Temporary Power (part 1)
Click.
Click, click.
Click, click, click.
You know the scenario!
Frustrated, you get out and look under the hood. Maybe you actually know what you’re looking for, but many of us are just looking because, well, because we don’t know what else to do.
If we have jumper cables we lay one end in the engine compartment and wave the other end at whoever goes by. And oh the relief when some kind soul pulls up, opens their hood, hooks up the cables, and tells us to get in and try again.
Our hand shakes nervously as we stick the key in the ignition and turn. Brrrrrooooommmm! Ahh, Power!
We may not have a mechanical bone in our body, but we still understand the need for power. Today we can purchase gadgets that plug into our phones, or computers to provide a boost of power. Advertising promises us a sudden rush of energy if we just eat, drink, or swallow this or that.
We know about power!
We might not understand Middle Eastern farming terms like early and latter rains, but when you talk about the POWER of the Holy Spirit, we nod our heads. We understand the power part!
Joel 2:28–29 says:
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (NIV)
Now that sounds like Power! But power for what? And why do we want this power anyway? Why are we praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in “Latter Rain” power? What do we think it will accomplish when it comes?
Is its purpose to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus — to ripen the harvest around us?
Somewhat perhaps. But remember, Jesus said the harvest was ripe — pray for laborers.
OK, so maybe its purpose is to wake up His laborers, His sleeping, church?
Now that sounds good. But before we sit back in our rocking chairs and wait for the Latter Rain to wake us up… Let me ask you, could God pour out His Holy Spirit and speak through a sleeping Church?
Of course He could! He once spoke powerfully through a donkey. And another time He said the stones would cry out if the people didn’t. But is that what this planet needs? Will the world be saved by talking animals, shouting stones?
Remember, that talking donkey didn’t convert Balaam. And the promise of shouting stones didn’t change the hearts of the Jewish leaders.
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I am afraid many of us are nodding and dozing through the amazing events of these last days. We are expecting that at some point in the future, the Holy Spirit will be poured out and suddenly the church (us) will wake up and become faithful and finish the work.
How Embarrassing!
Take a look at the story in 1 Samuel 19:20–24 (NLT)
[Saul] sent troops to capture [David]. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy. When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah…But on the way to…Ramah the Spirit of God came even upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy…! He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet?”
Many years later, when Peter was filled with the Spirit. People repented and 3,000 were converted in a day. What made the difference?
It wasn’t two different spirits!
The Bible clearly says King Saul was filled with the Spirit of God. But he might as well have been filled with hard liquor. Nothing good came from it. All that happened was that he made a fool of himself.
Saul was filled with the Spirit. But he hadn’t been letting the Spirit mold and shape and change him all along. And when the power came over him, the temporary contrast was so great it just made people laugh. It didn’t last. It didn’t change him, or anyone else!
Acts 2:1–4 says:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.…(NKJV)
Notice, the Bible says they were ALREADY meeting and praying in one accord.
Let’s back up to before the Holy Spirit was poured out.
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. Acts 1:14 (NLT)
You see, when Pentecost came, they were already praying together.
PRINCIPLE — The final, mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit doesn’t change the direction we have been going! It simply brings power and pushes us further and faster in whatever direction we were already headed!
Jumper Cables
To come back to our jumper cable illustration again — If my tires are flat, or my headlights are broken, or my radiator has a hole, the temporary surge of power coming through the cables is not going to get me where I am wanting to go.
When I connect red to positive and black to negative and turn the ignition, my car will not suddenly be facing a different direction in the parking lot!
Temporary bursts of power (even those from Heaven) don’t force us to change direction. They only push us on in the direction we were already heading. They are only effective if the rest of the system is already in proper operating order.
That’s why we so desperately need revival and reformation today. We need the gentle working of the HS in our lives NOW. We need to be faithful now.
Otherwise, a power surge at some point in the future will only make fools out of us!
