Rivers

Last week we were talking about living water. I found it funny that as I was writing about living water, the take away for me from that post was to listen and add weight to God’s voice and His word in my life. Then this verse popped up, Jesus said, “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” John 6:63.

That is essentially what Isaiah was telling us. That if we are thirsty, what we need to do is come to the well [Jesus] and drink [listen]. Jesus tells us that His words, the words He has spoken to you are spirit and life. That got me super happy because when we fast forward to John 7:37-39 it says,

“Then on the most important day of the feast, the last day, Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds—“All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink!Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!”Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive.But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in his full splendor.”

John 7:37-39.

So the living water Isaiah was telling us about and the One Jesus was talking about at the well with the Samaritan woman is a He. He is a Person and He is the Holy Spirit. So when Jesus says His words are spirit and life, in essence He just told us that His words are Living water. His words are not empty words. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So also will be the word that I speak; it does not return to me unfulfilled.My word performs my purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.”

If God wants to get things done, He sends His word and when He sends His word, His words are spirit and life, we can’t afford to ignore them. It is up to us to listen. I like how Isaiah 55 also told us to “come closer” to Him. If someone is standing on one side of a full room and says something, the people around them may hear but as we get further away less people will catch what’s been said. We need to move in closer with God so we can get the living water we so desperately need. 

God doesn’t just want to give us a sip. Jesus told the woman at the well that there was a gift that God wanted to give us. How blessed are we that we live in a world and in a time where the Holy Spirit is with us? We have the marvellous gift of the Holy Spirit and what an awesome gift He is! We have access to Living water. Wherever we are. Whatever situation we are in, whatever time of day it is, Holy Spirit is always available. And not in dribs and drabs. If we go to Jesus believing in Him, He promises rivers of living water will burst out from within us. 

Why then would you waste another day being thirsty? Get in the Presence of Jesus, spend some time with Him. Listen to His word. Listen to what He has to say. Put a sermon on. Put some worship music on. Whatever you gotta do, do it so you can get that river flowing yet again.

Love and blessings

Melissa Tsingano