Marshmallows and the Holy Spirit

Normally, you would be reading a post from me about church tech, sound systems, stage lighting tips etc. However, today here is what’s on my mind. We, as Christ followers have power… a lot of power. I (Kris – @kristhesoundguy) have 2 year old twins, Lidea and Levi. They woke my wife and I up at 3 am because they were crying. We have been potty training them and yes, at 3 am, they decided they needed to go pee pee in the potty. Normally, we give them a little mini marshmallow as their potty treat and move on. This time I knew we would need a little extra incentive to get them back in their beds with out fussing and consequently back to sleep. After they both made pee pee I said, “I have your marshmallows. You need to lay back down in bed and then I will give it to you” I with held something that I knew they would want.  It worked exactly as I had hoped. They laid down, got their marshmallows and went to sleep. After this little 3 am pee pee encounter I got to thinking about Jesus and the disciples. Jesus gave the disciples power to do some pretty cool things while He was still with them, casting out demons, healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, the disciples were the ones doing these things.  But He with held something even greater until it was time for them to receive it. Jesus always operates under the power of the Holy Spirit but we as God fearing human beings have not always operated that way. Jesus, when he was about to be arrested, was clueing his disciples in on what the plan was. (John 14) He was going to send them the Holy Spirit who would empower them, remind them of all Jesus had done and would never leave them. So, Jesus dies for 3 days, raises from the dead (by the power of the Holy Spirit) and ascends to heaven and rejoins God the Father in heaven, that’s when He gives the disciples (and you and I) the “marshmallow”.  It was then that Jesus gave us, all of us who believe, the power of the Holy Spirit. Here is the thing that is just amazing me right now. The devil has only one thing to use against us – deceit. He can only mess with our thoughts and try to deceive us.  He has no weapons – really no power at all because of what Jesus did during the three days between his death and resurrection.  We have been given all power, all authority, all the things Jesus did so can we!  So, why do we walk around so often like we are defeated and powerless? Take the power and use it in every area of your life.  Claim victory over your church, over your worship team.  Claim victory when you feel like you just can’t get that mix right. Recognize you have the power of the Holy Spirit. Now go and act like it. It is amazing how attractive this power is to others who have not yet received their “marshmallow”.