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Opinions of Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Columnist: Philip Otchere Darko

When the Charger is plugged but not connected to the Gadget

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By Philip Otchere Darko

I once had a very disappointing experience when after waking up with a 5% low battery signal on my phone, I decided to charge it before I dash out to catch a very important meeting. I hurriedly plugged the head part of my phone’s charger into the power socket and pressed on, the button on the socket, to begin charging my phone, which by this time was on my bed, the usual spot where I charge my phone from.

I moved straight to take my shower, dressed up and was ready to go out. Disconnecting my phone from its charger was the last thing to be done before leaving the room to allow it some time to charge more. I finally proceeded to disconnect my phone’s charger from the phone only to be slapped in the face with disappointment that I had dutifully plugged in the head part of the phone’s charger into the power socket but had forgotten to connect the tail part of the charger into the phone. Ohhh! I was really disappointed as my phone had totally gone off. Probably you may have had a similar experience or not.

Do you know that the above experience I have recounted describes the current state of some Christians? Do you know that some Christians move around busily thinking they are “charging” whereas in actual fact their “chargers” are not even connected to their “phones”?

Do you know that the power source light from the socket can be red on, with the head part of the charger connected, and yet the phone will not be charging?

WOW!!! These are thought-provoking rhetorical questions. Do you know that you can be an Apostle/Prophet/Bishop/Pastor/Elder/Deacon/Deaconess/Catechist/Brother/Sister and still not be connected to God?

Do you know that you can be leading very powerful prayers, leading awesome praises and worship, even prophesying and doing miracles and still not be connected to God?

Do you know that you can be the most committed member in the church and still not be connected to God? Do you know that you can be giving the fattest of offerings and still not be connected to God? You may be closest to the “man of God” and not even near to the “God of the man”.

The Holy scripture says in Ephesians 1:13 that: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”

This quotation proves that once a person repents and is saved, he/she automatically gets connected to a “POWER HOUSE” called the HOLY SPIRIT which the Bible describes as a Seal. This “Power House” serves as the believer’s connection with God and his/her source of strength, power and anointing.

However, like a phone, after whatsapping, tweeting, taking selfies, making and receiving calls, the phone’s battery naturally runs low. That is why a charger is provided along with the phone upon purchase because the manufacturer knows the user will need it. It is for this same reason that the Bible reminds us in Ephesians 5:18 not to “be drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit. “Be filled” suggests a continuous constant activity and not a one-time activity. As Christians, we need to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit till we get drunk through daily devotion.

A phone will only charge if both the head and the tail part of the charger are connected to the power socket and the phone respectively. It is not enough that we are officially “OGYACIOUS”. It is not enough that we are outwardly powerful and busy for God. It is not enough that we are manifestly serving and committed to the things of God.

WE MUST CONSCIOUSLY ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY CONNECTED FULLY. The risk of ignoring the need to charge is that, the phone will suddenly and unexpectedly go off. This is dangerous and serious. As a Christian, if you continue to take cover under your positive public image to the neglect of your spiritual connection with God, you will suddenly drop dead.

Jesus puts this admonishing in a much conclusive way in John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

We are encouraged to serve and remain committed to God in his vineyard, use our gifts through leading of prayers, praises, worship, prophesying, giving BUT REMEMBER TO STAY CONNECTED AND STAY ACTUALLY CONNECTED!!!