Powering Up Our Spiritual Tools Series

The fact is, all us who truly have been saved, has the Holy Spirit within them.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NKJV) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

With the Spirit of God residing in us, we have access to the power of the universe. But why is it that we live such powerless lives?

in sense, we have flamed out. Paul reminds young Timothy to keep stoking the fire, do not let the fire go out.

2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Flameout- is a condition when a jet engine fails because the flame in- combustion chamber goes out. There are a number of factors that can cause flameout- lack of fuel, insufficient oxygen, or the presence of foreign matter in the chamber. Just like- jet engine can flameout, so can- zeal for God. Consider the three reasons for flameout:

1. Lack of fuel. If we do not fuel our relationship w/God through Bible reading and prayer, fasting and Christian fellowship, we will starve the fire of God in our hearts.

2. Insufficient Oxygen/No airflow. Oxygen represents- work/presence of- HS in our lives. Our relationship with God is not just intellectual, but it is an encounter with God Himself. We need the HS to help us understand God’s Word. God speaks to His people today He did 2000 years ago

3. Presence of foreign matter/ FOD (Foreign Object Damage). Like a Jet engine sucking up rocks from the pavement. There are many things we allow into-life/heart/mind- that distract us from our relationship with God. Even good things can become enemies of the best. Many of us allow things that are really discretionary to become necessary in our own hearts and minds.

If someone were to look at your day judging from the way you spend your time, what would they conclude is important to us? If we do not give our relationship w/God attention- flameout can occur. When a fighter jet experiences flameout, if it cannot restart its engine, it will ultimately crash and burn. Most fighters have a powerout glide angle of a home-sick brick. Too many Christians- crashed/burned in their faith. [1]

Often we want to run in our own power. Doing the work that we’re called to do for the lord is like being at a large airport terminal. How many of you have ever been to an airport and seen one of those “moving sidewalks? Those are incredibly useful in moving between terminals. Have you ever decided you didn’t want to get on those and walked on the outside? I did that one time. I’m walking along at a fairly good clip and I look to my left and here goes this lady just leisurely strolling along, leaving me in the dust. I tried to pick up the pace, but it was no use, she wasn’t even breathing heavy and I was puffing along not even close to keeping up. Now I always get on those things and walk at a brisk pace and it feels like you can fly.[2]

When a person gets aligned with God’s Will, identifies their Spiritual Gifts, then goes about serving in the way that God has empowered them, incredible things happen. Things start to pop. Ministry happens, people’s lives change. Others look at what they are doing and say, “How do they do everything they are doing?” Do you know how? Because the Holy Spirit is in control. He is moving them along, empowering them according to their gifts.

But what can happen is that a person can try to live according to their own power, trying to keep up and it won’t take long till they are exhausted. Instead of first aligning themselves with God’s Will, they have their own agenda to do it their way. Take the time to tap into the Spirit’s power if you want to be used to do incredible things. Look at what God has given us:

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Spirit of fear? The root word for fear in the Geek in other places is translated coward. Other words are fainthearted, timidity, lacking courage. God did call us to be cowards. That same base word is found in Revelations.

Revelation 21:8 (NKJV) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The cowardly is counted with all the other unsaved. But the traits of the Spirit of God is Power, Love and Self Control.