Zechariah 4: 1And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.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.7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
The other prophets, Hosea, Haggai, etc., lived in the same time period as Zechariah. They had come back to Jerusalem from captivity to rebuild. Everything was in ruins and only a remnant returned. God was still with his people, but the old days seemed so long ago. God stirred up people to work. Zachariah had his hands full. God sent his angel to him while he slept. The angel woke him. What he saw felt good. It lifted his spirits. He saw two olive trees and in the center of them was a gold lampstand. It had a center lamp that glowed with seven arms that were lit from that. It shined brightly. Zachariah didn’t know what it meant.
As we live day to day we’re used to the world. We see through the flesh and fail to see the Lord and the reality of his presence. The realm of God is not mystical. Sure it’s from another world higher than ours but it is part of our world too. The devil leaves his prints everywhere. As strong as the show that the devil puts on doesn’t mean that God has backed off. God is more present than the devil. Recognize his power. As close as the devil seems, God is closer.
The olive trees were Zechariah and his brethren in the Lord. The candlestick was in the middle. The olive tree grew out of the earth just like we do. In the midst is another presence of another substance. The candlestick was solid gold. In the midst of his people, God is here. Just like the light from the candlestick shined Jesus shines in this world. He’s more than a religious figure. If we walk in him we have the light of life. It’s not by our might or power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Verse 6 spells that out. 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.
When God created the world he set light in it. Light is plural in Genesis for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit nothing was made. He moved upon the waters of the deep. In the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the days of Moses, of David—who was with them? It was the Spirit of God. Who came on the Day of Pentecost to the upper room? It was the Holy Spirit; he’s been here ever since. If the Holy Spirit was gone judgment would fall. People may treat the Holy Spirit badly and not let him have his way. No matter what people do, no matter what the devil does, the Holy Spirit is here until the trumpet sounds. He’s here to take care of those who trust God through Jesus Christ. He’s here to make us able—able to make it through life to heaven.
The two olive trees were nothing without the candlestick in the midst. Our meeting tonight would be nothing without the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Spirit we are none of His. We are regenerated by the Spirit. He has pledged to care for us until we get home to heaven. He’s in the midst of God’s people and nobody can stand against us.
The city of God was restored because the people allowed the candlestick to light the way. You and I are the olive trees. Are we in our place? The Holy Spirit is here for us. It’s not by our power, our ingenuity, or our knowledge. If we make it through life to heaven it will be by the Spirit. We have to stick where God plants us. His arms reach out to get us through. Stay by the candlestick. It will always be by the Spirit. It we treat him right and yield ourselves to him, if we’re filled by him, we can accomplish things for God.
It’s as good a time as any to re-surrender to the lordship of the Holy Spirit. Let him be in the midst. Life doesn’t have to be dark and dreary. Stay near the light.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 