PLUGGED IN?

Scripture: John 14:15-27

We recently had a heater/air conditioning unit installed in our 3-season room to make the room useful year-round.  We hired a handyman experienced in working with such units.  And after several hours of work, it looked great, was solidly attached through the wall and ready to do its work of climate control in our room.  Only one problem – we don’t have a 220 volt power source to that room!  So it sits there, a bundle of potential but doing nothing to help heat the room.  What needs to be done? We need to have an electrician connect it to a 220 circuit.

As I read this passage in John 14, I thought of our non-working heating unit.  Jesus was with his disciples for one of the last times before he would ascend.  They had sat under his teaching for 3 years, learning what it means to follow Jesus fully.  They were full of potential, ready to work for the Kingdom.  But they had no power to do what was required – it was too big a job, needing greater strength and wisdom than they had as humans.  The resistance to their work would be too great.

So, Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit when he returned to the Father.  “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (or Advocate) to be with you forever (vs 16).”  Further, he gave more description of the Holy Spirit’s purpose: Since he is the Spirit of Truth, he will teach the disciples all things;  and, since he promised to be with and in Christ’s disciples, the Holy Spirit will remind them of everything Jesus said.

These are potential benefits the Holy Spirit has for all disciples – but how do we get plugged in?  Jesus tells us 3 different times in this passage:

·         If you love me, you will obey what I command (vs 15)

·         Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (vs 21)

·         If anyone love me, he will obey my teaching (vs 23)

Did you get that answer?  Loving God, shown through obedience, connects us to the Holy Spirit’s power. 

The result?

·         All the promises God offers through the Holy Spirit are ours (God’s presence, his truth, his wisdom, his help in trouble)

·         We have the peace of Christ in our hearts

 

Do you want more power in your life to be able to do what God calls you to do?  Get “Plugged In" to the Power Source 

by loving God and obeying him.

 

 

[BTW, we just got power to our heater, and our plants in the 3-season room are happy!]