By My Spirit
E.A. Johnston emphasizes that true and lasting spiritual fruitfulness in ministry comes only through complete surrender to the Holy Spirit, not by human effort or resources.
In this powerful teaching, E.A. Johnston challenges believers to abandon reliance on human resources and fully surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Drawing from John 15 and Zechariah 4, he reveals that only through complete surrender to Christ’s reign can one bear much fruit that glorifies God and impacts the world. Johnston calls the church to experience a supernatural walk with God that brings revival and eternal results.
Full Transcript
The typical modern church likes to further God's work along by money and manpower to get the job done. But in former times, in periods of spiritual awakenings and revival, the church operated by prayer and the Spirit of God. In John chapter 15, Jesus speaks of fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.
And in John 15, 8, we read, Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. In ministry, you cannot co-lead with God and help him along to advance his work by your talents, money, and efforts. If you choose to go that route, you'll probably have some fruit and maybe even more fruit.
But you will never know the reality of much fruit. And that's the only fruit that brings glory to God and lasts for eternity. Because to have that experience of God in ministry means you cannot co-manage with God to do his work by helping him out or helping him along.
You cannot serve God the way he wants you to serve him unless you swallow your pride and crucify your ego and step down from the throne of your life and renounce self entirely and give that throne 100% to be occupied by a living Lord to reign there to where he is the only one ruling there. Then and only then will you be able to see God work through your surrendered life and get a taste of what Christianity was like and the book of Acts in a supernatural walk with him to where he does what he does through you that will so amaze others and do wonders and shake cities for God and storm the very gates of hell in an experience revival that sees souls marvelously saved by the Spirit of God through Christ Jesus. Then and only then will you have much fruit because it won't be your fruit.
In Zechariah 4, 6 we read, Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Modern church relies on money and manpower
- Historical revivals operated by prayer and Spirit
- Contrast between human effort and Spirit-led ministry
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II
- Jesus teaches about bearing fruit in John 15
- Much fruit glorifies the Father and defines discipleship
- Human efforts yield limited fruit
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III
- Necessity of surrendering ego and self-rule
- Allowing Christ to reign fully in one’s life
- Experiencing supernatural ministry and revival
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IV
- God’s work is by Spirit, not might or power
- Reference to Zechariah 4:6 as foundation
- Call to depend fully on the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“You cannot co-lead with God and help him along to advance his work by your talents, money, and efforts.” — E.A. Johnston
“You cannot serve God the way he wants you to serve him unless you swallow your pride and crucify your ego.” — E.A. Johnston
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Surrender your ego and self-will completely to allow Christ to reign in your life.
- Depend daily on the Holy Spirit rather than your own talents or resources in ministry.
- Seek a deeper prayer life to align with God’s Spirit for lasting spiritual fruit.