True renewal

The River of Life. The woman at the well had followed the way of her ancestors, but found a better way: (John 4:4-42) Jesus talked to her in a foreign country, and offered to give her water that would satisfy her so much she would never thirst again. The woman did not understand that he meant water that brings a new kind of life in the Holy Spirit that we have never seen before. We look for it, but we cannot find it.

The woman asked Jesus if He was greater than her ancestors were who had dug the well and taught her people to worship God. Jesus told her that He was the one sent by God to show everyone how to truly worship God. This kind of worship satisfies us in a way that nothing else can. It gives us a new life that we never knew was possible.

True, lasting renewal is evident by its fruit: believers minister with strength given by the Spirit of God, the supernatural oil of Zechariah 4:1-6. The third Person of the Trinity helps us to repent, believe in Jesus, understand and obey God's Word.

Any group can try to meet needs as problems occur, but it requires special help, however, from the Spirit of God to develop new, positive, heart-changing ministries. He sheds light on ripe opportunities, like the seven-branched lamp of Zechariah's vision that leaves no corner in shade. We deal with occasional hindrances, of course, but our main work is to do the positive things that God requires in Scripture.

These ministries extend God's kingdom, forcing Satan to flee before us. Some teach a negative holiness that mainly avoids public sins and petty taboos. If to be holy meant only sinlessness, then a toad would be holy! Such legalism keeps men from Jesus. Real holiness and renewal are the result of the Holy Spirit ministering through us when...

We work together as a body, harmonizing our different gift-based ministries in freedom and love (1 Corinthians 12-13).

We pray constantly for His help (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

We cultivate the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

We crucify daily the old desires that grieve Him (Galatians 5:24-25).

We obey the commands of Jesus and His apostles and follow the principles of the Word of God (John 15:10-17).

We close our eyes to His guidance we tend to deal only with negative problems and, as a result, our church becomes ingrown and defensive, cringing before Satan's attacks.

We ask God to lead us and receive His most specific guidance, as Paul did on the way to Troas, while doing what God had already plainly revealed as His will.

When we are obeying what Jesus and His apostles have said plainly in the Bible--then we are ready for more specific guidance. We must be faithful in small aspects of life, before asking for responsibilities requiring more talents. God led Paul to Macedonia, not while he waited idly for guidance, but while on the road doing simply what Jesus had commanded (Acts 16:6-10).