Solomon R. John
 
Raman a teenager had climbed to the top of his three-storied house. The view was breath-taking from up there. Suddenly, he slipped. Frightened of severely injuring himself, if he fell on the cemented ground beneath him; he fervently prayed, 'Dear God, don't let me fall like a boiled potato. Please Help! Save me!"

Just then his pants caught on a nail sticking out from the wall of his house. The nail prevented him from falling. The teenager looked up to God and said, "Oh! Never mind God, a nail is holding me up!"

Is it not true that sometimes we, as believers, live like this teenager? He put God in the back seat, because the nail saved him from disaster.

Further, he was more confident of being firmly held by the nail than of being helped by God.

It is true that in our spiritual life, like that hung teenager, we rely on our own strength, credentials, spiritual life, popularity, resources and habits. Wait a minute!

Are we leading our Christian life in confirmation with the Holy Spirit? Or what role does the Holy Spirit play in our personal life? I believe that we need to do some soul-searching along these lines, and walk in the step with the Holy Spirit. When we do that, you and I will experience the power of God's spirit.

Today, there is an urgency of getting back to the basics -study the Scripture thoroughly and make it work in our lives and profession before we tell others. How do we do that? One has to yield to the Holy Spirit to ignite his/her spirit; and be fully zealous for God.

Firstly, God has explained himself to us saying, "Without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) So you and I need Him. In my own personal experience, irealise that spirituality: quiet-time, fasting and praying, shouting Halleluahs and Praise the Lord have become a norm without a experience of God. It does warn me to learn the principle that meant so much to Paul: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians. 4:13) Paul's understanding of this principle is expressed through his life-style.

Even Jesus Christ in his life and teachings, taught his disciples the importance of depending on God: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”He is clear in His teaching. A sense of orderliness, reverence to be given and accomplish the work of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us absorb these principles of God's kingdom in our life-style. It is HIS KINGDOM -HIS WILL be done through us. In the process we will be refined, kept ready for Him to be used effectively. Any thing below His standards is destined to fail.

Secondly, the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.' (Zechariah 4:6) There are two important aspect revealed in this verse, one is negative "Not by might nor by power" What I understand from this verse is, that God is telling us, listen my friends, without ME you will not be successful by the skills you possess, right from preaching the Word of God to winning people for Jesus Christ 'Might' refers to a large number of people grouped together, or an army. 'Power' speaks about the strength, command, decision, rule, judge or ability that a person may have. Isn't it true that we often judge our success by our achievements, sound finances or by the skill full people we recruit, and conclude that everything is under God's control? These are absolutely meaningless in Christ's service if God’s power does not permeate them.

The positive part of Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit." Sustained spiritual experience, lasting results and real victory comes when the Spirit of God works in us and in the lives of those to whom we preach the message of life. Since this is true, we need to give priority to those areas where we know the Spirit of God works. For example (in brief) king David's life (Psalm 51:1) He sought God with confidence to be cleansed of all his unrighteousness and then desired God to teach truth and wisdom in his inner parts. And promised God, that he would teach

Transgressors God's way.

Therefore, if we are God's servants, we must be cleansed, fully forgiven by God, sit at His feet and learn from God the lessons of life. Then the next step is, you and I cannot afford to contain those learnt lessons from God within us; it has to be shared. How? Share the message of salvation with kindness and compassion to others who have not heard the gospel. And love one another; forgiving each other, just as, in Christ, God forgave you and me. This in fact completes the purpose of God on this earth.

Thirdly, to act on the belief, that Holy Spirit dwells in each believer (in you). He empowers him/her to do His work resulting in being impacted. The Holy Spirit is our chief resource person. He convinces us of our sinfulness and testifies with our spirit that we are Children of God. So we are to be led by the Spirit 'of God. He is the one who liberates and illumines you and me to enjoy God given life, love others unconditionally, to serve HIM sacrificially, witness to others powerfully, suffer for His name sake joyfully and if need be, die triumphantly.

Therefore, we must be sure of giving the Holy Spirit a prominent place in our lives; only then the Spirit of God will powerfully work in and through us.

Solomon R John is an Associate Editor of AIM Magazine, a monthly circulation of EFI