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Lessons From Zerubbabel
Zerubbabel faced seventeen years of delay, opposition, and personal doubt before completing God's assignment, rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Pastor Linda Hufton draws powerful lessons from his story, focusing on Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." She unpacks the distinction between these two Hebrew words: "might" representing collective external resources, and "power" representing inner personal strength. Both, she explains, are ultimately insufficient for accomplishing spiritual purposes. Only God's grace and Spirit can move the "great mountains", the prideful, immovable, long-standing obstacles, standing in our way. To illustrate the unseen ripple effects of obedience, Pastor Linda shares the story of Pastor Jeff Perry, who was saved at sixteen after a stranger handed him a gospel tract during a hitchhike ride. That stranger never knew the impact, but an entire ministry and countless souls flowed from one small act of faithfulness. The message is clear: pick up the plumb line again. Speak to your mountain. Heaven is watching, and rejoicing.
Related Sermons
Small Group Guide
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Lessons From Zerubbabel" — Pastor Linda Hufton
1. SERMON RECAP
In this message, I walked us through Zechariah 4:6, where God reminds Zerubbabel that the temple would not be rebuilt through human strength or personal ability, but only through the Spirit of God. I showed us that the "great mountain" standing in Zerubbabel's way — years of delay, opposition, and discouragement — was no match for the grace and power of God spoken over it. Just like Zerubbabel was called to pick up his tools and finish what he started, we are each called to speak to our mountains, trust God's Spirit, and complete the assignments He has placed in our hands.
2. KEY SCRIPTURE
Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."
3. ICE BREAKER
If you could instantly remove one "mountain" from your daily life — something that just keeps getting in your way — what would it be? (Keep it light — it can be something as simple as traffic or a stubborn appliance!)
4. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Getting into the Word I explained that "might" refers to collective external resources — like money, people, and influence — while "power" refers to inner personal strength, skill, and determination. Zerubbabel had both, and still couldn't finish the job on his own. What does that tell us about the limits of even our very best human efforts when it comes to the things God calls us to do?
2. Identifying Our Mountains I described how the "great mountain" in Zechariah 4:7 wasn't a physical mountain — it represented years of difficulty, opposition, and impossible circumstances. What kinds of things in your own life might qualify as a "mountain range" (not just one obstacle, but a whole collection of them)? How does naming them honestly change the way you approach them?
3. The Power of Spoken Grace I talked about the two-word declaration — "Grace to it!" — that Zerubbabel was told to shout over his mountain. Why do you think God would instruct someone to speak over an obstacle rather than simply pray silently about it? How does Mark 11:23 connect to this idea of speaking directly to the mountain?
4. Finishing What God Started I emphasized that God specifically said Zerubbabel's hands would finish the temple — not someone else's. Have any of you set down something God called you to — a ministry, a relationship, a goal, a habit of prayer — because it got hard or took too long? What would it look like to pick it back up?
5. The Unseen Impact I shared the story of Pastor Jeff Perry, who was led to Christ through a simple hitchhiker encounter and a gospel tract — and that stranger never knew the thousands of lives that were eventually touched because of that one act of obedience. How does knowing that we may never see the full impact of our faithfulness in this lifetime change the way you think about the small, quiet things you do for God?
6. Heaven Is Watching I pointed out that when Zerubbabel picked up the plumb line again, all of heaven rejoiced. How does it shift your perspective to know that your acts of obedience — even the ones that feel small or unsuccessful — are seen, celebrated, and recorded in eternity?
5. APPLICATION CHALLENGE
This week, speak to your mountain.
Identify one specific obstacle, fear, or long-delayed answer to prayer that has been standing in your way. Write it down on a piece of paper and label it — call it what it is, just as God told Zerubbabel to address his mountain directly. Then, every day this week, speak Mark 11:23 and Zechariah 4:7 out loud over it. Declare: "You shall become a plain. Grace to it!" At your next group meeting, share one thing you noticed — in your attitude, your faith, or your circumstances — as a result.
6. PRAYER POINTS
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Pray for fresh empowerment by the Holy Spirit — that each person in your group would move beyond trusting their own resources and abilities, and lean fully into what only God's Spirit can accomplish through them.
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Pray over the specific mountains in your group — take a moment to let anyone who is willing name their mountain out loud, and then as a group, speak grace and God's power over each one together.
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Pray for courage to pick up what has been set down — that anyone who has walked away from a God-given assignment, ministry, or calling would feel heaven's encouragement this week to pick up the plumb line again and keep building.
7. MEMORY VERSE
Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."
