Next Chapter: Living in Power
Copyright: South Bay Community Church Sermon Reflections
Sermon Title: Next Chapter: Living in Power
Date: 20 October 2024
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Sermon Text: Zechariah 4:1-6
Sermon Title: Next Chapter: Living in Power
Date: 20 October 2024
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Sermon Text: Zechariah 4:1-6
Sermon Quick Summary
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God. It is a reset as we listen and follow where God is leading us next. Our first message of the Next Chapter is living your purpose. We then explored the Next Chapter as living with passion. The third message in the Next Chapter is living in perseverance. In this message, we conclude the series on the Next Chapter by exploring living in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit binds, amplifies, and empowers you to experience all God has for you. As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source. The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance. Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in your daily lives: Surrender to God Daily. Stay Connected to the Source. Walk in Obedience to God. Cultivate Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength.
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God. It is a reset as we listen and follow where God is leading us next:
Our first message of the Next Chapter is living your purpose.
We affirm God’s Word that we are God’s masterpieces, created for the good works God has prepared for us to do. We live into our purpose when we find our identity in Christ and align with who God has made us to be, embrace our gifts and passions, and trust God in every season of our lives as God writes the good and beautiful story God desires for us.
We then explored the Next Chapter as living with passion.
We are reminded that Jesus came to enable us to live life to the fullest. Life to the fullest is an abundant life of passion for the Lord, passion for the loved (meaning all people), and passion for the gift of life itself. This abundant life enables us to experience all the beauty and experiences of joy God has given us. There’s always something to thank God for and enjoy in gratitude.
The third message in the Next Chapter is living in perseverance.
We are reminded that suffering is a part of life in this broken world, but we are never alone in our suffering. In the hard chapters of life, we can lament and be honest with God about our feelings, embrace God-given distractions, and draw near to God. We can also lean into community for support and encouragement. Perseverance invites us to lift our voice and sing praise to God, even in the hard times.
In this message, we conclude our series on the Next Chapter by exploring living in the power of the Holy Spirit that binds, amplifies, and empowers you to experience all God has for you.
As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Here is the scripture written by Zechariah, “1Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, ‘What do you see?’ I answered, ‘I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also, there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ 5He answered, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ ‘No, my Lord,’ I replied.
6So 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 Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:1-6).
Have you ever had a dream that, when you woke up, you said to yourself, "That was weird," and then it is gone? Then there are times when a dream seems significant, but you have the sense that it means something; perhaps God is speaking to you. Sometimes you know exactly what it means, and sometimes it becomes clear over time or after sharing with a friend. God still speaks through dreams. Not every dream, but there are times when God determines a dream is the best way to share whatever God wants to share with us. We see this all through the Bible, and that is what is happening in our biblical text today.
Zerubbabel was the governor of Judea around 530 BC or so. The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon—this difficult and challenging time as they embarked on a new chapter in their story. Not only was Zerubbabel leading as governor, but also God had given him an assignment. He had a clear purpose: to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed 70 years earlier when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. Now they had returned, and rebuilding the temple was a monumental task. Zerubbabel had a purpose. He was also passionate about the project. He was eager to see the place where God resided restored. Zerubbabel exhibited perseverance as he faced one obstacle and disruption after another. He had purpose, passion, and perseverance in this chapter of his story, but something was missing; guidance from God’s Spirit is a crucial part of his story. So God sent a message in a dream to Zechariah the prophet to give to Zerubbabel.
To interpret this dream, we need to understand the biblical symbolism here. The solid gold lampstand represents the light of God. Both in the Old and New Testaments, God’s people were called to shine the light of God’s glory in the world. That was part of their purpose. The dream also includes two olive trees on either side of the lampstand, which is a symbol of a continuous supply of oil, representing the Holy Spirit. This became clear to Zechariah, who then gave Zerubbabel the message found in this well-known verse: God’s message to Zerubbabel was, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” God is reminding Zerubbabel that human effort (no matter how determined or passionate) isn’t enough to accomplish God’s purposes. The word “might” in the original language is often translated “army,” “force,” “ability,” or “efficiency,” and includes financial means or any other material resource. Similarly, the word “power” in the original language includes “purposeful force,” “firm resolve,” or “dynamic strength.”
Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends for the story God is writing.
Living into our story is recognizing the Holy Spirit’s presence and role in every aspect of our lives. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, our efforts are lackluster and anemic, no matter how dynamic they may appear to human eyes. When it comes to living the story God wants to write in our lives, there is no amount of force, ability, efficiency, financial or material resource, determination, or purposeful force that can accomplish what God wants to accomplish in our lives or in this world. Something is missing, and the effect or impact will not be what God has in mind, no matter how good, gold, or shiny it may look.
That is God’s message for us today as well. We may have a clear and compelling purpose in our minds. We may have enthusiastic passion in our hearts. We may even have a strong sense of resolve to persevere through whatever valley or storm we may be facing. But unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts alone will fall short of God’s intention and plan. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we’ve got nothing, really.
The Holy Spirit is essential for everything we do. Essential for the abundant life Jesus promises in a love relationship with God. Essential for the mission we are on to share God’s love with others. Essential for every chapter of the story God wants to write in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source.
The Holy Spirit is not a force or an abstract concept but a personal and present reality. We first see the Holy Spirit in Genesis, present at the beginning of time, hovering over the waters while the earth was still formless, empty, and dark. “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Gen 1:2). The presence and power of the Holy Spirit were part of creation.
As God’s story unfolds in the Old Testament, we see the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon specific individuals to accomplish tasks. We see the Spirit of God fall on prophets like Elijah, empowering him to perform mighty miracles. We see the Spirit come upon Samson, giving him supernatural strength to fulfill God’s purpose for his life (See Judges 16). However, this power was temporary; it came upon people for particular moments and assignments.
In the New Testament, something extraordinary happens at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was no longer given to people for a specific task. The Spirit was poured into believers in Christ (See Acts 2). After Pentecost, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples had a new boldness. They performed healings. They preached the gospel with power. They had courage in the face of persecution. They had a deeper understanding of their purpose and lived into it with empowered passion and perseverance. They experienced God in a different way, in an abundant way in all of its fullness in life and in death.
That same power is available to every believer in Jesus Christ today. This power is not just for the super-spiritual or those we see as spiritual giants. It is available for each of us. The Spirit comes to be a part of us, and Holy Spirit power is available to us when we say yes to Jesus. So the message God gave to Zerubbabel through Zechariah is the same message God wants us to hear. As we enter into the Next Chapter of our story with God, God wants us to remember that living into our story is not by might nor by power but by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.
The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers our purpose, revealing God’s plan and mission for our lives, aligning our hearts with God’s greater story. It’s easy to lose focus on our purpose when external pressures and variables push against what we believe we are called to do. Zerubbabel was facing tremendous pressure. External forces were pushing against the rebuilding project, and his purpose was being interrupted, tested, and threatened. But God’s message was clear: the work Zerubbabel was to do, his purpose, could only be completed by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. The same is true for us. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly live our purpose in all its fullness. Our purpose is not simply a task or an accomplishment; it’s a divine calling. And fulfilling that calling requires divine power. God’s purpose is not only in grand assignments. Purpose is in anything God is asking us to do as guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit equips us with gifts, gives us discernment, affirms the call, and leads us to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Our true purpose can only be realized through the Spirit’s guidance and empowerment as God leads us. Purpose could be the smallest of assignments. Our purpose is not based on our might, determination, capabilities, or natural talent. It’s God who calls and God who equips us for the purpose God has planned for us. When we yield to the Spirit, it is the Spirit who will empower us to live into that purpose.
