Our Mighty Weapons by A. J. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1902

Our Mighty Weapons.

By A. J. B.

ELDER A. G. DANIELLS occupied the Tabernacle pulpit, Sabbath, January 18, taking as his text Zech. 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” The speaker emphasized the fact that the final triumph of the work of God upon earth will be brought about not by temporal means, but by the Spirit of God.

Physical power, attainments, culture,—all carnal methods will fail to accomplish the desired result. “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!” Isa. 31:1. Those who go down to Egypt for help are those that depend upon the arm of flesh,—upon carnal things. “Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” Jer. 17:5. “For though we walk in the flesh [and we shall walk in the flesh until Christ comes], we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds); casting down reasonings, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3–5. The great danger is that we shall substitute the form for the life, the flesh for the Spirit; busy activity for patiently, trustfully waiting before God; a lot of energy and toil and effort for the faith that Jesus says is the work of God. When people came to Jesus and asked Him: “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” the Master “answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:28, 29. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Phil. 2:12, 13. Without the vitalizing touch of the Spirit of God, all our institutions and facilities for work will avail nothing. How shall these agencies be spiritualized? It is impossible to spiritualize the brick and mortar, the presses of our publishing houses, the bath-rooms and dormitories of the sanitariums, the desks of our schools. But it is possible and essential that every man and woman connected with these institutions be spiritualized, vitalized with the life of God.

A. J. B.