When we encounter difficult situations our typical response may be  to try harder and power through the situation. That may work in the earthly realm, but the spiritual realm is different. God revealed this truth to the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet writing after the Babylonian captivity. Zechariah’s message provided encouragement to the people, motivation to rebuild the temple, and a number of divine prophecies. Zechariah revealed that God’s work would be accomplished not by human strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit:

Then 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.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Zechariah’s message shifted the emphasis from human strength to the centrality and necessity of God’s power. A group of pastors were debating whether or not to invite the great evangelist, D.L. Moody, to speak at evangelistic meetings in their area. One of the pastors was adamantly opposed to the idea. “I don’t see why should we invite D.L. Moody; after all does D.L. Moody have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” The group was quiet and pondering what to say when one of the wiser, older men replied, “No, those of us who know Mr. Moody would not say that he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit; but the Holy Spirit does have a monopoly on D. L. Moody.”

It’s true that none of us has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, but it is essential that the Holy Spirit has a monopoly upon our lives. What prevents the Holy Spirit from having full sway in our lives? The Apostle Paul indicated two primary reasons that hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The first reason is that we may grieve the Holy Spirit:

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we’re practicing sin and walking in the flesh rather than by the Spirit. The context in Ephesians revealed that they were not to be consumed with bitterness, wrath, anger, and malice. We must realize that the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20).

We also hinder the Spirit if we’re despising or ignoring the spiritual gifts that He’s provided for us:

Do not quench the Spirit; (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

The word quench conveys the idea to extinguish. It’s the same word Paul used when he described the need to take up the shield of faith with which we will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). God’s will is that His Spirit flows through us like rivers of living water (John 7:38). Our spiritual effectiveness is not by our might or by our power, but it’s through God’s Holy Spirit.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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