Bible League: Living His Word "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'Says the LORD of hosts." After Zerubbabel led the first wave of exiles back from the Babylonian Captivity, he was called by God to re-build the temple in Jerusalem. No doubt he regarded this as a difficult assignment. The building project itself was huge, he did not have as many workers as he would have liked, and he faced opposition from the Samaritan people (Nehemiah 4:1-2). Our verse for today is part of a message the prophet Zechariah received from an angel. The message was a word of encouragement for Zerubbabel. However, the angel's message speaks to anyone with an assignment from the Lord. First of all, our assignments from the Lord will not be accomplished by human might. Although our assignments may be huge and we may think we will need an army of help, it will take more than an army to get the job done. Although we may face opposition from enemies and we may think we will need an army of defenders, it will take more than an army to fend off the opposition. Secondly, our assignments from the Lord will not be accomplished by human power. Although our assignments may seem overwhelming and we may think we will need to summon great strength and energy, it will take more than human means and agency to accomplish the task. Although the power of the opposition may be imposing and we may think we will need even greater power to overcome, it will take more than manpower in order to succeed. Finally, our assignments from the Lord will be accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord. We will not need an army to help us and to defend us and we will not need great strength and energy, because the Spirit of the Lord will go to work for us. He will work through whatever helps and defenses we have available and He will use whatever strength and power we have at hand in order to accomplish the assignments of the Lord. Today, therefore, stop trying to muster an army and stop trying to ginger up great strength, because the victory does not depend on might and it does not depend upon power. It depends upon the Spirit of the Lord. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 9, 10 Jeremiah 9 -- Jeremiah Laments over Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 10 -- The Lord Speaks on Idolatry and Coming Destruction; Jeremiah Prays NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 -- Bishops and Deacons NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.Insight Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Paul cautions, however, that improper language should have no place in the Christian's conversation because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us. Challenge How can we praise God and remind others of his goodness when we are speaking coarsely? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 22:46 Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes, laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan's description: "Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean." "The arbour was called the Slothful's Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary." Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked, "I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil." There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering. The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.1 Corinthians 15:45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:9-11 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. • If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. • But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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