Not by Might
The sermon emphasizes the futility of human effort in overcoming sin and the importance of relying on God's power and Spirit.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that many Christians rely on human efforts and self-help methods to achieve victory over sin, similar to Israel's reliance on their own strength. He warns that all human striving for deliverance is ultimately futile, as true victory can only be attained through God's power. Wilkerson highlights that God allows us to experience failure in our own efforts to teach us the necessity of relying solely on Him. He cites Isaiah 31:3 to illustrate that both those who help and those who are helped will fail if they depend on human strength. The key message is encapsulated in Zechariah 4:6, reminding believers that victory comes not by might or power, but by God's Spirit.
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Many Christians today quickly turn to manmade things in an attempt to achieve victory over the flesh, just as Israel did. One glaring example is the vast number of self-help books found on the shelves of Christian bookstores. Literally thousands of books promise surefire ways of improving, appeasing and subduing our flesh. Indeed, everywhere we turn we are offered fleshly options to all our needs. Churches promise anointed revival meetings where all our spiritual needs are fulfilled by a prayer or a touch. Evangelists offer instant deliverance, instant healing, instant words from God.
The truth is, God gave Israel the option of choosing Him or the flesh in the midst of their situation. He said, "Go ahead and exercise your own will. Dig deeply into your inner man, study your books, plan your strategies, do everything you know how to do. But you will still be leaning on the arm of the flesh. None of your efforts will bring you one moment of victory."
The more I study God's Word, the clearer it becomes to me: All human striving for deliverance from sin is doomed to fail. God will let us go through the wringer time after time, until we are totally convinced we must die to all efforts of the flesh.
When Israel attempted to defeat their powerful enemy through human power, God immediately denounced the effort: "Both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen [helped] shall fall down, and they all shall fail together" (Isaiah 31:3). God's Word declares in very clear language that all victory depends on Him alone. Only He has the power to deliver us from our enemies.
You may have a godly will, a solid moral background, an unpolluted mind. In fact, you may be one of the cleanest people walking this earth, but the Bible says that none of your human gifts or abilities will ever work against the devil. You will always fail by your own efforts.
If you are in the midst of an overwhelming struggle, you must learn the word God gave to Zechariah: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord" (Zechariah 4:6).
Sermon Outline
- The Futility of Human Effort
- God's Warning to Israel
- The Power of God's Spirit
- The Promise of Victory
- The word of God to Zechariah
- The key to overcoming overwhelming struggles
Key Quotes
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord” — David Wilkerson
“Both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen [helped] shall fall down, and they all shall fail together” — David Wilkerson
“You will always fail by your own efforts” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize the tendency to rely on human effort and solutions, and instead, learn to rely on God's power and Spirit.
- Understand that all human striving for deliverance from sin is doomed to fail, and that God's power is the only way to achieve victory.
- Learn to apply the word of God, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord', to overcome overwhelming struggles.