JOHN 7: 37-53
Friday, 26 May 2023
“But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive...” -John 7:39
The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Godhead, occupies a prominent place in the Bible, in the Church and in the life of every believer of Jesus Christ. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, in the first chapter Vs.2 it is written “… and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of waters.” Also in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, in the last chapter it is written, ‘“The Spirit and the bride say, “come.”’(Rev.22:17). Thus the prominence of the Holy Spirit from beginning to the end.
Our key verse points to the presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer. A person who by faith gives his life to Christ becomes born-again and from then on, the Holy Spirit resides in him (ref. John 3). Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman of the living water that He would give: “Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty. The water that I will give him will become in him a well of life that lasts forever.”(John 4:14 NLV).Here again He speaks in a similar manner: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (v.38). The Spirit of God is the living water within the believer that satisfies him and flows out of his life reaching others.
The first disciples experienced the power of the Holy Spirit and His working in their lives as testified by Peter in Acts 2:33: “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” We see how the disciples were empowered by the Spirit to preach, teach, heal and the outpouring of the Spirit in their lives helped them lead lives pleasing to God and attracting others to Christ which resulted in the birth of the first church (Acts 4). It was even evident in their prayer: “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 4:31).
Later in the Book of Acts we see how the disciples laid hands on those who believed that they would receive the Holy Spirit and be filled (Acts 9:17; 13:52; 19:1-7). Without the help of the Holy Spirit, a believer cannot live a victorious Christian life as the world we live in constantly tries to war against our spirit. Romans 8:13 & 14: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” To be led by the Spirit we have to see if our lives are aligned with God’s Word, heeding to His corrections and giving ourselves in prayer whereby the Holy Spirit helps us: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”(Romans 8:26, 27). When we pray in the Spirit, we understand God’s will to walk in it.
Understanding the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ invitation is just as relevant today as He said it then: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” (v.37). May the river of the Holy Spirit satisfy our need and make us whole and may it be poured into the lives of others that they too may thirst for this living water!
To Act on: “…..but be filled with the Spirit…” (Ephesians 5:18)
Listen: 'Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God'