Celebrate the joy of embracing the Spirit’s indwelling.

Six months before his crucifixion, Jesus went to Jerusalem in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles and began to teach. By that time, the religious leaders headquartered in Jerusalem hated Jesus and planned to kill him. Yet “no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30).

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive (John 7:37-39).

In Solomon’s day, the Presence of God temporarily filled a building. As a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Spirit of God has come to permanently indwell his people. Rejoice!

Feast on the Word

Read the full story of Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7. Notice the different ways people responded to God the Son. What are some ways people today respond to God the Spirit? Which response brings life and joy?

Consider:

 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52, see also vv. 44-51).

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17-18).

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).

Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30).

[To explore further, see “Our Spirit-to-spirit birthright” and other Spirit-to-spirit posts.]

Celebrate the Feast

What are ways you’ve responded to the Holy Spirit? What is your experience of him today? Are you welcoming the living water of the Spirit to flow continually in your life? Will you do so, even when other God-fearing people reject you for it?

Embracing him, yielding to him, you welcome freedom and righteousness, peace and joy.

Image © David Ohmer, flickr, Evening Light on Cedar Lake Fountain, CC 2.0

See also

• The intro to this Feast of Tabernacles celebration guide and links to all 8 Days, at Sukkot: The Feast of Joy
• Celebrating God at his appointed times