When we yield to the Spirit, it is the Spirit who will empower us to live with passion. True biblical passion is not just about excitement or personal ambition. It is a passion for the things of God: a passion for God’s kingdom, for God’s purposes, for God’s people, and for the gift of life itself as we enjoy the blessings and gifts God has given us to enjoy. It is the Holy Spirit who stirs that passion in us. Without the Holy Spirit, passion can fade, we can become self-centered, and care only about our desires. Without the Spirit, we may find ourselves loving the gifts more than the Giver, and our relationship with God begins to cool. Sometimes we start strong with the passion God has given us, but when challenges arise or when we grow weary we can lose that initial fire. Zerubbabel was passionate about rebuilding the temple when he began, but as time went on and the work became challenging, he needed his strength renewed and passion rekindled. He needed power that he could not muster on his own. The same can be true for us. It can be so tempting to quit when we feel dry, unmotivated, tired, and no longer passionate. If we accept the power of the Holy Spirit, it will fan the flame of passion within us, keeping our hearts toward God warm, keeping us focused on the Kingdom, keeping us aligned with God’s desires, and fanning the joy of the Lord as we live into our passion. It’s not by our might or our power, but by God’s Spirit that we live into the passions God has given to us; passion for the Lord, passion for people, and passion for the joys in life is what God offers.
In the same way, it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to persevere. Perseverance is not about pushing through hardship. It is about trusting in God’s power. We need the Holy Spirit to help us persevere through trials, disappointments, and long seasons of waiting. Zerubbabel’s task wasn’t completed overnight. He had to lead through opposition, discouragement, and exhaustion. But God’s promise was that God’s Spirit would sustain Zerubbabel to complete the work. The same is true for us. We are called to persevere, not through sheer willpower, but through living in the power of the Holy Spirit, completely dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives to carry us through. We were reminded last week that even when we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. This means that when we are at the end of our strength, the Spirit steps in, praying on our behalf, giving us the endurance, strength, and resilience to keep going. In fact, it is in those times of weakness that the Holy Spirit’s power shines the brightest. God told Paul that God’s power works best in our weakness. When we are living through perseverance, God is saying, “It’s not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit at work in you” (Zechariah 4:6). We let the power of God’s Holy Spirit do what God does best; truly can let go and let God!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, we are united with God in an intimate relationship. We are not subjects or mere colleagues with God; we are God’s beloved children, heirs, and partners in God’s Kingdom. It’s the power of God’s Spirit that empowers, sustains, leads, guides, and wraps us safe and secure in God’s love as we live out our purpose, live into our passions, and live through perseverance in hard seasons. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit holds us together with purpose, passion, and perseverance.
The Holy Spirit is called the breath of God. The power of the Holy Spirit is like the air we breathe. Just as air is essential, the power of the Spirit is essential if we are to live vibrant and abundant lives, full of vitality, purpose, passion, and perseverance in this broken world.
How many of us experience this power of the Spirit on a regular basis? Perhaps too often we are spiritually anemic, listless, and limping along on our spiritual journey. We are lacking the breath of life we need to refresh and energize our souls and to live into our purpose with passion and perseverance. How many of us, perhaps out of fear, lack of trust, ignorance, control issues, or spiritual immaturity, default to depending on our own power and not the Holy Spirit’s power? Just as God told Zerubbabel, we were never meant to depend on ourselves. We were always meant to be in a love relationship of trust and care with God. We depend on the power of God, to provide everything we need: from the wisdom we need to navigate this world to our daily bread (See the Lord’s Prayer). 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” Pastor Tammy Long shared, “I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want to be. In living an abundant life with all the Holy Spirit power I can handle, God continues to grow me, transform me, and use me to reflect God’s glory and goodness for every chapter of my story.”
Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives:
Surrender to God Daily
Living in the power of the Spirit begins with surrendering to God each day. We can wake up with the mindset that says, “God, not my will, but Yours’ be done today.” It’s about choosing to release control, opening ourselves to the leading of the Spirit. In essence, it’s about getting out of the way for the Spirit to do what it wants to do. It’s about surrendering our agendas and plans and trusting that God’s plan is better. This surrender could be a simple prayer in the morning, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your steps, your conversations, and your decisions throughout the day.
