Download Rivers Of Living Water
Bok Miklas
As you read through the scriptures sometimes the greatest truths are found in some of the simplest verses. I believe this verse is one of them. Of all the things Jesus said this one verse could paint the greatest picture of what the Christian life is supposed to be. It seems so simple talking about rivers of living water but what are the rivers of living water that Jesus is referring to? I believe when you understand this truth it has the potential to revolutionize the way you view and live your Christian life.
The 'rivers of living water' Jesus was referring to is the Spirit of God working in and flowing out of the life of a believer. Up until this time, the Holy Spirit would come upon a believer and then depart. When Jesus makes this statement, he is shifting the paradigm, letting us know the Holy Spirit would no longer just come upon a believer but would dwell within the believer. In fact, if you were to rewrite John 7:38 you could write it this way. Whoever believes in me as Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing within them from the Spirit of God. This one truth alone is enough to transform your life, but we must look further. There are two other words in this verse we need to address to bring this truth into greater light.
The word rivers here imply something greater than a calm, quiet river, or little stream. This word means a flood or an overabundance. Think of any time you have seen torrential rain and the water flows into the river creating a powerful stream of water that flows over everything in its path. This is how the Holy Spirit should be present and operating in your life. Because of this, I must ask, does the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life right now feel like a trickle, a stream, or an abundant overflow? What Jesus desires and what should be the case in the life of every believer is there should be an abundant overflow of the Spirit of God in your life. When that happens then the rivers of life are flowing within you.
1. Disobedience or sin.
The first thing that will interrupt the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life is if you choose to live in disobedience, which is sin. If you're going to willfully live a sinful lifestyle, then you are going to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. This does not mean he's not dwelling in your heart. What it means is he's not abundantly overflowing in your life. When the spirit of God is abundantly overflowing in your life then you will see the evidence in every area of your life. He will impact your relationships, your decision making, your choices, your interests, and your desires. However, for this to happen you must make room and allow him to flow in your heart. Choosing to live in sin will not remove the Holy Spirit from your life but it will lessen his impact over your life. Instead of rivers of living water you'll end up with trickles or weak little streams.
If you remember the definition of the word flow, part of that definition is continuous, which means ongoing. I want to encourage you to step into the flow. Remember you are not the source you are the channel. Your job is to get connected to the source. We live in a day and age where we have all these powerful electronic devices. They have the capability to do absolutely amazing things. Regardless of how much they're able to do they are useless until they're connected to a source of power. They must be plugged in or charged up or they just don't work. You are the same way. God has given you abundant power, a river of living water that dwells within you in the person of the Holy Spirit.
When you get plugged into him and step into the flow you will see his influence in your life. For this reason, my encouragement to you today is simple. Don't be a spectator. Don't stand on the side of the stream but jump in. Make room for the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you. When you commit to this, he will transform you and that overflow will impact those around you. Jesus promised if you believed rivers of living water would flow and now it is time to turn the faucet on and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through your life the way he wants to.
But there are two references to living, flowing water. Ezekiel 47:1ff and Zechariah 14:8. Both references are speaking of the future temple in the Millennial kingdom and pictures water flowing from the temple. However neither of these references point to the Holy Spirit in the way that John does in his gospel.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ooh! What a great verse for this discussion! I like the picture of God strengthening the frame and I can picture a vine in a garden needing support and water in order to grow. Thanks for sharing it, Rita, and thanks for reading and commenting!
That Jesus in John 37 was in affect saying I am the salvation Isaiah spoke of. And if you believe in me, the temple of the Spirit will live in you and like in Ez 36, 47 and Zec 14 flowing rivers come from the temple but one now within your newly cleansed heart (Ez 36) Jonathan Cahn referenced one old testament scripture so I investigated further and came to your blog. It helped to take me so much deeper into this great mystery revealed. Oh the depths of His wisdom! Thanks for inviting us all to go deeper.
Thus John was not exiled to a physical Island of Patmos. John, like Ezekiel, was caught up in a Holy Ghost induced coma. A flowing river of living water. Greek: Potos Patamos. Potos is the Greek word for drinking bout. Potamos is the Greek word for river. The Apostles where caught up too on the Day of Pentecost in this flowing river of living water.
seems like a separate incident to the preceeding story of jesus crying out during te last day of the feast. about him giving rivers of living water , but in reality What happened was a fulfilment of Jeremiah 17:13 .
that during 2nd temple period one of the scriptures recited during the festivities of the water libation , where the Priest would go down to the well of Siloam and draw water in a silver jug and take it up to the temple to pour on the Altar as they prayed for rain was the reading of This passage from Jeremiah.
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O Lord, the hope of Israel,
All who forsake You will be put to shame.
Those who turn away on earth will be written down,
Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.
And in that day
The mountains will drip with sweet wine,
And the hills will flow with milk,
And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water;
And a spring will go out from the house of the Lord
To water the valley of Shittim.
Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ...
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. ...
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