Thinking about it:

We here in California are fairly accustomed to occasional blackouts. Sometimes these are intentional as “rolling blackouts” by the power company to keep the grid from crashing. Our entire house and neighborhood are left powerless for a period of time. Even though we KNOW we are without power, there are some things we think we will try to do, and then we realize, “Oh, yeah, I can’t do that without power.” 

• What are some activities that are “frustrated” by the lack of power in the whole house?  

Sometimes we will have a breaker trip and just one room of our home will not have power. We are clueless to the problem until we go into that room and try to do something that requires power. 

What are the problems/frustrations that arise if the room without power is: 

• Your kitchen? 
• Your bedroom? 
• Your bathroom? 
• Your family room? 

Let’s think about our hearts as a “house” with hallways and rooms. Rooms for different aspects of your life. (i.e., desires, self-discipline, relational wounds, coping skills, morals, etc.) 

Sunday’s message: We looked at the Apostle Peter and his multiple attempts to please Jesus that ended up being rebuked or corrected by Jesus. He was often frustrated in his sincere attempts to be “righteous.” Both before and after Pentecost, his humanity was evident, but the difference of his effectiveness was “night and day” after he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Read:  

• Acts 1:8 

• Romans 8:7-10 

How is the Holy Spirit in our hearts like the electricity supply to our homes if one lives in a total “Holy Spirit Blackout?” 

How is the Holy Spirit in our hearts like the electricity supply in our homes with tripped breakers? 

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT… NO MORE “BLACKOUT!” 

BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT… NO “TRIPPED BREAKERS!” 

CONTINUOUSLY RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT… LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD! 

PRAY: Thank God for His mercy and grace over your “humanity-frustrated” efforts to live righteously. Ask Him to show you where you lack the “current” of the “power” of The Holy Spirit. Ask God and He will give you His Holy Spirit… receive Him, and be FILLED with Him! Commit to strive for a life pleasing to God!