Stay Connected to the Source
A lamp is only as useful as the electricity it’s connected to. Similarly, we need to stay connected to the source of our power: the divine God. Here at SBCC, part of our mission is connecting with God. This connection happens through prayer, worship, and immersing ourselves in the Word of God. The more time we spend connecting with God, the more aware we become of the Holy Spirit’s leading. When we connect through prayer, we enter into a dialogue with God. We can ask the Spirit to fill us, lead us, and speak to us. And then we need to listen for what the Holy Spirit wants to say to us. We tend to speak more than we listen, but if we are going to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to practice listening so we become more and more familiar with God’s voice in our lives. When we connect through worship, we align our hearts with God’s heart and give the Holy Spirit space to move in us. When we connect through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to guide and anchor us. God’s Word becomes the foundation on which we stand, and the Holy Spirit brings it to mind in times of need.
Walk in Obedience
Walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit prompts us to act, to speak, or to step out in faith when we respond. Sometimes the Spirit asks us to do things that may stretch us, challenge us, or take us out of our comfort zones. But when we obey, we see the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us and through us. Whether it’s reaching out to someone in need, offering a word of encouragement, or sharing the good news of Jesus, the Spirit empowers us to step out in faith and obedience for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.
Cultivate Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
Cultivating sensitivity requires moments of stillness, silence, and reflection. Living in the Spirit requires that we become more attuned to His voice, His promptings, and His movement in and around us. This means learning to tune out distractions to make room in our hearts to notice the Spirit’s gentle presence and nudging. Sometimes we miss the Spirit’s leading because we are too busy or too distracted to notice. We can ask the Holy Spirit to make us aware of His promptings, whether it’s through Scripture, a conversation, or a deep sense of knowing in our spirit.
Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength
The Spirit’s power is often most evident when we are weak. When we come to the end of our strength, that’s where God’s power is most evident because we know it is not just us! When we don’t have it all together and acknowledge our limitations, we can invite the Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need. Whether it’s persevering through a difficult season, making hard decisions, or facing our fears, the Spirit gives us the power we need for every situation.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-For further explanation of any statement in the Quick Summary, review the discussion and questions under the heading for that statement.
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God.
- As you listen to the divine and follow the divine where God is leading you, in what ways do you reset the Next Chapter of your purpose, your passion, or your perseverance?
As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
-God sent a message in a dream to Zechariah. In what circumstances of your life did you sense that God is speaking to you through your dream or otherwise?
-The dream had the vision of the two gold lampstands representing the light of God. In what ways can your life reflect the light from God?
- The dream also includes two olive trees on either side of the lampstand, which is a symbol of a continuous supply of oil, representing the Holy Spirit. How can you remind yourself to rely on the continuous supply and presence of the Holy Spirit, not yourself to accomplish the calling of God on your life? What are some signs that you might be depending on your own power rather than the power of the Holy Spirit? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God’s Spirit?
Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends.
-How does the story of Zerubbabel illustrate the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit instead of your own strength?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source.
-Reflect on a time in your life when you felt called to something beyond your ability. How did (or could) the Holy Spirit empower you in that situation?
The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance.
-Discuss the role of purpose in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize you for your purpose?
-Discuss the role of passion in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize that passion?
-Discuss the role of perseverance in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize you to persevere especially during times of hardship or discouragement? How do you experience the Holy Spirit’s power when you are at your weakest? What steps can you take to invite the Spirit’s strength into your life more consistently?
Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives:
-What practices can help you cultivate sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading? Which of these practices do you want to focus on in the coming week?
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God. It is a reset as we listen and follow where God is leading us next. Our first message of the Next Chapter is living your purpose. We then explored the Next Chapter as living with passion. The third message in the Next Chapter is living in perseverance. In this message, we conclude the series on the Next Chapter by exploring living in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit binds, amplifies, and empowers you to experience all God has for you. As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source. The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance. Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in your daily lives: Surrender to God Daily. Stay Connected to the Source. Walk in Obedience to God. Cultivate Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength.
