Daily Devotional

Back in August I had a “blast of faith” one morning, empowering me to believe that the week ahead of me was the week to accomplish building the Grandparenting Summit service teams, to accomplish all the necessary works to see the Summit successfully take place.  It was my Monday morning half-Sabbath get-away with the Lord.  It was 7:30am.  I was in the Fig Garden shopping center, at a very quiet table outside of Jack’s Urban Eats, before opening time.  I had my Starbucks, and a snack.  Very spiritual!  I had asked for a place in His word to meet with Him that morning, and I was directed to Zechariah 4.

There was a supernatural awakening of faith in me that morning, in the Spirit.  I don’t know how else to describe it!  I just knew it would all take place!  And so on the following Sunday, the start day of this believed for Spirit work period, the Lord brought by the patio table at church Jeff Pearson, Ray Nichols and Doug Deffebach.  All would become involved in these teams.

Thus will also be built, I thought in faith, the rest of the teams, by the energy and invitation of the Lord Jesus!  With His Spirit I shall cooperate.  It was the awakening and the working of the “angel of God” that I needed.  God works His will in the lives of men!  He was working it in me.  There is nothing more exciting on earth than to be in the middle of His Spirit activity, and watch it all unfold!

He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, A lampstand all of gold With its bowl on the top of it, And its seven lamps on it with seven spouts  Belonging to each of the lamps Which are on the top of it; Also two olive trees by it, One on the right side of the bowl And the other on its left side.” Zech. 4:2-3

Zechariah needed to see a vision in regard to his calling.  What was needed of him would not be accomplished simply by his own planning and energy.  And yet, explanation was needed, which follows.  He saw objects.  But he needed understanding.

So much as this am I dependent on the working of God in my life, and in the work of ministry to which he has called me.

Then I said to the angel Who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” So the angel who was speaking with me Answered and said to me,  “Do you not know what these are?”
And I said, “No, my lord.”  Zech. 4:4-5

Zechariah saw, but he did not understand.  So he did what we need to do, he asked regarding the meaning of the picture he saw.  He did not make his own conclusions, nor did he just ignore it and remain silent.  He was engaged.

So much of our work in the Lord, both in life and ministry, depends upon our seeking (ask-seek-knock (Matt. 7:7).  God wants us engaged with Him.  God could have just sent Zechariah a business memo, but it’s not like that.  A one-way text to him was not what was needed.

 Then he said to me, “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.  ‘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!”’ Zech. 4:6-7

At the moment I was writing the above notes in my journal, I texted David DePartee, whom I had asked to consider being the lead of the Summit prayer team.  He was just getting on an airplane to fly to Michigan, but declared that he was “in” as the prayer lead!  Praise the Lord for His timing and his work!!  I knew it was the Lord who had moved me to call at just that time!  It had seemed urgent!

What better word is there to us than that which we read in the text above, as ministers of Christ?  There is a great clarity expressed in these two verses.

How is it that our effectual power does not come?

• NOT by might!
• NOT by power!

Well then, how DOES it come??

• By My Spirit!
• With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

Even great mountains cannot stand in the way of the work of God!  They cannot stand before the servant of God, Like Zerubbabel here, before me in this Summit work, nor before you!  Who are you, O great mountain arising an obstacle?  Nothing!

It is declared that the mountains will not only be overcome, but that they will lose their fullness and might completely, and become a plain!!  Seeing obstacles moved by a word!  Grace, grace to it!

Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.”
Zech. 4:8-9

God had determined that Zerubbabel would finish the temple.  Zerubbabel would be the one physically working and leading, plumb line in hand.  But God was the One declaring it to be so.

But there is a greater purpose yet even than getting the temple completed.  What is it? Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent me to you!

I urge you today to be bold!  There is a place, in the middle, where it is safe.  No mountain.  No obstacles at all.  No words in your mouth. No criticism.  No risk.  But it is putrid and lifeless.  No word from the Lord.  No vision.  No plumb line in hand.

It is easy to settle for some kind of stilted New Testament Christian life –those Old Testament days are gone!  And we get something without fangs.  Every New Testament transformed-by-faith believer has as much power by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit as any Old Testament hero.  Perhaps more.

But it takes risk.  You might fall flat on your face!  You will be criticized.  Obstacles will, indeed, rise up.  But you will also succeed.  You will soar and do the exemplary things that God is calling you to do!

Wait!  What is that I am seeing?  Is that a voice I hear? – Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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