“Don’t spend those three dollars; keep it for the babysitter tonight,” Jim told me.
“Okay.” A friend was taking me to a women’s meeting the next morning and driving, so I didn’t need gasoline; I thought, no problem.
It was October 12, 1978, and our last payroll check had been spent. The last of our savings was gone, too. I totaled the bills: $252.00! We had expected to have another job by now, but we didn’t. We prayed over the bills and gave them to the Lord.
The longer I looked at the bills, the more frightened I became. Confused and desperate, I decided to take a shower. I didn’t know it would be with my own tears. Fear as I had never known enveloped me.
I thought about the words of Jesus after he said not to worry about what we shall eat or drink or wear, “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). But Really? How can this possibly be true for a time like this?
After my shower, I put away the bills, got out my Bible, sat down, and turned to Ephesians 6. It read, “Wherefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
I said, “Lord, we have presented ourselves to you, no strings attached, and nothing has happened yet as we had expected. We’ve done all we know to do in order to obey you, and we will stand.” Immediately, peace flooded my soul.
I thought, this must be the peace that passes all understanding that the Bible talks about, (see Phil. 4:7). I began to see that Jesus and His Word truly are one and the same and that His Word is powerful. His living Word dispelled all fear and discouragement!
This was just the beginning of when I learned what it meant to overcome in God’s power and might, rather than my own. I will share the rest of the story soon but know that by the time you finish reading this article, you will know that God’s purposes will ONLY be accomplished by the Spirit of Power and Might in our lives and on this earth. In fact, no good thing will stand without it, for without HIM, we can do NOTHING! (John 15:5).
The Spirit of Power and Might: What is His Name?
As a reminder, Isaiah’s seven-spirit prophecy says a BRANCH will grow (Jesus Christ), and “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and MIGHT the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2 NKJV).
“For Your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called” (Isaiah 54:5 Amplified).
The Lord of hosts’ Hebrew name is Jehovah-Sabaoth. It has a dual meaning – that of our Bridegroom who is coming for His Bride, the Church worldwide, very soon, and as Supreme Commander of the Universe.
Host means, tsâbâ’, “The basic meaning is service done for a superior, usually military service . . . . Although the title of tsâbâ’ has military overtones, it points directly to Jehovah’s rulership over the entire universe. He stands ready to intervene for His people at any moment.”5 The Lord of hosts took David from among the sheep to rule over His people Israel (see 2 Sam. 7: 8).
He did this by working through David who killed the giant Goliath saying, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted” (1 Sam. 17:45 NASB); thus, the Lord of hosts intervened for Israel in defeating the Philistines through one willing vessel—David.
What is The Meaning of ‘Might’?
The Hebrew word for might is chayil, meaning strength, POWER, force, might–especially an army; valor, substance, wealth. It basically means force, especially military strength. This definition defines Jehovah-Sabaoth who is more powerful than any force on earth. He is assembling His military army bride today.
The Hebrew word tsâbâ’ (Sabaoth) for ‘host’ is derived from a verbal root which means to amass (an army or servants), to assemble, to muster (soldiers, 11 Kings 25:19; Jer. 52:25), to collect, to fight, to perform, to go forth to war, to wage war (Num. 31:7: Isa. 29:7, 8; 31:4. Zech. 14:12) to do military service.9
Psalm 110:3 speaks of people who will volunteer freely in the day of His power—as in military service of the Lord. Are we not seeing this today among ordinary people?
The Power of God Is Shown Best Through Vessels of Clay
The greatest displays of God’s power are not necessarily episodes of military force, mighty acts, or creative splendor. Rather, the supremacy of God’s power is seen in the way He accomplishes His purposes through mere vessels of clay made mighty because He has infused them with His power by His Spirit. They are His Bride.
The book of Zechariah gives an overall picture of the might and power of God at work in Earth and in our lives. Except for the book of Ezekiel, Zechariah prophesies the most details of the coming of Messiah/Jesus four hundred years before He is born.
The prophet Zechariah calls the Israelis to repent after 50,000 of them returned to Jerusalem which was destroyed by Babylon. After 70 years of captivity, under an edict of Cyrus with the leadership of Zerubbabel, they quickly rebuilt the altar and began repair on the temple.
