Not by Might…But by the Spirit

Sunday PM

July 18, 2004

Zechariah 4:6

Lesson Theme: All Christians want to see the world won for Christ but often have a reckless disregard for the salvation of our friends and neighbors. We excuse ourselves by saying “I don’t know enough” or “I don’t want to look like a fanatic.” Christ does not leave us to accomplish this task alone, he has given us His word, the Holy Spirit and prayer to do the heavy lifting. We are but instruments in his hands. Too often we rely upon ourselves, our knowledge, reasoning, persuasion and boldness, to accomplish the task of teaching the world. The battle we wage is a spiritual battle, not physical, emotional or intellecutal. To win it we must use spiritual weapons.

Introduction:

• Great Commission - Matt 28:18-20
• Monumental challenge to accomplish (money, understanding of kingdom, hostile government and religious climate)
• They accomplished the mission by the close of the 1^st century AD (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth)
• The mission is the same in our generation, yet we don’t witness the same amazing feat. Why? (lack of miraculous signs?, God no longer cares?, message no longer relavent?)
• The key is “surely I am with you always”
• We all want to see the world won for Christ, but often have a reckless disregard for the salvation of our friends, family and neighbors. There are two key reasons we don’t act:
• Self Doubt: “I don’t know enough” , “I don’t want to upset them” , “They might think I’m a fanatic” etc.
• Self-Dependence: When we do try to teach, often we win every argument, but the person still won’t submit to God’s plan. Why??
• DON’T TUNE OUT
• Lets explore the common root of both of these reasons …

The Battle is God’s

• Battle is against forces of evil in heavenly realms – Eph 6:10-20
• Be strong in his power - v. 10
• The armor is spiritual not physical - v. 12
• Concludes with “.. pray in the Spirit on all occasions” – v. 18-20
• Not by might…but by the Spirit – Zech 4:6
• Illustration: child mows the lawn with the father standing behind him pushing the lawn mower.

What Part do We Play?

• Serve with humility; “we are unworthy…we have done our duty” – Luke 17:10

• We are instruments in God’s hand – 2 Tim 2:20-21

· God’s people must seek his approval for every endeavor

o To launch out on our own is foolish pride.

• Paul hindered from preaching in Asia but directed to Macedonia – Acts 16:6
• Compare glorious victory at Jericho to the humiliating defeat at Ai. – Josh 6:7

· Calling on God’s power to act is a primary purpose of the church.

o God grants repentance – 2 Tim 2:25

• Lets appeal to God to grant repentance to this community so that we can be effective in reaching them.

o Moses & Amalekites – Exodus 17:8-13

• Prayer affects physical events

o Wrestling in Prayer – Colossians 4:2-4; 12-13

• Be devoted to prayer
• Pray that God may open doors
• Epaphras commended as working hard for them through wrestling in prayer. – v.12-13
• Sadly have heard it said, “get off your knees and do something”
• God calls us to pray (we don’t have to understand why)
• To strike out on our own to save the world is fool-hearty pride.
• Do we really believe that prayer changes things?
• We have focused our attention on God’s working in the area of evangelism, but his desire to bless us through prayer extends to every area of the Christian’s mission.
• A church that Prays vs. A Church Devoted to Prayer

Conclusion:

• Summary: Overwhelming challenges; Battle is the Lord’s; Pray to be his instrument in achieving it
• Lets become a body of believers devoted to prayer!
• Lets pray big prayers with mature faith and expect amazing answers!

Invitation:

• God grants you an opportunity for repentance tonight – 2 Tim 2:25
• The church can unite in prayer for your physical or spiritual needs
• We would cherish the opportunity to witness you give your life to Christ

Matt 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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Eph 6:10-20

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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Zech 4:6

6 So 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.

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Luke 17:7-10

7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

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2 Tim 2:20-21

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

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Acts 16:6-10

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

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Josh 7:3-5

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." 4 So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

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2 Tim 2:25-26

25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

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Ex 17:8-13

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

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Col 4:2-14

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 1

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