Day 74 of my 6th Bible Study Journey Part 5
Eight) Day 21 - New works often begin quietly.
Scripture: Zechariah 4:6–10
6 (Hos 1:7; Isa 11:2-4) And he said to me: "This is the word of the Lord
to Zerubbabel, saying: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,
says the Lord of Hosts.
7 (Jer 51:25; Ps 114:4) "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel
you will be made level ground, and he will bring out the top stone amidst
shouting of 'Grace! Grace to the stone!' "
8Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 (Ezr 5:16; 6:14-15) "The hands of Zerubbabel have established
the foundation of this house, and they will even complete it.
Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to all of you.
10 (Hag 2:3; Zec 3:9) "For who has despised the day of small things?
These seven will rejoice and see the plumb line in the hand
of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of the Lord, which survey to
and fro throughout the earth."
[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD
unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith
the LORD of hosts.
[7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a
plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings,
crying, Grace, grace unto it.
[8] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his
hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath
sent me unto you.
[10] For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice,
and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they
are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
---
Not by Might, But by Spirit
Zerubbabel stood before a half-finished temple and a mountain of opposition.
The work had stalled, the people were discouraged, and resources were scarce.
It is a feeling we all know: facing a task that seems too big for our hands
and a timeline that feels impossible to meet.
God's word to him was not a strategy for more fundraising or a pep talk on
working harder. It was a reminder of his fuel source: "Not by might nor by
power, but by my Spirit."
Human effort ("might") and collective strength ("power") have their limits.
They burn out. But the Spirit of the Lord is inexhaustible. God promised that
the "mountain" standing in the way would become level ground, not because
Zerubbabel was strong enough to crush it, but because God was gracious enough
to move it.
Furthermore, God addressed the insecurity of the "day of small things." We
often despise our own slow progress. We want the finished cathedral when we
are still laying the first bricks. But God rejoices to see the work continue.
He celebrates the process, not just the product.
---
Application:
- Are you staring at a "mountain" today - a difficult relationship, a stalled
project, or a health crisis? Stop trying to shovel it away with your own
limited strength. Invite the Holy Spirit to do what you cannot. And do not let
the slowness of the process discourage you. God is present in the small steps
just as much as the big finish.
Prayer:
- Lord Almighty, I confess I often rely on my own grinding effort. Forgive me
for despising the small beginnings in my life. I ask for Your Spirit to fill
me and move the mountains I face. Thank You that the hands that began
the good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Amen.
Prayer Requests: Mill Woods Care Closet
As we look forward to the "new things" God is doing in our community,
please join us in prayer for:
- Growth: For increased food and clothing donations and the volunteers
needed to support opening an additional day to serve our neighbours.
- Intake Volunteers: For those on the front lines who share the hope of Jesus
while providing guidance on parenting, finances, employment,
and local resources.
- Funding: For God's favour as we launch our fundraising campaign
in Mill Woods and begin our grant-writing outreach.
- Mission: That in every interaction, we would reflect God's love,
patience, and grace toward every neighbour who walks through our doors.
---
Author: Cynthia Foster, Mill Woods Care Closet Executive Director
Conclusion:
Lord, You see what has happened. You know the truth. Nothing about this
situation is hidden from you. Today I pplace this situation into Your hands.
I release my need to controlthe outcome. Help me walk in the footsteps
of Jesus.
Help me continue dooing good. Guard my heart from bitterness. And help me
trust that You are the One who judges justly. Amen.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be Holy in the eyes of the Lord
and honour Him.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me hope.
Use me, please, to show Your light in this world through the way I live."
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him who bought you out of sin.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Blessings.
Pray to understand the Rapture of the Church.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for peace in Gaza and for the ongoing war and humanitarian
crisis to be resolved.
Ask Jesus to reveal Himself in dreams and visions to the people in
Gaza.
* Pray for Palestinian believers to be just not Jesus followers, but
also prophets and apostles to their own people.
Pray for the Lord to convict all of humanity of His Righteous
standards of living
QATAR
Pray for Christian expatriates who are sharing
the Gospel in authentic ways with Qataris.
