Price for the Power

I want to know Christ better. I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. Philippians 3:10 (NIrV)

Props: Power company bill, large piece of cardboard labeled “God’s power” with attached “price tag” labeled “prayer, Bible study, sacrifice, giving, obedience”

Every morning when I get up, I turn on the lights.  Then I wash my face in the nice warm water that comes out of the sink.  I check the air conditioner to make sure the temperature is just right.  After I get dressed, I open the fridge and take out the milk that is nice and cold.  I have a bowl of cereal and I’m off for the day!

One day I checked the mail and there was a bill from FPL (Florida Power and Light). (Hold up power bill).  I thought, “That’s strange!  Are they really asking me to pay for electricity and the power that comes to my house?”  I thought it was ridiculous, so I didn’t pay the bill.  I just put it off to the side.  

Then I got a call one day from the power company.  The lady said, “Ma’am, you need to pay your electric bill right away.”  I said, “That’s crazy.  There’s already a power line connected to my house.  Why would I need to pay for it?”  So I didn’t pay the bill.

A few days later I woke up.  I turned on the switch and the light didn’t come on.  I went to wash my face and there was no hot water.  The air conditioner wasn’t working either.  And when I went to open the fridge, it was warm.  My milk was spoiled and I couldn’t eat breakfast! 

I guess I should have paid the bill.    

Jesus paid the price for your salvation through His sacrifice and death on the cross.  But if you want to have God’s power working in you, you have to be willing to share in Jesus’ suffering: you have to pay the price. 

God’s power is not like electricity: you don’t put money in an envelope and send it to heaven to get God’s power.  But there is a price to pay.  You have to be willing to obey God, to say “no” to yourself and “yes” to Him.  You have to make sacrifices, like spending less time with the TV/video games and more time in prayer and Bible study.  Sacrifices like not hanging around people who are bad influences on you.  You have to give of yourself, then give some more.

Remember, God’s power comes with a price.  (Read Philippians 3:10).