John 14 – 16 B
The ministry of the Holy Spirit has two deep prongs.
One prong plunges deep into our hearts. It is here that the new birth occurs and we are made a new creation in Christ. That work begins internally first. Then it begins to transform the whole person, extending even to the outward behavior demonstrated by His sanctifying work and ultimately the total transformation of even the body via His work of resurrection. That is the personal work of the Spirit toward the individual believer. He saves me. He changes me. I am not the same. This inward work of the Spirit produces an incomprehensible peace and satisfaction in this life. It is presently abundant and eternal. So the woman at the well is told she will never thirst again.
The second prong flows out of our hearts. This filling of the Holy Spirit is inconsiderate of boundaries and limits. When Jesus pours the water of the Spirit into our hearts, He doesn’t stop at the brim, rather He pours beyond the brim to overflowing. The Spirit blesses us personally, but those around us cannot help getting wet. He splashes out of us. The Gospel is the indispensable second prong of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. The one does not occur without the other. These two prongs do not occur independently, but in concert. The blessing results in the telling. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink…from His innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”
Worship is a result of the Spirit’s work in our lives. It is one of the ways we splash. We come together to sing and speak of the blessing of the Spirit in our lives. When we leave, we overflow into the streets and homes and workplaces where He takes us. So this morning, drink deep and worship with passion. And this afternoon, overflow and share Christ’s love.
