BY MY SPIRIT
Suggested Reading: Zechariah 4-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A single olive tree blooms just outside of this northern section of the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. The symbol of the spiritual life of Israel is the olive tree.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Zechariah 4:6
So he answered and 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 of hosts.”
In chapter four, the Governor of Judea, Zerubbabel, and the High Priest, Joshua, are likened to two olive trees whose lives and ministries flow directly in the Holy Spirit in order to keep the lamps of worship to God and light for the people aflame. They have a 24/7 relationship with “the Lord of the whole earth,” and they understand that it’s “not by might [corporate military or political action] nor by power [personal influence] but BY MY SPIRIT, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS!!!” We need to understand that for us to do as Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 5:14-16, “Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven,” the Spirit of God must flow through us always. All our organizational strength and all our individual efforts won’t make spiritual renewal happen. It takes God’s Spirit and His flow through our lives corporately and individually.
The vision of the huge flying scroll of chapter 5 should underline for us the importance God places on what we’re doing right now, paying attention to His written Word!
In chapter 6 we read of “the Branch.” Turn back to the words of the prophet Isaiah and understand that these words written by Zechariah could only refer to the coming Messiah or “Christ” in the Greek language (read Isaiah 11:1-5). In Christ, the true holy eternal temple grows by the Spirit of God, not by the work of men’s hands (read Ephesians 2:13-22).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will faithfully, by Your Spirit and not by corporate might or personal power, see Your purposes all take place. As the last words of today’s reading tell me, “This shall come to pass if you [me] diligently obey the voice of the Lord your [my] God.” In the Name of the One who always obeyed the Voice of His Father God, Jesus, the Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In the days before television, there was radio. Every Sunday morning as a child and a teenager, I would hear Rev. C. M. Ward, preacher on the Revivaltime broadcast, quote Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” C. M. Ward was born in what was known as Cabbage Town, Toronto. This Canadian was considered by many to be the greatest preacher ever to minister on radio. Revivaltime originated from the headquarters building of the Assemblies of God Churches in Springfield, Missouri, USA. When I was invited by the Assemblies of God churches to host Turning Point, their TV ministry back in the early 1970s, Brother Ward took me aside and said, “David, you need to understand why the leaders of the Assemblies have chosen you. It’s because you are a Canadian. Your Canadian accent cannot be identified as from the south or from New England. Canadians have a rather neutral accent.” All the time I was thinking,”accent or not, its got to be ‘Not by might or by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.'” It was quite frightening to me to have a denomination of 15,000 churches in the United States alone, and thousands more in other countries, ask me to do this. The call from Springfield came immediately after a week in Moncton, New Brunswick, when I preached each evening on the occasion of the opening of a new church building. I had fasted and spent much time in prayer that week, and by the end of the week I found myself interceding in fervent prayer for the people of the United States. This had never happened in this intensity to me before. I always thought that the USA had plenty of Evangelists, and that I’d just stick to my beloved Canada. For every believer in Jesus, in one way or another, Jesus said, “You shall receive power [corporately and personally] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem [our home town], and in all Judea and Samaria [for me that was English and French Canada], and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That’s for every blog reader! Pray and give! Go ourselves or make it possible for others to go!!!
Yours for the unhindered work of the “Spirit” of “The Lord of Hosts!!!”
David
P.S. Do Grandfathers have bragging rights? Rejoice with Norma-Jean and me! Yesterday, our Granddaughter, Hannah Shaheen, officially became a medical doctor. Hannah is the daughter of our second child, Ellen Shaheen and her husband Nizar Shaheen of Cana and Nazareth in Israel. Hannah has been accepted into residency at McMaster University Hospital and the other city hospitals next door to us in Hamilton, Ontario. Congratulations Dr. Hannah Shaheen, M.D.
Congratulations David & Norma – your faithful servants Reg & Shirley when you used to be here downtown in Toronto and Val Dodd. He was in our St. John Fisher p.g. in 1975 onwards. We were on your set several times with members of our p.g. By the way, we still serve our St. John Fisher Catholic Charismatic p.g. in Bramalea. Thursay evenings we have our prayer meeting from 7 – 9 p.m. in the upper room of the hall. Our Tel. no. is 905 793 0422.
Pls. pray for all of us. Amen.
Amen
Congratulations to Hannah! Also you and Norma must be very proud — I know we are when our grandchildren accomplish the things they dream of.
Congratulations to Dr, Hannah Shaheen !!!!
from one who knows the struggle to achieve that MD! May God wonderfully uphold her through the gruelling years of internship and residency and grant blessings to her and the many whom she will be serving as well as to her own family. What a blessing she is to you, David and Norma-Jean and to Nizar and Ellen!!
Congratulations Dr. Hannah Shaheen! And to you, David, Norma-Jean, Nizar and Ellen! Bravo!
Yes, let the Spirit of God live and breathe in us and be the center of everything that we are–in our righteousness and faithfulness in serving worshiping and adoring our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord! Amen!!
Congratulations Dr. Hannah Shaheen! You certainly have a fascinating and challenging future ahead. In today’s reading, there was no mention of the direction the chariot with the red horse took, as all others went north, south and west. Perhaps, it is implied to have remained in the east (?). A powerful message today about yielding to the Spirit of The Lord! Have a great day!
I was wondering the same thing David. Where did the fourth chariot and horse go? Guess there was only one direction left.
