Zechariah 4:6b—“Not by might nor by power, but by My  Spirit,” says the Lord of Hosts.  NASB

I have just read about another mega church and movement that will be closing its doors on January 1, 2015.  What started off with so much hope and promise is ending as a disaster and another black eye for the church.  It is evident this church has failed.  It was organized and built around the strong personality of its leader and a secular business model instead of Christ and God’s model for His church.

The leaders of this church forgot Jesus’ message.  “Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches.  Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from Me you can do nothing.”  NLT

In this so-called “Church Growth Movement” today, we need to go back to the message of Zechariah 4:6.  The term “might” is a general term for human resources.  The term “power” is a general term for human strength.  God is saying to His people, His church… “It is not your physical strength, nor your mental aptitude, nor the material resources of man, that will bring you success, but it is only as you follow My Word and depend on My Spirit that you will have success.”  A Paraphrase

Examples

1. When Moses depended on human effort, he failed miserably (Exodus 2:14-15).  When he followed God’s Word and relied upon God’s power, he had success (Exodus 6:1-8).

2. When Peter depended on human effort, he denied the Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75).  When he depended on God’s power, he preached courageously and 3,000 people were saved (Acts 2:36-41).

If any church wants to have success…

• They must follow God’s biblical model, not a business model.

• They must walk by faith, not by sight.  To walk by sight is to depend on human effort.

• They must totally depend on the Spirit of God to help meet any need, overcome any debate, or solve any problem.

Don’t be another church that is added to the list of failures.