LESSON 32:
Electrical Energy
1: In the Holy Scriptures we find an interesting statement made by the wise man, Solomon: "As he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7. For many centuries the idea that the mind and the body are related was not understood, and was forgotten. The body was accepted as something that could be seen, and attention was paid to it. Desires for pleasure and excitement were filled as man sought satisfaction. "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." was the slogan of ancient people. Excesses of all kinds too terrible to even mention were indulged in.
2: Then in some religions, the body was thought worthless or evil and only the spirit mattered. These people thought by neglecting or punishing the body, they could draw nearer to God, but without the body:there is no spirit in man. True Bible Christianity, gives real meaning to our bodies. Because they are created by God, life is sacred. Physical habits take on a new importance under the teaching of Paul when he said, "whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31. Teaching that this present life is only the preparation period for a future life to come, it was seen that the choice of the will is required at every step to bring the body, mind, and spirit under the control of reason.
3: Our thoughts alone can produce physical changes in our bodies. When the name of her fiancé is mentioned in public, what happens to the face of a girl? Why, it turns red! She blushes. There is not trouble with her face; the blush was just a reaction to a thought. We could cite many similar examples. In fact, there are many diseases such as stomach ulcers, arthritis, high blood pressure, headaches, and others that are caused to a great degree by mental anxiety and fear.
4: One of the most remarkable discoveries made in recent years is that the brain and nervous system are electrical in nature, that man is an electrical being! The electrical energy and currents in the brain can be measured with special equipment. Furthermore, medical science tells us that your brain contains a permanent record of your past that is like a continuous strip of movie film complete with sound. This film library records your whole waking life from childhood on. You can live again those scenes from your past one at a time when a brain surgeon applies a gentle electrical current to a certain point in your brain.
5: We ask the question: Could it be that the human race will be confronted with this undeniable record at the judgment bar of God "when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ?" Romans 2:16. Actually, it has been found that every living thing has electrical energy. There is a pulsating vibrant force present in all life, including plants. It has been shown that if a man strikes a match and thinks to burn a leaf, the vital energy or current of that leaf is affected, (and this can be recorded) before it is even burned!
6: Yes, thoughts, both good and evil are powerful in their effect on both our actions and our body. Anger, hatred, guilt, distrust, worry, and fear cause decay and disease. On the other hand, love, hope, trust, a clear conscience and courage build up and restore broken bodies and minds.
7: The mind is the great battleground of the controversy between Christ and Satan. Satan claims the human race as his subjects. Christ says, "No, they are mine through my sacrifice and redemption." The battle for the minds of men is a real one, and we are not just innocent bystanders looking on, but every day we must make decisions for good or for evil. Thus, moment by moment we must continue to choose.
8: This choosing demands the use of the will. The Will can be described as that part of the mind that exercises the power of choice in the operations or thoughts of the mind. Let us think for a moment of the rudder of a boat. The rudder is very small. It cannot drive the boat forward, but it does guide the boat. It is a very important part of the boat. Without it the boat would go in circles and get nowhere. So the choice of the will, guides the ship of our mind to give it direction and purpose. But the rudder does not have power to run the boat. The boat needs a motor, an engine to turn the propeller and to drive the boat through the water.
9: So with our mind. Our mind has to be connected with a source of power. If we were to stand alone against the devil, our situation would be hopeless for we could never withstand his clever arguments, the force of our own selfishness, and pride and greed.
10: But God has pledged Himself to keep this human machinery in healthful action if man will obey His laws and cooperate with Him. We may have the privilege of being connected with the powerhouse of heaven. "The brain nerves which communicate with the entire body are the only means through which Heaven can communicate with man and affect his inmost life. Whatever disturbs the circulation of the electric currents in the nervous system lessens the strength of the vital power, and the result is a deadening of the sensibilities of the mind."
11: The power which God makes available to us is His Holy Spirit, the Third Member of the Godhead, God says, not in the thunder, or the lightening, but in the still small voice of His Spirit is power. Not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit shall we be victorious.
12: Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth, and producing blossoms and fruit. So, the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Saviour fills the soul and renews the motives and affections and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.
13: The existence of the Holy Spirit is eternal. In the beginning "The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2. The spirit of God will keep working for the salvation of men till the end. "And the spirit and the bride say come. And let him that heareth say come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17.
14: Jesus, in explaining the work of the Spirit said, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8. The Spirit works in a marvelous way. While the spirit is here, He can also at the same time be in other places, like the wind.
15: Of the Spirit's work we are told, "He will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness, and of Judgment," . . "He will guide you into all truth . . and He will shew you things to come." John 16:8, 13. The Prophet Isaiah likens the spirit to a still small voice, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21. The spirit of God always tells the truth.
16: Paul admonishes us, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30. When we do not listen to the spirit, He is grieved. When we continually refuse to listen to Him, He finally turns away from us as it was with the people before the flood. He was withdrawn and the people perished. "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." Genesis 6:3. As soon as the spirit leaves a person the Devil takes over. He is also compared to a light that shines in the darkness. Knowing the danger of refusing to walk in the light the Bible says, "Quench not the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
17: It is actually the Holy Spirit as a representative of Jesus Christ who stands and knocks at the door of our hearts and says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20. The Bible which is written by the inspiration of God is actually the result of the Holy Spirit moving upon holy men. When we obey the words of the Bible, we listen to the Holy Spirit.
18: Jesus once said, "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." Matthew 12:31. The Holy Spirit is heaven's last gift to mankind. Once we refuse Him, God has reached His extremity in saving us.
19: The Apostle John says, "If any man see his brother sin, a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it." 1 John 5:16. A person constantly opposed to the Word of God is bringing himself closer and closer to the point where he cannot be reached by the Holy Spirit. Of these Paul speaks, "having their conscience seared with a hot iron." I Timothy 4:2. It is dead and cannot feel anything.
21: God in His wonderful mercy has still granted us 2 little more time in which we can find salvation. The Holy Spirit is still striving with us, so that we will not harden our hearts by disobeying God. He still pleads with us. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 3:15. By listening to the voice of the Spirit, our hearts become more and more receptive and by refusing they become harder.
22: God has not set separate standards for receiving the Holy Spirit. The condition for everybody is the same. "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." Acts 5:32. Obedience is the condition, obedience to the Word of God.
23: A person experiencing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful person on earth. He is going to be victorious and will stand faultless, ready to meet Jesus when He comas back. This can be everybody's experience only if we are humble enough to be willing to accept Him. "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2.
24: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6. Delay might mean eternal death. May we all accept the Holy Spirit before it is too late.
Here is additional information on the Holy Spirit:
"I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." John 14: 16.
"But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you." John 14:26.
"And when He is come, He will reprove (bring conviction to) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment":John 16:8.
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." John 16:13.
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:17
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30.
"Cast me not away from Thy Presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me." Psalm 51:11.
"If
ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how
much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that
ask Him." Luke 1:13.
"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh .. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:16,22:23.
