Not By Might or Power

More than once, I have heard someone say that it is hard to predict the direction of someone led by the Spirit of God because He operates like a wind. Jesus Himself said that “the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Zechariah 4:6 says; “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Let me begin this article by bringing a few scenarios in the Old Testament to your attention for a better understanding. There was a man called Sheba in 2 Samuel 20 whom the Bible has described as a worthless character. He messed up with David who ordered his men to go after him before he caused more trouble than Absalom. Sheba went and hid himself in a city that was walled and peaceful as well. When Joab the commander of the army of David and his men arrived, they besieged the city and began to batter the walls in order to overthrow it. Then a wise woman cried out from the city wall and requested to speak to Joab. She explained to him that it was not right for him to bring down the whole city that was like a mother to Israel. Joab said that there was a man in that city that he was after and he was the only one he had interest in, and if delivered to him, he would withdraw from the city. The wise woman said to Joab that his head would be thrown to him over the wall. In her wisdom, she plotted against Sheba, and the people of the city cut off his head and threw it out to Joab and he withdrew from the city.

There was another woman by the name Abigail who saved her entire family from the wrath of David, thanks to her husband’s foolishness. In her wisdom, she acted swiftly and averted the judgment that could have befallen all the men in her household. Another woman that acted with wisdom was Jael. The Lord brought the enemy right at her doorstep and even though they were family friends and at peace with each other, she refused to let him live.

The reason why I have used women as examples in this topic is because many see a woman as a person of a lesser value. She is usually undermined, and seen as a vulnerable, weak and a defenseless person. But is she? The answer is a definite No. God has always been consistent in using women to save situations where men failed and to bring victories in times of war. This simply means that no matter how weak and defenseless you may think you are, whether you are a man or woman, you are a very powerful weapon in the hands of God.

Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God – let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you ~ Isaiah 41:10 GNT

The Lord says, “Small and weak as you are, Israel, don’t be afraid; I will help you. I, the holy God of Israel, am the one who saves you. I will make you like a threshing board, with spikes that are new and sharp. You will thresh mountains and destroy them; hills will crumble into dust. You will toss them in the air; the wind will carry them off, and they will be scattered by the storm. Then you will be happy because I am your God; you will praise me, the holy God of Israel ~ Isaiah 41:14-16 GNT

What you need to understand as a child of God is that your winning battles and living victoriously does not depend on your own strength and power, but on God’s power. This is why the Lord is telling Zerubbabel that it is not by might or by power, but by His Spirit. Look at what the Psalmist says;

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Lord our God ~ Psalms 20:6-7 NKJV

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because you favored them ~ Psalms 44:3-7 NKJV

These scriptures are telling us that it was by the help of God that Israel won their battles. Study the life of David and you will realize that he conquered Goliath and all his enemies because he put God at the front. He literally involved Him in all his battles and he never lost any of them.

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him ~ Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

There are times when the enemy will literally close in against you, and you will think that you are done for, but as long as your battles are being fought by God, He will make a way for you to escape. All you need is to surrender your battles to the Lord. He will never let the enemy have the upper hand over you; He will always raise a standard against him and empower you to overcome.