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God. It is a reset as we listen and follow where God is leading us next:
Our first message of the Next Chapter is living your purpose.
We affirm God’s Word that we are God’s masterpieces, created for the good works God has prepared for us to do. We live into our purpose when we find our identity in Christ and align with who God has made us to be, embrace our gifts and passions, and trust God in every season of our lives as God writes the good and beautiful story God desires for us.
We then explored the Next Chapter as living with passion.
We are reminded that Jesus came to enable us to live life to the fullest. Life to the fullest is an abundant life of passion for the Lord, passion for the loved (meaning all people), and passion for the gift of life itself. This abundant life enables us to experience all the beauty and experiences of joy God has given us. There’s always something to thank God for and enjoy in gratitude.
The third message in the Next Chapter is living in perseverance.
We are reminded that suffering is a part of life in this broken world, but we are never alone in our suffering. In the hard chapters of life, we can lament and be honest with God about our feelings, embrace God-given distractions, and draw near to God. We can also lean into community for support and encouragement. Perseverance invites us to lift our voice and sing praise to God, even in the hard times.
In this message, we conclude our series on the Next Chapter by exploring living in the power of the Holy Spirit that binds, amplifies, and empowers you to experience all God has for you.
As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Here is the scripture written by Zechariah, “1Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, ‘What do you see?’ I answered, ‘I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also, there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ 5He answered, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ ‘No, my Lord,’ I replied.
6So 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 Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:1-6).
Have you ever had a dream that, when you woke up, you said to yourself, "That was weird," and then it is gone? Then there are times when a dream seems significant, but you have the sense that it means something; perhaps God is speaking to you. Sometimes you know exactly what it means, and sometimes it becomes clear over time or after sharing with a friend. God still speaks through dreams. Not every dream, but there are times when God determines a dream is the best way to share whatever God wants to share with us. We see this all through the Bible, and that is what is happening in our biblical text today.
Zerubbabel was the governor of Judea around 530 BC or so. The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon—this difficult and challenging time as they embarked on a new chapter in their story. Not only was Zerubbabel leading as governor, but also God had given him an assignment. He had a clear purpose: to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed 70 years earlier when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. Now they had returned, and rebuilding the temple was a monumental task. Zerubbabel had a purpose. He was also passionate about the project. He was eager to see the place where God resided restored. Zerubbabel exhibited perseverance as he faced one obstacle and disruption after another. He had purpose, passion, and perseverance in this chapter of his story, but something was missing; guidance from God’s Spirit is a crucial part of his story. So God sent a message in a dream to Zechariah the prophet to give to Zerubbabel.
To interpret this dream, we need to understand the biblical symbolism here. The solid gold lampstand represents the light of God. Both in the Old and New Testaments, God’s people were called to shine the light of God’s glory in the world. That was part of their purpose. The dream also includes two olive trees on either side of the lampstand, which is a symbol of a continuous supply of oil, representing the Holy Spirit. This became clear to Zechariah, who then gave Zerubbabel the message found in this well-known verse: God’s message to Zerubbabel was, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” God is reminding Zerubbabel that human effort (no matter how determined or passionate) isn’t enough to accomplish God’s purposes. The word “might” in the original language is often translated “army,” “force,” “ability,” or “efficiency,” and includes financial means or any other material resource. Similarly, the word “power” in the original language includes “purposeful force,” “firm resolve,” or “dynamic strength.”
Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends for the story God is writing.
Living into our story is recognizing the Holy Spirit’s presence and role in every aspect of our lives. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, our efforts are lackluster and anemic, no matter how dynamic they may appear to human eyes. When it comes to living the story God wants to write in our lives, there is no amount of force, ability, efficiency, financial or material resource, determination, or purposeful force that can accomplish what God wants to accomplish in our lives or in this world. Something is missing, and the effect or impact will not be what God has in mind, no matter how good, gold, or shiny it may look.
