Formulas That Failed and The Formula That Always Succeeds

Zechariah 4:6
So he 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 Almighty.

Zechariah the prophet served Israel at a time when Israelites had given up on having a proper restoration of life in Israel, worship, and construction of the temple. Zechariah is given a vision by God. He doesn’t understand the vision and he seeks clarification on what it means. Our text today is part of the explanation of what the vision meant.

The interpretation of the vision introduces us to a man by the name of Zerubbabel. This was a man who was a governor of the newly restored community of Israelites who had been in Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel was responsible for the restoration of life in Israel. Glaring amongst his responsibilities was the reconstruction of the temple.

Zerubbabel had problems in the reconstruction of the temple. First is that the Israelites were indifferent to the things of God. As prophet Haggai had warned, these people were much more interested in their own personal lives and made no contribution to the temple construction. How could Zerubbabel work without contributions and support from the people?

The second problem was that the community was poor and even at their best they didn’t have enough resources to put up a worthwhile temple. Therefore, when Zerubbabel started the construction work, it was clear to everyone that this was a small and not very attractive temple, Zechariah 4:10.

When Zerubbabel started the construction of the temple, many wondered if it will ever be completed because of resource challenges. God had to send reassurance that this work which seems impossible will be completed in Zerubbabel’s time, Zechariah 4:9.

The circumstances made Zerubbabel’s work look like a mission impossible. God sends a message that this mission impossible will be possible, Zechariah 4:7. The question that arises is what formula did Zerubbabel use to surmount such a huge task?

Our text today gives us the formulas that failed and the one formula that worked. The Bible tells us that it is not by might. The formula of use of might is a formula that may seem to succeed but will ultimately fail. Seeming success has endeared many people to paths of final irreversible failure. Be careful about seeming success. Seeming success is a success but temporary. The success you are now celebrating, is it sustainable?

Use of might will always fail even when it succeeds briefly. A boxing match has many rounds, and we should not celebrate a small victory in the first round, instead be sure that at the end of all rounds you will be successful. God says that might as a formula to success in anything will and shall fail.

Might suggests the ability to overwhelm your opponent. Might suggests superiority. Might suggests that you operate in excess and your opponent can’t match. Might in weapons means excesses weapons. Might in numbers means you have more people on your side than you need. Might in resources means you have more resources than are required. God says straight and simple that Zerubbabel’s victory will not be by might. Might is a failing formula!

The Bible further tells us that it is also not by power. Power as a formula is a failing formula. It may seem to succeed but it will surely fail. Use of power to achieve anything will earn you short-term unsustainable success, followed by unforgettable regrettable failure. Power as a formula to success is a scam. God says not by power! Power is a failing formula.

While might overwhelms the opponent, power controls. Power forces. Power arm twists. Power can give incentives and also withdraw in order to punish. Power seeks to have its way while might seeks to defeat. Political power, military power, and all other types of power are effective in the short term but never permanently. Not by might nor by power. Those are failing formulas!

The only formula that works is when the Holy Spirit works through us. God the Holy Spirit operating in us is a sure path that has no possibility of failure. Any failure on such a path will soon be laughable because God will bring victory. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Zerubbabel was facing a daunting task. It was decreed that he will succeed, but, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. In our daily struggles, we too need to succeed. We need success in our studies. We need success in our spiritual life. We need success in our employment and business. We need success in our health. We need success in all that we do. The formulas that fail are those that entail might and power. The only formula of tested success is when the Holy Spirit operates in us.

Dear God grant me Your Holy Spirit to guide every aspect of my life. Save me from being lured by might and power. May my excellence and success be by Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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