Do we recognize when the power is gone?

Our area was recently hit with an ice storm that knocked out power for many people. A few had their power restored rather quickly, but for some it was several days before they had electricity. I know a few who moved into local hotels waiting for their power to be restored. Others borrowed generators to get them through the cold weather. Most just waited it out with extra blankets and coats.

Just before writing this post I went to a local supermarket to pick up a few things. As I walked in the door the lights went out. Someone announced the registers were down and customers needed to leave the store. After the recent problem due to the ice storm there was a lot of grumbling overheard as people were leaving.

It's easy to tell when we lose power in our homes. Everything grows dark, and this time of the year it becomes colder. But, do we know when our churches lose power? I would say not as powerless churches are a major problem in our country right now.

Jesus said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has comes upon you....(Acts 1:8)" The Holy Spirit is the source of our power. Without Him the church is powerless. We might have programs, education, technology, strategies, mission statements and strategic planning, but we will have no power without the Holy Spirit at work in our churches.

It is possible for churches to keep doing what they've always done and never notice that the Spirit has departed their efforts. They can have services each week, enjoy entertaining sermons and wonderful music, and maintain their decades-old ministries without the Holy Spirit. Like cut flowers in a vase, they look good, but because they are not rooted in anything they cannot grow and will eventually die.

Because things are not going as well as we might hope we might assume everyone needs to work a little harder. Maybe it's time for a new minister or staff person. Maybe a fresh coat of paint would improve things. I know one church that has painted everything that doesn't move and can't understand why things haven't got better. Congregations sit around remembering "the good old days" and wonder why things have changed. In all their conversations about what they need to do seldom does anyone look to the source of power in the church - the Holy Spirit.

For many churches He is the forgotten member of the Trinity. We might mention Him from time to time, but many of our churches are reluctant to talk about Him too often. We have at least some understanding of God the Father and God the Son, but God the Holy Spirit is another matter. For many churches in my denomination I think people are afraid of Him. When He is given free rein things happen. He can't be controlled and might do things that are not found in our policy manuals.

When you read the book of Acts you quickly realize He can't be controlled, but will do things upsetting to people, especially the religious crowd. But you also find that people's lives are changed when He's in control. People are saved. Marriages and homes are restored. Devils are defeated, and people are set free.

What the church needs more than anything is an understanding that a powerless church is a church without the Holy Spirit, and that our greatest need is a Spirit-sent revival in our land that will bring the power of the Spirit back into our churches. We've been trying to do church without Him for too long, and we've given up too much ground to the Devil. It's time we get reconnected to our power supply and once again become the church God has called us to be.