Focus: Spiritual Success

Text: Zech.4:6

"Then he said, "This is God's message to Zerubbabel:[a] 'Not by might, nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord Almighty-YOU WILL SUCCEED because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.'"

Let me reemphasize: "By my Spirit you will succeed." Spiritual success is born of the Spirit and sustained by Him. Spiritual power and blessings flow from the Spirit of God.

Let us see the necessity, cruciality and indispensability of the Spirit in the life of Christ, and bear in mind that Christ is God in human form.

*His conception:

Jesus was conceived and born by the Spirit. The incarnation was made possible by the Holy Spirit - Lk.1:35.

*His baptism:

Instantly as He stepped out of the water the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jesus - Mt.3:16; Jh.1:32,33.

*His temptation:

The Spirit led Him to the place of temptation and watched Him triumph - Mt.4:1; Lk.4:1,14.

*His ministry:

He applied Isaiah 61:1-3 to Himself in Luke 4:16-21. See also Jh.3:34; Act.10:38 and Mt.12:28.

*His preaching:

He preached by the Spirit and spoke words given to him by His Father - Isa.61:1; Lk.4:18; Jh.17:8,14.

*His resurrection:

The Spirit of God effected the resurrection of Christ - Rom.1:4; 8:11.

From start to finish the Spirit was with Jesus. From His birth to His resurrection the Spirit was actively involved. How then can you succeed in this life as a saint and in this hostile earthly environment without the Spirit? How can you conquer territories and destroy the works of darkness without the Spirit's presence and power in your life. How can you do the works of God and succeed in it without the Spirit? How can you rise above self and live vicariously in this world without the Spirit?

I know one thing for sure, and that is that, by the Spirit you will succeed in life and in spiritual ventures. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter