Let It Flow
John 7:37-39
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If
anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the
Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he
meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time
the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Introduction:
God is moving - Thirsty people have begun to come to Jesus! God has promised that
when we come to Him "streams of living water will flow from within him" The Holy
Spirit - Unique parallel to what happened then and now - verse 39 when Jesus was
glorified = the H.S. was given - now when Jesus is Glorified the H.S. is given. Same
pattern as in the beginning -
* We want to Let the streams of living water flow in our lives - that’s why we come to
worship God - Fellowship together and reach out to others.
* Can not put God in a box and say this is how God works! - People have tried for years
to do this - 10 steps to this 5 keys to that, very well may be but God is sovereign,
simply put that means He makes the rules. Revealed some of the rules in His
Word, and He retains the right to interpret them correctly!
* God has been moving in our services - Manifestations of the Spirit - Through Gifts
* We have also seen the reaction of people as God has been moving among us
* Separate the Gifts of the spirit from the reactions to the spirit. Let’s look at the Gifts -
skim each of the them - Overview
1 Cor 12:1-23
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. { we are on the
right track studying the spiritual gifts } 2 You know that when you were pagans,
somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3 Therefore I tell you
that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can
say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are
different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each
one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. .{True manifestations
of the Spirit Glorify Jesus not any man, or even a ministry}
Gifts are listed....
* 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the
message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds
of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of
one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines
1) The Message of Wisdom - Speaking the Right word at the Right time - wisdom helps
us to make use of Knowledge. Direction from God for a specific situation
2) The Message of Knowledge - Speaking an unknown truth - Information from God
3) Faith - gift of faith different in the purpose to which it is applied and to the degree of
intensity. Unlimited in nature - mustard seed - Faith to move mountains
4) Gifts of Healing - plural - more than one type of gifting here - (all prayer of faith)
some special Gifts of Healing
5) Miraculous powers - "signs" creative healings/miracles - alter the normal course of
nature
6) Prophecy - Message or utterance from God - careful here "speak for God" preaching
under the anointing often prophecy not always - separate utterance
7) Distinguishing between spirits - Self defining - as those spirit are motivating people
Peter/Simon not to expose his life but the spiritual source behind it.
8) Speaking in different Kinds of Tongues - in a Public setting must be accompanied by
interpretation of Tongues, not the same as individual tongues "for the common
good"
9) Interpretation of Tongues - The Spirit given ability to understand and communicate the
utterance in Tongues for the rest of the body.
* There are other ministry gifts that come from the Holy Spirit - This list describes these
9 gifts - Biblical, clear and beneficial to the body. We see these gifts in operation
and say simply Lord, Let it flow......
* Second to these Gifts in operation - we have seen God moving in people’s lives - and
see a physical reaction to what the Spirit of God is doing.
Examples: Common - Fall down under the power (slain in the spirit - negative I
don’t use that term)
Shaking - A lot of people think some of these things are "new"
reactions, think about the "Quakers"
Laughing - Again not a new thing - Expressed Joy & Laughter
historical
Dangers: Extremes - Build an entire Theology around one reaction - "Laughter
church"
* Put too much emphasis or attention on the reaction and off Jesus
* Expect certain things to happen in certain ways - Fall down
* Measure how "good" a service is by the Feelings, laughter ect...
* Easy to get sucked in and go along not real
* People respond differently - Not more spiritual to fall or not to fall, God ministers to
people in many ways - some are quiet and invisible and some are dramatic and very
visible.
* People are human - step in and out of the Flow - Don’t squash a person who is in error
we teach a person who is in error -
Gift misused or out of order - gently correct and affirm that
Reaction out of order - gently correct and give guidance -
We don’t need to help the Holy Spirit along - make stuff up
We don’t need to be so cautious that we never give the Holy Spirit freedom
A yielded heart - Thirst ones who come to Jesus - will be blessed with Streams of living
water flowing out of them
Church tends to be selfish - Want a bless me club - Sing shout and clap our hands have a
feel good time and go home!
Reason for what happens here is preparation, equipping, cleansing, of the body to
minister beyond the body - God cares about your need - wants to meet it - normally He
gets our eyes off the need and on Him.
So we Glorify Jesus = lift Him up
Thirsty people come to Him and He meets us.
Preparing for the Harvest
Look beyond ourselves
1) Missions - Around the World
2) Community - Right here in North Western Michigan
* Never dreamed Cadillac Assembly of God would impact northwestern Michigan, not
pride speaking - I know it’s not because of me or my efforts - simply the promise of God
God is Equipping His people
1) Soul Winners
2) Yielded vessels - ministering in power - see it happening God
uses people
3) An army of Intercessors - heart for the lost
Respond to what God is doing - Revival not convenient - I’m a control person (freak)
Don’t like to yield - I am learning to, I’m a leader who’s Thirsty are you thirsty today -
Worship the Lord - and respond at these altar’s today -
