Godly Circuits
“….Yet he who is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Mattew 11:11 NIV
Before long we will be breaking out the Christmas decorations again. Probably one of the most frustrating aspects of the holiday decorating is putting up the Christmas tree lights. Do remember the old series lights? If one light went out the entire string ceased working! That’s because in electrical wiring things are either in a series or parallel circuit. If the circuit is wired in series and it is disrupted the flow of electricity stops. The other problem with series systems is that if you add any additional lights the rest all dim.
Houses are wired in parallel circuits to avoid these difficulties. With parallel circuits, the power flows to each outlet and continues. If one light goes out, the power continues to the rest. And if more outlets are added, there is no dimming.
Our power in Christ is like this. Jesus told His followers that from the beginning of time, there was no man greater than John the Baptist. That means that all of the great men of the Old Testament paled by comparison. But then He makes the amazing statement noted above from Matthew 11, that lets us know that each of us in Christ is greater and should expect to see and do greater things.
That means that you and me because we serve a risen, overcoming King and have the fullness of the Holy Spirit, are greater than all those great men and women before John. Think of the amazing miracles performed through Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, and others. You have even greater power available to flow through you.
It is like the difference between a circuit in series versus a circuit in parallel. The Old Testament men of faith had the Holy Spirit come upon them to perform miracles, but the Spirit only stayed with them temporarily. It was like the series circuit where there was no continual flow. Like those old Christmas lights, you had to wait, find the bad light and replace it before the power flowed. They had to wait as well. But with our serving a victorious Savior, we have the Holy Spirit not just resting upon us, but rather living inside of us as soon as we give our hearts to Jesus. We have the parallel circuit, meaning the power always flows and never dims when more current is drawn.
Are you allowing that full power to work through you? Ephesians 3:20 reminds us of the power at work in us, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Realize the power that is at work within you and glorify Him by letting it flow.
J Todd Hostetler