The power of osmosis. I love the story of the little boy that had failed to properly study for his English exam. As his mom wakes him up for school the day of the exam, she finds him sleeping with his English textbook tucked under his pillow. When she asked him about it, he told her that he had prayed that God would allow the info to seep into his head overnight. Oh, if it were only that easy. And by the way, I think a lot of Christians still operate on this same principle concerning the Bible. If I keep it close enough for long enough it will hopefully seep in.
Regardless of our story, osmosis is real. Osmosis: a process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing the concentrations on each side of the membrane. Did you get all that? The basic idea is one of transfer. Moving one solution to another place. And the process involves slow and steady contact. Osmosis is critical in the human body especially in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys where it helps you absorb the nutrients out of your food. It also removes waste products out of your blood. I think we can all agree that although osmosis is complicated, it’s both good and vital.
But I’ve got a new ideology for you to chew on. Spiritual osmosis. Yes, you heard that right. The idea that one person can slowly absorb spiritual nutrients and goodness from another. You might be thinking that I’m crazy, but I believe that God’s Word calls it either discipleship or fellowship. The idea that fellow believers in Jesus Christ can indeed transfer His power to others. The idea that iron sharpens iron (Pro 27:17) and that the process might even generate a few sparks as growth occurs. The idea of spiritual osmosis is that a person, anointed with the Holy Spirit of God, can through constant and slow contact with another, allow God’s Spirit to positively affect them.
Today we see the last miracle of Elisha and it is one of the only miracles in God’s Word performed by a dead person. Even in death, the double portion of God’s Spirit on Elisha had miraculous power over life and death. Yet another sign that God creates life, takes life, and is the only one authorized to do either.
“Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” 2 Kings 13:20-21
Elisha had gotten ill and died. Even one of the mightiest prophets of God was not immune to disease, illness and infection. But the power of God was not in his heartbeat. It was not in his blood, tissue or organs. The power of God was much deeper. You see, the Holy Spirit of God is in our very being. As we draw every breath, God is in the inhale. With every step and action, He is in the movement. With every thought and prayer, He fires the synapses. As God anoints us with His Holy Spirit, it becomes inseparable with who and what we are. And as a result, He and He alone can radiate through us and allow our lives to affect those around us with His Glory.
Have you ever been around someone that just seemed to glow? Someone that had a characteristic about them that you were just naturally attracted to? I’ll never forget the first time I saw Margie. She almost had a halo about her. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was so on fire for Christ that the Holy Spirit of God was using her as a mighty beacon to all that she encountered. And the light she allowed to shine in her life drew me in and changed my heart for Christ. One life affecting another for Christ.
As you walk this Earth today, are you a beacon for Christ? Does your close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ radiate out into this dark world? Does the power of the Holy Spirit in your life call to others, asking them to come close and feast on the goodness of God? You see, that’s God’s plan. To make His followers attractive to the world. To allow us to shine in dark places. To allow others that need Christ to see us and move to the light as moths move to a flame on a dark night. As you shine for God, He will indeed draw others to you. And as you prepare for such encounters, pay careful attention to a few things.
1) Are you joyful? No one likes a sour puss. I see countless Christians that look like their dog just got run over. If you are truly carrying the joy of Christ in your heart, your face, words and actions should show it. If you can’t seem to manage a smile and a kind word to those God draws to you, you need to take a close look at your walk with the Lord.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” Psalm 28:7
2) Do you have the name of Jesus constantly on your lips? Almighty God has given you His Spirit to empower and equip you to tell others about Jesus. As your light draws in people, what do you tell them about? Politics? Automatic turnoff. Organized religion and church? Another turnoff. The Super Bowl? Maybe later. The weather? Is that the best you got? Folks, as God draws people to you, tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ. I have learned that people don’t like talking about church, but they do like talking about God and Jesus. Unfortunately, most people just don’t know the truth about God and Jesus. Be ready to tell them. Have the gospel constantly ready on your lips.
“But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15
3) Do your actions contradict the light? It’s hard for you to be a light when your light is shrouded in darkness. When you’re living in sin your light is extinguished. If you’re cheating on your wife how are you to rebuke another for the same sin? If you’re at the bar every night how can you speak truth into the life of a friend that is struggling with alcoholism? If you’re dabbling in porn, how can you disciple a young man and speak against it’s dangers? The gist? Protect your light. As you tell people about Jesus, the first thing they will do is take a long and careful look at your life. The way you live your life will speak volumes more about Jesus than your words.
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:12-13
Friends, today if you have called upon Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you are a light. And God wants you to shine like a lighthouse to a world on a dark and stormy night. He will bring in lost ships to moor at your doorstep so that they can hear the good news of what Jesus did for them upon the Cross. Are you ready? Are you prepared for Spiritual osmosis? For God’s Spirit possesses enough power and abundance to feed the entire world. And He feeds the lost through those that have His Spirit. Get ready, there’s work to do.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
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