On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39
“Rivers of living water. … Now this He said about the Spirit,” Flowing from the belly / heart of one indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Since this is language and analogy not found in the Old Testament many try to tie it to the rock Moses spoke to or the rock he struck. But I think it is really about an ‘evidence’ of the work and power of the Holy Spirit which automatically flows out and around the individual because He (Holy Spirit) cannot be ‘contained’. To ‘contain’ Him would mean to squelch Him, and hinder Him from acting in your life. Of course many people do exactly that. We are conditioned to ‘fear’ the consequences of acting different than those around us, so we conform .. to the crowd and mob. The Holy Spirit is one of fire and power, under great precision and action. The Holy Spirit speaks Truth and leads us to Life. The Holy Spirit interprets the Word to our hearts. The Holy Spirit guides us and leads us in the way we should go (our path). The Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Jesus, and shows us Who He really is.
So what exactly would be this “living water”? We should think of the ‘river of Life’ mentioned in scripture. It’s a great research topic. Also the way of obtaining and keeping the flow going is NOT the way we think it is. The way the outflow works is by giving it out, and the inner increase will happen. Our way we think would be by beginning with the inner life and our own resources. That is NOT God’s way. God’s way is to pour out, and you will get .. it will come back with more. Think of the widow with the last of her oil and told to use it by faith. (2 Kings 4) Living water is brimming with LIFE and vitality. It is extremely fresh, fertile, and extremely persistent. All of the characteristics of ‘living water’ are also the same characteristics of the Holy Spirit.
Living water is creative and vibrant. It draws you into it. Once you experienced it .. you always want more, yet is satisfies. The Kingdom of Heaven is filled with things that seem like paradoxes on earth. I definitely feel I’m not doing a good job of representing or describing the Living Water because it is SO much more, yet once you tasted the smallest amount .. it defies description. It’s one of those things you just have to learn by experience.
Pour out when He tells you to, don’t hold back, and don’t fear. Be that surfer and catch the ‘wave’ by paddling as hard as you can — when He says “Go!” And have the ride of your life as He shows you His indescribable power and exhilaration. God wants us to go on adventures with Him. Is He beckoning you to go with Him?