"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (John 7:37-39)
Thirst is universal, but we must recognize that we need to quench it with the living water through believing in Jesus. Just as the piece of wood in Exodus 15:23-25 was thrown into the bitter waters of Marah to make them sweet and fit to drink, it is the cross of Christ that turns the bitterness of our sin to the sweetness of eternal life (1 Corinth 10:4).
I feel like I have been struggling through the desert; but, this is a good reminder that through the Holy Spirit, I can have the power to endure and keep going.
22-Jul: As my pastor continued the series, he quoted St Augustine: "You have made us for Yourself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." This thirst-quenching source in the form of the Holy Spirit is sent to us:
- As a Permanent inner presence (a Parakletos or Advocate, like a soldier who fights with you back-to-back) - John 14:16-17
- For Discernment (so that we can discern the Truth in the midst of the bombardment of lies we are faced with in this world) - John 14:26; 1 Corinth 2:12-14
- To help us Testify - John 15:26
- To Convict (of sin - biggest is that of unbelief; of righteousness - Jesus is the standard; and of judgment that will be coming) or our sin grieves the Holy Spirit - John 16:7-11
- To Guide (our internal GPS - God Positioning System; Gui-DANCE where the Holy Spirit leads and we follow, like in a dance) - John 16:13
- As a Guarantee (a seal, like on a letter as evidence that God will deliver on His Promises) - Eph 1:13-14
- To Embolden (just as the disciples gain boldness after Pentecost) - Acts 1:8
Have we released the power of the Holy Spirit (the living water within us), or do we quench it?
29-Jul: Christians live where two internal "rivers" collide (Romans 7:18-25), and the struggle between the Spirit and the Sinful Nature is a normal part of the Christian life; but walking in the Holy Spirit gives us power over the flesh (Gal 5:16-18). As seen in Gal 5:19-21, there are three main categories of sin: sexual, religious, and relational. However, as we struggle, and have victory through the Spirit, it can produce many benefits.
8-Aug: Even though we believe and are saved, some may not have accessed the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us to live a holy life in obedience to Him. And the evidence of that is through the fruit (Gal 5:22-24) - one fruit, many flavors: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (sunlight vs lightning), and self-control (even in saying "no" to good so the BEST can be done). When we live by the Spirit, we don't need to LAW - we obey because of our new nature.
13-Aug: This weekend, the message was on spiritual gifts - a topic I've always felt was essential for the effective functioning of the Church Body.
20-Aug: We often go through the desert of life reaching for mirages which never really quench our thirst. In Jeremiah 2:13, it says: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water". The people of Israel, similarly, turned away from the source of Living Water to broken cisterns.
Instead, we should seek to be:
28-Aug: My pastor concluded the series on the Holy Spirit with a message on the powerful leading of the Holy Spirit. The picture is one of taking a child by the hand. The Spirit's leading is a validating sign of a believer's authenticity (Rom 8:14); is consistent w/the Word (1 Corinth 2:12-15); and is the fruit of a life of prayer (Col 1:19). So, we cannot be led by the Spirit w/o being a praying Christian.
29-Jul: Christians live where two internal "rivers" collide (Romans 7:18-25), and the struggle between the Spirit and the Sinful Nature is a normal part of the Christian life; but walking in the Holy Spirit gives us power over the flesh (Gal 5:16-18). As seen in Gal 5:19-21, there are three main categories of sin: sexual, religious, and relational. However, as we struggle, and have victory through the Spirit, it can produce many benefits.
8-Aug: Even though we believe and are saved, some may not have accessed the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us to live a holy life in obedience to Him. And the evidence of that is through the fruit (Gal 5:22-24) - one fruit, many flavors: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (sunlight vs lightning), and self-control (even in saying "no" to good so the BEST can be done). When we live by the Spirit, we don't need to LAW - we obey because of our new nature.
13-Aug: This weekend, the message was on spiritual gifts - a topic I've always felt was essential for the effective functioning of the Church Body.
20-Aug: We often go through the desert of life reaching for mirages which never really quench our thirst. In Jeremiah 2:13, it says: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water". The people of Israel, similarly, turned away from the source of Living Water to broken cisterns.
Instead, we should seek to be:
- Filled with the Holy Spirit - Eph 5:18-20 - to be under the control of the Spirit (different from being indwelt (Rom 8:9)); being filled is to stay close to the Source and exhibiting the evidence of it
- Anointed with the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:38 - to minister with impact by God's Power; power over Satan by the authority of Christ; and having the power of His Presence
28-Aug: My pastor concluded the series on the Holy Spirit with a message on the powerful leading of the Holy Spirit. The picture is one of taking a child by the hand. The Spirit's leading is a validating sign of a believer's authenticity (Rom 8:14); is consistent w/the Word (1 Corinth 2:12-15); and is the fruit of a life of prayer (Col 1:19). So, we cannot be led by the Spirit w/o being a praying Christian.
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