This verse talks about life. The Greek word used here for “life” is “zoe”. This is the root of the English words “zoo” and “zoology.” It is a life that is energetic. It brings light but it is often buried under the sin of our lives. Jesus did not have this issue as He was without sin. The life that is in Jesus is to flow out. Jesus only has to touch and people are healed. He has only to speak the word and it is done. The disciples when filled with the Holy Spirit after Pentecost healed many who believed.

Lightning starts in mid-air and a charge builds up that is positive or negative. It sends ionic tracers to find an opposite charge. When it finds it then the electricity can flow. The electric charge from a lightning strike is huge. The power in the atom is immense as can be seen from atomic bombs. It can terrify. There are aspects of God that can be terrifying to us. The positive will always flow toward the negative. God is the “great positive” and we are the negative. Opposites do attract and God is attracted to us by our negatives. God wants to charge us. When the lightning strike hits then you get set on fire and everyone comes to watch you burn. John Wesley said “I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn!” How can we set ourselves on fire for God?

1. Own your negative

Don’t be ashamed as everyone has them. There are no exceptions as all have sin. You pick some up from parents, etc. If we have shame then we only enhance them. Face them! The Prodigal son had to own his negatives before he comes to his senses with no money or food. It is an opportunity to experience something in your life. The bigger the negative – the bigger the target! God’s can’t miss it!

2. Face the right direction

Make sure you are pointing up! We try to deceive about  it. It is not right to bury it. We need to stand tall. The Empire State building is pointing up high into the sky. If it were lying down flat then it doesn’t get hit.

3. Let go

Don’t hang on it. Let the negative go! Don’t pick it up again either! God wants to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. You can do physical stuff to demonstrate what has happened to you spiritually. We are to walk taller and realise that God has done something positive in our lives. In the story of the Prodigal Son it is the Father who rushes to welcome the wayward son back. The Holy Spirit is like a rushing wind. Let Him rush in and the baggage rush out! The son realises quickly that he has to let go of negativity as his father is gushing with positivity. (E.g. Ring, clothes, banquet, etc.)

4. Let it show

Have a party and smile. God is not angry with you. He rushes out to negativity and show His power. See 1 Corinthians 12:9. His power is made perfect in our weakness. Let God take your negativity and have a party! Let us trust God’s promises, believe His word, and live by faith. Let us sow to the Spirit and from the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:8). And as we abide in Him continually, His “zoe” life will cause us to grow and mature, and give us confidence in the day of judgment (See I John 2:28, 4:17).

Categories: John