“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39
We all know that it’s beneficial to drink water, but do we know why?
According to a Harvard Medical Report, water carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells, flushes bacteria from our bladder, aides digestion, normalises blood pressure, stabilises heartbeat, protects organs and tissue, and regulates body temperature. Not drinking enough water can result in dehydration, weakness, low blood pressure, dizziness and confusion. So, if natural water is essential to keep us alive, how much more do we need God’s ‘living water’. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the ‘rivers of living water’. The term ‘living’ relates to the quality of the water - it brings life. The term ‘river’ relates to the quantity of the water - it never runs dry!
In John chapter 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and reveals the personal benefit of God’s ‘living’ water. He explains that those who drink will never thirst again and that this water will spring up into eternal life. This life, God’s life, touches every part of our lives bringing deliverance, freedom, restoration, wholeness, protection, healing and peace in every situation. By contrast, in John chapter 7, Jesus takes us beyond the personal benefit of His ‘living’ water. We now begin to see that Jesus wants us to be conduits through which His ‘living’ water can flow. There is a wonderful picture of the life that flows from God’s river in Ezekiel chapter 47. Verse 9 says, ‘There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.’ The river brings an abundance of life everywhere it goes.
Jesus performed His miracles, not as God, but as a man anointed with the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 says, ‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’ That is why we can do the same works as Jesus today. Not because we are special but because we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. So how do you let these ‘rivers of living water’ flow from your heart?
Simply believe! Jesus said, ‘Whoever believes in me’ (v38).
Mark chapter 16 says that signs, like healing, will follow those who ‘believe’ (v17). It doesn’t say the signs follow the pastor, the evangelist, the one who prays and fasts all day, the one who makes no mistakes, the one who is perfect. It says the one who ‘believes’. So today, believe in Jesus, believe in who you are ‘in Jesus’, believe that the Holy Spirit resides in you and believe that He wants to flow from you.
Now step out, in Jesus name, and see His rivers of living water bring life to those around you.
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Who Do You Say I Am Series – Exchange Church Belfast 2020