Zechariah 4:6
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Host!
Real Talk
For the past two weeks, I have been meditating on Zechariah 4: 6 for many reasons. One is that I have begun to reexamine and will continue to study the Book of Revelation for some time.
This most important portion of the Holy Scripture, at present, has blessed me with a newer, greater appreciation and insight, as it serves as our GPS for prophecy that has not come. [namely the end of this age and the coming Kingdom of God from above.] This wonderful Book of Revelation is essentially a blueprint for the Body of Christ to continue to worship and witness in this present life, as we faithfully follow the Lamb of God into the New Creation to come! Amen.
Second, the Book of Revelation boldly proclaims to the student and practitioner of the Word of God, who is Lord over all creation, the past, present, and the eternal age to come. Equally this Book communicates the Faithful Witness, who remained true to the Lord of Host despite tribulation. Who even now, is walking and caring for His Body speaking words of comfort while still challenging His Beloved community through the Holy Spirit.
Without question, the most provocative reference is, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Rev. 1:17-18
Lastly, everything about my soul-life to date, is forever linked to our opening Scripture reference, Zechariah 4:6, literally every aspect of my regeneration from a sinner who was alienated from God and thus, I was an enemy to God, was eternally reformed not by human nor external might, nor frail human power/influence, but by the Living One and His Spirit that John fell before in Rev. 1:17-18. Amen.
The rationale for writing this blog post centers on providing the Body of Christ encouragement and spiritual weaponry during our current perilous times.
Being just “saved” is not enough! Now more than ever, the Body of Christ must not primarily rely on, nor entrust our gift of salvation upon flesh and blood, nor human institutions and or systems. If we do, we will be defeated while never fully developing into the reason for our spiritual transformation.
Our day by day victory will only manifest itself during these most difficult times when we who are faithful in our calling and commission, commit to just relying exclusively on the ministry and gifts and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit of God in every area of our lives.
The battleground is forever clear, we are not to just settle and to become complacent in the human affairs of this current world. Paul in Ephesians prayed in part, a prayer on behalf of the saints of God. He stated that “I pray that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your life on earth], maybe enlighten, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
The enjoyment of rereading Revelation affirms Paul’s spiritual sentiment in this prayer in Ephesians 1:18, as our Master is forever glorified and now sits at the right hand of the Lord of Host in the heavenly places, far above our earthly affairs, thus it is He who has all rule and authority, power, and dominion for this age and the age to come.
We as His body, by God’s grace and mercy, made us forever alive together in Christ, and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens in order that in this time of our living on the earth, He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us who are in Christ.
Are we not His workmanship? Are we not recreated in Christ for good works even when we are facing trials, temptations, testings, and tribulations?
As His workmanship or His artwork, from the Greek word poiēma. We are something crafted, with skill and a purpose, by God, for His purposes. Specifically, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Good works do not give us salvation, but they are absolutely meant to be the result of salvation.
Interestingly, God prepared what He wanted us to do for Him long ago. He has already planned what He wants us to do with our lives. He has a unique plan for each of us to serve Him in this world. This includes certain spiritual gifts and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to lead us in service to Him.
Below is a brief yet important list of spiritual traits, skills, and virtues that our Lord and Savior perfected in His life on earth, that we will do well to learn of and pattern as His children. Amen!
The Variations of Spirit of the Lord of Host
Isaiah 11:2
“And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.”
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit of the Lord [which in part is the very presence, breath, power, strength, life, will, and holiness of God] will rest upon the Anointed One who is the appointed King who will be empowered by God to bring about the only peaceful Kingdom on the earth.
He is the fulfillment of the promised Branch out of the root of Jesse, He alone will deliver the victorious complete restoration of all of Israel, both the Jewish and non-Jewish believers of Messiah.
This matter of a peaceful Kingdom on earth and the complete restoration of all of Israel in the future is granted and made possible now within the lives of all souls who are in Christ. We are benefactors of spiritual restoration and peace that comes only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Amen
The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding
This very real and living One in the heavens who boldly proclaims; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, will be endowed with the Spirit of Wisdom and understanding [which is a by-product of the Holy Spirit within the life of a spiritually mature individual, who is effectively able to know, understand the mysteries, revelations, and mind of God.]
Each believer is essentially encouraged by our Master to be anxious not nor to not give a thought for our lives. The basis is that God will grant us the very things that we are in need of, as we trust in and ask for heavenly wisdom and understanding while we live here on the earth.
