How To Become Mighty In Spirit

Zechariah 4:6
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

                      “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.”  The occasion and purpose of this book was to rebuke the people of Judah and to encourage and motivate them to rebuild the temple.  See 4:8.  However, Zechariah was interested in and promoted spiritual renewal among the people of Judah.  Basically God says that if the people would return to him, he would return unto them.

            As Zerubbabel was being encouraged to rebuild the temple, God is telling him and the people that they can’t do it by their own might nor by their own power, but by his Spirit.  The important principle to learn was to be mighty in Spirit then somewhere around 520 B.C. and it is important for us as well in 2007 A.D. 

            Being mighty in Spirit has been contrasted to being mighty in intellect today.  The world believes that knowledge is power.  This philosophical approach believes that if we would just acquire enough knowledge our problems will solve themselves.  But as our nation and as our world becomes more educated, we still are experiencing moral decline and barbarianism.