That is God’s message for us today as well. We may have a clear and compelling purpose in our minds. We may have enthusiastic passion in our hearts. We may even have a strong sense of resolve to persevere through whatever valley or storm we may be facing. But unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts alone will fall short of God’s intention and plan. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we’ve got nothing, really.
The Holy Spirit is essential for everything we do. Essential for the abundant life Jesus promises in a love relationship with God. Essential for the mission we are on to share God’s love with others. Essential for every chapter of the story God wants to write in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source.
The Holy Spirit is not a force or an abstract concept but a personal and present reality. We first see the Holy Spirit in Genesis, present at the beginning of time, hovering over the waters while the earth was still formless, empty, and dark. “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Gen 1:2). The presence and power of the Holy Spirit were part of creation.
As God’s story unfolds in the Old Testament, we see the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon specific individuals to accomplish tasks. We see the Spirit of God fall on prophets like Elijah, empowering him to perform mighty miracles. We see the Spirit come upon Samson, giving him supernatural strength to fulfill God’s purpose for his life (See Judges 16). However, this power was temporary; it came upon people for particular moments and assignments.
In the New Testament, something extraordinary happens at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was no longer given to people for a specific task. The Spirit was poured into believers in Christ (See Acts 2). After Pentecost, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples had a new boldness. They performed healings. They preached the gospel with power. They had courage in the face of persecution. They had a deeper understanding of their purpose and lived into it with empowered passion and perseverance. They experienced God in a different way, in an abundant way in all of its fullness in life and in death.
That same power is available to every believer in Jesus Christ today. This power is not just for the super-spiritual or those we see as spiritual giants. It is available for each of us. The Spirit comes to be a part of us, and Holy Spirit power is available to us when we say yes to Jesus. So the message God gave to Zerubbabel through Zechariah is the same message God wants us to hear. As we enter into the Next Chapter of our story with God, God wants us to remember that living into our story is not by might nor by power but by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.
The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers our purpose, revealing God’s plan and mission for our lives, aligning our hearts with God’s greater story. It’s easy to lose focus on our purpose when external pressures and variables push against what we believe we are called to do. Zerubbabel was facing tremendous pressure. External forces were pushing against the rebuilding project, and his purpose was being interrupted, tested, and threatened. But God’s message was clear: the work Zerubbabel was to do, his purpose, could only be completed by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. The same is true for us. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly live our purpose in all its fullness. Our purpose is not simply a task or an accomplishment; it’s a divine calling. And fulfilling that calling requires divine power. God’s purpose is not only in grand assignments. Purpose is in anything God is asking us to do as guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit equips us with gifts, gives us discernment, affirms the call, and leads us to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Our true purpose can only be realized through the Spirit’s guidance and empowerment as God leads us. Purpose could be the smallest of assignments. Our purpose is not based on our might, determination, capabilities, or natural talent. It’s God who calls and God who equips us for the purpose God has planned for us. When we yield to the Spirit, it is the Spirit who will empower us to live into that purpose.
When we yield to the Spirit, it is the Spirit who will empower us to live with passion. True biblical passion is not just about excitement or personal ambition. It is a passion for the things of God: a passion for God’s kingdom, for God’s purposes, for God’s people, and for the gift of life itself as we enjoy the blessings and gifts God has given us to enjoy. It is the Holy Spirit who stirs that passion in us. Without the Holy Spirit, passion can fade, we can become self-centered, and care only about our desires. Without the Spirit, we may find ourselves loving the gifts more than the Giver, and our relationship with God begins to cool. Sometimes we start strong with the passion God has given us, but when challenges arise or when we grow weary we can lose that initial fire. Zerubbabel was passionate about rebuilding the temple when he began, but as time went on and the work became challenging, he needed his strength renewed and passion rekindled. He needed power that he could not muster on his own. The same can be true for us. It can be so tempting to quit when we feel dry, unmotivated, tired, and no longer passionate. If we accept the power of the Holy Spirit, it will fan the flame of passion within us, keeping our hearts toward God warm, keeping us focused on the Kingdom, keeping us aligned with God’s desires, and fanning the joy of the Lord as we live into our passion. It’s not by our might or our power, but by God’s Spirit that we live into the passions God has given to us; passion for the Lord, passion for people, and passion for the joys in life is what God offers.
