This morning during the early predawn hours, otherwise known as the cool of the day, I was talking and listening to the Father by my spirit it being reborn from above by the Holy Spirit Who has taught me that we are One. Then I after rising to a new day turned to e-Sword's daily devotional reading where I found "the Grace of GOD and the Holy Spirit," inspirational passage as written by Zechariah in chapter 4 in verses 6 through 7 beginning at verse 5, which states this: "The angel that talked with me answered and said to me, "Know you not what these be?" And I said, "No, my lord." Then he answered and spake to me, saying, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' saith the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain?' Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting's, crying, Grace, grace unto it.'"
The first word is H 4397 translated "angel" a messenger, pastor, preacher, prophet, teacher or you and me. The Strong's gives this: mal'âk mal-awk' From an unused root meaning to dispatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): - ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
Now this passage reveals a profound connection between GOD'S Grace and His Holy Spirit, often overlooked. Where living / walking by the grace of GOD and walking according to the Spirit are two different perspectives on the same reality, or union. We consider walking in the Spirit comprises, where we are gaining insight regarding living day by day by grace.
While this passage of Zechariah's, confirms a correlation between grace and the Spirit. The LORD gave a message to Zerubbabel in verse 6, telling him how service is rendered to GOD. 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.'" Humanity's might and power will never be a sufficient resource for living life as GOD intends us. Rather, the Holy Spirit must supply what we need for life and service to the LORD.
Then He picks it up again with the same truth restated, using a different term. Now, the LORD is addressing the mountain of impossibility that stood before Zerubbabel. 'Who are you, O great mountain?'
Now this Jewish leader of Israel was given the challenging mission of reestablishing the testimony of GOD in Jerusalem, as the people returned from captivity. Here the obstacles had the appearance of being a "great mountain." Nevertheless, GOD declared this mountain an obstruction which would become a highway for advancement. 'Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!' Then, as GOD'S man of the hour he attends to GOD'S assignment by the empowerment of GOD'S Spirit, Zerubbabel would eventually place the final stone with this exclamation, "And He shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" In summary the witness would declare that GOD'S grace is the explanation for the completion of this task. The relationship between grace and the Holy Spirit is clear: 'by My Spirit....grace, grace to it!' For when we depend upon the Holy Spirit, He works GOD'S grace within us.
Now for years the early church also illustrated this "grace Spirit" association. It had not yet become institutionalized and this union had not yet been broken like it is today. For they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of GOD with boldness....And with great power the witnesses gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And great grace was with them and upon them." (Acts 4:31, 33). The former statement indicates that their boldness came directly from the Holy Spirit. While the latter statement, shows their boldness was the result of grace impacting them.
So for any religious institution to realize what was first seen in the Acts of the messengers that need to become messengers again but not part of a institutionalize church, a tomb of dead workers and dead efforts.
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