Lord Almighty, I confess I often rely on my own grinding effort. Forgive me
for despising the small beginnings in my life. I ask for Your Spirit to fill
me and move the mountains I face. Thank You that the hands that began
the good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Amen.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
Scripture: Zechariah 4:6–10
6 (Hos 1:7; Isa 11:2-4) And he said to me: "This is the word of the Lord
to Zerubbabel, saying: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,
says the Lord of Hosts.
7 (Jer 51:25; Ps 114:4) "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel
you will be made level ground, and he will bring out the top stone amidst
shouting of 'Grace! Grace to the stone!' "
8Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 (Ezr 5:16; 6:14-15) "The hands of Zerubbabel have established
the foundation of this house, and they will even complete it.
Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to all of you.
10 (Hag 2:3; Zec 3:9) "For who has despised the day of small things?
These seven will rejoice and see the plumb line in the hand
of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of the Lord, which survey to
and fro throughout the earth."
[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD
unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith
the LORD of hosts.
[7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a
plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings,
crying, Grace, grace unto it.
[8] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his
hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath
sent me unto you.
[10] For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice,
and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they
are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
---
Not by Might, But by Spirit
Zerubbabel stood before a half-finished temple and a mountain of opposition.
The work had stalled, the people were discouraged, and resources were scarce.
It is a feeling we all know: facing a task that seems too big for our hands
and a timeline that feels impossible to meet.
God's word to him was not a strategy for more fundraising or a pep talk on
working harder. It was a reminder of his fuel source: "Not by might nor by
power, but by my Spirit."
Human effort ("might") and collective strength ("power") have their limits.
They burn out. But the Spirit of the Lord is inexhaustible. God promised that
the "mountain" standing in the way would become level ground, not because
Zerubbabel was strong enough to crush it, but because God was gracious enough
to move it.
Furthermore, God addressed the insecurity of the "day of small things." We
often despise our own slow progress. We want the finished cathedral when we
are still laying the first bricks. But God rejoices to see the work continue.
He celebrates the process, not just the product.
---
Application:
- Are you staring at a "mountain" today - a difficult relationship, a stalled
project, or a health crisis? Stop trying to shovel it away with your own
limited strength. Invite the Holy Spirit to do what you cannot. And do not let
the slowness of the process discourage you. God is present in the small steps
just as much as the big finish.
Prayer:
- Lord Almighty, I confess I often rely on my own grinding effort. Forgive me
for despising the small beginnings in my life. I ask for Your Spirit to fill
me and move the mountains I face. Thank You that the hands that began
the good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Amen.
Prayer Requests: Mill Woods Care Closet
As we look forward to the "new things" God is doing in our community,
please join us in prayer for:
- Growth: For increased food and clothing donations and the volunteers
needed to support opening an additional day to serve our neighbours.
- Intake Volunteers: For those on the front lines who share the hope of Jesus
while providing guidance on parenting, finances, employment,
and local resources.
- Funding: For God's favour as we launch our fundraising campaign
in Mill Woods and begin our grant-writing outreach.
- Mission: That in every interaction, we would reflect God's love,
patience, and grace toward every neighbour who walks through our doors.
---
Author: Cynthia Foster, Mill Woods Care Closet Executive Director
Conclusion:
Lord, You see what has happened. You know the truth. Nothing about this
situation is hidden from you. Today I pplace this situation into Your hands.
I release my need to controlthe outcome. Help me walk in the footsteps
of Jesus.
Help me continue dooing good. Guard my heart from bitterness. And help me
trust that You are the One who judges justly. Amen.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be Holy in the eyes of the Lord
and honour Him.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me hope.
Use me, please, to show Your light in this world through the way I live."
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him who bought you out of sin.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Blessings.
Pray to understand the Rapture of the Church.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for peace in Gaza and for the ongoing war and humanitarian
crisis to be resolved.
Ask Jesus to reveal Himself in dreams and visions to the people in
Gaza.
* Pray for Palestinian believers to be just not Jesus followers, but
also prophets and apostles to their own people.
Pray for the Lord to convict all of humanity of His Righteous
standards of living
QATAR
Pray for Christian expatriates who are sharing
the Gospel in authentic ways with Qataris.
Lord Almighty, I confess I often rely on my own grinding effort. Forgive me
for despising the small beginnings in my life. I ask for Your Spirit to fill
me and move the mountains I face. Thank You that the hands that began
the good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Amen.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God