The Eternal Fountain
The Word: John 7:37-44
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. 40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Today’s verses relay the satisfaction and superabundance that is available to us in Christ. Verses 37-38 show us a picture of God’s heart on the last and greatest day of the festival celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The Tabernacle is a model of God’s dream for humanity: to dwell with us and within us. On this day representing His ultimate dream and desire, He invites the people: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Verse 39 reveals the deeper meaning behind the eternal fountain: the Holy Spirit. What a promise! After however many thousands of years of being separated from God after the fall of Adam, Jesus is saying He’s making a way for God’s Spirit to permanently dwell within the people of God.
He describes this as “rivers of living water.” A river has a continual flow. It’s not stagnant or stale. It’s fresh and flowing. That means we don’t have to survive off the occasional spiritual moment we experienced at the last conference we went to. God longs to abide in us through the Holy Spirit, who continuously revives us and refreshes every moment. Regardless of your circumstances or situation, you never have to experience separation from God, not for a moment. If you have received Jesus’ finished work on the cross, the Holy Spirit is dwelling within you and awakens you spiritually to the things of God.
Going back to today’s verses, verses 40-44 show us the mixed response of the people. Some believed He was a prophet, others the Messiah, and some even wanted to seize Him, but no one could lay a hand on Him. His hour had not yet come. Thus, the people were divided over Jesus.
This shows us that one’s response to Jesus is dependent upon that individual’s own heart. God’s Spirit is available to anyone who believes in Him; the question is: are you thirsty for His Spirit?
Application
If you have accepted Christ’s finished work on the cross for yourself and your salvation, that’s only the beginning. God is dwelling within you and wants to flow abundantly in your life, producing fruit in every season.
That means regardless of your circumstances, you can enjoy continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit and continue to grow in your relationship with Him.
As a practical way to cultivate God’s Presence in your life, begin to acknowledge the Holy Spirit within you moment-by-moment. When you’re in a private place, speak to Him aloud. Say “Thank you, Holy Spirit, for guiding me and being with me in the good times and the bad. I love doing life with You.” Begin a conversation with Him, and yield to His direction in your life.
Prayer
Father God, I thank You for the freely flowing and ever-fruitful Holy Spirit You have made available to me by the finished work of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, I invite You to direct my heart in the way that You will. I submit to Your leadership in my life. You lead, and I’ll follow. In Jesus Name, Amen.