CHAPTER 2

The Need For Energy And Power

Americans are greatly dependent upon energy. What would modern TRANSPORTATION be like without energy? How would INDUSTRY function without energy? How could Northerners heat their homes in the winner apart from energy? How could Southerners cool their homes in the winter apart from energy? What are some of the ways that we DEPEND upon energy (especially OIL) every day?
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In 1859 in the town of Titusville, Pennsylvania, Edwin Drake struck oil and the great oil rush began. Ever since then men have been seeking this "black gold." In the days of George Washington men did not lose any sleep worrying about petroleum! Today oil is a major concern. What would life be like if we suddenly were without oil and the products which are made from oil?

There was a time (not too many years ago) when our nation was exporting oil to other countries! Vie had oil and oil to spare! Later things began to change. In 1960, 20 percent of America’s oil came from abroad. In 1980 about half the oil was supplied by foreign sources. Most of this imported oil comes from Arab countries in the Middle East. Thus our nation has become more and more dependent upon foreign oil, especially that oil which comes from the politically unstable Middle East. If these foreign countries should decide to cut off their supply of oil (as was done during the oil embargo of 1973-1974), then our nation would be seriously choked! About S million barrels of foreign oil are consumed by the American economy EVERY DAY. If only 1 percent of our foreign oil supply were to be cut off, this would still mean that we would lose about 80,000 barrels of foreign oil EVERY DAY! Another problem is that foreign oil is by no means cheap!

Is Our Nation Running Out Of Energy?

Many people are shocked to learn that America is loaded with energy! To believe that we are fast running out of fuel is as silly as believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! The fuel is there in abundance. All we need to do is go out and get it!

Concerning oil, Thomas B. Medders, Jr., president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, told a Senate committee in 1972:

Oil can also be recovered from what is called "oil shale." Scattered around the world are sedimentary basins in which porous rock has absorbed an oily substance called "kerogen." When the rock is heated, the kerogen flows out and is subsequently refined to make petroleum fuels of all kinds. The world’s largest deposit of this oil-soaked rock–oil shale–is in the western United States (more than a trillion barrels of oil!). In addition to oil shale, the Lord has provided much lake-bottom sediment which is soaked with oil. These deposits are called "tar sands." North America’s largest tar sands deposits are in Alberta, Canada, but they are also found in the western U.S., especially in Utah (ultimate reserves in Utah have been estimated at nearly 28 billion barrels of oil).

Petroleum is not the only source of fuel. America has been especially blessed with COAL. (we are the world’s second largest producer of coal). According to various estimates, we have from 400 to 600 year & supply based on the present rate of consumption (quite a long time considering that 600 years ago America was still waiting to be discovered!). Consider also the vast potential of nuclear energy (our nation has millions of tons of uranium ore available). As long as the sun continues to burn we have another unending source of energy, although at present solar energy is expensive and not practical on a large scale. Other sources of energy may be developed and discovered in the years ahead.

Yes, this nation is loaded with energy! A spokesman for United Technologies in the Energy Users News said this: "There is no shortage of energy resources available and promised. There are decades of oil and gas remaining and centuries of coal; there are more barrels of oil shale than the Arabs have oil; there are more uranium resources, with or without the recycling and waste recuperation process known as breeding, than we can use up in the next two centuries; and there are promises of almost infinite resources available from solar and fusion technologies."

If we have all these resources and all this energy, then WHY IS TNERE SUCH A PROBLEM? If there is an abundance of fuel in this country then why is there not always an abundance of fuel at this country’s gas stations? Why are we so dependent on foreign oil, if we are so rich with oil at home?

The real problem is not a shortage of fuel. The real problem is that men have not taken advantage of the rich supply of energy that is available. The energy crisis is a man-made crisis. Man has failed to make use of the rich resources God has provided in this nation. Men (especially those who are leaders in government) have discouraged and hindered the development and use of our nation’s available energy. The problem is not that America is running out of energy. The problem is that we are in many ways like the aged silver miner who had spent all his life searching for silver in the mountains of the Old West. The story is told that when he died, the handful of people who came to bury him found in his possessions a note instructing them to bury him under his cabin. As the spadesful of earth were turned over a lustrous gray material began to appear. It was the famous Comstock Silver Vein, the richest in California history. The silver was there! It was available! The silver miner never made use of the wealth that was right under his cabin!

