Not By Might, Not By Power, But By My Spirit
Bishop Leonard Chatham
Have you ever felt like you're spinning your wheels, trying so hard to make things happen in your own strength? Maybe you're exhausted from attempting to control every situation or manipulate outcomes. If so, there's an important message God wants you to hear today: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
In a powerful sermon, Bishop Leonard Chatham unpacks this profound truth and challenges us to stop relying on our own abilities and instead lean fully on the Spirit of God. Let's explore what it means to live and operate by God's Spirit rather than human effort.
The Futility of Human Might and Power
Bishop Chatham points out that when we try to accomplish things in our own strength or "might," we often end up just going through empty motions:
"Our might is our ability to perform anything. We do it under our might, and whenever we do it under our might...It's like being on a treadmill, the treadmill of performers. You're going through the motions, but you ain't going nowhere."
Similarly, attempting to exert our own "power" or authority over situations is ultimately fruitless when it comes to spiritual matters. As the Bishop notes:
"If you got power over God, you'll be telling God when to come on and come off. And so that's why God doesn't give you power over him."
Instead of trying to force things to happen our way, we need to recognize that true spiritual power and authority come only from submitting to God and allowing His Spirit to work through us.
Receiving Spiritual Insight Through God's Spirit
A key reason we need to rely on God's Spirit rather than our own abilities is that spiritual truths can only be grasped through spiritual means. Bishop Chatham explains:
"The natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit of God. It says, for they are foolish to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned."
He goes on to say that "Everything you need is in the word." But we can only properly understand and apply God's Word when we approach it through His Spirit. This is why it's so critical to cultivate our relationship with God and learn to hear His voice.
Letting God Fight Our Battles
One practical way to start relying more on God's Spirit is to stop trying to fight all our own battles. As Bishop Chatham exhorts:
"Look at somebody say, hush up and let God fight your battle. I know you want to take it in your own control, but let God fight your battle."
This requires trusting God even when we don't see how He's working. It means resisting the urge to lash out at others or try to force situations to go our way. Instead, we can rest in knowing that God is in control and will act on our behalf in His perfect timing.
Going Deeper with God
Ultimately, operating by God's Spirit rather than our own strength requires cultivating a deeper relationship with Him. Bishop Chatham passionately declares:
"I get tired of just coming to church, paying a tithe, praying. Go home, come to church, pay him a tithe, go home, come to church saying, pray them a time, go home. Lord, do something to me in between, in between my coming here and my working all week long. Do something for me."
He challenges us to press in for more of God's presence and power in our daily lives, not just on Sundays. This comes through consistent prayer, Bible study, worship, and actively listening for God's voice throughout our days.
Putting It Into Practice
As we seek to live more fully by God's Spirit, here are some practical steps we can take:
Start each day by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you.
When facing challenges, pause to pray before acting in your own strength.
Spend time in God's Word daily, asking His Spirit to give you insight.
Practice listening prayer, being still before God to hear His voice.
Look for opportunities to show Christ's love to others, relying on His strength rather than your own.
Remember, lasting transformation and Kingdom impact don't come through human might or power, but only through the Spirit of the living God working in and through us. Let's lean fully on Him today!
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