Rivers of life (Rivers of living water)
Rivers of life (Rivers of living water)
John 7:37-39.
The first dimension of this concept of living water was elucidated in a previous piece titled The Water of Life (eternal life). These two are linked in the sense that eternal life is what precedes and produces the Rivers of life. Rivers of life refers to the outworkings and the manifestations of eternal life. For instance, take a laptop as an example. You may possess a laptop but you need to know how to boot and operate it to perform the various functionalities of browsing, gaming, reading, coding, etc. The way and manner you make use of the laptop relies heavily on your knowledge of its capabilities.
The selected text begins with a piece of key information to unlock the great mystery of this concept, which is “If any man thirsts”. This symbolizes an intense desire for water or any adjoining connotation e.g. knowledge, invention, etc. But in this context, it connotes an intense desire by anyone saved and who already possesses eternal life for more of God – John 4:14; Revelation 22:17; Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 12:3.
The full manifestation of the dimensions of eternal life is found in the baptism of the Holy Ghost – John 7:39; Isaiah 44:3. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving entity of the trinity, He is the breath of Zoe (the God-life) – Eze 37:10; and He is the golden candlesticks that shine to reflect the different dimensions of the Godhead- Revelation 1:12,13. Therefore, a life without the full and continuous measure of the Holy Spirit will be devoid of the full experience of God.
God has promised that they who have believed in Him and desire it would be gifted with this critical personality who will be in them a never-drying fountain of the realities of God – Revelation 21:6; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Joel 2:28,29. Wait on the Lord and receive the promise – Luke 24:49.
Mediation
Come to the river of life
You will find healing there
Come to the river of life
Come and drink freely here
Come if your heart is searching
O, come if your soul is thirsty
Draw near and drink of
The mercy of Jesus Christ, oh yes
And the river of life.
There is a river
Whose strems make glad
The city of God, the city of God
So come if you’re wounded or sad
There is a river, there is a river
Come to the river of life
You will find healing there
Come to the river of life
Come and drink freely here
Come if your heart is searching
O, come if your soul is thirsty
Draw near and drink of
The mercy of Jesus Christ, oh yes
And the river of life.
It flows from the land of eternal life
Where there’s no more sorrow
And no more night into the hearts
That are lifted to Him
Filling his children again and again and again
Come to the river of life
You will find healing there
Come to the river of life
Come and drink freely here
Come if your heart is searching
O, come if your soul is thirsty
Draw near and drink of
The mercy of Jesus Christ, oh yes
And the river of life.
Draw near and drink of
The mercy of Jesus Christ
At the river of life.
[Repeat]