Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 19
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Commentary:
7:37 While v. 14 makes reference to “the middle of the feast,” this is now the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus’ invitation refers back to OT prophetic passages such as Isa. 55:1 (see also Isa. 12:3). thirsts. That is, “thirsts” for God (see note on John 4:14). To come to Jesus and drink means to believe in him, to enter into a trusting, ongoing personal relationship with him. Both the image of “coming” to Jesus as one would come to a person and the image of “drinking” imply not mere intellectual assent but a wholehearted personal involvement and participation.
7:38 Although there is no specific Scripture passage from the OT that matches Jesus’ words here, he is apparently giving a summary of the teaching and implication of several passages that picture the inward work of God in a believer as a river of water flowing out to bring blessing to others (see Prov. 4:23; Isa. 58:11).
7:39 As yet the Spirit had not been given does not mean that there was no work of the Holy Spirit in the world prior to Jesus’ resurrection, for already in Gen. 1:2 the Holy Spirit was present in the world, “hovering over the face of the waters” (see also Gen. 6:3; 41:38; Ex. 31:3; Num. 11:25). Some OT verses even speak of the Spirit of God at work within believers prior to the coming of Christ (see Num. 27:18; Deut. 34:9; Ezek. 2:2; 3:24; Dan. 4:8–9, 18; 5:11; Mic. 3:8; cf. Luke 1:15, 41, 67). This verse must therefore mean that “the Spirit had not been given” in the full and powerful sense that was promised for the new covenant age (see Ezek. 36:26, 27; 37:14; Joel 2:28–29; cf. John 20:22; Acts 2:1–13).
7:38 Although there is no specific Scripture passage from the OT that matches Jesus’ words here, he is apparently giving a summary of the teaching and implication of several passages that picture the inward work of God in a believer as a river of water flowing out to bring blessing to others (see Prov. 4:23; Isa. 58:11).
7:39 As yet the Spirit had not been given does not mean that there was no work of the Holy Spirit in the world prior to Jesus’ resurrection, for already in Gen. 1:2 the Holy Spirit was present in the world, “hovering over the face of the waters” (see also Gen. 6:3; 41:38; Ex. 31:3; Num. 11:25). Some OT verses even speak of the Spirit of God at work within believers prior to the coming of Christ (see Num. 27:18; Deut. 34:9; Ezek. 2:2; 3:24; Dan. 4:8–9, 18; 5:11; Mic. 3:8; cf. Luke 1:15, 41, 67). This verse must therefore mean that “the Spirit had not been given” in the full and powerful sense that was promised for the new covenant age (see Ezek. 36:26, 27; 37:14; Joel 2:28–29; cf. John 20:22; Acts 2:1–13).
Questions:
- Clayton warned on Sunday that we have to guard against two errors, two extremes, when it comes to our spiritual lives. The first thing we need to guard against is becoming HYPER-spiritual. These are people that seek only experiences with God, that create classes of Christians by suggesting they have special knowledge or unique experiences in the Spirit that others don't have, that usually think everyone that has the Holy Spirit can and should speak in tongues or prophesy. They take verses that are meant to be prescriptive and make them descriptive. This is called gnosticism. What are the dangers of being hyper-spiritual? Have you ever been there, or do you know someone who has? What are the dangers?
- The other error to guard against is the opposite... being UN-spiritual. These are carnal, apathetic Christians, if they are Christians at all. They are either NOT actually Christians, or they've grieved the Spirit for so long they've lost their first love. This is not the kind of life Jesus died to give us. How do we make sure our fire doesn't go out?
Prayer Topics:
- That would would guard against both errors with the help of the Holy Spirit.
- That we would catch fire for Him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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