Let The River Flow
by Molly Wingard
Joy In The Lord Ministries - Redfield, AR
 John 7:37-39 (KJV) "In the last days, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
Here is an invitation to come to Christ, and a promise of comfort and happiness in Him.
Many people were gathered together, and the invitation was given to many in hopes that some would accept it.
That invitation is still valid today. If we can say or do anything to help men to heaven, this is the time. To those who turn a deaf ear to His preaching; He will try them again, and if they hear Him, they shall live.
Now is the time to receive Christ because none of us are assured of tomorrow. His desire is that all make take notice of His invitation. For everyone that hath an ear let him hear the word.
Isaiah 55:1-5 (KJV) "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me , and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee."
God’s abundant life is free that they may enjoy His gracious, abundant meal (true satisfaction in Him).
God wants His people to be fully devoted to Him. God knows our hearts and knows whether what we do and say has integrity. We are to continually seek God’s face and to be totally devoted to Him. If any man desires is to be true and happy, he needs to be under God’s authority.
John 4:14 (KJV) "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
Provision is made not only for the "now" satisfaction but for "always". The graces and comforts of the Spirit are compared to living water because they are the active principles of spiritual life and the beginning of eternal life. The comfort flows plenty and constant as a river; strong as a stream, to bear down on the oppositions of doubts and fears. Flowing out of the belly, that is, out of the heart or soul, which is the Spirit working. Grace and comfort produce good actions, a holy heart will be seen in a holy life. Proverbs 10:11 (KJV) "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
It’s a promise to all that believe on Christ that they will receive the Holy One. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the great blessings promised to us in the new covenant. Acts 2:39 (KJV) "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
The Spirit dwelling and working in every believer is a fountain of living water, with which plentiful streams will flow. John 3:5 (KJV) "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
The death of Jesus was sometimes called his glorification. (John 13:31) In the cross He conquered and triumphed. The gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased by the blood of Jesus. Until the price was paid the Holy Ghost was not given.
Acts 1:4-5 (KJV) "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
At Pentecost the Holy Ghost was made available to all who believed in Him. We receive the Holy Ghost when we receive Jesus as our Savior. We cannot be a Child of God without His Spirit; Romans 8:9 (KJV) "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." We cannot be adopted as his children without his Spirit; Galatians 4: 6-7 (KJV) "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
The Spirit is the power of our new lives. He begins a long life change making us more like Him. When we receive Jesus Christ by faith, we begin our personal relationship with God. The Holy Ghost can be experienced by all of God’s Children and He works through us all. Ephesians 4: 3-6 (KJV) "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
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