LIVING BY THE « THIRD RAIL »

Do you know the difference between being in a car or on an elevated train ?

 A car runs on the principal of storage. You put gas in the tank and you drive it. You burn the gas and when you’re out of gas, you stop, you get more gas, you run it again, you burn it, you get more gas, you keep on driving until you run out. You’re constantly running and stopping,  filling and refilling.

On the other hand, an elevated train runs on the contact principle. You have the two rails on the outside and the electrified third rail in the middle. What is it that keeps the elevated train going? As long as the train stays in contact with that third rail in the middle, it will go and go and never stop.

Too many people think that walking with the God is like riding in a car. You get filled with God’s Spirit and you get run down and you get filled up again and you get run down. So they’re constantly up and down, being filled and emptied.

That’s not the Christian life of the New Testament.  God’s Spirit is always here. Our job is to stay in contact. When we stay in contact with the Holy Spirit, he continuously provides the power we need for effective Christian living.

* There is one thing we all want, even if we do not realize it yet, and that is to be so close to God that we feel His presence. (Psalms 16:11 NKJV) « You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. »

* If we are not always focused on God, and seeking to stay close to Him and in His presence, then we can easily fall away by thinking about the things of this world. (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV) « Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually. »

* You can only afford to be generous if you actually have some money in the bank to give. In the same way, if your only source of love and support is your spouse or a friend, then anytime he or she fails you, it will not just cause grief but a psychological cataclysm. If, however, you are in constant communion with the Lord,  you will have enough love, strength and faith "in the bank" to face life’s problems and challenges.

* The Holy Spirit puts ideas into the heart of the believer and shows him solutions.  The Spirit of God convicts us when we do something wrong, He guides us back to the right path.

* « To be spiritually minded is life and peace ». As we receive personal guidance of God’s Spirit, we enjoy freedom from fear. We know we don’t have to scream at God to get His attention. We simply whisper His name in the darkness and He comes to your aid. He hears the faintest cry of His children.

But living by the Spirit is not automatic. A decision is required. You must choose to live close to God, you must take the time to fellowship with Him and hear His voice. You are the one to cast the deciding vote.