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Ask God: God is with us by the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us. He blesses us, teaches us, and guides us. And He is always with us.

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Good Evening Reader,

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus said he would ask the Father and he would send us another Helper. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit.

Know that God is with you always!

All Glory to God.

Elvin

How the "Living Waters" of Jesus Strengthens Believers

Jesus allows all believers to know the Holy Spirit, what it means to them, and how the Holy Spirit improves the lives of believers.

It was during the last day of the feast of the Tabernacle that Jesus stood up before the gathering to declare that those who believe in Him would receive "Rivers of Living Water." He was talking about the Holy Spirit.

"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, asthe Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39).

The Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus declared this on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This celebration was the 7-day festival (plus an 8th day of solemn assembly) commemorating God's provision during Israel's wilderness wanderings.

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is a Jewish holiday that occurs in the fall of the year. It is a time to remember the Israelites' wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt. People traditionally build temporary dwellings called sukkahs to live in during the festival.

Each day, the priests draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out at the base of the altar in the temple—a symbolic prayer for rain and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 44:3 and Joel 2:28 say that the Lord will pour out His Spirit on all the people.

During the last day of the festival, Jesus boldly declared that He was the source of true, living water.

If Anyone Thirsts

Thirst symbolizes deep spiritual longing—for forgiveness, peace, and for God Himself. Psalm 42:1-2 says, "As a deer pants for flowing stream, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

Jesus invites anyone—Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, broken, sinful—to come to Him. These are the same words Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

Jesus wanted everyone to know that there is more to life than the physical, the things they see around them. He was offering them spiritual life, which leads to eternal life.

Out of His Heart will Flow Rivers of Living Waters

Jesus was preparing everyone to receive the Holy Spirit. He would not be with them much longer. He would ask the Father, and He would send the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus did when He ascended into heaven.

Jesus is the channel through which the Spirit flows into the believer. The Spirit will satisfy the believer and overflow to bless others. He will bless the believer and also those around him. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life."

Jesus spoke prophetically at the festival because the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out (Acts 2:1-4). Why? Because Jesus had not yet been glorified, referring to His death, resurrection, and ascension.

The outpouring of the Spirit was conditional upon the glorification of Christ. In John 16:7, Jesus said, "Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you."

The Benefit for Believers with the Holy Spirit

The benefit of a believer having the Holy Spirit is profound and essential for living the Christian life. Jesus didn't just come to forgive sins. He came to make us the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit is not a bonus; He is thevery presence of God within us.

The first step to receiving the benefit of the Holy Spirit is to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit dwells in you. The benefits will be limited if a believer never interacts with the Holy Spirit. Know that He is the very presence of God within us, and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit assures us we belong to God. Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:13 and 14 that "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." We were sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, God gave us power when the Holy Spirit came upon us. Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The Holy Spirit strengthens us to resist sin, overcome trials, and live boldly for Christ.

The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth and helps believers understand God's Word.

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ, for this is the way to the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Elvin

Praise God for the Holy Spirit.

Ask God For Help

Christian faith

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin.aycock@AskGodForHelp.net and let me know what you think of the lessons.

Go to: www.AskGodForHelp.net

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