Recently, God has been waking me up in the middle of the night. Sometimes it’s to pray. Other times, He just wants to talk to me. The other night at 4:00am I was awakened and the Holy Spirit impressed on me a metaphor.

I pictured myself sitting on a bench at a gas station, coffee in hand, and eating a breakfast sandwich. As I sat there enjoying my breakfast, I watched people come and go, in and out of the store and getting gas. As I imagined this, the Holy Spirit began speaking to me about the scene and how it relates to us, the church.

First is the gas refinery. The Holy Spirit impressed on me that the gas refinery is heaven. This is where God decided on you and me. He formed us in this thoughts and chose to create us to fulfill certain purposes for His kingdom. He knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5) and He knew the plans he had for us (Jeremiah 29:11). It is in heaven that he orchestrated His purposes and plans for His kingdom, and He holds all the power. love, grace, strength, mercy, wisdom, etc to see His plans come to fruition.

The tanker truck takes the gas from the refinery to the gas station providing the gas station with fuel for its patrons. Our spiritual tanker truck is the Holy Spirit, who brings the power, love, grace, strength, mercy, wisdom, etc of God from heaven to His church on earth, providing the spiritual fuel for His people.

The Holy Spirit empties Himself into the church, allowing each of us to fill up with as much of Him as we want or until we are full to overflowing and ready for our journey. How much we desire to fill up with the Holy Spirit is like choosing which grade of octane of gas to put in our car. The Holy Spirit explained this in more detail.

Envision this gas station with me. The cars coming in and out, filling up with gas are us. First there was Harley, fast and furious, loud and vibrating in the overhang. He needs the energy for the purpose God has called him to for His glory. Harley tells the Holy Spirit, “Fill me up with your presence. Give me the 91 plus octane.” Once filled, he roars out of the station, ready to fulfill his purpose.

Next to drive up to the pump is Honda. She shows up every week to be filled up with the Holy Spirit. She is not flashy or loud, and there are plenty of other Hondas filling up around her. She is very dependable and dedicated and able to be used for many things for God. Simply put, she is a servant in God’s kingdom. She asks the Holy Spirit to fill her, and chooses the 87 octane. She doesn’t think she needs all the energy the high octane would provide.

Next we see Dodge Ram drive up to the pump. He is big and strong, with a 6.7 liter turbo diesel engine that’s been worked on to provide extra horsepower. He is white and has been customized with a lift and big tires with chrome rims. Ram is hand-built by God. He carries gifts of the Spirit and holy power. He is unstoppable in God’s kingdom. Able to drive through any terrain, he goes wherever God leads without hesitation. A person with this much Jesus in them sees the unwalkable or undriveable as a leap of faith. Ram is like David in the Bible, the teenage boy who was the only one willing to fight and defeat Goliath the giant. Everyone else shrunk back. Ram can’t function on regular gas. He needs diesel to accomplish what he’s made for.

There are so many more cars we could talk about – sports cars, electric cars, race cars, and more. But my question to you is this: What octane are you putting in your vehicle for God’s kingdom?

We all choose our octane level. We choose how much of the Holy Spirit we want. A Honda can run on 87 or 91 plus. It functions well on 87 but performs better and with more ease with 91 plus. How much of Him do you want?

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” I encourage you to press in. Desire all that He has for you. Desire to run with the horses. Desire more of the Holy Spirit so you can accomplish all that He has purposed for you.

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Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…

~ Jeremiah 1:5

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.”

~ Jeremiah 29:11

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

~ Luke 11:13

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 1:6