Rivers of Living Water

Ed McClanahan

I find it interesting how Jesus used real life examples to make comparisons to a biblical principle. And since I’ve always been captivated by rivers and streams, particularly those that run over rocks and create change in both the appearance and sound of the water, I’ve taken special interest in Jesus’ words in John 7 where he talks about rivers of living water. Jesus is clearly using the image of water to depict the Spirit of God.

John 7:38-39:
"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."

I also find it interesting that researchers from Northwestern University and the University of New Mexico recently found evidence for potentially oceans worth of water deep beneath the United States. They apparently found that the ingredients for water are bound up in rock deep in the Earth's mantle, the discovery of which may represent the planet's largest water reservoir. Researchers have also discovered places in the ocean where heated water seems to be streaming out from the earth’s crust. 

Water is such an important substance that God created it to be everywhere, and then He used it to explain how His Spirit could be everywhere as well.

Do you have rivers of living water flowing from within your soul? Jesus said by believing in Him this would be automatic. But then James tells us in chapter 2 verse 19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

So we have to take our faith in Jesus and apply it…..really do something with it. James made it clear that faith without action is dead. It isn’t really faith at all. 

How do we bring action to our faith? The early church in Acts chapter 2 gives us some great examples.

1. Creating habits
Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
2. Building community
Acts 2:44, And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
3. Generosity
Acts 2:45, “They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
4. Faithfulness
Acts 2:46-47, “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.”
5. Transformation
Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Lord, help us to get these rivers flowing from within us. Fill us with your spirit that we might infect those around us with the love of Christ.