THE FLOW OF ABUNDANCE FROM THE RIVER OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

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Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower and guide the Church for missionary work, and to give the knowledge of God’s truth to believers. Since Jesus went to Heaven the Holy Spirit Has been here with the Church; sanctifying, baptising, wisening, leading, and guiding and multiplying the Church. He has also been preparing the Church (individual members) as Temples where God is worshipped. As a Church we must rely on the Holy Spirit to carry out the work preaching the Gospel. The Bible uses many images to describe the Holy Spirit:

Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower and guide the Church for missionary work, and to give the knowledge of God’s truth to believers. Since Jesus went to Heaven the Holy Spirit Has been here with the Church; sanctifying, baptising, wisening, leading, and guiding and multiplying the Church. He has also been preparing the Church (individual members) as Temples where God is worshipped. As a Church we must rely on the Holy Spirit to carry out the work preaching the Gospel.

(i) WIND - -Note that the text speaks of the Spirit as being like a mighty rushing wind, but does not say He is a mighty rushing wind. For indeed, the Holy Spirit cannot be reduced to mere physical things, even if He is likened unto them. In ; the Spirit of the Lord is mentioned in creation as wind, or Ruach in Hebrew. When God created man out of the dust, he only became a living soul when God breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life.

1. Metaphors of the Holy Spirit

The Bible uses many images to describe the Holy Spirit:

(i) WIND - –

Note that the text speaks of the Spirit as being like a mighty rushing wind but does not say He is a mighty rushing wind. For indeed, the Holy Spirit cannot be reduced to mere physical things, even if He is likened unto them.

In ; the Spirit of the Lord is mentioned in creation as wind, or Ruach in Hebrew. When God created man out of the dust, he only became a living soul after God breathed into his nostrils the Breath (Ruach) of Life. Jesus said in , The Wind bloweth where He wills. He fills whomsoever He will and whosoever wills.

(ii) FIRE – –

In the burning bush, Moses saw the appearance of fire. That was the symbol of the presence of God (). It says in , that a fire goes before the Lord and burns up all his enemies. God is called the Consuming Fire (); a Refining Fire (; ; As Fire the Holy Spirit refines, burns away the chaff in our lives, purifies into a holy People unto God.

(iii) WATER – –

Here the Holy Spirit is described as Rivers of Living water. Wherever the water flows, there is life. We are told that the human body of an adult is 55-60% water; babies about 75%. Water is so important that without it there can be no life. I believe Jesus used “Rivers” here reminds us that the Holy Spirit is limitless. When we receive Him, we begin to overflow with living water. Jesus said that when we are filled, we will never thirst again. The Holy Spirit becomes a Living Spring of the water of eternal life in us. If we read symbolically, we can see what the Holy Spirit can do in our lives, and in the Church this New Year.

2. The Magnitude Of The Spirit’s Work

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When the Holy Spirit comes into our Lives, He comes in His mighty fullness; He will cause us to bring forth much fruit; the deserts of our lives will begin to blossom again; dead places in our lives will be brought back to life; sickly parts of our lives will be healed; He will cause abundant fruitfulness in our lives and in the Church; multitudes will be born again through His work in us; He becomes the Surety that that we belong to God (); He stays with us as the Comforter or Helper (; ); He fills and equips us for the work of the ministry; He fills the body of Christ, thus making them an acceptable Temple for the worship of God; He forms our character (); He reveals all Truth to us ().

3. Message To Recipients of The Holy Spirit

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If we are to make tangible progress this year, we need to make ourselves ready to:

Be led by and work with the Holy Spirit ().

Be filled with the Holy Spirit ().

Be sanctified by the Spirit ().

Receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit ().

Do not sin (Blaspheme, Resist or Insult) against the Holy Spirit (; ; ). Ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by harboring evil in our hearts (). Bitterness against a brother or sister will grieve the Holy Spirit. Lack of forgiveness or what we term unforgiveness will grieve the Holy Spirit

Do not quench the Holy Spirit (). You can quench the Holy Spirit by disobedience.

Make this year a year of Partnership with the Holy Spirit. He will give you the victory. You will bear abundant fruit. you will also receive abundant personal blessings.