1. Imagine putting a cola bottle filled with cola into a glass tank of water—it sinks. But if the bottle is empty, it floats. This is buoyancy, the force that pushes objects up in a fluid, counteracting gravity. Submarines use buoyancy tanks filled with oxygen to rise and water to sink. Those who cannot swim sink if they struggle, but float when they relax and breathe deeply.
2. Faith is similar. To overcome life's gravity, we don't need more of our own strength. We fill our lives with money, honor, and relationships, thinking we'll rise, but we sink. The power to overcome the world is not within us.
3. The power to soar comes when the Holy Spirit fills our lives. Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto His fearful disciples after His resurrection, the Spirit comes to us when we repent.
“Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 2:38 (NIV)
4. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must remove unrighteous thoughts and fill our hearts with God's Word. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Holiness, working in those who strive to live holy lives.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)
5. The Holy Spirit comes like a river of living water. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that believers will have rivers of living water flowing from within them, referring to the Holy Spirit.
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38-39 (NIV)
6. Spiritual satisfaction, not just physical, is essential. A well requires human effort, but a river of living water, sustained by grace, never runs dry. Just as a ship floats on the vast ocean by the power of buoyancy, we should seek God's grace when faced with sorrow and fear.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
7. The person who lives by grace is undefeatable. The gospel, Jesus' blood, and the power of heaven cannot be bought. Those who live with Jesus learn to live by the grace that fills them.
8. Jesus emptied Himself of His honor, coming as a human, living humbly, and obeying God's will to the point of death on the cross. He emptied Himself of His power and relationships to atone for our sins, facing abandonment and denial.
“Rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.” Philippians 2:7-9 (NIV)
9. Yesterday, Seong-Joo and Steven visited me. Steven, aspiring to be a doctor, received a sudden acceptance from a graduate school in New Mexico and had to move immediately. He came to receive a prayer before leaving, trusting in God's abrupt work in his life.
10. God often works suddenly, especially when we feel our strength is exhausted. He teaches us to live by His grace, not our power, reminding us that our dreams are for His kingdom, not our success.
11. Understanding our true selves is not belittling but liberating. We must recognize our limits and focus on our God-given roles, acknowledging that we cannot do what only God can do. Accepting that people will eventually leave makes it easier to bear. Recognizing that God is the head of the church, the family, and the business brings peace.
12. It took Moses 40 years to recognize his true self. When God's timing came, Moses met Him at the burning bush, filled with His vision, promise, and power. New wine is put into new wineskins.
13. Do you want to overcome the world, be free from problems, and live a vibrant life? Empty yourself within the cross. When life's gravity weighs you down, don't rely on your strength. Believe in the buoyancy of grace that lifts you when you repent. The Holy Spirit will fill you, open new paths, and help you soar. As we fill ourselves with the Word and pray, the Holy Spirit will anoint us. The river of living water, the never-ending grace of God, will set us free.
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