Echoes Into Eternity - Living Water
What is so special about flowing water?
One of God's creative gifts to mankind.
Water is essential to human life.
Over 60% of our body is composed of water. It’s in our bones, our organs and blood. Water regulates our body temperature, digestion, circulation and waste elimination. Dehydration impairs physical and cognitive performance. Even mild dehydration causes headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration. Without water, life stops. Humans need about two to three quarts of water each day to maintain good health, more if you are exercising.
On a community scale, water is needed for washing, personal hygiene, food production and public sanitation. Sufficient amounts of water allow for public health and societal stability. Lack of community water impacts all areas of human life.
Jesus had a conversation with a woman at a well one day where He told us about a special kind of water.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
11 She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:7-14
Living Water? What could he possibly mean by this image?
The great 20th century English writer and wit Malcolm Muggeridge wrote:
“I might pass for being a relatively successful man. People occasionally stare at me in the streets – that’s fame. I can fairly easily earn enough to qualify for admission to the higher slopes of the Inland Revenue (British Income Tax) – that’s success.
Furnished with money and a little fame, even the elderly, if they care to, may partake of trendy diversions – that’s pleasure. It might happen once in a while that something I said or wrote was sufficiently heeded for me to persuade myself that it represented a serious impact on our time – that’s fulfillment.
Yet I say to you, and I beg you to believe me, multiply these tiny triumphs by a million, add them all together, and they are nothing – less thank nothing, a positive impediment – measured against one draught of that living water Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty, irrespective of who or what they are.
What, I ask myself, does life hold, what is there in the works of time, in the past, now and to come, which could possibly be put in the balance against the refreshment of drinking that water?” Jesus Rediscovered, 1969
One of his famous quotes:
"Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream".
The Living Water that Malcolm Muggeridge is referring to is that offered by Jesus Himself.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38
God desires to give each of us this “river of living water”, yet the reality is that there are many blockages to the flow of this spring in our lives. Our life experience here on Earth often results in unforgiveness, hurts that are not healed, and beliefs that fall outside of God’s principles for living. In addition, generational issues and outright demonic oppression reduce the flow of “Living Water”.
As a disciple of Jesus, we should be sensitive to these blockages of that “perpetual spring” and be diligent to “keep the spring clean and flowing”.
Think back on your own journey.
· What was the effect of those times when you chose to hold on to an offense, rather than forgive?
· How were you affected by often careless but sometimes purposed words spoken that resulted in hurt feelings?
· How has your belief system changed as you compared your own “natural thinking” to the principles in God’s Word?
· Have you noticed behavioral patterns in your own life that reflect behavior in your parents and grandparents?
· Are you being blessed in areas of your life that have nothing to do with your “merit”?
· When was the last time you came under spiritual attack? How did you respond?
Jesus calls us to constantly grow in our relationship with him, and to become spiritually mature. In The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus says six times “You have heard it said…but I say…” and teaches us about angry words and broken relationships, adultery, divorce, honesty in our words, revenge, and how we treat all people. He finishes this portion by saying:
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
The Greek word translated “perfect” is “teleios” which according to the Dictionary of Biblical Languages can mean “perfect”, “genuine”, or “complete” but in this passage means “mature in one’s behavior”.
Becoming more mature in our behavior only happens after spending time with the Master.
Intimacy and maturity are synonymous. Intimacy with Him will result in forgiveness given to others, hurts healed, changed hearts and thinking, and awareness of those generational issues. This is spiritual maturity.
Jesus speaks about removing these obstacles to the flow of His life through ours in Matthew 7:
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it”. Matthew 7:1-14 NLT
We often read this passage of Scripture in separate paragraphs, not connecting each to the overall context of this portion. Reading these verses within their context provides us with a profound understanding of Jesus’ desire to remove the obstacles that hold us back in our relationship with him and others.
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
When we find ourselves judging others, it is an indicator that the issues that are annoying us may in fact be our issues as well. The standard that we apply to others will be applied to us.
first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
‘Specks’ can be easily washed away. It is the ‘logs’ that jam up the flow. We should be first concerned about “un-jamming” our flow of that Living Water, so that we may be free and understanding God’s perspective on our issues.
‘Seeing Clearly’ with compassion enables us to help others remove the obstacles from their flow.
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine,
Timing is essential when delivering any message from God. (‘What is Holy; Pearls’)
God may give you a word for that person you are with, but has He given you permission to speak that Word to him? Have you noticed how those words of correction often backfire? Those we seek to help often turn to attack us. God’s timing in removing specks is critical. Just because we are aware of a speck on another’s eye doesn’t mean we are to remove that speck at that moment.
Good intentions and instruction often fall victim to poor timing and delivery!
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
If we seek God’s perspective on our issues, He says that He will give us answers. He will open the door to understanding, and show us His solutions, using His wisdom and power.
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
It is essential that in this process of removing the logs and specks, we treat others as we would want them to treat us in the same situation. This is a lifestyle of considering others before ourselves.
Empathy and compassion are essential elements to successfully helping others remove specks and logs from their eyes. People respond to kindness and gentleness when confronted with personal issues.
Remember, when we point that finger of judgement toward others, there are three fingers pointing back toward us.
Our society has many professional counselors, social workers, psychologists, and spiritual advisors. Universities offer professional training in personal issue resolution. Our libraries are filled with self-help books, and many internet resources are directed toward this process of removing the obstacles to living your best life. Personal happiness is the goal of many.
