Sunday July 15, 2007

The Refreshing Work of the Holy Spirit
John 7:37-39

I. Introduction

Opening Joke (not related to the message)

According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.

Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night.

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are teachers, and then there are educators . . .

Often when we are seeking to describe something or someone we will make a comparison to something that is familiar.

For example, we might say, “she reminds me of a beautiful flower” or “he has the strength of an ox.”

We make such comparisons to help others get a better picture of the person we are discussing.

God does this same kind of thing with the Holy Spirit. To help us better understand His nature, the Bible compares the Holy Spirit to several familiar things which help us to know who He is.

This week, let’s take a look at one symbol Scripture uses to teach us about the Holy Spirit.

II. Symbols of the Spirit

A. Water

“On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'’ 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39, NRSV)

Turn in your Bibles to John 4:13 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14, NRSV)

What is so significant about water?

1. Water is essential to life.

Up to 70% of your body consists of water.

Beside oxygen, you need water more than anything else to survive.

While someone may last as long as 70-80 days without food, most people will die after only five days without water.

2. Water transforms whatever it touches.

I have driven many times through central California. Mile after mile you see abounding crops of grapes, vegetables, and
fruit orchards. What you may not realize is that you are driving through a desert.

It has been transformed into lush and fruitful farmland because of water.

The Holy Spirit is not an addendum to your faith or an option that you can have if you choose to. The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to your life.

Without Him you will die spiritually and you will never be free from your emotional turmoil and bondage to addictions.

Also, when that water gushes up out of your life, it will transform others. Those who are thirsty will come looking
for a drink.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we have something to give to those around us.

3. Water cleanses

Speaking physically, water is essential for cleansing the toxins out of your body.

Many people suffer all kinds of illnesses and diseases simply because they do not drink enough water.

We may drink lots of colas, coffee and other drinks, but often they add to the toxins in our bodies, and they certainly do not cleanse us.

Spiritually speaking we tend to do the same thing. We drink from the well of godless TV programs, movies and music and wonder why we are so sick spiritually.

We drink from the well of our cultural influences that say sex before marriage is no big deal, the more things I have the happier I will be, or if I am unhappy it must be the fault of my circumstances or the people I am with.

We drink and we drink, but we are never satisfied.

We can even drink from the well of religion, following all the rules and serving in the church and still find ourselves
feeling sick.

What do the Scriptures say?

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, NRSV)

Turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 10:21 – “…since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:21-23, NRSV)

We are unable to cleanse ourselves and experience the wellness we seek apart from our relationship with God and the fullness of the Spirit.

Let the Holy Spirit cleanse your heart of all its guilt and shame and your mind from all the poisonous thoughts that seek to rob you of the love, joy and peace promised you by the Spirit.

4. Water is essential to fruitfulness

Remember what water does to the desert? It makes the dry barren places fruitful!

“For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my
Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. 4 They will thrive like watered grass, like willows
on a riverbank.” (Isaiah 44:3-4, NLT)

Look with me at Isaiah 58:11 – “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” (Isaiah 58:11, NLT)

Do you feel barren and fruitless? The Spirit of God brings fruitfulness to our lives.

III. Application

Today we have spoken of how the Scriptures compare the Holy Spirit to water and what this means to us personally.

The Holy Spirit:

  • Is essential to life – we cannot truly live without the Spirit
  • Transforms whatever He touches – our own lives and the lives of others
  • Cleanses us – spiritually and emotionally
  • Is essential to fruitfulness

Are you feeling dead emotionally, spiritually, even physically?

Are you aware that you need to make changes in your life, but find yourself unable to do so?

Are you still struggling with a sense of guilt or shame? Do you carry a load of emotional baggage that makes relationship with God and others difficult?

Do you want to bear more fruit and experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit as it is expressed by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control?

Then listen to this invitation:

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's
all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no
good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. 3 Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” (Isaiah 55:1-3, NLT)

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17, NLT)

God desires to give Himself to you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He wants to give you the Holy Spirit freely
and abundantly.

On God’s behalf, I invite you to come and drink deeply (and freely) from the well that will give you life, transform, cleanse and heal you, and make you fruitful.