Not by Our Power, but By God’s!

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) 6 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. 

Background: 

• Zechariah roused from sleep by the angel — startled, not fully alert
• Context: post-exile return to Jerusalem; temple rebuild stalled for years.
• Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, is the recipient of this word

Zechariah 4:1-5 (ESV) 1 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

The Vision (vv. 2–3)

• A golden lampstand with a bowl on top
• Seven lamps, each with seven lips (spouts), its a lamp built to burn bright
• Two olive trees flanking the lampstand, one on each side. 

Additional description… 

Zechariah 4:12 (ESV) 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?”

Not only do we have the lampstand with the seven lamps (number of completion/perfection) we also have a continual feeding of oil from golden pipes connected to the source. 

• The oil represents the Holy Spirit that continually feeds the lamps, which is a picture of the Holy Spirit supplying us as we shine the light of God. 
• If a Christian is growing dim, its due to not relying on the Holy Spirit for the source of strength and intensity. 

Zechariah 4:4-7 (ESV) 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 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. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

The Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel…. 

• Not by might: not by collective power as a nation
• Nor by power: individual strength
• But by My Spirit: it is the Holy Spirit that will enable the work to be continued and completed. 

Who are you O great mountain? 

• The work seems at times insurmountable…. Too large… at least for man. 
• The problem seems too big…. Impossible! 

The mountain shall become a plain….. leveled as if there was never a struggle. 

• Zerubbabel shall set the cap stone…. Not only will the work continue, but it shall also be completed under his leadership and in his time. 

Zechariah 4:8-10 (ESV) 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

You shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 

• God is saying I will show up in a way that you will know that it was/is the LORD. 
• There was a day of small things, but this day will be a day of big things. 
• The day of small things is necessary so that the day of big things may show the power of God at work. 

In many of God’s choice workers He uses a powerful season of small things. Those days are not a mistake nor are they punishment; they are days of priceless shaping and preparation. They are not days to despise. When Satan tempts us to despise the day of small things, he shines as an outstanding liar because Satan does not despise the day of small things. Satan fears the day of small things in our life because he sees what great things God does in them and brings out of them. – Dr. David Guzik

“To me, it seems that it should be your glory to join the poorest and weakest churches of your denomination, and wherever you go, to say, ‘This little cause is not as strong as I should like it to be; but, by the grace of God, I will make it more influential. At any rate, I will throw in my weight to strengthen the weak things of Zion, and certainly I will not despise the day of small things.’ Where would have been our flourishing churches of today if our forefathers had disdained to sustain them while they were yet in their infancy?” – CH Spurgeon

Zechariah 4:10-14 (ESV) “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Seven eyes are the eyes of the LORD who see all. 

• Two branches of the olive trees ar ethe two anointed ones who stand by the Lord. 
• God has done great things with pairs of faithful people. 
• Moses & Aaron, Joshua & Caleb, Paul & Barnabus, Paul & Silas

Revelation 11:3-4 (ESV) 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Are you willing to continue the work in faith believing that God will pour out His Spirit and bless you and the work He has set before you? 

• Will you continue to slack in what God has given you to do or will you keep climbing trusting God to flatten the mountain? 
• Will you allow yourself to be continually fed by His supply of the Holy Spirit?