The modern thing is to pump iron, get a super body and develop masses of muscles!  Some Christians are like this and pump spiritual iron.   The problem is that often their experience is shallow and they give up when difficult times come their way, and then they blow out like leaky tires.

They are just like this film canister.  (Use a prepared capsule with a teaspoonful of Baking Soda in it).  It will go off pop when I add some acid to it.  (Add a teaspoonful of Vinegar and quickly close the lid and wait for the bang).  People like this just make a loud bang and then it's all over.

God doesn't wants us to be like this.  He wants us to have a firm foundation on which Jesus can build us into solid Christians.  He wants us to have a life that is full of power.  One that can stand when hard times come, and one that trusts Jesus all our lives.

This glass represents our lives.  I am going to clean it with a dish cloth.  (Wipe the tall glass out with a dish cloth).  It looks clean, but I have a problem.  No matter how hard I try, I can never make my life be good enough for God.  God said that all our goodness is like filthy rags in His sight.  We can't do anything that would earn us a place in Heaven and eternal life.

What I need to do is to bow my head and pray.  I need to ask Jesus to forgive me for all the bad things that I have done and to make me clean inside.  Now my heart is clean and ready to receive Jesus.  My glass is also ready to receive Jesus as my Saviour, so I'll place it into this baking dish.  (Place the glass in an aluminium dish).

Now let's add some clean white powder into it.  (Add a dessert spoonful of Baking Soda to glass).  This represents Jesus coming to live in our hearts, taking all the sin out of our lives and making us into God's children.

Now I'm going to add some green liquid to the glass.  (Add a dessert spoonful of green dish washing liquid).  This represents us starting to grow as Christians.  We grow by praying and reading the Bible, by going to Children's Church or Sunday School to learn more about Jesus and by making Christian friends who can encourage and help us, especially when we feel down.

Jesus said in John 4:10 that we should ask Him to give us Living Water.   He said in verse 14 that whoever drinks this water will never thirst.   This water is the Holy Spirit that fill our lives, changing us into the kind of person that Jesus wants us to be.  (Hold up the bottle containing about 100 ml of clear Vinegar).

The Holy Spirit also produces joy, peace and love which will bubble out of us to bless those round about us.  Let me pour this "water" into the glass and see what happens.  (Add the Vinegar to the glass).   Look, it's bubbling up and now it's overflowing.  This is just like the Holy Spirit filling our lives to overflowing with power and joy!

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:8 that even though we have not seen Jesus:

"You love Him and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him, and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."

God plants this joy deep in our hearts and it lasts as it is the "Joy of the Lord" and not our own.  Even when we go through hard trials, it gives us the assurance that God is with us and knows just how to meet our every need.

Do you want to be a strong Christian?  Then ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and with power, so that you will not only grow, but you will be able to serve God in the way that He wants you to.  Ask God to fill you now!

 

The fizz is produced by Baking Soda and Vinegar reacting to produce Carbon Dioxide gas.  The pressure of this gas pops the lid off the film capsule.  The gas volume of gas trapped in the green foam is greater than the volume of the glass, so some it spills over.

God bless!