29th June 2025

Every Christian has been called by God for acts of service. Paul tells us that Christ has set us free, ‘…But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.’ (Galatians 5:1, 13). Just consider this call to service we have all been given for a moment; how adequate do you feel for the task? We may think that we are not talented enough, that there is too much opposition, and that we are just not up to the job, and that’s true, on our own it’s an impossible calling. But if God has called us, he will achieve these things in and through us.  

Zerubbabel had a clear call from God to rebuild the Temple, and God made it clear to him that this was going to be accomplished, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit…” (Zechariah 4:6). This should prove a source of encouragement to us because when we think we have to fulfil God’s calling in our strength, God gently whispers to us, ‘No, it’s by my Spirit.’ 

In those few words the encouragement extends to challenge because the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish far more than we can do, or can even conceive, as he works powerfully in us. Our task is to keep in step with his powerful lead, remembering that God’s view of power is very different to the world’s view. It’s not ‘in your face’, arrogant, belittling, or bombastic. Power in the kingdom of God is built on weakness and humility: on a crucified Saviour that is offensive to the world (Galatians 5:11). In crucifying our ‘flesh with its passions and desires’ (v.24) we exercise service, humility and love in the power of the Spirit.

In Judges 7, Gideon defeated the Midianites in the weakness of 300 men and the power of God. In John 6, five thousand people were fed in the weakness of 5 loaves and 2 fish and the power of God. Jesus says to each one of us, come to me in your weakness and go forward in my strength. I’ll multiply what you have so you can do far more than you could possibly imagine.

God hasn’t called us to live out our faith on our own. He hasn’t called us to fail. He will equip and empower us to do great things for him. And as we give the honour and glory to him, the world will know that God has done it.

With the encouragement that the Spirit works in and through us, are we up to the challenge of following his lead and keeping in step with him? As we do so, great mountains will become ‘level ground’ as God blesses our calling (Zechariah 4:7).

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church