Jesus made a clear statement about the reason He came to this Earth,

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV

Reaching that level of life here requires one to tap into the source of that type of supernatural life. Jesus affirmed,

“... ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit...” John 7:37-39 NKJV

“Rivers of living water” — isn’t that a good picture of a fulfilled life?

DID JESUS GIVE US THE EXAMPLE WHILE HERE ON EARTH?

We know that Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18).

We also know that after His baptism He prayed,

“And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him ...” Luke 3:22

Under these circumstances was it really necessary and important that He receive the Holy Spirit daily? Why does He admonish us to repeatedly ask for the Holy Spirit?

Ellen G. White once said about Jesus,

“Morning by morning he communicated with his Father in heaven, receiving from him daily a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit.” EGW, Signs of the Times, November 21, 1895

Another a statement about Jesus’ example is made in the book Acts of the Apostles,

“To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace...” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 56

Jesus indeed was an example to us seeking daily Heaven’s help and power.

The honest follower of Christ will ask, if Jesus daily needed a refreshing from the Holy Spirit, then how much more important is it for you and me?

The apostle Paul really understood Jesus’ objective. In his letter to the church in Ephesus (the book of Ephesians), Paul confirms in chapter 1:13 that they had been sealed by the Holy Spirit when they became believers. In chapter 3:16-17, he encouraged them to be strong in the Spirit. In chapter 4:30, he admonishes them: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”. And in chapter 5:18 (NKJV) Paul, as an authorized apostle, calls the Ephesians and us to: “... be filled with the Spirit” or “let yourselves be continuously and repeatedly filled again with the Spirit”.

Even if we received the Holy Spirit when we were born again – we need a daily refreshing. Therefore, it is important for the spiritual life and growth of a Christian, that they be daily filled with the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean “to be baptized” with the Holy Spirit?

Jesus personally explained this with a synonym. A person is ‘baptized’ with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) when the Holy Spirit ‘has come upon’ them (v. 8). To be baptized means to be fully immersed in something — usually water. It means that it involves the whole person.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to live completely under the influence of the Holy Spirit — to be completely filled by Him. This isn’t a one-time experience, but rather something that has to be continually repeated, as Paul illustrates by the tense he uses for the verb “filled” in Ephesians 5:18 – giving the idea of continuation and consistency.

GOOD GOODBYE

In Jesus’ farewell words He conveyed joy and hope by telling them that the Holy Spirit would come in His place. Jesus tells the disciples something surprising in John 16:7,

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Doesn’t it sound strange how Jesus communicates to His disciples that, “It is to your advantage that I go away”? He was giving him the new solution, that being with us through the Holy Spirit is more advantageous than being personally present. In this way He isn’t limited, but rather He can be together with each of us.

Even Jesus goodbye was something positive! He wanted to make sure that the access to the Holy Spirit is granted to all of us, in all times and all places!

We can pray today,

Father in Heaven, thank you for Jesus’ urgent invitation to ask for the Holy Spirit. I am sorry for the losses I have experienced because of a lack of the Holy Spirit. I need divine assistance so that Jesus can become greater in me. I need His help in every area of my life. Thank you that the Holy Spirit can change my character and can make me fit for God’s Kingdom. I completely surrender myself to you with all that I am and have. Thank you for accepting me and giving me your blessings. Help me to grow in knowledge about the Holy Spirit. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What affirmation can you make about your personal life on the reason Jesus came to the Earth?

2. In your opinion, how does life look like when a person becomes “river of living water”?

3. List a few things you can daily do to be refreshed/immersed by the Holy Spirit.

4. Even Jesus’ goodbye was good for us. How can you take advantage of His constant presence through the Holy Spirit?