The MinistryEquip.com Blog

Robert Billingslea, Pastor of Small Groups at New Braunfels Bible, talks about our understanding of Jesus as shepherd,

Years ago I helped a group of people improve a building for a church in Mexico. As I watched the people in charge set up for the day, I noticed two men working with a long clear hose along side the building. They were making marks on the building and I had no clue what they were doing.

My curiosity drove me to ask the missionary who coordinated the whole affair. He gave me a detailed explanation and I nodded dutifully; but I had no idea what he meant. I gathered they were making a level line; but I think I was just as confused after the explanation than before.

At this point, the missionary got out his handy, dandy video camera and began to film the whole affair — two men, a clear hose full of water, and a series of marks on the building. Then he turned to me, with the camera rolling, and asked me to explain to his audience what they were seeing.

Two things happened immediately. First, I made a life decision. I decided I should always be wary of missionaries with cameras. The combination of the two was like matches and gasoline — a bad thing just waiting to happen. Second, without missing a beat, I replayed the missionary’s entire explanation to the camera.

As the missionary turned off his wicked little video camera, I asked if I explained the scene correctly. With his smile and nod of approval, I went on about the business of the day. I had no idea how those guys were making a level line on the building; and I had just explained the whole process in detail! I had pronounced all the words correctly and spoken them in the proper sequence. But I didn’t understand the significance of the words!

This happens sometimes when I read the Bible. Does that happen to you? You pronounce all the words correctly. You speak them in the proper sequence. Yet the meaning and significance of those words is beyond your grasp.

Here’s one to try on for size. As my understanding of this verse has increased over the years, the comfort and encouragement I receive from it has multiplied. Zechariah 4:6-7:

“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. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”‘”

Zechariah 4:6-7 is a small piece of a bigger revelation given to encourage the Israelites rebuilding the temple. Zerubbabel was in charge of the project. The Lord was telling him obstacles that seem like mountains would be overcome and Zerubbabel, himself, would complete the project. But what does the Lord mean by, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”? At first glance, doesn’t it appear that the opposite is true?

Remember Zerubbabel and the rest of the Israelites have already contributed a good measure of physical might and power to the rebuilding the temple’s foundation. Consider Zechariah 4:9 too. “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it.” Haggai 2:4 says, “Take courage…and work; for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.” There was so much physical might and power being exerted in the rebuilding that I wonder if the Lord sent the prophet Zechariah to the workers during a water break!

Clearly God was aware of the Israelites’ effort. He even desired it. In the midst of all that physical might and power, how was it that God’s Spirit would be the crucial means to successfully rebuilding the temple? What did God do through His Spirit to put the project over the top? Ezra and Haggai give us answers to these questions.

Ezra 1:1 says, “…the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…” The result of the Lord’s work in this king’s spirit was a decree by the king to rebuild the temple and even finance the undertaking. Consider Ezra 1:5. The people who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple were responding to God’s work in their heart. Ezra 5:1-2 mentions God’s work through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to support the people. Ezra 5:5 talks about God’s blessing on the elders in the midst of opposition. In Ezra 6:22 we find God turned the heart of Darius, the king of Assyria, in favor of the Israelites. One more deserves mention. In Haggai 2:15-19 the Lord promised to bless the Israelites. The context of that blessing was their crops. In other words, He fed them.

The record is explicit. God started the project and financed it through the Persians and the Assyrians. He supplied the workers and even inspired them for the task. He fed the workers. He even provided the political support for the project during a time of opposition. The message to Zerubbabel begins to makes sense. “I am intimately involved. You will succeed because of My work not yours.”

What a great picture of how God works in the affairs of men to fully accomplish His will. Are you worried about the elections in 2012? God can handle political big wigs, can’t He?

Are you overwhelmed by the idea of sharing the gospel with a friend? God can handle it, can’t He? Are there negative consequences for being Christ-like at work? Through the work of the Spirit He can handle those, can’t He?

What about the monumental task of following God’s will for your marriage? He is able to make the mountains a level plain. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit!” In some surprising and often unseen ways, He is at work in our affairs. He inspires. He provides. He protects. He empowers. Let us do the work which He has prepared for us.

For the Lord is our shepherd…and He is really good at it.