LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Part 40).
John 7. Verses 37-39 read:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Yesterday, we started discussions on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Today, we want to consider the means by which we get filled. The measure of a man’s filling by the Holy Spirit determines the measure to which the Spirit’s influence would manifest in his life. In line with the heavenly program, the dispensation of Jesus was followed by the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Whereas Jesus came to showcase the heavenly life to humanity, the Holy Spirit came to replicate this life through as many as would believe in Jesus Christ. Thus, by the Spirit, many sons of the calibre of Christ manifest to advance the course of God on earth. Refer to Romans 8 verse 19.
According to today’s text, there was a feast of the Jews in Jerusalem and Jesus was present. On the last day, that is, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” This occurrence had a prophetic connotation.
- The last day, that is, the great day of the feast, refers to the dispensation of the outpouring of the Spirit and the resultant renewal and refreshing it will bring to the world. It is a season for a feast in the Holy Spirit, which is characterised by massive salvation of souls, awakenings, revivals, and restorations across the nations of the earth.
- The call of Jesus to the thirsty refers to God’s call on men to partake of the Holy Spirit within the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Men must be ready to receive what God has to offer. Thirst is a must for any man who will receive the filling of the Spirit. It is the drawing force to the water of the Spirit, which refreshes and revives.
- Jesus calls on men to come to him and drink because he is the sole baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that he baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. Refer to Luke 3 verse 16.
Believing in Jesus Christ and having a craving or thirst for his presence positions a man to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Out of the filling that the man receives, he becomes a giver of the Spirit to others. Scripture says that out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. In other words, out of his spirit will flow life-giving forces. Beloved, we can only give out what we have. Those who are full of the Spirit can impart the Spirit to others.
SHALOM 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