Sustainable power ∙∙

Sustainable power ∙∙

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

John 7:37-39

 37 Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

 39 (When he said, “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have both successfully reached “Interstellar space” and continue their cosmic journey through the Universe. Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. These spacecraft have been operating for over four decades. As of January 2024, Voyager 1 was over 15 billion miles from Earth, and Voyager 2 was 12 billion miles from Earth.

How have they managed to function continuously for such a prolonged period? The answer lies in their power source.

Mankind learned to harness wind power to create sailing ships and, later, windmills. They discovered steam power for engines, motors, and tools. Similarly, internal combustion and diesel engines were developed. They require fossil fuels. Electrical energy was used to run tools, machines, appliances, cell phones, and computers.

All these power sources, including the one used by the Voyager probes, can only function as long as the energy powering them remains available.

The Father had a better idea. He created atomic energy and the sun. They will not run out of energy or turn off any time soon. As long as the sun is shining, energy is available. More recently, solar-powered cells that run off the sun’s energy were created. Solar cells allow space probes and satellites to run continuously as long as the cells face the sun. Atomic power was understood and harnessed, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or RTGs, were invented. The RTGs have powered Voyager 1 and 2 since their launch in 1967.

What energy source do you depend upon to live a life pleasing to the Father? Regrettably, many of the children of the King try to renew their spirits as though they were internal spiritual batteries that keep running down. They repetitively seek new “energy fixes.” They are reminiscent of a hamster on a wheel. There is lots of motion but no real progress and certainly no permanence. Whatever power or enthusiasm they tap into does not last.

Once again, the Father had a better idea. The Father supplied a power source that never runs down or wears out. It belongs to every child of the King. We need only to understand it, actualize it, and live it out in their daily lives.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is almost incredible to think that the Father would provide a sustainable, self-contained power supply for each child of the King. Yet our everlasting Father, the Almighty God, intelligently designed and created nuclear fusion and uses it to power the sun and the stars every day, everywhere, wherever they are found.

Father how I long to serve You. But on my own, I lack the power and ability to do so. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit when I believed. Encourage me to rely upon and utilize the Spirit’s power each day.

INSIGHT

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has provided an internal, permanent, constantly self-generating, sustainable power source for every child of the King.

The Lord Jesus Christ exclaimed, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). The apostle John explains, “When he said, ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him” (John 7:39).

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would anoint and empower people. But in most cases, the empowerment was temporary. For example, this occurred in Ezekiel’s life and service as a prophet. He stated, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me to say . . .” (Ezekiel 11:5). During the Old Testament era, only a chosen few of the Creator’s children had the honor of having the Holy Spirit reside within them. After confessing his wrongdoing, he pleaded, “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalms 51:11).

During the Old Testament epoch, the Holy Spirit was with the Father’s children but did not live in them. When the Lord Jesus Christ came on the scene, all that changed. He promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit as another helper. The Holy Spirit would remain in each believer forever.

During the Old Testament epoch, the Holy Spirit was with the Father’s children, but He did not live in them. When the Lord Jesus Christ came on the scene, all that changed. He promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit as another helper. The Holy Spirit would remain in each believer forever.

John 14:17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth . . . he lives with you now and later will be in you.

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.

Following His resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ assured His disciples that the arrival of the Holy Spirit was imminent. They were instructed to remain in Jerusalem and await the Holy Spirit’s coming. Upon His arrival, they would receive the ultimate power source that would never deplete or exhaust – the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

Acts 2:1-4

 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.

There was a period of time required between the promise in the Gospels and the fulfillment in the book of Acts. This is no longer the case. We accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord; we are adopted into the Father’s Forever Family and given the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:15 You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.”

The power and energy of the Holy Spirit dwell within every child of the King. Do you enjoy and benefit from the overflow of the Holy Spirit from within, or are you like a hamster on a wheel?

How is your power source working out for you?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-27-1

© Dr. H 2024