Basic science teaches us that some things conduct electricity and some don't. Among those that conduct electricity best are metals. A fact of all of these conductors, is that the purer the metal is, the better it conducts. Impurities in these metals create "resistance" and reduce the flow of electricity through them. These traits are replicated in us in terms of being conductors, or conduits if you will, of the Power of the Holy Spirit through us.
There are certain impurities that we are all aware of that create resistance to the Holy Spirit, but there may well be impurities that we're not aware of. I've spent most of my life wondering why we don't see more of God's people exercising Christs words "greater things than these will you do in my name". We all know of the things to which He was referring. He had performed many healings and miracles that brought glory and fame to our Father and moved men to believe in great numbers. I'm not proposing that these things don't happen today or that there are not people fulfilling Christ's prophetic words. But given the number of children that our Father has, and the availability of the Holy Spirit to those who honestly seek it, why don't we see His glory and power much more prevalently in this world than we do? I've sought the Lord regarding this question on many occasions and believe firmly that I know the answer by His grace.
Although the many elements of sin have existed throughout the time man has walked the earth, the distortion, deception and distractions of the enemy have never been as widely and continually broadcast into the hearts and minds of men as they are now. He's been perfecting his craft for the multitude of centuries that he's had opportunity and with men's advancing media technology and its availability to nearly everyone, the airwaves are constantly thick with his spewing filth. Having had the opportunity from childhood to have television and radio available to me, I've watched the progression over the years with growing surprise and most often with disdain. It started with simple little things, little nuances and fleeting references to things that people normally didn't talk about publicly. It grew from seemingly innocent things over the years to become borderline pornography at times. Every venue of the enemies arsenal is available today to anyone that wants it and it's constantly broadcast in the faces of those who don't. You would have a hard time trying to watch anything on television these days without some form of sin being pumped into it. Even if you do find a good program, you have to be careful about the commercials. You never know what they're going to show next. Garbage is available in all forms of media in abundance. TV, radio, print and the internet are full of it. I shudder to think how many times every one of the ten commandments are represented to be broken on TV in an hour.
We're constantly bombarded with it as we access these forums. Please understand that I'm not advocating that we completely disconnect from the world. It would be hard to cast Godly votes in an effort to control the function of our government for example if we didn't know what was going on in the world around us. I do think we have an obligation and a duty to be aware. But do we really understand that even though we "ignore the gore", the garbage that gets blasted into our eyes and ears, we still see it and hear it. In a sense, we've spiritually consumed it. We ate it and swallowed it right down. Spiritually, it's every bit as true, if not more so, that "you are what you eat" as it is physically. Some of us are constantly being poisoned by things that we've become desensitized to and it's not an accident! When we allow this we're walking right into the enemies plan to keep us minimized spiritually. If he can keep us minimized by pumping impurities at us, then we can't become nearly as much of a threat to his cause and purpose.
I'd like to propose a new spin on the meaning of the phrase "societal barriers". One thing is certain fact: our God has not changed. Neither have His values. But society has changed dramaticly and we all know how much society's values have changed. I'm convinced that our "society" has become a "barrier" to the Holy Spirit of The Living God in us. Over the years, the unthinkable has become so commonplace in society and in most cases even acceptable. Sometimes it's even touted as "progress". But with our heavenly Father, nothing has changed. He spoke long ago "your ways are not my ways and your thoughts are not my thoughts". Is it possible that this is even true of us as we desperately and sincerely strive to draw nearer to our Lord? Is it possible that there have even been things handed down generationally as acceptable that are in conflict with the thinking of our God? Could there be anything in us that we've not recognized that would pose "resistance" or as a "barrier" to the Holy Spirit flowing through us freely to reveal the glory of our Lord? Is our perspective His perspective? Do we see and think like He does in all things? Have our ways truly become His ways?
I think it's a good idea for all of us to continually ask ourselves these questions, but an even better idea to ask Him. For myself, these questions have started me on a personal quest, a spiritual campaign if you will. One of prayer seeking His revelation and the removal of all of these barriers. Including the ones that I'm not aware of. I know my metal needs refining constantly to become and then remain the conduit of His spirit that He intended. The one that my heart desperately desires to be for His glory. Personally, my constant prayer has become, "Lord teach me your ways. Teach me to think like you do. Give me eyes to see the imperfections in my thinking, values and beliefs that are barriers to your spirit. Remove them from me in your mercy and grace to me that I may become the servant your heart desires."
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