Zechariah 4
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.
Rev F Stegen has just returned from an European tour where they preached in Sicily, France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The service was combined with a report of God’s working in Europe.
When we were in Sicily, we experieced how God had prepared the hearts of people we’ve never met through His Holy Spirit. As His Word was preached, He convicted people of their sins and cut to their heart and lead them to the cross. No one told them what to do and not to do; the people spontaneously came to the cross, confessed their sins and God changed their lives.
Many a time we try to convert people and change them ourselves. We so easily tell people what to do – that they must confess their sins and repent – but when God’s Word comes in the power of the Holy Spirit it happens spontaneously.
After Sicily we went to France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. In each country we experienced God’s working in the lives of many people.
During the tour in Europe, we were reminded of the beginning of the revival. At that time two young men felt it on their heart to pray for the conversion of specific people. They didn’t tell anyone. God through the power of His Holy Spirit brought those people into the fold time and again. In the same way we experienced God’s Sovereign working time and again wherever we went in Europe.
Even in our own lives we experienced God renewing us through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. We experienced His Word being quick and powerful, new and refreshing to us every time; and as He spoke to us through His Word and His Spirit, He also granted that His Word had the same working among the people.
As we saw God working in Sicily we thought of the congregation at KwaSizabantu. We’ve received God’s blessings and His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit for years. We should ask ourselved whether we are still as sharp to obey God and keep our relationship with Him clean and unbroken as at the beginning when we’ve met Him. We must examine and judge ourselves whether we still walk humbly before our God, trusting only in His cleansing Blood, and applying His precious Blood, that no uncleanness or sin enter. We must make sure that our relationship with our Lord is still our primary concern, and that all our work and responsibilities become strangely dim compared to that.
May we be honest with ourselves, judge ourselves and condemn those things in our lives which are displeasing to God, that we be not judged on Judgment Day.
As God reveals to us things that are displeasing to Him, may we act immediately and decisively, obey Him, continue to seek Him with our whole heart and not give Him rest until He has granted the victory; then we will experience God through His Holy Spirit burn away that which is displeasing to Him.
When our relationship is right with God, our prayers will be answered and move God. God has our country in His hand. The government cannot do what it wants, unless the Lord allows it. May we have power with God in prayer to be instrumental in God the Holy Spirit’s working in the hearts of men, so that our country might change to have a God fearing government.
Let us see to it that our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is right so that He can attain His purpose in our lives. Be faithful to Him right to the end.