Tommy Bates Ministries

Fueled to Shine

Read Romans 8: 11

Since, God has called us to shine like a city on a hill, that means He gives us all we need to be that light. When we’re fueled by the Holy Spirit, therefore we bring hope to the hopeless and life to the dying.

In the Old Testament, we see God the Father, who is above. In the New Testament, God is with us in the Lord Jesus Christ. But Jesus said it’s better for us that He goes away, because when He goes away, the Comforter comes. With this transition, God said, “I’ve been God above you. I’ve been God with you. But, now is the time when I’m going to be God in you. I’m going to walk, talk and abide in you forever.” It is the Holy Spirit who fuels us into a deeper in this relationship with the Lord from within.

God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the Power that works within us. Since He knows that our natural mind makes it hard to perceive spiritual matters, the Spirit fuels us through the revelations of God, and also reveals Himself through the physical things of the world. There are many different symbols in the Bible that reveal and manifest the power of the Spirit. In the Old Testament, an example is water and another is fire.

The moment you surrender your life to Jesus, a river of living water springs up within you. The shallow area is where we just begin to get to know Him. Too often, this is where people stay. But Jesus wants you to get all the way in the water! He doesn’t want you wrapped up in outside things meant to distract you. God wants you to realize the abundance of life that is within you!

In God’s Word, we see many times that fire fuels purification. Fire also attracts. Furthermore, we know that it quickly spreads. Wouldn’t you love to see the fire of God spread throughout your family, workplace, neighborhood, city, and the world? First, we must fuel the flame within our own lives in order to make a difference out in the world. You can’t expect the flame to ignite if there’s no flame burning within your own soul.

We are the light of the world. Sometimes, we’re the first or only contact with the Good News of Jesus. But, we cannot do it on our own. It’s God on the inside of us that causes us to shine. Our bright light is fueled by the Holy Spirit, letting us shine through darkness and trials, showing the Living God to the perishing world!

We love y’all and we’re always praying for you! We’re saving you a seat at Community Family Church!

Pastor Tom