Feb. 5, 2024
TEXT: John 7:25-39
Introduction:
This text is taking place in the month of October
The feast of tabernacles is going on in much of this chapter
It is the celebration of God’s provision and protection during their travels through the
wilderness after the exodus from Egypt recorded in the book of Exodus.
I. Truly knowing the true Jesus is essential to eternal life (vv. 25-29)
A. Some knew Him as the one the Jewish leaders wanted to kill (vv. 25-26)
B. Some knew Him as the son of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth in Galilee (v. 27)
C. Some knew Him as the miracle worker and teacher but not as sent from God (v. 28)
D. Some know Him as the Christ sent from Heaven by God to be the Saviour (v. 29; John 17:3; I John 5:20)
II. To go to be with Jesus we must know where He came from (vv. 30-34)
A. Jesus came from Heaven sent from God to do His will on earth
B. Jesus came from Heaven on a mission from God to complete
C. Jesus came from Heaven to earth to make a way for us to go to Heaven (John 14:19-20)
III. Fasting and prayer enables us to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit (vv. 35-39)
A. We cannot go to Heaven with Jesus if we do not truly know Him personally (v. 37)
1. Fasting and prayer helps us to experience God’s presence meeting our needs
2. Fasting and prayer helps us to know Him more by drawing closer to Him
3. Fasting and prayer helps us come to Him and drink in His presence more (I Corinthians 2:9-16)
B. We must come to Him in faith and receive Him into our soul to be in Him (v. 38)
1. Fasting and prayer helps us to trust Him more by being more sensitive to Him
2. Fasting and prayer helps us to be filled with the Spirit so He can work in us
3. Fasting and prayer helps us to have the working of Spirit flow from us to others
C. We must be yielded to Him in His Spirit if His life is going to flow from us (v. 39)
1. Having Him in us does not mean we let Him flow through us to others
2. Having Him in us does not mean we are yielded to Him working through us
3. Having Him is us does not mean we will bear His fruit in our lives for others
(John 14:25-26; John 16:7; Acts 1:4-5; Thessalonians 5:14-23; Ephesians 4:22-32