Growth By Strength or by the Spirit?

[DanielGarneau]

«Then he [the angel, Zechariah 4:1] said to me [the prophet Zechariah], "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it' "» (Zechariah 4:6-7, New Living Translation).

What circumstances of your life require trusting in the Lord, as the prophet Zechariah invited Zorobabel to do in his day?

 

[Apousía]

Require ?

I'm not really required to do anything, I chose to believe God exists after an event that opened my eyes to things, it left me no choice but to believe and trust

I only wish others could know God like I do, there would be no doubt in their minds

 

[DanielGarneau]

Require ?

Hello Apousía,

Thank you for responding to this thread. Allow me to rephrase in such a way as to avoid any unintended connotations related to the use of «require»: «What circumstances of your life would be helped by trusting in the Lord [...]?» Please note that the intent of my question is to help bringing home to us a promise made to Zorobabel in a completely different set of circumstances than ours. The context of this question is that there are some people who tend to struggle with applying Old Testament promises today. Hope this clarification helps.

 

[Papa Zoom]

«Then he [the angel, Zechariah 4:1] said to me [the prophet Zechariah], "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it' "» (Zechariah 4:6-7, New Living Translation).

What circumstances of your life require trusting in the Lord, as the prophet Zechariah invited Zorobabel to do in his day?

Loving others as He loves. And battling depression and anxiety. Loving my wife as I should. The list goes on. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. So ultimately the answer is, "all the above." ;)

 

[Edward]

«Then he [the angel, Zechariah 4:1] said to me [the prophet Zechariah], "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it' "» (Zechariah 4:6-7, New Living Translation).

What circumstances of your life require trusting in the Lord, as the prophet Zechariah invited Zorobabel to do in his day?

You're kidden, right Brother? How about every aspect of my life? I was on the wrong path so the Lord saw fit to come chop me down because He loves me. He's the only reason I eat and keep the lights on. I take Him to work with me. He never lets me down. His pattern is last minute never late. I love him for that!

The context of this question is that there are some people who tend to struggle with applying Old Testament promises today.

This is true, and yet the entire OT is given to us for examples of what to do/not do. Many do not understand that. It says so in the NT!

 

[K. A. W.]

I think we believe we accomplish things in our own strength at times (or at least I do) until something big comes along that "requires" the hand of God, and finally the wool is pulled from our eyes. Nothing is in our own strength. I try to be conscious throughout my day of leaning on God for answers instead of myself.

 

[for_his_glory]

Circumstances can be good or bad and I trust God in all of them as He fills me with His love and joy that I worry for nothing. There is nothing that could ever separate me from the love I have for God and all His provision.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[Christ_empowered]

good post. got me to thinking, definitely.

some days are better than others. in my situation--a "mental patient" who has now recovered from shock treatments and, basically, the existence I had before Christ--I constantly remind myself: All the good things come from The Lord.

not just tolerating enemies, mockers, etc., but showing love to them and maybe, maybe one day actually loving them, from the inside...that will definitely require heavy reliance on Christ.

again, good post.

 

[4givn]

I think we believe we accomplish things in our own strength at times (or at least I do) until something big comes along that "requires" the hand of God, and finally the wool is pulled from our eyes. Nothing is in our own strength. I try to be conscious throughout my day of leaning on God for answers instead of myself.

Yes, "practicing the presence of God" throughout the day, How quickly we forget and go back to worrying again!