The People We Become: Come Holy Spirit
Pastor Muche Ukegbu
Sunday, September 7th, 2025
SCRIPTURE READING: John 7:37-38
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. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 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.
John 7:37-39
The Words of Jesus:
His words are climactic:
On the last and greatest day of the festival
v37
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:4
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 37:11-14
THERE IS ALWAYS MOVEMENT WE CAN’T SEE.
God is always at work, through the Holy Spirit, for glory of Jesus & the good of people.
His words are invitational:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v37-38
Jesus’ invitation to anyone thirsty is about soul satisfaction.
His words are confrontational:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v37-38
We experience soul satisfaction through relationship with Jesus.
You’re not too good to be true…
The Presence & Activity of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit’s presence & activity is a gift of grace.
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.
v39
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 12:23-24
The Holy Spirit’s presence & activity is a gift of grace—unfortunately, we can grieve, extinguish, and resist Him and what He’s doing.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Acts 7:51-53
THERE IS ALWAYS MOVEMENT WE CAN’T SEE.
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v38
The Holy Spirit is actively working to deepen our satisfaction in Jesus.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
The Holy Spirit is actively working to deal with our idolatry.
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 14 Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
Isaiah 2:13-14
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
John 4:14-18
Closing Considerations:
Attentiveness through abiding in the scriptures.
as Scripture has said
v38
Attentiveness through prayerfulness.
On the last and greatest day of the festival
v37
Attentiveness through immediate obedience.
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice
v37
Attentiveness through godly relationships.
Spend more time with people who help you become more like Jesus.
John 7:37-39
The Words of Jesus:
His words are climactic:
On the last and greatest day of the festival
v37
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:4
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 37:11-14
THERE IS ALWAYS MOVEMENT WE CAN’T SEE.
God is always at work, through the Holy Spirit, for glory of Jesus & the good of people.
His words are invitational:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v37-38
Jesus’ invitation to anyone thirsty is about soul satisfaction.
His words are confrontational:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v37-38
We experience soul satisfaction through relationship with Jesus.
You’re not too good to be true…
The Presence & Activity of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit’s presence & activity is a gift of grace.
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.
v39
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 12:23-24
The Holy Spirit’s presence & activity is a gift of grace—unfortunately, we can grieve, extinguish, and resist Him and what He’s doing.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Acts 7:51-53
THERE IS ALWAYS MOVEMENT WE CAN’T SEE.
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
v38
The Holy Spirit is actively working to deepen our satisfaction in Jesus.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
The Holy Spirit is actively working to deal with our idolatry.
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 14 Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
Isaiah 2:13-14
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
John 4:14-18
Closing Considerations:
Attentiveness through abiding in the scriptures.
as Scripture has said
v38
Attentiveness through prayerfulness.
On the last and greatest day of the festival
v37
Attentiveness through immediate obedience.
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice
v37
Attentiveness through godly relationships.
Spend more time with people who help you become more like Jesus.
**