Pastor’s Corner: “RAISE THE ROOF”
As I awoke this morning, I asked the Lord to show me if we (the church) are being faithful to how He is asking of us to build His temple (people), the Kingdom of God here on earth during these extraordinary trials that we are facing in the world? Time is short and the need for Jesus is great. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to our efforts to be in vain. The Lord answered me with Zechariah 4:6 (TLB): 6 Then he said, “This is God’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.’
God gave an amazing message through the prophet Zechariah to Zerubbabel – a descendent of king David. They had just returned from the Babylonian captivity to start rebuilding the Jewish Temple. Faced with this impossible task and insurmountable opposition from their enemies, they were told God would carry out the work – ‘not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts (the Lord of Heavenly Armies).
The vision from the Lord was a gold lampstand with two olive trees which supplied oil through the 7 lamps and into the bowl. Oil has always signified the ‘Anointing’ and ’Spirit’ of God in the Old Testament. God was sending a message that there was no need to force the rebuilding – conjure up strength, manipulate and whip people into working… The Spirit of God would move upon hearts, would move within bodies and would cause the city and the temple to be rebuilt and to flourish. Just as the Israelites didn’t need to throw a revolt, or declare war upon Babylon in order to be set free – the Spirit of God had moved upon the heart of Cyrus to let them return to Jerusalem to be their own people – so the Spirit of God would move again, and again, and again… and would keep on being a constant never ending flow of strength and source of joy in the land to fulfill the purposes of God through broken humanity. What an encouraging Message!
God is working His purpose out as year after year, but we are not always party to the plans that God has purposed. However, we are His workmanship… we are the spiritual Temple of God, that is being built together by His Holy Spirit. God’s work is not carried out by the cleverness of men or the influence of their mighty ministries– we are being built together by the work of the indwelling Spirit of God. We are the body of Christ. We are the Church of God that is quietly being built into His eternal dwelling place, precious stone by precious stone. We too face increasing pressures in our own days and age and at times we too may be tempted to consider that the task of living by faith and trusting the Lord is overwhelming in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation… nevertheless this Word from the Lord is as true for us today as it was so many centuries ago – that God Who started a good work in us will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus… ‘not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD.
Along with this scripture, the Lord gave me a picture of the church keeping their minds, hearts and eyes focused in worship and praise on heaven and the Lord of Hosts (Heavenly Armies – too numerous to count). As we keep our eyes focused on heaven, many will turn to their eyes to heaven as well and God will “Raise the Roof” of His living Temple “The Church”! So regardless of the battle, you face today, be encouraged, you’re not fighting it alone. If you’re willing God will fight for you!
In His Grace
Pastor Hamilton and Family