Passion and Power.

Passion and Power.  John 7.37-39

The young minister was compelling.  He was a great teacher of the Word, and an engaging speaker—funny, witty, and passionate about his message.  I was sitting among several young people I had taken to the Sunday night service, listening intently to the last of a series of messages entitled simply, “More”.  His text was Ephesians chapter 3, which includes Paul’s prayer for the believers at Ephesus.  Honestly, he had all of us leaning into the prayer, just like Paul was praying over us himself last night:  “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…” concluding with, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory…” 

I was making some notes in the margins of my Bible and suddenly got knocked off my chair.  He said something that hit me right between the eyes—the enemy of more is satisfaction.  God cannot do immeasurably more in us if we are satisfied with ourselves spiritually . . .   It was too crowded to get out of my chair and kneel down, or I would have—“God, forgive me.  I have been satisfied.”  God wants us hungry for him …

On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews drew water and poured it out before the Lord.  It was no doubt that, to this, Jesus was alluding, when not for the first time, he offers himself as the solution to our thirst.  John writes :

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been received because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7.37-39

Do you have streams of living water flowing out of you?  Or are you running on empty, or is your tank just pleasantly topped off?  Consider what Jesus said once more, “The one who believes in Me…will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”  Jesus refers then to the work of the Holy Spirit, who would come after him.

Christian, you and I have the vantage point of Jesus’ teaching on the one hand, and the impartation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, God’s gift to his children, and the source of the living water within the follower of Jesus Christ.  In addition, we have Paul’s teaching that equips and informs us about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!  But still the enemy of more is satisfaction.  Huh? 

Here’s the thing:  you and I can fully believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life…and have surrendered our wills to him.  You and I can have the Holy Spirit living within us to lead, guide, correct, woo, comfort and convict … and because we are satisfied with ourselves, miss out on the dynamic part of Christian living.  Instead of the promised rivers of living water, we live with just drops of water.  We miss out on the more that God wants for us.  We miss out on the more that he has for us. 

After having been knocked to the ground with this revelation, I realized that the streams of living water Jesus was talking about—from the well of the Holy Spirit—ought be filled to overflowing.  The Holy Spirit always comes with power!  It is how he strengthens us and works in us and through us.  And that power ought produce passion!   ‘Satisfied spiritually?  Then I probably lack passion. 

Are you passionate about the things of God?  Or are you more passionate about your kid’s athletic accomplishments?  Are you passionate about wanting more of him, or are you more passionate about your car, growing your company, working out, or other things of this world?  take some time and evaluate. 

If you want power and passion, and the love of god to be alive and real in your life, ask the Holy Spirit to come and do something new in you.  God doesn’t want us satisfied, he wants us passionate and wanting More.

Christine

PastorWoman.com