Zechariah 4: 1-6 > Not by might, nor by power
| Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit |
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Zechariah 4: 1 - 6 ( King James Version ) |
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| And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, |
| 4:2 |
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof: |
| 4:3 |
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [side] thereof. |
| 4:4 |
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [are] these, my lord? |
| 4:5 |
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. |
| 4:6 |
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. |
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| Zechariah 4: 1 - 6 ( New International Version ) |
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| And the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. |
| v.2 > He asked me, "What do you see." I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. |
| v.3 > Also there are two olive trees by it. One on the right of the bowl and the other on it's left. |
| v.4 > I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these my Lord." |
| v.5 > He answered, "Do you not know what these are? No, my lord," I replied. |
| v.6 > 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. |
| Text used as title of a Chapter in Spirit of Prophecy |
| Prophets and Kings, Chapter 48 - "Not by Might, nor by Power" page 593 to 597 |
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| Text quoted in Spirit of Prophecy |
"So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord? . . . Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Prophets and Kings, page 593.2
. . . Human power and human might did not establish the church of God, and neither can they destroy it. Not on the rock of human strength, but on Christ Jesus, the Rock of Ages, was the church founded, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18. The presence of God gives stability to His cause. "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man," is the word that comes to us. Psalm 146:3. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15. God's glorious work, founded on the eternal principles of right, will never come to nought. It will go on from strength to strength, "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. Prophets and Kings, page 595.3 |
For the next trial a lowlier instrument was chosen -- a young man, so humble in appearance that he was coldly treated even by the professed friends of reform. But what could such a one do where Farel had been rejected? How could one of little courage and experience withstand the tempest before which the strongest and bravest had been forced to flee? "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Zechariah 4:6. "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:27, 25. Great Controverst, page 232.2
Neither wicked men nor devils can hinder the work of God, or shut out His presence from His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises. Every temptation, every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. Great Controversy, page 529.1 |
| As the chosen people of God, we cannot copy the habits, aims, practices, or fashions of the world. We are not left in darkness, to pattern after worldly models and to depend on outward appearance for success. The Lord has told us whence comes our strength. "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. As the Lord sees fit He imparts, to those who keep His way, power that enables them to exert a strong influence for good. On God they are dependent, and to Him they must give an account of the way in which they use the talents He has entrusted to them. They are to realize that they are God's stewards and are to seek to magnify His name. {CH 274.1} {7T 90.1} |
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| Before giving a discourse, ministers should take time to seek God for wisdom and power. In earlier times the ministers would often go away and pray together, and they would not cease until the Spirit of God responded to their prayers. Then they would return from the place of prayer with their faces lighted up; and when they spoke to the congregation, their words were with power. They reached the hearts of the people because the Spirit that gave them the blessing prepared hearts to receive their message. There is far more being done by the heavenly universe than we realize in preparing the way that souls may be converted. We are to work in harmony with the messengers of heaven. We want more of God; we are not to feel that our talking and sermonizing can do the work. Unless the people are reached through God, they will never be reached. We are to rely wholly upon God, pleading His promise: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. {6T 50.2} |
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| Sometimes a large number of speakers attend a camp meeting for a few days, and just when the interest of the people is fully aroused, nearly all hurry away to another meeting, leaving two or three speakers behind to struggle against the depressing influence of the tearing down and removal of the family tents. How much better it would be if the meetings were continued for a longer time; if persons would come from each church prepared to remain a month or longer, helping in the meetings and learning how to labor acceptably. Then they could carry a valuable experience to their churches when they return home. How much better if some of the same speakers who aroused the interest of the people during the largest attendance at the meeting would remain to follow up the work by a thoroughly organized protracted effort. To conduct meetings in this way would require that several be in progress at the same time, and this would not permit a few men to attend all the meetings. But we must remember that the work is to be accomplished "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. {6T 73.2} |
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