His Presence Is Our PassionSýnishorn

The Indwelling Spirit

In his biography of Jesus, John tells us about an occasion when Jesus was waiting at a well outside a town. He was on a road trip with his disciples. He had sent them into town to buy some food. While he’s waiting, a local woman comes to the well to draw some water, and Jesus strikes up a conversation with her. He starts by asking her if he can have a drink of water – which sounds harmless, but she’s surprised for two reasons. Firstly, Jesus is a Jew, and she’s a Samaritan, two ethnic groups that hated each other. Secondly, he’s a man, and she’s a woman, and at that time, it just wasn’t appropriate for them to socialize. But Jesus cuts across all that and asks for a drink. In the banter that follows, she questions why he would be comfortable drinking water that she had drawn from the well. And Jesus responds with a strange statement:

“If you understood who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I’d give you living water.”

John 4.10

This piques her interest, and she challenges his credentials, calling him out on his claim to be more than just an average bloke. Instead of backing down, Jesus goes even further with his response:

“If you drink the water from this well, you’ll be thirsty again and again. But anyone who drinks my water will never be thirsty again. In fact, my water will become a spring of life inside you, transforming you forever.”

John 4.13-14

It’s a huge statement. To be a follower of Jesus is to have the life of God living within us, changing who we are, even overflowing like a natural spring. The new life that Jesus promised to this woman (and us) flows naturally from our relationship with God. His reality and substance fill us and transform how we do our day-to-day. It’s a beautiful picture that helps us understand what faith is all about. We don’t do life alone – God is with us, even within us. His presence transforms us from the inside out. He deals with our deepest longings and disappointments, our brokenness and sin – and pours His powerful newness into our emotions, thought life, decision making, and relationships.

Worth The Wait

This idea takes on a profound new meaning once Jesus returns to heaven. After he’d been crucified and then rose from the dead, he got his disciples together and told them that he was leaving earth. His instructions were to stay together and wait in Jerusalem until they experienced God’s presence and power in a new way.

Ten days later, during a religious festival known as Pentecost, everything changed. The disciples were praying together in a large room when they heard a “sound like a violent storm, and flames of fire appeared which separated and sat on each of them.” What they were experiencing was God’s presence poured out in a fresh way. They were being “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The surprising thing was that each of them started to speak in different languages, preaching about Jesus supernaturally. When the crowd at the festival heard the disciples explaining the Gospel in their native tongues, they gathered to listen. Peter stood up and told them about Jesus and faith. He closed his message with these words: “Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness for your sins. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.”

On that day, about 3000 people became followers of Jesus. God launched what we now know as the Church through an amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And it’s a promise to us too. We each can receive the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with us today. That’s why we’re passionate about waiting for and pursuing the presence of God because we’ll see that God’s presence through His Holy Spirit changes everything.

Reflection Questions

1. What evidence do I see of God’s Spirit in my life?
2. How much do I depend on the Holy Spirit in my daily life?
3. What would it look like for me to wait for God to fill me with His presence today?