Living Water!

"Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)" John 7:38,39 NLT)

Without water, not much lives on our planet. Even though water covers most the planet, if we do not have water and many don't have access to water, people and things die. The deserts are dry because of a lack of water. In a drought when the rain doesn't fall, things die because of a lack of water. Even though our bodies contain a great deal of water, when we get dehydrated, some people faint and others may die because of a lack of water.

Without water, nothing grows--all vegetation suffers, animal life suffers, and we as people suffer for if there is nothing growing, there is no food and we die. This is the result of a lack of "natural" water. Without water, there is no life.

Spiritual water gives life, too--it is born and ignited within us by Holy Spirit and only those who believe that Jesus is will be able to drink the "living water" and have it flow from them. Without the living water, there is no life in the lives of Christians because it is Holy Spirit that gives life-flowing water (the ability to share The Word accurately and love unconditionally).

If Holy Spirit is not in charge of our worship services--there is no life in the building and the service is dry and dead. This is one of the reasons that many churches cease to exist--they have no life--and Holy Spirit was not allowed to ignite those who say they believe.

There are many people who claim they are "filled with the Spirit" but I often wonder--which spirit fills them. Angry, jealous, envious people cannot be filled with Holy Spirit. Mean, abusive, derogatory people cannot be filled with Holy Spirit. Deceitful, manipulative, criminal-minded people cannot be filled with Holy Spirit--so there is only one other spirit left to fill them--the demonic spirits that reign in the land, and easily influence those who are not filled with Holy Spirit.

Those who are filled with demonic spirits oppose everything God has said. The church leadership does not lead according to God's plan (clearly spelled out in His Word), but according to their own plans. The praise and worship is manipulated by cheerleaders and the service becomes a rally and Satan sits back enjoying every moment. By the time The Word should come forth for the benefit of the people, the people are too tired to received from all their jumping, dancing and shouting and The Word (from them or from God), falls upon "dry ground."

When Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born of water (the natural water involved in child-birth) and of the spirit, Nicodemus wondered how he could return to his mother's womb a second time. He did not understand--the natural water allows a child to survive within the womb, but it is the "living water" of Holy Spirit that helps to survive outside of the womb.

Without water we die--without living water--we fade away into nothingness--devoid of true feelings and lacking true knowledge.

Let's go to the fountain and drink--believing Jesus is all He said He is and be filled with "living water" so out of our bellies, living water (God's Truth) will also flow.