We soon learn that the temple would not be finished through muscular power or physical stamina of the workmen; rather, it would be accomplished by the empowering of the Spirit of God.
It’s NOT by Might, nor by POWER, but only by God’s Spirit Anything Is Accomplished
Before long, apathy set in as they were opposed by Samaritans who got an order from the Persian government to halt construction. For twelve long years construction was halted by discouragement and preoccupation with other pursuits.
Zechariah urged the people to return to the Lord and His purpose to restore the ruined temple. The Spirit of the Lord gave him visions that encouraged the people.
One vision was to encourage Zerubbabel who was about to succumb to discouragement. From the Message Bible you will recognize this from Revelation 4:5 and the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”––the menorah, as described in my previous article:The 7 Spirits of God Key to Supernatural Life of a Christian.
A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees: The Spirit of Power and Might
The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.
The Lampstand
He said, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl.”
Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?”
The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?”
“No, sir,” I said.
Then he said, “This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’”
After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!”
Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”
The Two Olive Trees
“And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?”
He said, “You haven’t figured that out?”
I said, “No, sir.”
He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.” – Zechariah, chapter 4
This passage says, ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
The New King James Version says, it’s ‘Not by Might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Discouragement can always be answered with God’s ability to grace and empower the human soul. His might is seen by what He does through the weak, the insignificant, the powerless – a Babe born in Bethlehem, a timid fearful Gideon, a melancholy Jeremiah, a band of twelve ordinary men, and a remnant Church of weary warriors.
As long as the heart is turned toward Him in childlike trust, He will enable anyone to complete the work to which He has called them. And so, they completed repairing the temple.
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Zechariah Had Two Visions That Show God’s Supreme Power on Earth
The following two short visions from Zechariah, chapter 5, I believe, are being fulfilled as well as other end-time prophesies from his book.
The Flying Book shows God’s power and judgment over evil. The size of the book denounces the sins of perjury and of thieves. God is reaping and dividing the tares from the wheat––which is written to only be done at the end-time harvest (Matthew 13:30).
The Flying Book
I looked up again and saw—surprise!—a book on the wing! A book flying!
The Messenger-Angel said to me, “What do you see now?”
I said, “I see a book flying, a huge book—thirty feet long and fifteen wide!”
He told me, “This book is the verdict going out worldwide against thieves and liars. The first half of the book disposes of everyone who steals; the second half takes care of everyone who lies. I launched it”—Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies—“and so it will fly into the house of every thief and every liar. It will land in each house and tear it down, timbers and stones.”
A Woman in a Basket
This vision shows forth God’s ultimate power over sin and wickedness in the earth:
The Messenger-Angel appeared and said, “Look up. Tell me what you see.”
I said, “What in the world is that?”
He said, “This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere.”
Then the lid made of lead was removed from the basket—and there was a woman sitting in it!
He said, “This is Miss Wickedness.” He pushed her back down into the basket and clamped the lead lid over her.
Then I looked up and to my surprise saw two women flying. On outstretched wings they airlifted the bushel basket into the sky.
I said to the Messenger-Angel, “Where are they taking the bushel basket?”
He said, “East to the land of Shinar. They will build a garage to house it. When it’s finished, the basket will be stored there.”
As it says in “Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
We know Jesus Christ died once for ALL mankind. He paid the price for ALL sin and overturned the state of the sin nature in man which came upon him through the sin of Adam and Eve.
But ONLY those who receive what Jesus did for him/her personally will receive eternal life and be saved from eternal death and punishment in hell. We will be held accountable for sin and the choice we make, and if we choose against the blood Jesus shed for us, we will pay the price in our body that He paid for us in His body on the cross.
What is the POWER God gives us and how can we get it?
I continually see people striving to achieve eternal life in their own power. They are believing doctrines of demons telling them lies that they can reach a higher state of consciousness looking within for their own strength––that they can be God.
Without realizing it, I was there, too, until one day God spoke in my ear the words, no good in me. I wondered if these words were in the Bible. I found them in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells, for to will is present with me; but how to perform what is good I do not find.”
