Heavenly Means for Reform & Revival

1 Cor. 1:18-2:5

In the prophet Zechariah, we read, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zech. 4:6). During his day, the Israelites had returned by faith to the words God had given the prophets regarding hope for a new future. God told Isaiah, “Comfort, comfort my people…. speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned” (Isa. 40:1-2). But as grand as this and other promises were, they had not exactly been experienced by this restoration band.

Richard Phillips, in his commentary on Zechariah, likens the situation of Zechariah’s day to our Christian experience. He writes:

     “We, too, come to God out of a Babylonian captivity to sin. We come in answer to God’s call, with great promises ringing in our ears. Yet we live in what has been called ‘the gap between promise and reality.’ The Bible tells us that in Christ we are royal children, on whom the Lord of heaven has lavished his love and affection. Yet, as Paul says, all this is ‘hidden with Christ in God’ (Col. 3:3). Our royal sonship is largely unseen in this life, unrecognized even by us except through the eyes of faith. We are told of fellowship with God and his great family, yet our experience is often one of loneliness. We are promised vast riches, kept securely for us by God, yet our reality is so often one of poverty. We are told about a vast power made available to us in Christ, yet we feel so weak and ill-equipped to face the demands of life.

     “In short, we feel the way Zechariah and his people must have felt, expecting the fulfillment of great and surpassing promises, while we experience a life that is far from glorious. This is where Zechariah’s visions come in. They set before the eyes of faith manifestations of what is real but unseen, what is spiritually true even though unapparent in our outward circumstances.”

The motto of Zech. 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” – assured them that they would not have to rely on their own power or strength, but that  God’s Spirit would propel and sustain them far beyond what their own power could do.

Phillips continues his chapter on this section with several practical examples: First, the message of God’s mighty help shows us that “although there are obstacles, God is sufficient to overcome them”. A second practical lesson flows from this, namely, that “God’s power for us spurs us on to action and not to inaction.” This is a principle by which we are to live as Christians. “We are shown the end from the beginning, and this emboldens us to action.” Third, “God’s aim in our work is the increased knowledge of him.”

In the vision Zechariah receives, the angel offers a wonderful statement of wisdom for the life of faith: “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice” (Zech. 4:10). It seems that not all believed they could make a difference and that with such a small band of brothers, they could never complete so grand a project as laying the new foundation of the temple.

Phillips again helps us as he writes, “Where does a person like me begin such a daunting endeavor?” we are prone to ask. The answer is that we begin by beginning: by trusting in the Lord, by doing what is there before us to do, by not despising the day of small things. This is what Zerubbabel modeled when he first laid the temple’s new foundation – a small beginning that led to bigger and better things.”

Beloved, small beginnings lead to great endings when they are done through faith in God. Will you join us in praying for and working toward biblical reformation and revival? This Sunday morning, we will consider heaven’s methods for revival from 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.

We look forward to recognizing our graduating students this Sunday morning. Congratulations to Jon Coalson, Lily Prince, and Griffin Thomas.

For His Glory,

Pastor Wayne