John 7:25-53. After coming back from a fire call the other night, I was trying to wind down and fall back asleep. I began to pray through some prayer requests. "Father, please help Jo...'I Am.'". My prayer was interrupted. "Lord, please help Chie... 'I Am.'". Again, I was interrupted. "God, Sar..'I Am.'". It wasn't an audible voice, but a very real interjection of words in my mind. Though I've never experienced that kind of interruption before from the Lord, I finally caught on. First, His name is 'I Am', and He alone is sufficient to cover our needs. Second, His response was "I am working in those situations". It was an awesome reminder and encouragement for me to again realize He knows everyone's needs and situations and that He is indeed working in them. No worries, mate. I was moved to consider whether I truly believed He was working in them or not. Believing is a response of action. Same with faith...and trust, etc.
This week's passage in John continues the period of conflict in Jesus' ministry, just six months out from His crucifixion. He's teaching in the church at the eight-day Feast of Tabernacles. The Jewish leaders remain confused and antagonistic towards His teachings and healings. During the feast, their custom was for the priest to dip large ladles of water from a golden vessel and pour out the water onto the altar each day. This signified God providing water from a rock for the Jews while they were thirsty in the wilderness. Around the courtyard would be thousands of Jews attending the feast. Now, on the eighth day, the priest will dip his ladle into the vessel, but will scoop no water up. He would turn his ladle upside down and nothing would come out. Silence would then come over the crowd. This is a very solemn day. This act is symbolic of their great need for the Savior. Without Him providing living water they will die of thirst. Therefore, the Feast of Tabernacles is considered not fulfilled yet until the second coming of Christ, when He, Himself, provides the people living water and restores all things. So, imagine, during this amazing solemn silence on the last day of the feast, Jesus stands up in front of everyone and shouts in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them." Wow. This would have been an awesome experience.
Many people believed right there on the spot. Others doubted and were divided. I think another miracle happened right here too. The Jewish leaders tried to have him arrested, but no one could lay a hand on Him. His time had not yet come. Even the guards were amazed at His powerful words. Now, here comes Nicodemus showing up again. Remember, he is one of the Jewish leaders. And what a great encourager for us. We see him standing up for Jesus, staying strong and true, even amongst jerks. Verse 53 is a bit sad. They all went home. But notice the beginning of Chapter 8. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives alone. No one invited Him in. How about us? Are we going to invite Him in or leave Him out in the cold?
I want to go back to Verse 39 and talk about the Spirit. In context, Jesus was saying the Spirit had not yet been given until He ascended back to heaven. He promised He would send the Holy Spirit for salvation to those who believe. I wanted to point out that the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus was glorified. I believe we have His Spirit inside of us when He saves us, but we get to continually, daily, choose whether to live for Him or for ourselves. Either He is glorified in our lives or we are all about us. The miracle of glorifying Jesus in our lives is made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Will you let Him have His way in your life today? Or will you shrink back in fear of losing control and once again allow your flesh to be glorified and thus, cover over His light?
There should be an urgency to our decision. There should be a passion and determination that follows our commitment. In the book, "Who Told You That You Were Naked", Chief Cochran wrote about our walk with Christ and how we should have all the traits of a world-class athlete, one of the biggest being-diligence. Walking with Christ should be a lifestyle that is marked by dedication, commitment, steadfastness, determination, persistence, attention, discipline, driven by destiny, purpose, steadiness, hardworking, persevering, overcoming, and improving. We should go from strength to strength and faith to faith. We should have a daily routine of invoking the presence of God and engaging with the purpose of glorifying God with our lives. We should be waking up early, and starting our day with God in reading His bible, praying, worshipping-just talking with the Father. We should be participating in church, small group meetings, bible studies, and accountability relationships. Only the diligent will achieve the full slate of the blessings and promises of God.
It's time for us as Jesus' disciples to grow strong in the Holy Spirit. Too much choosing of self is holding back the fruits of the Spirit. Too many worldly distractions are hindering the Spirit's work. We must be diligent in our relationship with Jesus, truly wanting Him to be glorified in our lives, while we have the chance. Don't give up and go back. Press on, with the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit thriving in your life, with the dilegence of a professional athlete. May we run for His glory.
