Kingdom Living Waters

Referring to the coming of the Lord, Zechariah 14:8 states: “And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem. Half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur.”

John 4 covers the Samaritan Woman meeting Jesus at the well. Jesus asks her to give Him a drink. She, in turn, asked Jesus why He, a Jew, would ask her, a Samaritan, for a drink from her. Jesus responds with, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:19)

Later, in John 7:38, Jesus spoke out at the Feast of Tabernacles, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

We saw in my last posts how the “rest for the soul” assured by Jesus before His crucifixion and resurrection, became His gift of grace after. Our acceptance of His gift assures our eternal salvation (John 3:16). We show our acceptance of His gift by confessing with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)

Our salvation is assured, but there’s more. He wants us to mature from that salvation. That salvation does not hinge on what we do after acceptance, because it was a gift from God with no attachments. A gift not earned but freely given without strings attached. Along with that gift of salvation comes living water, as noted above in John 4:10. What is this living water? Part of that answer can be found in the verse after the above reference to John 7:38. John 7:39 continues. “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

So, because we believe now, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (living water). But look at the end of John 7:38: “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” That’s little “h.’ This is Jesus speaking but he’s not talking about Himself or the Holy Spirit, but about the believer. Out of the believer’s heart will flow rivers of living water. Out of the heart will flow the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, God has placed Jesus Christ inside each of us. We are each the living temple of God. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh (John 1:14.) Thus the Word is in each of us. Thus through the Holy Spirit, we have access to the Word, living and breathing in us.

Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water! We are not to hoard this gift. This is a gift to be shared with others, believers and non-believers alike. We sharpen our swords by being in community with like-minded believers, sharing God’s Word and maturing in our understanding. We are to participate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) by sharing God’s Word with non-believers and making disciples of all nations.

That is the general nature of the “living waters’ that flows through us. There are also specific aspects of the “living waters.” In addition to the general gifts God gives all of us as believers, He also gives us individual gifts and talents (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10) to equip us and appoints some of us specific duties (Ephesians 4:11-16.)

Thus, we are not to rest on our laurels or hoard the gifts given to us. God has called us to action. He calls us (Come to me), equips us (gives rest for the soul and indwells us through the Holy Spirit) and sends us out to spread His Word and gather disciples (action on our part.)

Next we’ll look at an aspect of spreading God’s Word through our actions. Until then continue to be Blessed.