By His Spirit Part 1: The Spirit And His Work

Wilson Lim

4 hours ago

11 min read

Have you ever changed a car tyre, or watched someone do it? How long did it take? Twenty minutes? Thirty? Maybe longer? Perhaps some of us would rather call RACQ emergency car services and let them handle it! Now consider this: the world record for changing all four tyres is just 1.8 seconds. It happened during a Formula 1 pit stop (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE5FGSEQc8Q ). That is the difference between our ordinary effort and a super-charged team.

What if that is the difference between many Christians and a super-charged Christian life? Could this be the difference between a mundane life and the victorious, abundant life Jesus promised? And how can a church become what God intended it to be: full of vitality, faith, and transformed lives? In our family of churches, we often say, "Transforming Lives Everywhere." But how does that actually happen?

Let us turn to Zechariah 4:1–14 (ESV) “ 1 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Let me set the scene. The northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. More than a century later, the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC. Jerusalem was devastated. The city lay in ruins, its walls broken down, and the temple destroyed.

Then, in 537 BC, a remnant returned under Zerubbabel’s leadership, accompanied by the high priest Joshua. But the task before them was overwhelming. Jerusalem was still broken. There were no protective walls, no temple, and no obvious path forward. When they began rebuilding the temple, they encountered setbacks, opposition, and discouragement.

Into that situation, God sent the prophet Zechariah with a message of hope and power.

In this passage, we discover why God's people desperately need His Spirit and how His Spirit works among us. These truths show us how we can experience the abundant Christian life Jesus promised and become the kind of church God intends us to be.

RECOGNISING THE HOLY SPIRIT

Did you know that the primary connection between us and God is the Holy Spirit? We often speak about Jesus and what He has done for us, about our relationship with Him – yet the main connector is the Holy Spirit! When we learn to recognise and cooperate with the Spirit, our daily walk with God changes from mundane duty to an exciting dynamic partnership!

Being guided and empowered by the Spirit leads to transformation, boldness, and fruitfulness in life and ministry.

Scripture calls us to live and be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18, 25). Walking by the Spirit shapes our decisions, our character, and our effectiveness for the Kingdom. Being guided and empowered by the Spirit leads to transformation, boldness, and fruitfulness in life and ministry.

The Holy Spirit is God’s ambassador to us: He speaks God’s heart and carries God’s authority.

Consider an ambassador who represents a nation and speaks on its behalf. To have a good relationship with that nation, you must have a good relationship with the ambassador. Relate poorly with the ambassador and our relationship with the nation is affected. The Holy Spirit is God’s ambassador to us: He speaks God’s heart and carries God’s authority.

In what way can we grow in our relationship with Him? Let us start with the following.

Understand the Triune God

The New Testament reveals God as Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit — three eternally distinct Persons, one essence or being. Old Testament passages hint at this plurality. For example, Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV) “ 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness… 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” The language is singular when referring to God, yet plural when referring to God’s internal discussion. God is Three in One.

God as Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit — three eternally distinct Persons, one essence or being. Old Testament passages hint at this plurality.

Jesus identified His God‑given mission by quoting Isaiah 61, a passage that subtly reveals the Triune God at work. Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) “The Spirit (Holy Spirit) of the Sovereign lord (father) is on me (Son), because the Lord (Father) has anointed me (Son) to proclaim good news to the poor…” Jesus and the apostles made the triune Godhead explicit. For example, Matthew 28:19 (NIV) “… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

In Zechariah’s visions, all 3 Persons of the Godhead were involved at one point or another. What does Zechariah’s chapter 4 vision reveal to us about the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is often unseen and misunderstood

Zechariah 4:12 (ESV) “ And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?”

Zechariah’s vision describes a unique lampstand different from the one in the temple of Solomon, as shown below.

Due to imprecise description and language ambiguities, there are different ideas about how the lampstand of Zechariah’s vision looks, but I think my version below makes more sense. We are certain that golden oil flows from the 2 olive trees into the lampstand, lighting the lamps.

The Bible associates oil with anointing and symbolises the Holy Spirit, the bringer of anointing. Hence, in Zechariah’s vision the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in lighting up the lampstand. This is confirmed by the angel in Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” “

When we study the Bible deeply, we discover the Holy Spirit plays a huge role in God’s work. So why is the Holy Spirit the least known Person in the Godhead?

Firstly, because He is the spokesperson for God, rather than for Himself. John 16:13–14 (ESV) “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Secondly, the Holy Spirit is often described in terms of a force of nature such as wind, water, fire, oil or as a dove, rather than as a person. Thirdly, historical emphasis. Early doctrinal debates focused on the Father and the Son, so the Spirit received the least theological attention until Pentecostals highlighted His role in recent times.

Because of these factors, many Christians have an incomplete picture of the Spirit. The question is: How much do you want to know the Holy Spirit?

