This study was first taught on June 19, 2012

Topic: Our Need For The Holy Spirit (1)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we studied the initial evidence that accompanies the coming upon of the Holy Spirit on a believer in Christ. We saw that whenever the Holy Spirit came upon a believer in the early Church, a common thread was that he spoke in a language he had never before learnt, also referred to as, “tongues”. We also saw that in addition to ‘tongues’, when the Holy Spirit came upon people in the early Church they also praised God; that is, they prophesied, magnified God, or, spoke of the wonderful works of God. We noted that these additional experiences are really the same thing expressed in different ways (prophecy, which is speaking forth the word of God, can involve magnifying God or telling of the wonderful works of God; in declaring the wonderful works of God, a person filled with the Holy Spirit can be magnifying God, and he could be prophesying), and they all culminate in giving God praise. We also noted that ‘tongues’ produce prophecy where there is interpretation, and, the praise of God either by those who understand the ‘tongues’ or by the speaker himself.

We saw that in some instances, the bible is silent about the initial evidence of speaking in ‘tongues’ and praising God, when it documents the Holy Spirit coming upon some people; and noted that it did not mean that such individuals did not speak with ‘tongues’ and praise God; rather, the bible did not see the need of documenting the obvious. Today, whenever the Holy Spirit comes upon a believer in Christ, he also speaks in ‘tongues’ and gives God praise! Contrary to what some people may have said, ‘tongues’ as the initial evidence of the coming upon of the Holy Spirit on a believer, is still taking place today; it did not start and ended with the early Christians!

Furthermore, we saw that the ‘tongues’ spoken as the initial evidence of the coming of the Holy Spirit on a believer in Christ, may in fact be the tongues of men (human language never before learned), or, an unknown tongue (language which has yet to be identified as belonging to men), also known as “tongues of angels” or “speaking mysteries to God”. We also observed that as a believer on whom the Holy Spirit falls for the first time speaks forth in ‘tongues’, he may either be communicating with God in prayer and worship where there is no interpretation; or, he may be telling unbelievers who are present about God in a way that will bring them to repentance and salvation, where the unbelievers are able to understand what is being said, just like the day of Pentecost; or, he may be speaking a message to the church, where there is someone who has been given interpretation of the ‘tongues’ by the Holy Spirit. We thus urged us all to pray for the gift of interpretation of tongues, so that we can know what message God has for the church.

Scripture Text(s)
John 7:37-39
When we began our study, The Holy Spirit, the objective we set forth, was to identify how much space we should give the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the Church of God; and why? Tonight, we commence accomplishing this objective. We pray that our need for the Holy Spirit will be clearly set forth, so that He will be given His rightful place in our lives, and in the Church of God, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
In our scripture text, we see the Lord making a declaration to a people who were celebrating a religious Feast, and giving an invitation to those present at the Feast, who were thirsty to come and drink. By this, He meant the Holy Spirit.
John 7:2; Leviticus 23:24-43; Matthew 13:1-3; Luke 5:1-3; John 8:1-11; 5:1-3; Matthew 21:7-14; John 7:37; Psalm 42:1-2; 63:1; Matthew 5:6; 1 Samuel 30:11-12; John 1:33-34; 4:10.

Conclusion
Many Christians regularly attend church meetings (Sunday service, bible study, prayer meeting, night vigils, etc.), as well as several retreats and camp meetings; but at the end of all these meetings and events, they are more down-and-out, or even lost, than before the meetings. Some other Christians have gone further to become active in their local assembly, as a means of overcoming spiritual staleness, or as a way of proving their commitment to God; yet after all the activities and ‘ministry’, they are ‘burnt out’. Worse, is the fact that many Christians who regularly attend church services, camp meetings and retreats, are workers or ministers who are actively involved in church, yet many of them are still living in sin (some openly, some secretly), still living the self life, and still struggling and arguing with the word of God! The matter is even made worse still when we consider that some of the people we are talking about are pastors, bishops, General Overseers, and so on. Unfortunately, these people are unable to attain to the place that they should, because they have not given the Holy Spirit His rightful place in their lives and ministry.

This displacement, misplacement, and replacement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and ministry, and the resultant consequence of disaffection and frustration, explains the Lord’s significant posture when He called out then, as He is calling out now; “If any man thirst, let him come unto me …” First, the Lord’s proclamation is an invitation to any man (male or female; clergy or congregant; high in society or lowly; old or young; president, governor, clerk or labourer; etc.). Secondly, it is an invitation with a condition attached: the respondents must be thirsty. Thirdly, the ‘thirst’ being referred to, is not a thirst for natural water, but a state of dissatisfaction with a moribund spiritual experience that borders on the natural, rather than the truly spiritual; and as such, a longing, yearning, deep heart desire, or an unquenchable and essential need, for a deeper spiritual walk, than is presently being experienced. This ‘thirst’ is a longing for something more than (and better than) merely attending a religious meeting. It is not a desire for more of church as usual, but a deeper walk and interaction with the Person of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the Lord’s call is an invitation to come to Him, the Giver of life; not to a church, or a denomination, or a pastor; neither is it a call away from the Church. It is a call to a person who is ‘thirsty’ for a genuine spiritual experience; and the person who will respond to this invitation must come to Jesus, even though he is in a church, and under a pastor! This is the first step to resolving our need for the Holy Spirit!

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