BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD

Zechariah 4:6 says, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

God was speaking through Zechariah to let Zerubbabel know that it was not human might or power that would make the temple which they were building great. It was the Spirit of God which would glorify the temple he was building. Solomon’s temple was build with opulent decorations with the greatest human skill and an immense budget. Solomon’s temple was larger, grander, and decorated with more gold and silver than the one build in Zechariah and Zerubbabel's day. Their temple seemed small and weak compared to Solomon’s. But God was saying that it was not human might or power that would complete and glorify this temple, it was His spirit.

What do you trust in? What impresses you? What causes you to “believe” in something? Do you trust in large buildings, large offerings, large attendance or lavish surroundings? What draws your faith? Human wisdom? Human manpower? Human success?

Look at what the scriptures teach again and again about where we should place our trust.

Psalms 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Psalms 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”

Psalms 44:3 “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.”

Psalms 44:6-7 “I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”

2 Chronicles 14:11 “Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”

Hosea 1:7 “Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them— not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God."

The New Testament confirms the same truth. We don’t operate by mans wisdom but by faith in God. We don’t operate based on human power or strength but on God’s power. We don’t fight like the world does. We don’t use their weapons. Our weapons are not money, power, human persuasion or public opinion. We operate on a spiritual level. We are focused in our minds on another dimension. We are empowered with divine power to demolish false arguments and lies which oppose the truth. We take captive thoughts and make disciples of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:5 “So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 -5 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The temple of Zechariah and Zerubbabel’s day was more powerful because this was the temple Jesus came to visit as prophesied. Solomon’s temple was destroyed without ever being visited by the Messiah. However, the temple built by Zechariah and Zerubbabel was the temple Jesus cleansed, taught in, and preached from. It was glorified not by human might or human power but by the Spirit of the Lord.

What makes a temple great? What makes a nation great? What makes a church great? What makes a person great? It’s not human wisdom, might or power. It’s not the size, strength, power, or prestige. It’s not the wealth, outward beauty nor decorations. It’s the presence of the Spirit of God!

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