How we can recognise the Holy Spirit

Zechariah 4:4-6 (ESV) ” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah struggled to recognise God’s Spirit at work. The angel had to teach Zechariah how to interpret the vision. We can learn a lot from it too. Jesus alluded to this challenge in John 3:5–8 (NIV) “5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ”

So how do we recognise Him?

Firstly, by His manifest presence. Imagine when a wind blows, we can feel it and hear its sound, though we cannot see it. The Spirit is like wind: invisible but felt. People who learn to discern His presence recognise a tangible nearness — peace, conviction, warmth. Like knowing an old friend’s approach because of their footsteps or voice.

The Holy Spirit is invisible, but the impact of His work is obvious.

Secondly, by His work. The Holy Spirit is invisible, but the impact of His work is obvious. Imagine if you have a standing fan blowing. We cannot see it, but we can feel the blown air.

Jesus spoke about people turning to Christ and being born again. The Spirit’s activity is visible in changed lives: repentance, new birth, healing, deliverance, transformed character, and spiritual fruit. When people are drawn to Christ, set free, or empowered for service, the Spirit is at work.

Let us learn to recognise the Holy Spirit’s Presence and work. In that way, you may more intimately partner with Him in your daily life and His Kingdom work.

RECOGNISING THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK

In Zechariah 4, the vision reveals the work of the Holy Spirit. What are some of these?

To build God’s House

Zechariah 4:7-10a (ESV) “ 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it... 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”

Some key truths revealed in this passage:

The Spirit levels mountains of every obstacle—opposition, discouragement, limited resources. The Spirit flattens what stands against God’s work so the temple can proceed. It emphasises that God finishes what people start for Him. It points prophetically to Zerubbabel laying the foundation while the Lord, by His Spirit, ensures the work is completed. Human effort and divine power work together.

Small beginnings become great rejoicing. Those who sneered at the humble start will celebrate when God’s plan comes to fruition.

The Holy Spirit is more zealous, more invested in God’s House than we are.

God sees and oversees everything. The imagery of seven eyes reminds us that the Lord’s presence extends across the whole earth; nothing is hidden from His Spirit. For God’s Kingdom will eventually cover the whole earth. The Holy Spirit is more zealous, more invested in God’s House than we are. We must partner with Him and allow Him to lead us in building God’s Kingdom.

What are some key benefits of the Spirit’s work?

The Spirit brings conviction and conversion (John 16:8-11); He draws people to Christ and produces fruit in lives.
The Spirit unites believers and raises leaders who shepherd well (Ephesians 4:3-6, 11-16). When we walk by the Spirit, the church becomes a cohesive, effective body.
The Spirit makes the church impactful (Acts 2:42-47). For example, in the past decade under our church's oversight, our African churches multiplied beyond 700 congregations. This is what the Spirit can do!

To empower His people

Zechariah 4:11-14 (ESV) “11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

How can we understand the entire vision?

Two anointed servants standing beside the Lord. Historically, this points to Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. Prophetically, it reveals God’s pattern of sending Spirit-anointed leaders to carry out His work.

The lampstand represents God’s temple. For example, Revelation 1:20 revealed that the 7 lampstands represent 7 local churches.

Most likely, the two olive trees represent God the Father and God the Son, while the oil flowing from them symbolises the Holy Spirit being sent forth. Significantly, the angel never answers Zechariah's question about the two olive trees, perhaps because the full truth of the Triune God remained veiled in the Old Testament. In summary, this prophetic vision portrays the Father and the Son sending the Holy Spirit to empower Zerubbabel and Joshua for God's work.

Even today, the Holy Spirit has been sent to empower His people, His servants, to build God’s House. To build God’s Kingdom. In what ways are these happening today?

Nurturing godly character, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) “22 …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
Empowering believers to live a victorious Christian life. Jesus promised us an abundant life. We will experience it as we live by the Spirit!
Empowering believers for bold witness (Acts 1:8, 4:31). The Spirit equips us for effective evangelism and supernatural ministry, such as power to speak boldly, signs to confirm the message, and courage to persevere.
His Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers to strengthen, teach, and build up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14:4). Each of us is called to discover and use our gifts.

Have you ever tried to shift a big pile of dirt or mulch? Not long ago, my wife Lai Ling and I tried to shift 2m3 of mulch ourselves. I ended up needing physio treatment for my rotator cuff. What I needed was a loader or bobcat to assist. That is the difference with the Holy Spirit empowerment.

There is so much more that we can experience with the Spirit of God! Will you make that exciting journey with Him?

CONCLUSION

The vision in Zechariah invites us into partnership with the Spirit: to trust Him to level the mountains, to rely on Him to finish the work, and to be empowered by Him for mission. There is so much more to experience with the Spirit—deeper fruit, victorious living, bolder witness, miracles, greater unity and impact, leaders raised and anointed for the task.

Will you join the journey? Pray for a fresh filling of the Spirit, step into the gifts He gives, and let Him lead the building of God’s house where you are and beyond.