There are many ways that the men of our government have discouraged and hindered us from getting the wealth of energy which can be found right here at home. Here are a few of the things our leaders in government have done:

1. Banned off-shore drilling which could provide access to an abundance of petroleum.
2. Restricted domestic drilling (drilling here in the u.s.), especially on government owned land (as in Alaska, for example).
3. Outlawed the use of much coal and some fuel oils because their sulfur content is too high and considered a pollution problem.
4. Hindered the development of nuclear power plants through legislation and excessive government regulation.
5. Discouraged the building of refineries through excessive regulations and environmental restrictions. Petroleum or crude oil must be refined before it can be used in cars (as gasoline) and for other purposes. From 1974-1979 only one major refinery was built in the U.S.
6. Slowed down the entire field of energy in the name of "the environment" ("don’t interfere with scenic wonders"; "don’t endanger wild animals" "don’t pollute the air  don’t use dirty coal" "don’t destroy the world by a nuclear accident").
7. ETC.

The Spiritual Energy Crisis

In Matthew 17:15-16, the Lord’s disciples seemed to have a power shortage! What one word explains what the problem was (Matthew 17:19-20)? _________________
Compare Luke 9:42-43 which speaks of the same incident.

Once in the town of Nazareth (the Lord’s hometown–Matthew 13:54-56) there was a POWER SHORTAGE (see Matthew 13:58). The Son of God was unable to perform many miracles (see Mark 6:5). What was the problem (Mark 6:6; Matthew 13:58)? _______________________________________________________________

Does God have all the necessary power to save a sinner (Hebrews 7:25)? ________
The gospel, according to Romans 1:16, is the _________________ of God unto S___________. If God has POWEB to SAVE, then why are so many people UNSAVED? Answer TRUE or FALSE:

(TRUE or FALSE)

1. _________Because God is unwilling to save them (1 Timothy 2:3-14)
2. _________Because Christ did not die for them (1 Timothy 2:6 Hebrews 2:9)
3. _________Because men are unwilling to come to Christ and avail themselves of His saving power (Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 3:4).

According to Romans 1:16. God’s power to save is only given to those who _______.

Is there a power shortage when it comes to God’s power to deliver, redeem and save (Isaiah 50:2: 59:1)? __________ Does the problem lie with God or with man (Isaiah 59:2)? _________________

When a light bulb does not work, where is the problem? Do we usually conclude that something is wrong with the power source (the electrical generating plant)? _____ Usually the POWER is there, but something is preventing us from using it (the switch is OFF the bulb is defective a power line is down, etc.). Why do so many people walk IN DARKNESS, not having the light and power that comes from the Lord (John 8:12)? ______________________________.

Does God have the power and authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-10)? ______ Why do so few people actually have the forgiveness of sins? What must a sinner do to tap into this power (Acts 10:43–"remission" means "forgiveness")? ____________________

Consider 2 Corinthians 9:8. Why are there many Christians who are not "abounding" in good works as they know they should be? Read Hebrews 13:21. Why do believers often do things that are not pleasing to the Lord? Think about Ephesians 6:10. Why are we at times so weak and powerless? Why are we sometimes defeated and discouraged? Is God’s power AVAILABLE to the child of God (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:19; 3:20 Colossians 1:29)? ________

Are you making full USE of this power? Are you tapping into it? Are you letting God do His work in you (Philippians 2:13)? Are you QUENCHING (hindering, preventing, short-circuiting, putting out the fire of His Spirit) His mighty power (1 Thessalonians 5:19)? Are you allowing the Almighty to provide the LIGHT and POWER in your life?

God Is willing. God is able. Are you willing to let Him be Almighty God in your life?

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