PENTECOST – May 31, 2020 – John 7:37-39
“BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from John 7. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- By nature, human beings are completely oblivious to the reality, the presence, and the “BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT.” We are infatuated with the things that are seen, things that can be touched, things that bring us pleasure and enjoyment. It is immediately sensible to us to avoid anything that brings discomfort to us, to get whatever we think we need, and to get as much as we can of what indulges our desires and lusts.
- This is what God is up against as He tries to call us back to Himself, to change our innate selfishness, greed, and ethical disfunction. God created mankind in His image, but this was lost in man’s fall into sin. God is love, therefore His image is love. This is what He seeks to restore us to. And while many people are unable to understand true love, most people appreciate experiencing true and genuine love.
- God is eager to heal us, but how is He to get our attention? When He provides good things to people they ignore the Giver. When He withholds good things from us, or allows bad things to come into our lives, we get angry with Him and blame Him.
- So His Spirit has quite a challenge getting us to the point at which we are “thirsty” for the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus promises to those who come to Him. But it is certain that:
I. Only Those Who Are Thirsty For Spiritual Renewal And Eternal Life Will Seek The Blessings Of The Spirit
Text: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
Statement: So how is it that we come to be thirsty? When we recognize the futility in our lives. When we recognize the shallowness and meaninglessness of simply filling ourselves. When we see and mourn the evil all around us, and the evil within us as well. When we see that death appears to rule over all things, and even all people. When we desire forgiveness. When we desire to know the One Who is in charge. When we want deeper wisdom, understanding, comfort, and courage!
Application: When this happens Jesus invites us to come to Him. He promises to receive us, to hear us, to heal us, to restore us to proper relationship with God. He says:
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” [Matt. 11:28-30]
“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” [John 6:37]
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” [John 6:35]
So by all means, let us go to Him and learn of Him, and receive His gentle healing. It is Jesus will that:
II. We Come To Him To Receive Refreshment And Life With The Holy Spirit – By Faith
Text: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit.”
Statement: Our life, without God’s forgiveness, without the assurance of God’s love, is a dry, arid, and desert place. Many people don’t even realize this – they just keep trying to find pleasure, satisfaction, or entertainment in the temporal and inferior things of this world. They are ignorant of the prayer of Saint Augustine: “Our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”
Application: Jesus said it clearly:
John 6:53-57 “ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on Me, he also will live because of Me.’”
This is why we come to Jesus, and this is what He seeks to give us! So let us come to Him and drink! Let us believe in Him! For:
III. Those Who Receive The Holy Spirit, Believers, Have Him In Abundance, So That He Flows Out From Us To Others
Text: “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Statement: Whoever believes, Jesus asserts! The Holy Spirit poured into our hearts until they overflow – and the Spirit flows out of us like “rivers of living water.” Blessed abundantly with peace, comfort, joy, and the power of the Holy Spirit! Blessed abundantly so that we bring blessings to others – the same refreshing peace and joy that Jesus gives to us.
Application: It is our privilege, and should be our greatest pleasure, to invite others to come with us to Jesus! If we can, we can help others see that our deepest thirst is for God, our loving heavenly Father, and His salvation in Christ Jesus. We can help them see that nothing but Jesus can resolve our restlessness and thirst. And Jesus will surely fulfill His promise to them as well.
Conclusion: Thanks and praise be to God that He has enabled us to recognize the nature of our thirstiness, and that He eagerly gives us all that we need for refreshment, for eternal life, for comfort, peace, and joy!
Thank God that He not only invites us to come to Him, but leads and guides us to His blessings. Jesus has now been glorified. We have been given the Holy Spirit that we may have life, and have it abundantly. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.