God designed His people to be channels, pathways of delivery, garden hoses – for His love, grace, healing, deliverance, gifts, peace, hope. Paul announced, “Now all glory to God, who is able, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT) The Lord of the universe wants to exert His mighty power within us. Are you willing to become a garden hose for Jesus?
A garden hose can be an effective tool in the hands of a gardener, but a garden hose is ineffective without access to water. A garden hose not connected to a water source can’t do much. Without water following through the hose, the hose can never fulfill its purpose for existence. A garden hose is designed to be a channel, a pathway of delivery.
A hose without water is hollow and purposeless. Without association to water, the hose is still a hose, but the world around the hose it scarcely benefited. Plants and flowers are offered little aid. Grass withers. Children can’t play in the sprinkler. Water balloons aren’t wet. Outdoor windows aren’t cleaned. Buckets remain empty. Cars aren’t washed.
A Christ-follower is God’s hose meant to be filled with God’s super-abundance. In fact, God’s power is at work in and through our lives. The power within is resurrection power, power that raised Christ from the dead and enthroned Him in the heavenlies. The power within is supernatural, beyond the limits of what we could ever pray or describe or imagine. The power within is greater than any force of the enemy. Working within us is the infinite strength of God.
“It is neither talent, nor power, nor gifts that do the work of God, but it is that which lies within the power of the humblest; it is the simple, earnest life hid with Christ in God.” (F.W. Robertson)
Jesus Christ Himself is the infinite power within. “The Christ you have to deal with is not a weak person outside you, but a tremendous power inside you. He was ‘weak’ enough to be crucified, yes, but he lives now by the power of God. I am weak as he was weak, but I am strong enough to deal with you for I share his life by the power of God.” (2 Corinthians 13:3-4 Phillips)
Are you ready for God to use you? The power within is not limited to preachers or evangelists. No, God’s power is at work in every believer surrendered to His Lordship. I recall my dad’s admonishment, “Be a garden hose, a PVC pipe, a channel for God’s healing power. You don’t have to be fine china to be used by God. In fact, the Lord delights in using styrofoam cups, ordinary people just like us.” God wants to use you. God wants to use me.
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT)
Years ago, Richard C. Halverson (former Senate Chaplain) wrote: “You don’t need a five-foot pipeline to irrigate a garden. You can do it with a quarter inch hose…assuming adequate source – a connection between it and the hose – and an uncluttered channel. The only ability God requires is your availability! The resources are His and they are unlimited. God pours His resources through human channels willing to be used.”
Have you ever told a young child that “please” or “thank you” are magic words? Most of us have said something like that when are trying to train good manners and respectful habits. In God’s economy, the magic words, needed to release us as God’s garden hoses, are not “please” or “thank you.” The magic words are “Yes, Lord.” The words that bring the release we need and the release that the world around us needs are “Yes, Lord.” We can experience His power when we surrender in obedience to Him. Say it aloud. Let your ears hear your your confession. “Yes, Lord.” God’s power is within.