Immediately, I realized I was trying to be good in my own strength, and that I could never attain God’s‘good’ Spirit of Power and Might in my life. He gave me a vision that when He looked at me, He saw Jesus’ red blood He shed for me. He saw Jesus’ perfection––His goodness only.
It would not be long until Acts 1:8 caught my attention: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
When we receive the Spirit of Almighty God, we are receiving the same dynamos power that raised Jesus from the dead. He comes to live inside us, for “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).
My journey in how to receive this power from God is documented in detail in my booklet I give away on this site, Eyes Wide Open. Life has been a powerful and exciting journey ever since. I know it will help you.
The Bible records 695 times in the New Testament where Jesus talks about His power and the giving of it to his disciples; there are 655 occurrences in the Old Testament.
My favorite in the O.T. is Psalm 62:11, “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That Power belongs to God!”
My favorite in the N.T. is Jesus speaking in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
What Should I Do with God’s Power and Might and HOW?
The first step in knowing what to do with the power God gives us is to know what He has NOT given us. He has NOT given us the spirit of fear which is from Satan.
I challenge you to memorize from the Amplified version, 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did NOT give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power, and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
When you are faced with a fear of any kind: a need of healing, health in midst of plagues (remember Psalm 91), marriage problems, parenting problems, whatever, speak aloud God’s Word over it and yourself and you will find peace that passes understanding.
Be obedient to what God reveals to you. You will experience God’s power over the situation. He is the One who makes you an over comer! Click here for Scripture printable pdf: Quick Start Guide to Supernatural Answers to Your Concerns
When You Don’t Know How to Pray for the Spirit of Power and Might for Peace
When you don’t know how to pray, confess the Zechariah 4:6 Rock:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” – “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
My problem just so happened to be money in 1978. Money has not been a problem since that whole year without steady employment and every need met:
The ending of my beginning story:
The next morning my friend came to pick me up. The meeting was like nothing I had ever attended. The speaker spoke about victory in all our trials and that we will have many Jordan Rivers to cross in our lifetime.
At the conclusion, the attendees were asked to give an offering. Small envelopes were on the table for that gift. I thought about the three dollars in my purse and what Jim had said. Then, my thoughts wandered to the widow Jesus observed giving into the temple treasury. “Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny” (Mark 12:41-42).
Jesus told his disciples that she had put in more than all the others. “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43).
I wondered, what happened to that poor widow who gave all she had? The Bible doesn’t say. So, without hesitating, I pulled out the three dollars and stuffed it in the envelope. After the meeting, I saw a hand, out of the corner of my eye, put something in my outside purse pocket.
Retreating to the car, heart beating wildly, I opened the envelope. There was $11.00—a ten- dollar bill plus one dollar for the tithe! I was overcome with the feeling I was in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, who says that whoever believes in Him, streams of living water will flow from within him—a never-ending stream of joy (see John 7:38). I asked my friend if she had put that envelope in my purse. She had not.
Jim gave $5.00 to our Bible study leaders (to God) that night, leaving $5.00 for the babysitter and one dollar for us. After the meeting, our leader said, “It’s time we give our tithe to the Lord from the proceeds of these meetings. We do that by giving away one night’s offering.” Then he said it would go to us. We had not told him about our situation, but he said he would call us later with the amount. It was $254.00—two dollars over our immediate needs we had written down and taken to the Lord, and one dollar was the tithe returned to us. I thought, in determining our needs, why hadn’t we added in the tithe?*
My soul, wait ONLY upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. He ONLY is my ROCK and my SALVATION; He is my DEFENSE and my FORTRESS. I shall not be moved! Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21 NKJV
*The above story is an excerpt from the workbook God gave me in 2008. Forty other people’s stories, besides my family’s, help the reader understand who they are by knowing who God is . . . and what faith is and how to implement it to receive all God has for them. Since then, I’ve taught it in small groups and one on one to help new and nominal believers understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and be ready for His return. I’ve seen no better workbook to accomplish this goal. You can check it out here: GOD Who Are You? AND Who Am I? Knowing and Experiencing God by His Hebrew Names.
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Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, Used by permission of Zondervan
PDF Copy of article to print: What is the Spirit of Power and Might and How Can I Get It to Overcome Fear and Discouragement