Have you ever had a light-switch which is connected to an outlet on the far side of the room? This is a handy feature – when all is dark and you enter the room, you can simply flip the light-switch on and the lamp on the far table will come on.
This is handy … until you forget about the light-switch on the far wall and you attempt to turn the lamp on … and nothing happens. The lamp is plugged in to the outlet. The lamp switch has been turned on. There’s no power outage. But nothing happens. What on earth is the problem?!?
No power is flowing … because the light-switch on the far wall is flipped off.
Many Christ-followers are just like this. They believe in Jesus. They have trusted Jesus to take away their sin. They have been given the LIGHT of Jesus to shine. But their lives have no evidence of LIGHT. This doesn’t make sense??
They look terrific by all outward appearances. They are “plugged in to the outlet” … they go to church every Sunday. The lamp switch is turned on … they volunteer in ministry, etc. But the POWER of the Holy Spirit is clearly not evident in their lives.
Their lives are not characterized by LOVE and generosity. Their lives are not characterized by PEACE. Their lives are not characterized by KINDNESS, PATIENCE, or JOY. In fact, their lives do not look any different from the world all around which does not know Christ.
If we’ve been given the LIGHT, then what is the key in order for the POWER to flow? Answer: the Word of God!
- The Holy Spirit works first and foremost through the Word of God!
- The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit gives guidance for life through the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit convicts through the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit prompts acts of LOVE and KINDNESS via the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit gives guidance for how to speak and respond via the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit gives PEACE via the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit develops humility and PATIENCE via the Word of God.
If your lamp looks great, if you’re “plugged in to the outlet” but if you do not see the POWER of the Holy Spirit flowing through your life … get into the Word of God.
Get into God’s Word and get God’s Word into you!
The Word of God (the Sword of the Spirit) will produce the Fruit of the Spirit … by which people will be able to brilliantly see the LIGHT of Jesus!
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty POWER.” -Ephesians 6:10