Leader's Note: You know your group best! If conversation is slow, start with Question 5 — the hitchhiker story tends to open hearts quickly. If your group is going deep, feel free to linger on Questions 4 and 6. The goal isn't to get through every question — it's to leave every person feeling seen, encouraged, and ready to speak to their mountain this week.
Daily Devotional
Not By Might, Not By Power
Zechariah 4:6 — "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."
I've been thinking about how many times I've tried to push through obstacles with sheer determination — my own cleverness, my own strength, my own resources. And honestly? It hasn't always worked. Zerubbabel had everything going for him: royal authority, wealth, manpower, political connections. He had might AND power. Yet the temple sat unfinished for seventeen years. God had to send a prophet to remind him of something we all need to hear: the supernatural things cannot be accomplished by natural means. When I'm straining and striving and spinning my wheels, maybe God is whispering, "Stop pushing so hard in your own strength." The Spirit of God isn't a supplement to my effort — He's the source. Every spiritual breakthrough I've ever witnessed came when I finally got out of the way and let His Spirit move. That's the lesson I keep having to relearn.
Lord, forgive me for leaning on my own strength when You've already made Your Spirit available to me. Teach me to stop striving and start trusting. Let Your Spirit lead everything I do today.
Speak to Your Mountain
Mark 11:23 — "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them."
I love that Jesus didn't say pray about the mountain — He said speak to it. There's a difference. When Zerubbabel faced his mountain range — years of delay, opposition, disappointment, discouragement — God didn't just sympathize with him. He gave him words to say. "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain." That mountain had been standing there, proud and insolent, acting like it owned the place. But God said name it, face it, and command it to move. I've started doing this in my own prayer life. I look at what's standing in my way — the fear, the financial pressure, the health report, the broken relationship — and I say out loud, "You shall become a plain. Grace, grace to you." It feels bold at first. But bold is exactly what God is asking for.
Jesus, give me the courage to open my mouth and speak to the mountains in my life. I believe Your Word works, and I choose faith over fear today. Let my words align with Yours.
Grace to It
Zechariah 4:7 — "What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'"
Two words. That's the prayer. Grace to it. I used to think I needed elaborate, perfectly worded prayers to move heaven. But here in Zechariah, God gives Zerubbabel the simplest declaration imaginable — shout grace over the thing that's blocking you. Grace means God's favor, His power, His will, His desire to give you good things. When I shout grace over a situation, I'm not conjuring something up on my own — I'm releasing what God has already made available. I'm agreeing with heaven. And I love that it says shouts of grace. There's something about volume and boldness in prayer that shifts the atmosphere in my heart, even when the mountain hasn't moved yet. Don't let the enemy tell you God doesn't want you to have the answer. He does. Shout grace at that thing. Watch what happens.
Father, I release Your grace over every impossible situation in my life today. What looks immovable to me is nothing before You. I declare Your favor over what concerns me.
Finish What You Started
Zechariah 4:9 — "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you."
God didn't call someone else to finish the temple after Zerubbabel stumbled. He said, "His hands shall also complete it." I find tremendous comfort in that. When I've dropped the assignment — when I've gotten discouraged and walked away from something God placed in my hands — He doesn't automatically hand it to somebody else. He comes looking for me. He sends His word, like He sent Zechariah, to say, "Pick it back up. It's still yours. You're still the one." We all have things we started in God that sit unfinished. A calling we talked ourselves out of. A ministry idea we shelved. A prayer we quit praying. What if today is the day you pick it back up? What if heaven is waiting and watching for you to say again, "Okay, Lord. Let's build. Let's do it." Everyone in heaven rejoiced when Zerubbabel picked up the plumb line again. I believe they'll rejoice over you too.
Lord, show me what I've laid down that You're asking me to pick back up again. Give me the courage to finish what You started through me. I'm saying yes again today.
You Don't Know What Happens Next
Mark 11:24 — "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
I keep thinking about that man who picked up a hitchhiker and handed him a gospel tract — never knowing that the teenager who jumped out of his car and ran away crying would become a pastor who would impact hundreds of thousands of lives. He may have driven home feeling like a failure. He'll never know, this side of heaven, what that one act of obedience produced. And I wonder how many times I've done the same — prayed, obeyed, spoken grace, served quietly — and felt like nothing happened. But God sees every seed. Every answered prayer sends ripples we can't trace. Every act of obedience sets something in motion down the line. This is why I can't give up. This is why you can't give up. We won't see it all now. But one day in heaven, we'll compare stories. And what a day that will be.
Father, help me trust that nothing I do in obedience to You is ever wasted. When I can't see the fruit, let me keep planting in faith. I believe You're working even when I can't see it.