Less and Less of Ourselves
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:29, AMP)
Seven times, the risen Christ echoes this cry to His people in Revelation. He is not speaking to the pagan, the secular, or the atheist—He is speaking to His Church. “Let them hear” is not a suggestion. It is a summons. And in our generation, this voice still calls through the noise of entertainment-driven services and human-centered strategies: Return. Return to the Holy Spirit. Return to My presence.
The Church Needs More of the Holy Spirit
We have filled our pulpits with polish and our services with precision. We have hired professionals to counsel where the Wonderful Counselor once ministered. We lean on budgets instead of boldness, on marketing instead of the manifestation of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7, NASB). But no spiritual fruit can grow apart from the Vine, and no ministry can be fruitful without the Spirit of God.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6, AMP). This is not outdated counsel—it is the very pattern of divine work. Yeshua did nothing independently of the Holy Spirit. At His baptism, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16). From that moment, He moved in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14), and only then did He declare, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me” (Luke 4:18, NASB).
If the Son of God waited for the anointing, who are we to operate without it?
More of the Spirit, Less of Ourselves
We are not called to merely imitate Christ—we are called to be filled as He was filled. “Do not get drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18, NASB). The Greek tense here means continual filling. Why? Because the vessels leak. Because we run dry. Because ministry in the flesh produces only fatigue, but ministry in the Spirit produces fruit (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Apostle Paul was gripped by this truth. He reminded the Corinthians that his preaching was “not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4, NASB). Why? “So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God” (v. 5). This is what the Church must recover—faith that rests on the Spirit’s power, not man’s intellect.
A Rebuke to a Church that Has Forgotten
Yeshua rebuked the church in Sardis, saying, “You have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead” (Revelation 3:1, NASB). How many churches today appear lively, yet are spiritually dry? Lights, crowds, movement—yet no flame from heaven. This is a warning to us. Have we exchanged the breath of the Spirit for the applause of men?
When God warned the prophet Ezekiel, He said, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts…” (Ezekiel 14:3, NASB). The idol may not be Baal or Asherah—it may be strategy, personality, numbers, influence. Whatever displaces the Spirit is an idol, and God will not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8).
A Return to Holy Dependence
The early Church did not move without the Spirit. When they chose leaders, it “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28, NASB). When they preached, the Spirit cut hearts (Acts 2:37). When they prayed, the place shook and they were filled again (Acts 4:31). This is not mythology. This is the blueprint. And God has not changed.
What has changed is our tolerance for powerlessness. We are content with motion, even if there is no presence. But Moses said, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Exodus 33:15, NASB). Let that cry return to our pulpits, our prayer meetings, our planning rooms: “God, we will not move without You!”
The Lampstand Without Oil
In Zechariah 4, the prophet sees a golden lampstand with a bowl on top and seven lamps. But this vision includes two olive trees feeding oil into the bowl—a picture of continual supply. The angel explains: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Without the oil, the lamp goes dark. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church flickers and fades.
We are not called to shine by our own strength. The oil must flow again.
O Flame who fell on trembling men,
Descend and fill Your house again.
Not skill, nor plans, nor noble name,
But Spirit-born, consuming flame.
A Call to the Church
Church of Jesus Christ, hear what the Spirit says.
The Lord is calling you back. He is not impressed with our systems, our celebrity leaders, or our technological savvy. He is looking for a people who will tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2), who will walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and who will cry out for His presence above all else.
The time for entertainment is over. The time for powerless religion is past. Judgment begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17), and He is looking for churches that will once again host His Spirit in reverence and awe. Return to the Holy Spirit. Return to prayer. Return to waiting. Return to trembling. Return to Him.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, we have tried to lead without listening. We have planned without prayer. We have spoken without waiting. We repent. Return to Your temple, Lord. Cleanse what we’ve corrupted. We do not want revival for the sake of fame, but for the sake of Your glory. Breathe on us again. Let our churches burn with Your fire, and let our hearts be wholly Yours. More of You, Holy Spirit—more and more. And less of us. Amen.
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