Disconnected

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have access to the awesome power of God.  That access to power can be corrupted and degraded if our receiving connection is disrupted.  Likewise, our ability to harness that power and generate positive outcomes in this world can also be corrupted and degraded if our delivery connection is disrupted; however, with the right connections, together with God, we can accomplish extraordinary things.

As an example, consider the electrical power we rely on in our homes.  It is dependent on a secure connection to the power plant that produces that power.  Once that power arrives at our home, the distribution of that power is dependent on the connections to the various wall outlets and lighting fixtures that provide us with a more comfortable life.  Without a solid connection to the power plant, there is no power.  Once that power arrives at our home, it is useless unless the right connections are made to the lights and appliances we depend on.

I think you can see where I’m going with this.  Our first concern as followers of Jesus is to make certain our connection to God is secure.  That is our source of power.  And like the electrical example, that power is useless unless we have a distribution system that can turn on lights and generate useful energy.

Our Connection to the Power of God

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are without question connected to God – but how strong is that connection?  Do you feel like all the wires are connected or is it possible some have been broken and need repair?  Before we go any further, take a moment right now and consider what it is in your life that may be disrupting your connection with God.  We have to get rid of any clutter and make certain all the wires are connected if we want to operate with full power.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB)

Spirit

Our spirit is connected to God through His Word.  If you’re not involved in some form of Bible study, you should be listening to a good Bible teacher on a regular basis.  The closer you are to the Word of God, the stronger your spiritual connection to God.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)

Soul

Our soul is connected to God when our mind is constantly considering the teachings of Jesus.  The evidence of this connection is in the daily choices we make.  There are always at least two choices in everything we do and when we choose the godly choice based on our understanding of the Word of God, we will find ourselves powerfully connected to God.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”    Matthew 16:26 (NASB)

Body

Our body is connected to God when we treat it as the home of the Holy Spirit.  As followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts.   When we treat our bodies as the dwelling place of the Lord, we magnify our connection to God.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20(NASB)

Our Connection to the Body of Christ

We were designed by God to have fellowship with each other.  Jesus teaches that we are to love one another.  Obviously we can’t do this in isolation.  To be fully connected to God we need to be fully connected to each other.

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  Genesis 2:18 (NASB)

Fellowship

The primary teachings of Jesus instruct us to serve God by serving others.  Central to our connection to God is our connection to other believers.  We need to be worshiping together, learning and growing together, working together, and supporting each other.

“If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7 (NASB)

Talent

Every follower of Jesus has a specific task to fulfill.  We were each given specific talents that are to be used to glorify God.  When we identify our special talent and begin to use it through our interaction with the body of Christ, we dramatically improve our connection to God.

“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”  Romans 12:4-5(NASB)

Fruit

Everything we do in our effort to connect with the body of Christ is measured by the results of that endeavor.  It is our connection to God that empowers us to generate good fruit on his behalf.  When we come together and each use our talents to serve God by serving others, extraordinary things can happen.  Every good thing that comes about through these efforts is another powerful connection to God.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”  John 15:4(NASB)

Keeping Our Connection Secure

In order to maintain our connection to the power of God, all of the above aspects of that connection need to be considered and exploited on a minute by minute basis.   The body of Christ is like an enormous communications cable filled with millions of wires that all need to be connected for optimal power generation.  There is no question that many of these connections have been disconnected for various reasons.  In order to realize our full potential and accomplish the extraordinary things possible through the power of God, we need to focus on reconnecting those severed connections.  At the same time, we need to constantly seek new connections that further expand our power grid.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:14-19 (NASB)

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My Conversation with Jesus