“Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered and 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. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (Zech. 4:1-7)
A while ago I was driving to friend of mine’s church for the evening service as I was driving the Lord gave me a word to share with His people in that evening service. The word the Lord gave was, “The ability of God” when the children of Israel returned from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple of God they had great challenges that they could not over come by themselves. They had a God given mission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple of God. Beside that they had their personal needs and challenges to establish their lives in their home land. They had been in exile for a long time. The scripture says, great opposition and persecution rose against them. (See Zech.4:1-5), Not only that, their enemies also threatened to kill them. (See Neh.4:7-8, 11). It was a very serious challenge. Yet in the midst of this, the Lord their God, who said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you,” was with them. In Isaiah 43:1-2, the Lord says,
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you,” (Isaiah 43:1-2, NKJV).
The psalmist said, “This I know, because God is for me.” Ps 56:9, NKJV
Today you may have challenges and circumstances. Those challenge may be physical, spiritual, family problems, or financial. Whatever it may be the Lord is with you, to help you to give you His power and ability to enable you to over come these challenges or circumstances that you face today. Zerubbabel and his people had great challenge before them. It was like a great mountain.
These are what the Lord did for His people, who were under great challenges. I) He told them that He was with them. He is with you too, right now. (See Haggai 1:13, 2:2:4; Luke 1:28; Joshua 1:5 and Matthew 28:20). When trouble hits the first thing the believers ask is where is God and why. The Lord said to them again and again, I am with you. I will never leave nor forsake you.” Those words are true today for you and for me as they were true then. 2) He told them totally to depend upon His Holy Spirit. “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” (Zech. 4:6). The Holy Spirit is God’s ability and power that is available for each believer. 3) The Lord spoke to their mountain on their behalf saying, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” The Lord will level your mountain (your circumstances). 4) Then the Lord declared and decreed by His mighty power that Zerubbabel and his people will lay the foundation of the Temple and finish it. “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it.” The Lord our God is the God who enable us to start and finish our Christian journey, our divine assignment. And as H promised from start to finish the Lord is with you. (see Joshua 1:5; Matthew 28:20). Therefore dear saint of God do not be discouraged nor listen to the voice of the enemy, but listen to the word of God. And believe, the Lord will give the victory you need. The scriptures says:
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen,” (Ephesians 3:20).