Not By Might Nor By Power
As I read my Bible each day, I often come across a verse, a sentence, or a phrase that prompts me to think I have just uncovered a wonderful text for a sermon. Most times these snippets do not make sermon status, but they may be the underpinnings of a sermon point. Lately, I have focused my mind on the direction of the small number of people left in our congregation and whether the small remnant will stick closely together and obey the Bible when certain liberal changes might help add to our diminishing numbers. As I thought on this dilemma a few weeks ago, my reading in 1 Samuel brought me to this verse in chapter 14. 1 Samuel 14:6: “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”
Jonathan’s comment to his companion regarded a much stronger enemy in the garrison of the Philistines who obviously had the power to defeat two foolish men who dared to challenge them. Although Jonathan lived much earlier than the prophet Zechariah, still his faith in God taught him what Zechariah would say years later: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” Countless times Israel won victories that were impossible to win. God told the nation in the beginning not to worry about horses and chariots and the size of her armies. He does not need help to overcome the many adversaries Satan can line up against us.
We can be sure of this—Satan continually gathers his army. We will never find ourselves in a superior position with the shear numbers of Christians we can call on to help us. We are always the physical minority and if we focus on our small number, we will never muster the courage to attack Satan on his own ground. We are, however, spiritually superior. God and one might as well be God and a million. All God needs is people willing to put up a fight against spiritual darkness. Once those people have surrendered to the power of God to work in them, they are an unconquerable force.
I troubled myself in my thoughts when I thought how many more blows the church can withstand. I need not concern myself with it. I will not alter the outcome of any spiritual battle. Amazingly, the only way I sway a battle is if I do not become involved at all. If you are careless about service to God and you wonder what God will do with us, you have your answer without being a brilliant theologian. God works through His people. If they are not in the path of righteousness where He can use them, and if they are not concerned whether we should have a church at all, the Lord will respect our carelessness and withdraw. If we will stay in the fight, He promises to save no matter how many or how few are on our side.
Pastor V. Mark Smith