Sermon on 2 October 2022 by Ps Paul
John 7:37-39 - “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”
The rivers of living water is in us.
1. The rivers of living water is the Holy Spirit
John 7:39 - “(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”
We have already received His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God Himself. Before Jesus gave the Great Commission, he quoted Matthew 8:19. In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given by God to us.
Luke 11:13 - “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.””
Luke 24:49 - ““And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.””
2 Corinthians 5:5 - “God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:13 - “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”
2. The Holy Spirit is our Helper
The Holy Spirit is our helper in life. It gives us new life, guides our lives, make us holy, fills us with God’s love, helps us in our weakness and helps us to pray. It helps us to testify about Jesus, empowers us to do good and perform miracles. We can come to the Father through the Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
John 14:26 - “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
3. The Holy Spirit is in Us
The Holy Spirit is in us. We receive the Holy Spirit when we believe, repent and baptise. The Holy Spirit lives in us and so is His power.
1 John 2:27 - “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
Some of us have been Christians for many years but didn’t realise the Holy Spirit is in us. Let the word of God guide us.
Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
God identifies us as His own when we have the Holy Spirit. It is a sign that we belong to Him.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - “It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.”
4. Let us live pleasing to the Holy Spirit
Walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Controlled by Holy Spirit vs dominated by sinful nature).
Galatians 5:25 - “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Proverbs 17:22 - “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
When we have a merry and cheerful heart, we are connecting to God directly that He is our source of strength.
Don’t grieve nor stifle the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Comments