In week one of our “River Dwellers” series, we saw how the Holy Spirit was poured out by God on the apostles and disciples of Jesus (Acts 2). The transforming power of this filling was immediately obvious to all; both, at the moment of that outpouring, and in the power, joy and faith-filled love for Jesus and each other that characterized this first church thereafter. And many were saved as a result! We talked about our need for this power in our churches today, recognizing that we serve the same God, and that he invites us to seek him for more! Encouragingly, church history contains many other periods of reformation and revival in which the Holy Spirit was poured out on God’s people and the same life and power of that first church was evident. 

Then, in week two, we saw how the Holy Spirit manifests himself through us by means of spiritual gifts, as we surrender to his work, earnestly seeking his gifts, and continually asking to be filled by him. 

And, in week three, we looked at the “fruit of the Spirit,” which is the nature and character of Jesus that the Holy Spirit produces in and through us as we cooperate with him in that sanctifying work. 

So, by now, (I hope) it is abundantly clear that God provides everything for this life he calls us to live and that we are in dire need of his fullness to walk in it!

But maybe you have been diligently following along, believing the truths, surrendering all, seeking to align yourselves with God’s will, and asking for this filling daily, but you can not yet see any noticeable change in your experience.   

Then God’s word would counsel you to patiently persevere in faith. From our verses today, we are reminded that the heart of the Father is a good one! He tells us to ask (as we reviewed in week 1, day 5), and he promises to give! But, as our passage for today also suggests, that involves pursuit on our end. It involves impudently knocking on God’s door and expectantly (and persistently) asking him for that which we seek! It involves stepping out and trusting that he has accepted our petition and is working the promise of fullness out in our lives, even when, perhaps, we don’t yet feel or see it.  

This week, we will look at ways we can cultivate the presence of the Spirit in our lives and next week we will examine the ways that we quench the fire of his presence. If we want to see the fire of God’s presence burn in us the way it did at Pentecost, we must throw wood on the fire, and not douse it! Let us believe and expect that, as we pursue him together like this, he will bring revival to our lives and to our church and city!