During this last hurricane season, we were without electricity for almost five days. That first night was exciting. The kiddos couldn't wait to use their flashlights. We ate and played games by candlelight, and while it was all fun and games that first night, it began to grow old by the next. By habit, we would enter a room and our hands would automatically go to the light switch. Nothing would come on and then we would remember that there was no electricity. Each night, we would sit in our cars so we could charge our phones and other electronics. All of our lights, appliances, and chargers were useless without electricity. They were all plugged into an outlet, but there was no power source.
In our walk with God, the Holy Ghost is our power source! Acts 1:8 says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." The same power that rose Jesus from the grave living inside of you! Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost. His disciples did exactly what He commanded them and we find them gathered in an upper room on the Day of Pentecost. 120 received the Holy Ghost in the upper room! Acts 2:4 says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The power of God could not be contained to those four walls and it began to flow to the streets! A crowd gathered outside and thought the 120 were drunk, but Peter explained, "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" He then began to teach the gospel of Jesus - His death, burial, and resurrection! The Bible says that when they heard this, they were convicted and asked Peter what they needed to do. Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 3000 more were filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus Name! If we want that same power, we must follow the same pattern! Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Ghost! Acts 2:39 says, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." The Holy Ghost is available to all those who want it! The power source is there, but you must plug into it!
When my husband and I first got married and were in our first home, our master bath had a jacuzzi that we could never get to work. Finally, after a few years, we had my uncle come over to see what he could do to fix it. When he cut open the space under the tub, he realized that the motor was not plugged into the outlet. He simply plugged it in and it worked! The power source had always been there - we had electricity, but the jacuzzi didn't work because it was not plugged into the power source. Forgiveness is there, the Holy Ghost is there, but we must do our part! The door to salvation has been opened, but we must walk through it! We must apply the pattern! We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. We must take the cord and plug it into the power source!
When we receive the Holy Ghost, we receive power to overcome sin and power to be witnesses to others! The Holy Ghost is God living inside of us! He is our comforter! We can have peace that this world does not understand! He holds our hands as we go through trials and tribulations, He strengthens us in our weaknesses, and as we grow closer to Him, He gives us love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance! There are so many benefits that come with being plugged into the power source but we must stay plugged in! If I've learned anything in my spiritual journey so far, it is the importance of staying connected to the power source. When I find myself over-reacting, growing inpatient, slacking in my praise and worship, feeling prideful, envious, or fearful, I know I am unplugged and it's time to get reconnected, recharged, and renewed. A one time infilling of the Holy Ghost is not enough. We must die daily. We must have a relationship with God. That is how we stay connected to the power source!
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