By the Spirit '23 - Part 4

Our Goal: Living By the Spirit in ‘23

Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

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.

Review:

Week 1: Changing Our Perspective of Christ

Week 2: Seeing the Glory of God

Week 3: Being Led By the Spirit

Zechariah 4:6 CSB

6 So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies.

Zerubbabel’s mission was to restore Worship. The people of God were in captivity. Some were permitted to return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls, Ezra was rebuilding the temple, and Zerubbabel was to restore worship and the priesthood.

The New Testament says:

Revelation 1:5–6 NKJV

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Our purpose is proclamation.

In order to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News, the praise and excellence of Christ, we must be led by the Spirit of God.

In order to be led, the Spirit must be active in our life. But often we allow the Spirit of God to be dormant.

This happened to Timothy in the New Testament:

2 Timothy 1:4–7 NKJV

4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

“That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you...” 2 Timothy 1:6a AMP

Today’s Topic: Keep the Flame Burning (for the Purpose of Proclamation)

2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

God spoke that Scripture to us last year and we decided that we would not end a service without giving the chance for people to know Jesus.

The Why behind the What:

Why is it necessary to keep the flame of the Spirit alive?

Matthew 24:3–8 (NKJV)

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Jesus said we would see these these things:

War

Rumors of War

Racial Division

Land Boundary Disputes

Food Shortages

Epidemics

Earthquakes

Matthew 24:8 AMP

8 All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish].

Matthew 24:9–14 NKJV

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Pastor Keith joins me