CONCERT OF PRAYER
Pray Week 658

“Spiritual Tune Up”

John 20:21-22 (ESV) Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested? on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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In the Spring, following six months of storage over the winter months, I attempted to use my gas powered lawn trimmer without tuning it up first. I was quite pleased that it started and idled reasonably well. However, when I attempted to use it to cut down the tall grass and weeds it would bog down to the point of stalling. All it could do was idle and burn gas. It was a useless tool in my hands for its intended purpose. Following a tune up of fresh fuel, a new spark plug, and a clean air filter the trimmer had plenty of power to do the job.

The Lord reminded me of my gas trimmer in prayer one morning as I asked God why my faith was weak and I seemed to lack the power of His Holy Spirit to be ‘more than a conqueror’ through difficult times and circumstances. The Lord showed me that I needed to abide in Him and seek His presence and His kingdom above all else in this world. If we are to be useful tools in the Master’s hands we need a spiritual tune up.

Fresh fuel – My trimmer had old, stale gas in its tank. How many of us fail to regularly refuel our spirit by reading, meditating and praying the Word of God? How many of us fail to regularly attend corporate worship and avail ourselves of other fellowship and study opportunities in our local church body? Has our relationship to God been reduced to an occasional ritual at a social club we call ‘church’? Without the dynamic power of the fresh fuel that stems from genuine worship our spiritual fuel becomes stagnant and stale. It loses its ability to power us effectively through the trials and difficulties of life.

Clean Air Filter – My trimmer’s filter was clogged with the gunk and grime of this world. Its engine was starved for sufficient oxygen to give it the power to do its work. Jesus breathed upon His disciples when he gave them the Holy Spirit. Can we receive the breath of God or are we so clogged with the gunk and grime of unconfessed and unrepented sin that we quench the Holy Spirit’s power in our life?

New Spark Plug – My trimmer’s spark plug was fouled and its spark was weak robbing the engine of power. How many of us grieve the Holy Spirit by refusing to be passionate about being Christ-Like? When the Spirit prompts us to not give in to the temptation of sin do we allow the spark to ignite our passion for Jesus and decide to deny our flesh and to pursue holiness or do we choose to foul our spark plug with sin and quench the Spirit’s prompting?

Reflect on your need for a Spiritual Tune Up. Resolve to keep your relationship with God fresh every day. Keep yourself pure and free from willful sin that separates you from spiritual communion with God. Abandon your will to God and be ready to serve Him in His power and strength as He has uniquely purposed for you from the beginning of time.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God