GRACE IS THE ANSWER

TOPIC: GRACE IS THE ANSWER

By Rev Samuel Arimoro

Text: Zechariah 4:4-9

“Then I asked the angel, ‘What are these, my lord?’ He answered, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ ‘No, my lord,’ I replied. So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’ Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.’”

INTRODUCTION
We live in a world where effort, power, and might are often seen as the primary means to achieve success. However, the Word of God teaches us a different principle—one that shifts our dependence from human strength to divine enablement. In Zechariah 4:4-9, the Lord speaks to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who is tasked with the daunting project of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. God reveals a profound truth that is relevant for us today: “Grace is the Answer.” The completion of the temple, despite the overwhelming challenges, was not going to be by human strength, strategy, or power but by God’s Spirit and His grace.

1. THE CONTEXT OF ZERUBBABEL'S CHALLENGE
The book of Zechariah was written during a time when the Israelites were returning from Babylonian exile to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Zerubbabel, the governor, faced a seemingly impossible task. He was surrounded by opposition, discouragement, and limited resources. In the natural, the odds were against him.

Key Verse:
Zechariah 4:6 - “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.
 
This message was to encourage Zerubbabel that the task ahead would not be accomplished by human efforts but by divine intervention. God’s grace, activated by His Spirit, was the answer.

2. GRACE: GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOUR AND POWER
Grace is often defined as God’s unmerited favour. It is God giving us what we do not deserve, empowering us to do what we cannot do on our own. Grace goes beyond forgiveness; it is God’s divine assistance that makes the impossible possible.

Key Verse:
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

God wanted Zerubbabel to understand that the success of rebuilding the temple would not depend on his military strength, political power, or human strategies but on God's grace flowing through His Spirit.

3. SPEAKING GRACE TO THE MOUNTAIN: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES BY GRACE

God told Zerubbabel to speak to the mountain and declare, "Grace, grace to it!" (Zechariah 4:7). This represents the power of declaring God's grace over seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our lives.

Key Verse:
Zechariah 4:7 - “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Mountains symbolize challenges, barriers, and opposition. When we speak grace over these mountains, we are invoking God's power to level them and make a way where there seems to be no way. Grace transforms obstacles into opportunities and challenges into testimonies.

4. GRACE FROM START TO FINISH
God assured Zerubbabel that just as his hands laid the foundation of the temple, his hands would also finish it (Zechariah 4:9). This promise indicates that God’s grace is not only sufficient to begin a task but also to see it through to completion. The same grace that starts a good work in us will bring it to completion.

Key Verse:
Philippians 1:6 - “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

God’s grace is what enables us to start, sustain, and complete the divine assignments given to us. It is not our strength but His grace that carries us from beginning to end.

5. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF GRACE AT WORK

- Moses and the Red Sea (Exodus 14)
When the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, it was not by their might or power that they were saved, but by the grace of God. Moses declared, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14). God parted the Red Sea by His power and grace.

-The Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9):
Paul faced a “thorn in the flesh,” a persistent challenge that he wanted God to remove. God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul learned that his weaknesses became strengths when filled with God's grace.

- Jesus and the Cross (John 19:30)
Our salvation is the ultimate testament to grace. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the epitome of grace—God’s unmerited favour and divine power bringing salvation to all humanity. It was not by human effort but by God’s grace that salvation was accomplished.

6. GRACE IN OUR LIVES: HOW TO ACCESS IT

To experience the fullness of God’s grace, we must:

-Acknowledge Our Need for Grace:
Recognize that without God, we can do nothing. It is not by might or power but by His Spirit.

Speak Grace Over Every Situation
Like Zerubbabel, declare “Grace, grace” over every challenge, trusting that God’s power will make a way.

Rely on the Holy Spirit:
Grace is accessed through the Spirit. Stay connected to God in prayer, worship, and the Word to continually draw from His grace.

Remain Humble and Dependent on God
Grace flows where there is humility. “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

CONCLUSION
“Grace is the Answer” to every challenge, every need, and every situation we face. The Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel is the same for us today: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit. As we rely on God’s grace, mountains will become plains, foundations will be laid, and His work in our lives will be completed. Let us continually shout “Grace, grace” over every aspect of our lives, knowing that God’s grace is all-sufficient.

PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace that sustains and empowers me daily.
2. Lord, let Your grace be sufficient for me in every situation I face.
3. O God, release Your grace to level every mountain of opposition in my life.
4. Father, let Your grace empower me to complete every divine assignment You have given me.
5. Lord, I pray for grace to overcome every challenge and obstacle in my path.
6. Father, by Your grace, strengthen me where I am weak and make me strong.
7. Lord, release the grace for divine favour and breakthrough in my life.
8. Father, I declare grace over my family, my finances, and my future.
9. O God, grant me the grace to walk in obedience and faithfulness to You.
10. Lord, pour out Your grace abundantly upon my church, community, and nation.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
1. I declare that God's grace will make every impossible situation in my life possible.
2. By the grace of God, I will complete every good work He has started in me.
3. I decree that grace will turn every obstacle into a stepping stone to my breakthrough.
4. I proclaim that God’s grace will open doors of favour, blessing, and opportunities for me.
5. By grace, I will overcome every challenge, and no mountain shall stand in my way.
6. I declare that I am walking in the fullness of God’s grace and divine empowerment.
7. By God's grace, I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.
8. I decree that grace will locate me and elevate me beyond human limitations.
9. I declare that the grace of God will guide, protect, and provide for me in all my endeavours.
10. By grace, I will see the fulfilment of God’s promises in my life and destiny in Jesus’ name.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, empowering you to overcome every obstacle and complete every task set before you. Remember, grace is always the answer.