The Holy Spirit and the Believer’s life analogy
The Holy Spirit and the Believer’s life can be compared to a house full of many rooms with light-bulbs.
Every room is created with a light-bulb but not connected to any power source. All rooms are initially dark because the house is surrounded by darkness.
When a room bulb is connected to a power source, a control switch is installed. So that when the room-owner turn on the switch there is light and when the switch is turned off there is darkness in the room.
The bulb switch is operated manually (not automatic) which means it doesn’t switch on itself — no magic works here.
And It doesn’t matter if the room-owner desires or wishes to have the light on but if he doesn’t get up to turn on the switch, he will remain in the dark.
The bulb switch is customized only for the room-owner to operate, nobody(other room-owners) can turn on the switch for him, it’s just impossible.
Although, other room-owners with connected bulbs can connect another room to a power source. But they can’t turn on or off the switch for the room-owner even if they try.
The room-owner must willingly accept other room-owners before they can help him connect his light-bulb. And they can also teach the room-owner how to turn on the switch to have light in the room.
Also, there are some instances were the room-owners can connect their room’s light-bulb to a power source by themselves.
Interpretation
The house is the world, the room-owners are humans, a room represents the body, the light-bulb is the mind, the control switch is the tongue, the connected power source is God, and darkness is satan.
A room that is connected to a power source is a born-again Believer. The day you repented, accepted and confessed that Jesus is Lord you became a believer. Right there your room bulb was connected to a power source with a customized control switch.
The other room-owners with connected bulb are fellow believers. Most often only a believer can lead an unbeliever to Christ.
The unbelievers who connect their own bulb are the ones who were lead to Christ by themselves or through divine encounter (like the conversion of Saul known as Paul on his way to Damascus — Acts 9).
The light is the Holy Spirit. A room connected to a power source and the switch is turned on is a believer who is led by the Holy Spirit.
The major challenge we see in the world today is that there are many believers with light-bulbs connected to a power source but their switch is turned off.
They still live like an unbeliever whose light-bulb has no power connection. A room with no light is inherently dark, this means living without the leading of the Holy Spirit.
This could be as a result of so many reasons;
- Some are unaware of their newly connected light-bulb.
“They answered, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2)
- Some are ignorant of how to turn on their switch because the believer who led them to receive salvation was not led by the Holy Spirit.
Like a blind man leading another blind man (Matthew 15:14).
- Or the believer who led them to receive salvation didn’t pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
“When they arrived they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 8: 15–16)
- Some turn off their switch themselves because they still enjoy being in the dark.
“…but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” (John 3:19–20)
No matter what the reason may be, a believer without the Holy Spirit will roam aimlessly in the dark — easy prey for satan.
The fact that the world is ruled by darkness and satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT) makes that possible. Hence the importance for all believers to have their light turned on.
Although in our physical world we see lots of light(these are ordinary light) but only those with Spiritual eyes can see that the world is covered with darkness. Here, Jesus said;
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
This verse clearly tells you that the world is in darkness only when you accept Jesus your light-bulb is connected. However, you have to follow Jesus in order to have keep your switch on always.
Then the question you may ask is how do you follow Jesus after accepting Him as Lord? Jesus said;
“I am the way, the truth and the life..”(John 14:6).
The only way to follow Jesus who is the truth is by the Holy Spirit as written in the book of John;
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13)
As a believer, sometimes you may ask yourself why do I still struggle with sin? Or Why do I find it so difficult to overcome temptation?
The answer is simple, you’re still in the dark, you haven’t switch on your light-bulb.
The mind is your light-bulb. In order to switch on your light-bulb and keep your light on, you have to continually renew your mind as Paul wrote here;
“…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”(Romans 12:2)
When your mind is full of ungodly thoughts, you turned-off your switch and become an easy target for satan to torment you because he operates actively in the dark.
Nevertheless, satan still comes around even when your room is light up but he is completely powerless around you because the Spirit dwells in you.
The farthest satan can go is to scare you with his lying schemes so you can turn off your light because that is only when he can take over.
However, when your light is on, meaning your mind is filled with the things of the Spirit, the Spirit will give you wisdom in order to identify satan’s schemes and the power to overcome him.
Another question you may ask is, how do you use the switch to control the bulb/mind?
The tongue is your control switch. The book of proverb says;
“The tongue has the power of life(light) and death(darkness) and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NIV).
The control switch lies in your tongue, according to the book of Psalms;
“keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” Psalm 34:13
Always remember any time you tell lies, you just turn-off your light and created the atmosphere for satan to operate in your life because satan is the father of all lies (John 8:44). Also, James said;
“… For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.”(James 3:2)
Just as you were saved through confession with your mouth that Jesus is Lord(Roman 10:9), that same tongue still saves you from darkness to light. There is power in the tongue.
Therefore, when you profess godly words with your tongue your room light is turned on vice versa. As written in proverbs;
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)
How then do you keep your light on or how do you control your tongue to always say godly words?
The only way is through the word of God.
“Therefore, the word of God should never depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night.” (Joshua 1:8).
Prayer recharges the light-bulb
Just as the physical bulb needs to be recharged or connected to a power source to keep the light on, same also with spiritual bulb.
Electricity powers the physical bulb as prayer powers spiritual light-bulb.
The power of prayer can never be exaggerated in the life of a Christian. Christ while in the world, prayed often as written in Luke;
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:16 NIV)
Therefore as a Christ-follower, you need to pray always. Why?
Because as long as you are still in the world that is surrounded by darkness and living in a body(sinful nature), prayer is your only source of power that connects to God.
There’s a popular phrase that says “a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian” and that’s absolutely true (sorry I don’t have any bible verse for that phrase).
Nevertheless, the validity of that phrase is evident throughout the bible which contains multiple prayers by the people of God. Also, Jesus said in Matthew;
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Paul also wrote to the Thessalonians;
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
Be mindful not to be overwhelmed from praying continually, it’s doesn’t mean you always spend long hours praying for you to have power (that is to recharge your bulb).
Far be it, the Lord’s prayer(Matthew 6: 9–13) as taught by Jesus can power up your bulb. However, when there’s need to do extensive prayer, it will be led by the Spirit who strengthens you.
Some of you might still be wondering why the Holy Spirit needs your prayer, after all, He is all-powerful?
First and foremost, the Holy Spirit doesn’t need your prayer, and He is all-powerful because He is of God.
Your prayer is for you to be powerful, your prayer is to strengthen your weak body as Jesus said in Mathew 26:41 that the flesh is weak.
Prayer together with the word of God purifies your body and make it acceptable for the Spirit to dwell in it.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? (1 Corinthians 6:19).
As the word “Holy’ in the Holy Spirit implies that the Spirit can only dwell in holy places. Remember when you were born again, only your spirit became a new creation but your body still remained the same.
This means your body is inherently not holy even after you’re born again.
How then can the Holy Spirit dwell in such body?
The only way is to create an atmosphere of holiness in your body in order for the Spirit to dwell in it. And this can be done through regular prayer and the ‘word of God’.
Also, note here that the ‘word of God’ doesn’t mean just knowing the Word, it means doing what it says according to James;
“Be doers of the word, and not just hearers only…” (James 1:22)
In summary, I say to all believers, truly when you don’t pray means no power, no power means no Spirit, no Spirit means you are in the dark.
