How the Holy Spirit can show himself through you, December 10, 2010
"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.''" John 7:37-38
"I spoke with a man awhile back who had been on several mission trips to Latin America. He was telling me that in the summer, the heat and humidity can be almost unbearable in some areas. But the rivers are almost ice cold year-round because they come from melted snow in the mountains. So the people in these countries jump in the cold rivers for relief from the severe summer heat!
"Now isn't that just like the Holy Spirit? When we believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, the Spirit of God comes and dwells in us. And because of that, rivers of living water flow out of us that are remarkably different than the world around us.
"And that's really what it means to live a spiritual life! The Christian who lives spiritually will say and do things that are so different from the dying world around him that people will notice. God's Spirit allows us to breathe refreshing life into a harsh world!
"So instead of conforming to the world, live a life that is characteristic of the Holy Spirit inside of you. And your thoughts and deeds will be like a cool stream in a dying world.
"ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK THROUGH YOU AND BRING LIFE TO THE LOST AND HURTING WORLD AROUND YOU."
You can find the author at JackGraham.org, oneplace.com and crosswalk.com or in Dallas, if you care to drive there.
/ JF
Thanks for sharing some of the experience from a front line saint and brother in Christ.
ReplyDeleteIt seems one would be have to be thirsty to want to drink. Hence, not all will drink from the well of life. The hope is that sooner than later, a person may become thirsty when this fallen world sucks them dry, and/or from dry wells that offer no relief.
The story of Israel, is of a similar lot of stiff neck people, where scripture describes in some detail the actions taken by GOD to get their attention. Unfortunately, those Jews were not blessed with the Spirit at that time (BC). We are so blessed to have Grace through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Spirit.