Congratulations Dr. Hannah Shaheen. I am so thankful to the Father for blessing you with such beautiful gifts where you will make HIS LIGHT SHINE and for your parents who have ‘ears to hear’ and were able to guide you. Bless you and yours in Jesus’ name I pray.
Congratulations David and Norma Jean and certainly to Nizar and Ellen but especially to Dr Hannah Shaheen. Fabulous job ! Praise The Lord !
Congratulations David and Norma Jean! And Congratulations to Nizar and Ellen, the very proud parents. And I am sure the new Dr. Hannah is heaving a big sigh of having fulfilled this great accomplishment!
I am pretty sure David, that Grandfathers have bragging rights! You must both be very proud … not just of Hannah, but of all the successes of your children and grandchildren! Blessings to all and again congratulations. With best wishes, Elfie
Bragging rights are allowed..u have every reason to be proud of her..
GOD is good
You must be bursting with pride and joy DM and have every right. What an honor to have such a grandchild. Congratulations!
Enjoyed today’s readings and knowledge. Thanks for this blog.
God bless everyone.
Congratulation Dr. Hannah Shaheen M.D/ for all the work you have done for our Lord
,and for your parents Nazar and Ellen who are proud of you
David both you and Norma Jean have every right to brag about your
granddaughter
God bless you
Lianne Hogg
I certainly add my Amen!!! David…and will let my “second mom” know …Amalia Gabriel who loves and appreciates you and your family over the many years…that Nizar and Ellen’s daughter is now Dr.Hannah Shaheen…..I am so enjoying our journey together with you and our fellow bloggers through HIS Word…….
Wonderful news about Hannah. We are Hamiltonians so we could possible come in contact with her! We also have a nice young Internal Med. doctor living right next door to us so we should be well served here! I get my 2nd cataract surgery in a 10 days so “balanced’ eyesighht will be a blessing. Bless you all.
Congratulations to you, Norma-Jean, Ellen, and Nizar on the great accomplishment of your granddaughter becoming a medical doctor. Such a blessing and a blessing for all of her future patients. Bragging rights are definitely yours.
God is so good!
God bless everyone with their hearts desires today.
Sorry, David , as I read it over, it looked like I left you out. That would never do. You are all so special.
Congratulations on the great successes of Dr. Hannah Shaheen, M.D. Having
Achieved; for certain your prayers and support helped make it happen. We have 8 grand children and their welfare and success have a great priority in our daily lives.
Love your blog and you brother.
Congratulations Hannah, may God bless you and use your talents in His service. You are obviously such a blessing to your parents and your grandparents, well done!
Yes our grandchildren are no doctors but we love them too very much, congrats too for your granddaughter Hanna, she can be a real blessing in Israel I’m sure! To go back to your block, I have made up my mind to collect all the prophesies of The Lord Jesus in the Old Testament, I do get some emails from a judean group and it hurts me very much so as to Passover being celebrated still as what happened in Egypt.
Was I wrong I wrote to the owners and called them blind, stubborn and hard headed before giving them Is. 53, ps. 22, Is 9:6 etc. and told them they were to put the blood of Jesus on the door of their hearts.! Read your blog every day and enjoying it very much, special the nice pictures that are being posted every day!
Congratulations Dr. Hannah Shaheen!!!!! Absolutely Pastor David, you can brag about your granddaughter’s accomplishment!!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!
Of course you may brag!!! Congratulations to Dr. Hannah Shaheen. What a wonderful accomplishment! May God guide you as you begin at McMaster Hospital.
Congrats to all.
Thanks for today’s lesson to stay close to The Spirit.
Yes, thank you David for honoring the Holy Spirit and the absloute necessity of His working in everyone’s lives for a true revival to take place. Was up in the night praying in the Holy Spirit and who knows but I may have been praying for those kidnapped girls in Nigeria. Oh God, have mercy is what has impressed on my spirit this week. Also, I rejoice with you, David over the official recognition of your granddaughter, Hannah as MD. We can’t help but rejoice when we see our loved ones do well and young people in general. Praise God! Sorry I’m late but have been out to a Ladies’ Meeting today where there was some working of the Holy Spirit happening. Holy Spirit blessings on all!
With regard to your story David of how you got that radio job owing to your Canadian accent, I recall a chat I had once with a friend of mine named Mike who had just graduated from broadcasting school. He asked me if I had ever wondered why when I watch US Network TV that they never seem to have an accent, even when the station is from a area with a distinctive US accent, such as say from Boston. He told me that is because they train in what they call “Standard American English” which is the term for the standard broadcast accent, which is actually exactly like the Canadian accent. He said that is why so many Canadians do well and are hired in US broadcasting, such as Peter Jennings. Of course, congrats to the new MD, and wonderful to see how your health is improving. Dr Robert sure knows his stuff. 🙂
Grandparents certainly do have bragging rights especially on such a special occasion ! It goes without saying that you are very proud of your granddaughter.
Congratulations to Hannah on a wonderful achievement …
Yes, and Congratulations to you Grandpa and Grandma!! I don’t blame you
for bragging…How special!!!
It appears David and Norma Jean, that as of this month April 2017, that your granddaughter has come to our home town here in Terrace Bay as our physician and doctor. We so eagerly want to welcome her and her husband Dan to our town and to the hospital and clinic, Aguasabon Clinic and The McCausland Hospital in Terrace Bay. We have asked God in many prayers for a Doctor that would be part of working in concert by audibly talking to the Master Healer both for our healing and daily guidance from on High! Back in the early years in Toronto at the real address 100 Huntley Street you began what is now an answer to one of our oldest prayers!