Do You Know How To Reenergize Your Spiritual Batteries?
Good Morning Friends,
When we share the gift of our belief in prayer and ministry, teaching and fellowship, it typically brings out the best in others and always brings out the best in us as we draw closer to Christ’s vision for us in this life. But sometimes the flame of our vision begins to dim, its passion begins to ease, and its heat begins to cool. We get unplugged from our energy source and feel drained. Do You Know How To Reenergize Your Spiritual Batteries?
Scripture: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NRSV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
Message: Do you have something that is sapping your energy? Do you ever feel spiritually drained? Is the cognitive dissonance so strong as to make you ineffective? If so fear not. God knows all about it, and His grace is greater than any of our sins or conditions. The bad news is that God’s grace cannot help us until we are desperate enough to receive it. If we think we do not need grace we are doomed. We need to remember that there is always tension between the way things are and the vision God has for us in this life. When we lose that vision, we lose our enthusiasm and boldness. In today’s scripture Paul addresses this situation in young Timothy’s life, encouraging him to allow the Holy Spirit to rekindle the passion and vision…to prompt action. Timothy was shy and timid by nature. He had a tendency to avoid confrontation. The stress of his ministry assignment in Ephesus was affecting his health. Timothy’s beloved mentor the apostle Paul had been arrested. The excitement and enthusiasm he’d once felt when he joined Paul’s ministry team was gone. Timothy’s vision had cooled even though he still believed. He was not being bold with the gifts God had given him because the gift of vision, the gift of ignoring those who say it cannot be done and doing it any way, had faded in Timothy. Then Paul explains something very important. He says, Timothy, you really do not have anything to do about it. It is God’s idea, this gift prepared in Jesus. And if God has set you apart to proclaim His message, He will invite you to allow Him to work out His will in you. Do not be embarrassed; conform to Christ’s image, learning that the Holy Spirit within us is bold, sensible and loving. He abides in us so we can carry on…so we can be enthusiastic. We need to be bold in following Him. We need to keep our head and not panic in the battle before us. We need to lead as He led…by example, believing that the student is to be like the teacher…knowing that we are expected to publically place our bet on Jesus and show forth His love as an example. So friends, if your spiritual battery needs charging remember your vow to Jesus. Remember that it is God who strengthens us. Remember that we have been established in love. Remember to reconnect to the people you love. Remember to be physically healthy. Remember to renew your mind and return to your first love.
Pray we repent of the sin in our lives. Pray we let faith, hope and love recapture our attention. Pray we realize that God is working in and through us. Pray we reassure our heart that God is with us. Pray we put on the armor of God. Pray we respond to the needs of others. Pray that when we are tested we fight with faith. Pray we find joy in our times of trouble. Pray we are not ashamed or fearful. Pray we find some sunshine in the shadows. Pray we speak with words of encouragement. Pray we share the good news. Pray we have a legacy of introducing people to God. Pray we are joined with the Holy Spirit and blessed to pray persistently and boldly and unashamedly. Pray we fight the good fight with love and truth. Pray we are never ashamed of lifting up the name of Jesus. Pray we wait for the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit to come and meet our deepest needs.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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