In the same way, it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to persevere. Perseverance is not about pushing through hardship. It is about trusting in God’s power. We need the Holy Spirit to help us persevere through trials, disappointments, and long seasons of waiting. Zerubbabel’s task wasn’t completed overnight. He had to lead through opposition, discouragement, and exhaustion. But God’s promise was that God’s Spirit would sustain Zerubbabel to complete the work. The same is true for us. We are called to persevere, not through sheer willpower, but through living in the power of the Holy Spirit, completely dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives to carry us through. We were reminded last week that even when we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. This means that when we are at the end of our strength, the Spirit steps in, praying on our behalf, giving us the endurance, strength, and resilience to keep going. In fact, it is in those times of weakness that the Holy Spirit’s power shines the brightest. God told Paul that God’s power works best in our weakness. When we are living through perseverance, God is saying, “It’s not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit at work in you” (Zechariah 4:6). We let the power of God’s Holy Spirit do what God does best; truly can let go and let God!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, we are united with God in an intimate relationship. We are not subjects or mere colleagues with God; we are God’s beloved children, heirs, and partners in God’s Kingdom. It’s the power of God’s Spirit that empowers, sustains, leads, guides, and wraps us safe and secure in God’s love as we live out our purpose, live into our passions, and live through perseverance in hard seasons. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit holds us together with purpose, passion, and perseverance.
The Holy Spirit is called the breath of God. The power of the Holy Spirit is like the air we breathe. Just as air is essential, the power of the Spirit is essential if we are to live vibrant and abundant lives, full of vitality, purpose, passion, and perseverance in this broken world.
How many of us experience this power of the Spirit on a regular basis? Perhaps too often we are spiritually anemic, listless, and limping along on our spiritual journey. We are lacking the breath of life we need to refresh and energize our souls and to live into our purpose with passion and perseverance. How many of us, perhaps out of fear, lack of trust, ignorance, control issues, or spiritual immaturity, default to depending on our own power and not the Holy Spirit’s power? Just as God told Zerubbabel, we were never meant to depend on ourselves. We were always meant to be in a love relationship of trust and care with God. We depend on the power of God, to provide everything we need: from the wisdom we need to navigate this world to our daily bread (See the Lord’s Prayer). 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” Pastor Tammy Long shared, “I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want to be. In living an abundant life with all the Holy Spirit power I can handle, God continues to grow me, transform me, and use me to reflect God’s glory and goodness for every chapter of my story.”
Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives:
Surrender to God Daily
Living in the power of the Spirit begins with surrendering to God each day. We can wake up with the mindset that says, “God, not my will, but Yours’ be done today.” It’s about choosing to release control, opening ourselves to the leading of the Spirit. In essence, it’s about getting out of the way for the Spirit to do what it wants to do. It’s about surrendering our agendas and plans and trusting that God’s plan is better. This surrender could be a simple prayer in the morning, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your steps, your conversations, and your decisions throughout the day.
Stay Connected to the Source
A lamp is only as useful as the electricity it’s connected to. Similarly, we need to stay connected to the source of our power: the divine God. Here at SBCC, part of our mission is connecting with God. This connection happens through prayer, worship, and immersing ourselves in the Word of God. The more time we spend connecting with God, the more aware we become of the Holy Spirit’s leading. When we connect through prayer, we enter into a dialogue with God. We can ask the Spirit to fill us, lead us, and speak to us. And then we need to listen for what the Holy Spirit wants to say to us. We tend to speak more than we listen, but if we are going to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to practice listening so we become more and more familiar with God’s voice in our lives. When we connect through worship, we align our hearts with God’s heart and give the Holy Spirit space to move in us. When we connect through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to guide and anchor us. God’s Word becomes the foundation on which we stand, and the Holy Spirit brings it to mind in times of need.