This is a very hard teaching.
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:25-34
The Spirit of Counsel and Strength
The Anointed One from above by the same Holy Spirit of the Lord of Host, granted the Messiah the Spirit of Counsel and strength [ which is granted to all of the redeemed of God as the counsel which they receive from the Lord.
It is within the intimate personal relationship with the Lord and the follower, that Christ will minister within their core nature, trues that we are to use in our calling and commission which aids in guiding us. At all times, each of us is to trust in the Lord, and to make Him their refuge; and which is good advice, the best of counsel.]
Each of us who are in Christ would do well to reexamine the examples of Jesus in the Gospels, as He knew of and understood every aspect of our inner struggles as former fleshly sinners dead in their sins as opposed to redeemed sinners who now are spiritually alive as God’s workmanship.
Only He is our comfort in this life! We see the glory of Jesus’ counseling ministry in the Gospels and we now can experience it in His ministry today as the cosmic Christ that John sees, bows to, and communicates to in Revelation.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus “is the image of the invisible God… He is before all things and in Him, all things hold together… He is the head… In everything, He [has] the supremacy… [In Him] are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 1:15, 17, 18; 2:3)
Spirit of Knowledge of God’s Will in all Spiritual Wisdom
Much grace and peace to our Lord, in that, because He was filled with the Spirit of Knowledge, we too may also be granted this most important spiritual gift. Each of us is to understand the place of need of being “filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom.
Each follower of the Master, will throughout their lives as a disciple need to rely deeply on Godly knowledge and wisdom in an effort toward spiritual maturity and healthy soul condition while we navigate in this age.
The result of being filled with the knowledge of God’s will be, that His followers will walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, and that we bear fruit in every good work; that we increase in the knowledge of God.
It also grants that followers are strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy, as though these trials and testings, followers learn just how to give thanks unto the Father.
” Walking worthily of God and pleasing Him; bearing fruit; increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all might; all patience and longsuffering with joy and thanksgiving!”
The Fear of the Lord
The Lord of Host filled within the life of the Messiah, the Fear of the Lord! This Godly fear has various meanings for God’s followers. As an example, the Fear of the Lord is a very healthy response to God and His mighty deeds are so important an aspect of biblical faith and life.
Each follower of the Messiah is to have a reverential submission to the Lord that the Lord, to him, was the embodiment of fear. Usually, however, the fear of the Lord is an inducement to obedience and service, even if means serving Him unto death. This too is Very Hard Teaching!
As we have used the Book of Revelation as our reference in this study, it becomes extremely paramount to me at least, to fully serve the Lord as evidence of proper recognition of His sovereignty. The Lord as King demands and deserves the awesome respect of his people, a respect that issues in obedient service.
If ever this is a time for all of humanity to learn to Fear of God, now is a perfect time. The power of this statement is for the believer and non-believers in that a very healthy righteous fear of the Love lies at the heart of successful living in the world.
Wisdom literature makes it clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a fear equated with the “knowledge of the Holy One” ( Prov 9:10; 1:7; Psalm 111:10 ). To fear God is to know him and to know him is to fear him. Such healthy fear enables one to praise God ( Psalm 22:23; Rev 14:7 ); to enjoy benefits and blessings at his hand ( Psalm 34:9; Psalms 103:11 Psalms 103:13 Psalms 103:17 ); to rest in peace and security ( Psalm 112:7-8 ); and to experience the length of days ( Prov 10:27; 19:23 ).
But fear of God also produces fear of wrath and judgment in those who do not know him or who refuse to serve him. There are, thus, two sides of the fear of the Lord — that which produces awe, reverence, and obedience, and that which causes one to cower in dread and terror in anticipation of his displeasure.
In closing, I was compelled to provide just a very brief understanding of the spiritual definition of the Lord of Host.
I pray that this study has blessed you in a meaningful way. Amen.
Grace and Peace
The Lord of Host
A name or title of God frequently used in the Old Testament, always translated “Yahweh of Hosts” (Yahweh tsebha’oth) in the American Standard Revised Version, since Yahweh, never ‘Adhonay, is used in this phrase.
Evidently the meaning of the title is that all created agencies and forces are under the leadership or dominion of Yahweh, who made and maintains them (Genesis 2:1; Isaiah 45:12). It is used to express Yahweh’s great power.
Brother Alonzo