Verse of the Day 8/12

 

Zechariah 4:6 Then he 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.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Yesterday's verse came from Revelation 3 where Jesus was telling John what he saw in the church at Sardis, the dead church.  The passage ended with "He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches".

 

Those words bring us back to what God spoke through Abraham in Deuteronomy 6:4 where we find the "Shema" which states, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one".  Bill Crowder writes that "The title "shema" is from the Hebrew word for hear.  One source says this statement of the oneness of God is recited twice each day by observant Jews and is the most important part of Judaism's prayer services."

 

Revelation 3 begins with Jesus referring to himself as "the words of him who has the seven spirits of God".  Many commentators feel that it points back to this passage back in the Old Testament.  God called Moses who challenged the people to hear, God called Zechariah as if out of a deep sleep to hear the Spirit's call and John called for his readers then and now to hear, to listen to what the Spirit has to say to us.

 

God's purposes are not achieved by human might, not though our wealth, but by listening to the Spirit's call to "hear" what He has to say to us from and through His Word, and by listening and obeying we will accomplish his purposes.  May we "wake up to hear" what the Spirit is telling us today.  Through Him we can overcome, this kind of faith can move mountains or rebuild temples as was the case here.

 

'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

Zechariah 4:1-7The Message (MSG)

Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees

4 The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.

^2-3 He said, "What do you see?"

I answered, "I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl."

⁴ Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, "What does this mean, sir?"

^5-7 The Messenger-Angel said, "Can't you tell?"

"No, sir," I said.

Then he said, "This is God's Message to Zerubbabel: 'You can't force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,' says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. 'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'"