Walk in Obedience
Walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit prompts us to act, to speak, or to step out in faith when we respond. Sometimes the Spirit asks us to do things that may stretch us, challenge us, or take us out of our comfort zones. But when we obey, we see the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us and through us. Whether it’s reaching out to someone in need, offering a word of encouragement, or sharing the good news of Jesus, the Spirit empowers us to step out in faith and obedience for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.
Cultivate Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
Cultivating sensitivity requires moments of stillness, silence, and reflection. Living in the Spirit requires that we become more attuned to His voice, His promptings, and His movement in and around us. This means learning to tune out distractions to make room in our hearts to notice the Spirit’s gentle presence and nudging. Sometimes we miss the Spirit’s leading because we are too busy or too distracted to notice. We can ask the Holy Spirit to make us aware of His promptings, whether it’s through Scripture, a conversation, or a deep sense of knowing in our spirit.
Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength
The Spirit’s power is often most evident when we are weak. When we come to the end of our strength, that’s where God’s power is most evident because we know it is not just us! When we don’t have it all together and acknowledge our limitations, we can invite the Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need. Whether it’s persevering through a difficult season, making hard decisions, or facing our fears, the Spirit gives us the power we need for every situation.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-For further explanation of any statement in the Quick Summary, review the discussion and questions under the heading for that statement.
Over the past few weeks, as we have entered into a new season, we have been exploring what it means to step into the Next Chapter of our lives with God.
- As you listen to the divine and follow the divine where God is leading you, in what ways do you reset the Next Chapter of your purpose, your passion, or your perseverance?
As declared in Zechariah 4:1-6, God sent a message in a dream to the Prophet Zechariah to give to Zerubbabel, Governor of Judea; the message from God was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
-God sent a message in a dream to Zechariah. In what circumstances of your life did you sense that God is speaking to you through your dream or otherwise?
-The dream had the vision of the two gold lampstands representing the light of God. In what ways can your life reflect the light from God?
- The dream also includes two olive trees on either side of the lampstand, which is a symbol of a continuous supply of oil, representing the Holy Spirit. How can you remind yourself to rely on the continuous supply and presence of the Holy Spirit, not yourself to accomplish the calling of God on your life? What are some signs that you might be depending on your own power rather than the power of the Holy Spirit? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God’s Spirit?
Only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can bring about all God intends.
-How does the story of Zerubbabel illustrate the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit instead of your own strength?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity fully God just like God the Father and God the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit is our power source.
-Reflect on a time in your life when you felt called to something beyond your ability. How did (or could) the Holy Spirit empower you in that situation?
The Holy Spirit empowers our purpose, passion, and perseverance.
-Discuss the role of purpose in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize you for your purpose?
-Discuss the role of passion in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize that passion?
-Discuss the role of perseverance in your spiritual life. How does the Holy Spirit sustain and energize you to persevere especially during times of hardship or discouragement? How do you experience the Holy Spirit’s power when you are at your weakest? What steps can you take to invite the Spirit’s strength into your life more consistently?
Here are five practical ways to actively live in the Power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives:
-What practices can help you cultivate sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading? Which of these practices do you want to focus on in the coming week?
Posted in Next Chapter
Posted in Next Chapter, Living in Power, Zechariah 4:1-6, purpose, passion, persevere, Holy Spirit, Zerubbabel, Stay Connected, Walk in Obedience, Cultivate Sensitivity, dream, solid gold lampstand, olive trees, oil, Genesis 1:2, Judges 16, Acts 2, love relationship of trust God, power source, surrender to God daily
Posted in Next Chapter, Living in Power, Zechariah 4:1-6, purpose, passion, persevere, Holy Spirit, Zerubbabel, Stay Connected, Walk in Obedience, Cultivate Sensitivity, dream, solid gold lampstand, olive trees, oil, Genesis 1:2, Judges 16, Acts 2, love relationship of trust God, power source, surrender to God daily
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