LET THE SPIRIT OVERFLOW YOUR LIFE
SCRIPTURE:
“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. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 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)
OBSERVATION:
John mentioned that it was the last day and the greatest day of the festival that Jesus stood and spoke to the crowd. It must have been quite a festival. People loves to be entertain. People love festivities and parties. These events provides a temporary relief from the mundane, routine and sometimes boring existence for many.
Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scriptures has said, RIVERS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN THEM.” Every festivity then and even now, people love to drink and fill their appetite with many things that they think will bring them lasting satisfaction. Temporary materialistic things can never quenched what we desire. Jesus knew that when the festivities are over, people will long for more, and more and more.
Jesus invites the crowd saying; LET ANYONE who is thirsty, come to me and drink. Anyone is more specific than everyone. Jesus calls for anyone out of everyone because people have to make up their own choices as an individual. Anyone that recognized that the festivities are not enough, is someone who can make their own choices to respond to Christ invitation.
Not only that he INVITES anyone to come, he also said, WHOEVER comes, must come believing in him. This is the proper attitude of “anyone and whoever” comes, they must believe in Jesus. As a result of having faith and believing in Jesus, they will be REWARDED WITH OVERFLOWING rivers of water in them. Meaning, Jesus loves to overflow those who have their total trust in him. He give to whoever comes the Spirit when they come to him believing.
To believe in Jesus is to intentionally trust him with everything in our being. Jesus, wants to bless those who respond to his invitation with the Spirit who will cause their lives to overflow and keep on flowing without end.
The Bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. The word reward means it is a gift because I believe. I do not earn it. I have nothing to do with it. Jesus send an invitation, and whoever come, will enjoy all that will be in the Spirit fill festivities.
Human festivities leaves us wanting for more when it’s over. Spirit filled festivities continues to flow and overflow. Human festivities comes from the outside to keep a person’s heart happy. However, the Spirit filled festivities FLOWS FROM THE INSIDE and keeps on flowing manifesting itself outside in our lives.
APPLICATION:
It is always easier to go after temporary sense of satisfactions, but they don’t deal with the issues of the soul. Festivities always provide temporary satisfaction, but the Spirit will keep life overflowing. I am grateful that the Spirit of Christ lives in me. I will continue to submit to the Spirit and believe in him lead me to an overflowing life. I need the Spirit of Jesus daily to overflow my life and keep me from looking to temporal things to satisfy my soul.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me again and again to hunger after you and to come to you in faith. I am grateful that your Spirit lives in me. I pray that you overflow my life with your power, your holiness, and all that you want to do to me. Fill me afresh with your Spirit so I may not thirst for temporary things of life. I look to you to fill me daily with your Spirit. Thank you, Jesus, Amen!
