Rivers of Living Water - by Jim Tharp

“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. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 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.” (John 7:37-39)

The above precious words, which were spoken by Jesus a short while before He died on the cross to save lost souls, should be stamped in gold letters on every Christian believer! Many people had gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, and it was the last day of the feast when all the ceremonies had come to a close. At this critical moment Jesus stepped forward to speak out clearly with conviction and compassion, seeking to impress upon believers that His work would not be finished when He had been slain on the cross and had risen from the dead. He would then return to heaven to be with His Heavenly Father, and they would send the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower praying believers who were hungry for what Jesus had promised—these “rivers of living water.” 

That morning finally came, when after His crucifixion on the third day and after 40 days of appearing as the Risen Christ among His believers, Jesus spoke His final words to 500 believers gathered to hear Him. We read in Acts 1:4-8 that He commanded them that they were not to depart from Jerusalem until they had returned to that city to begin praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As soon as Jesus had spoken those words in verse 8, He ascended to heaven. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.” (Acts 1:10-12)

Finally, 120 of those 500 followers of Jesus made their way to that Upper Room to pray ten days for those “rivers of living water!” And, we read in Acts 2:1-4 how Christ kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit to those who met His conditions: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Throughout the second chapter of Acts we see the power of these “rivers of living water” flowing through the apostles and believers who had been filled with the Holy Spirit. This same power that had been within Jesus was now ready to work within these Spirit-filled believers! The Holy Spirit would use their message to convict lost souls of sin, calling them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. On the first day, 3,000 people heard the Gospel, repented of sin, believed in Jesus as Savior, were baptized, and became part of the first Christian Church in Jerusalem. The Church Age had begun. The Holy Spirit would empower the messengers to spread the Gospel to the ends of earth as long as believers hungered for “rivers of living water!”

At this late hour, it is high time for Christians in all churches to awaken to their need for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to prepare the Church and the world for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Our world desperately needs professing Christians to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse from sin and bring new life to the church.  

 

Closing Prayer: Oh, God, our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name I plead for a rushing, mighty wind to breath fresh fire and fresh faith into millions of cold-hearted Christians! Please bring Your church alive with Spirit-anointed praying and gospel messages that will be used to convict of sin, of righteous, and of the coming judgment. Give professing Christians a burden to fast and pray for the salvation of lost loved ones, neighbors, and friends. Lord, pour out Your Spirit on the Church and the world with the greatest spiritual awakening in all of church history. Please, Lord, get us ready for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Note: All scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.