Holy Spirit to His disciples (Jn 14:16,17). Therefore we ought to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit who lives in us wilI bear witness that we are the children of God (Rom 8:16). When we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, we will speak in tongues (Acts 10:44- 46; 19:6,7), thus enabling us to have the guarantee of our in inheritance to His kingdom (Eph 1 :13,14). Besides, we ought to depend on the Holy Spirit in preaching the good news (1 Pet 1:12) and in tending His sheep (1 Cor 3:6,7) for Jesus Christ had said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

 

Therefore, it is imperative for us not to use man's wisdom in our planning but to pray in one accord (Acts 1 :14), just as the disciples did before the day of Pentecost, so that we will receive the same mighty power of the Holy Spirit as in the day of Pentecost (Acts 1 :8). By doing this, all our undertakings will definitely be accomplished.