John 7:37-39 – “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  39 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.” NKJV

Have you ever considered or thought about how many promises and provisions of the Lord that for one reason or other we fail to utilize?  I think about it a lot and this is one of those situations or provisions that I believe is greatly under-valued and under-utilized by the Body of Christ.

We have numerous places, in Scripture, where Jesus spoke of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit including being our Lawyer, our Companion, our Helper, and our Prayer Partner.  Here Jesus identifies something about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that I’m not sure we fully value.

He speaks about those who are Spiritually Thirsty coming to Him and drinking and the result would be that out of the “heart” or the “innermost being” of the individual there would come a RIVER OF LIVING WATER that would flow out of that person.  Think about what that would mean to not only the individual life but those with whom we come in contact with.  Natural Rivers are a life source for not only the aquatic creatures that live in them but provide life giving nourishment for the animals and birds that come to the river to drink.  They also provide a source of nourishment for the plant life along the river and even provide for irrigation to produce crops that will provide life sustaining food for human beings living along the river.  Wherever the river flows and whatever it touches it brings life!  That is what Jesus is telling us that if we come to Him and “drink of Him” we will become “rivers of life” wherever we go and for whomever we touch and encounter.

He went on to identify that river as being the Holy Spirit thus identifying one of the many ministries and functions of the Holy Spirit within our lives that of bringing LIFE not only to us but to those we encounter, impact, and influence.  Consider a home where those within the home have that river flowing from them on a continual basis.  Consider a business where those in leadership have that river flowing from them on a continual basis.  Consider a nation where the leadership has that river flowing from them on a continual basis.  Consider a church where that river is flowing on a continual basis.  LIFE would be the results!  HEALTH would be the results!  SUCCESS would be the result!  PEACE would be the result!  God would occupy the throne in each of those areas and His Life, Love, and Liberty would be the rule not the exception.  The Holy Spirit is not an “IT” but a real person who has a real ministry.  We need to consider the power and provision of what Jesus has offered here and run to the Well of His Love and drink heartily!

May God bless you as you go through your day!