Not by strength, nor by might, but by My Spirit saith the LORD!

If you have been a believer long enough, you may have heard someone say, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” It is a Bible verse that draws our attention and gives us hope and confidence.

This powerful verse comes from the fourth chapter of the book of Zechariah. In this chapter, Zechariah experiences his fifth of eight visions all given to him in one evening.  In each vision, there is an angel who guides him. The fifth vision in chapter four is about the “Golden Lampstand and the Two Olives Trees.”

During the vision, Zechariah asked the angel who was speaking to him, “What are these, my lord?” He was asking for the meaning of the golden lampstand and the two olive trees on either side of the lamp. The angel delayed in answering his question (this will be addressed later in the chapter) and instead, in verses 6-9, said:

“6 “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”8 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.”

The LORD wanted Zerubbabel to know that He was going to give him the power of the Holy Spirit to complete the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. To understand the significance of this promise from the LORD of hosts, it is important to understand the background that led to the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel in this chapter.

Zerubbabel was among the exiles from Babylon who, under King Cyrus of Persia, were given a decree to return to Jerusalem to build the house of the LORD. Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest returned with the exiles in 536 B.C and began the foundation of the temple. However, in 534 B.C. the work was stopped because of opposition from their enemies (Ezra 4:4-5, 24). 

Then in the second year of Darius, King of Persia, God raised up Haggai the prophet, a contemporary of Zechariah, to exhort Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest to return to the work and promised that He would be with them (Hag.2:1-5). As a result, Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, and the people of Judah resumed the work in 520 B.C. It was at this time that the LORD of hosts, in Zechariah 4:6, told Zerubbabel that He was going to give him the power of the Holy Spirit to complete the temple. 

The LORD also promised him that the great mountain before Zerubbabel would become a plain (v.7). Zerubbabel had faced mountains or obstacles in the past, but now he is given the assurance that no obstacle will stand in his way to complete the temple of the Lord, because the work would be accomplished by the power of God. 

I’m not sure what mountain or obstacle you are currently facing in your life today. You may be facing something difficult at work, in a relationship, in your marriage, a significant health issue, something in ministry, or something financial. Whatever it is, take the mountain or obstacle you are facing and bring it to the Lord. Ask Him to give you the strength you need through the Holy Spirit to face the challenge He has allowed in your life. 

As you depend upon Him, I trust you will experience the sustaining grace of the Lord and that He will turn your mountain into a plane as you work through whatever it is in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire.” – Charles Spurgeon