Relying on the Spirit in Our Work EZRA 4:1-5

Israel’s enemies were clever in their fight against rebuilding the temple. First, they offered to help. What better way to cause things to go wrong than to get involved in the work? When their aid was rejected, they set out to discourage the workers and make them afraid. They even hired counselors to fight against the Israelites. The opponents were successful in stopping the work.

Yesterday, we saw that God wanted the work carried out in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The people were also to reject self-reliance and instead look to the Lord. He offered them encouragement and hope by promising to take care of the mountain of opposition before them. Sometimes that means He will remove the problem; at other times He walks us through it.

We, too, are to rely steadily on God’s Holy Spirit. Doing so will allow us to:

• Patiently love our spouse when there is turmoil in the home.
• Wisely guide our children toward godliness in our self-centered culture.
• Follow scriptural principles about giving, saving, and spending in a society that urges us to get what we want now.
• Experience divine contentment in our current circumstances—single or married, employed or out of a job, healthy or sick.
• Do God’s work His way.

Being led by the Spirit is to characterize how we work (Gal. 5:16). While that mindset is counter-cultural and not pleasing to the flesh, it’s the only way to live as a child of God. Seek out others who are trying to practice dependence on the Spirit, and spur each other on to live it out.

Transformed by Grace

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

Mark 16:9

Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed not just by one demon, but by seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, and no human power could set her free. But Jesus passed that way, and without being asked and probably while being resisted by the poor demoniac, He uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus. All seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all.

What a blessed deliverance! What a happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven! Immediately she became a constant follower of Jesus, listening to His every word, following His winding steps, sharing His busy life; and in all this she became His generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered to Him out of their means. When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of His shame: We find her first watching from a distance and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near to it as she could, and when His blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid.

She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulcher where Jesus slept, first at the grave where He arose. Her loyalty and love made her a favored beholder of her beloved Master, who deigned to call her by her name and to make her His messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter. Grace found her useless and made her useful, cast out her demons and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan and united her forever to the Lord Jesus. May we also be such miracles of grace!

Doing God’s Work God’s Way ZECHARIAH 4:6-7

As God’s people, we’re called to do His work wherever we are. Because we’re His children, all of our labor has a spiritual component—our actions, attitudes, and speech testify about Him.

The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but many people opposed their efforts. Their detractors used a variety of tactics to prevent them from succeeding (Ezra 4:1-5). After a while, discouragement set in, and eventually, the opposition forced them to stop the work. Like the Israelites, we may be under great pressure and unable to discern how to keep going. God told their leader, Zerubbabel, how to proceed, and we are wise to follow His counsel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit (Zech 4:6).

When we encounter obstacles, our tendency may be to figure out the solution for ourselves. This attitude of self-reliance is not appropriate for God’s children. While an independent spirit is prevalent and even admired in our culture, it is contrary to the way Scripture tells us to live. Dependence on the Holy Spirit is to characterize our way of life: giving up control and allowing Him to direct our actions will result in doing God’s work His way. Our lives won’t be free of trouble, but we will experience many victories through Him.

When we’re depending upon God’s Spirit, certain things will be evident: without Him, we would fail, and our constant companions would be worry and distress. But with Him, we receive true wisdom and divine power. Then, peace and joy accompany us, even amidst hardship (Gal. 5:22-23).

Satan Hinders Us

Satan hindered us.

1 Thessalonians 2:18

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the advance party or in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we work in the field, he seeks to break our implements; if we build a wall, he tries to cast down the stones; if we are serving God in suffering or in conflict—everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. We had fierce conflicts with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he tries to prevent our growth in Christian character. You may be congratulating yourself: “So far I have walked consistently; no one can challenge my integrity.”

Beware of boasting, for your virtue will soon be tested; Satan will direct his energies against the very virtue for which you are most famous. If you have to this point been a firm believer, your faith will soon be attacked; if you have been meek like Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines.

Satan is sure to hinder us when we are faithful in prayer. He hinders our persistence and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Satan is equally vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah began to work, Sanballat and Tobiah were stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hinders us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side and are doing the Lord’s work, and in His strength we will win the victory and triumph over our adversary