God’s path to removing the obstacles to His flow is very specific and “narrow” by the world’s standards. Happiness is not an achievable objective on its own, but rather a byproduct of others-centered living and experiencing the presence of God in our lives on a regular basis. The world offers a wide gate to happiness – Pleasure, Possession and Prestige, yet these paths ultimately fall short of true peace, satisfaction and happiness. It can only come from walking with God along His path of righteous living.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27
In our fast pace society, it is easy to overlook so much of the process that God is attempting to work out in our own hearts to make us more effective in our walk in this world. We ought to be a living spring naturally overflowing unto many lives and provoking many along the way to come to partake of Christ in us. This is the lifestyle of a true disciple.
But sometimes there are kinks in the hose of Living Water; Other times we have no room in our reservoir to store the flow that Christ is giving us.
A few years ago, we spent a few days in the Wilderness of Zin, in the Negev Desert in the southern part of Israel. We were near the Red Sea, in a very remote spot, for a time of reflection after a busy two months of travel and study. We trekked for three days in the Negev with five camels and nine friends along with our guides Shaiya and Yael.
The desert is a good place to go to listen to God. There is an absence of modern noise, and life gets down to the basics. It’s just you, your camel, the rocks and sand, and God’s creation. We slept under the stars, made bread, cooked over an open fire, and even had a wolf invade our camp one night and carry off three bags.
One of the most memorable places we stopped in the Wilderness of Zin was a waterfall.
Yes, it does rain in the Wilderness of Zin an average of 2 to 4 inches. The rainfall forms streams and over the years the streams carve out canyons or wadis. This particular wadi (riverbed), called the Wadi Isaron, has a 150 foot drop to a natural pool/cistern below. When it rains there is a beautiful waterfall.
We were at this same waterfall in September on our first camel trip, and there was water below in the pool. The second time was in March, seven years later at the end of the rainy season, and the cistern was dry. I asked our guide Shaiya why, and he gave me an explanation that has deep spiritual significance.
Shaiya told me that the annual evaporation rate in the desert is 4.5 meters or about 14 feet a year. That means that if you have a standing pool of water 14 feet deep, after a year of no rainfall, all the water will naturally evaporate and the pool will be empty. The Bedouins, the desert people of Israel, know this, and they annually would come to this pool, and clean it out, removing all the rocks and sand, which can naturally fill it, so that it’s depth would be at least 5 to 8 meters (16-25 feet deep). This way, when it did rain, and the river formed, and the waterfall suddenly came to life, water would fill the cistern, and there would be water all year in the pool.
The Bedouins could then count on having a secure place to come for water. This is a very important factor in desert life.
The key is to keep the cistern clean. If you didn’t, the pool would become shallow due to sand and rock filling it, and even though the pool would be filled during the rainy season, water would quickly evaporate. After a few months, the pool would be dry.
Shaiya explained that a Bedouin family who lived to the east in Moab would cross into Israel each year and clean this pool, so that they would have a secure place of water in their yearly grazing and wanderings. Due to the political problems, and closed borders, this tribe had not come to the pool for the past few years, and the pool/cistern had filled with sand and rocks.
Even though there had been plenty of rain, there was no place to “catch and hold” the water.
As I thought about this, suddenly I realized a spiritual principle. God has made me to be a “container” for His Living Water.
But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Is 64:8
He wants to continually fill our container with His Holy Spirit- The Living Water.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Eph 5:18
However, often my ‘container’ gets filled with other things.
What things?
- Me, My Desires, Things that the world system tells me I should be doing or desiring.
- Distractions, Emotions that have nothing to do with God.
- Schedules filled with activities that have no spiritual significance.
- Not living in the present moment but focusing on past hurts and disappointments or expectations for the future.
Many things fill my “container”. Think about what things naturally fill your container. Simply turn on a television, or go to the internet, and watch how suddenly your container gets filled with stones and sand.
The result is that there is little room for the Living Water of the Holy Spirit in my container.
Even when I do get a “filling” at church, or in a private worship or prayer time, or through a rich reading of the Word time, my cistern is so crowded with other “stuff” that I don’t get enough to last me. It naturally evaporates over the next few days, and once again I find myself dry and thirsty, looking for refreshment.
The Bedouins knew that if they kept their cisterns clean, there would always be water there to refresh then, even during the driest times.
There is a lesson here for me, which I meditated on during the next few days as we walked around the Negev. I determined that I would keep my spiritual cistern, my vessel, clean, and always have more than what would naturally evaporate so that I could be a sprinkler of Living Water to those that God brings into my presence.
This requires a renewed focus on experiencing the presence of God in my personal life.
I need regular filling through reading His Words to me (The Bible).
Talking to God throughout the day is important- we must have a daily conversation.
My conversations with my brothers and sisters about what God is doing in their lives is also important to me understanding what God is doing in my own.
Singing songs about Him as I am driving or in my office, and listening to others sing about Him is another avenue of experiencing Him.
It’s essential that we Children of God keep our vessels clean, so that He may fill them with Living Water up to overflowing.
If that happens, then there is a lot of Spiritual Fruit in our lives, because we have an abundant amount of the Holy Spirit with us, even in those troubled moments. We won’t react according to our human nature to circumstances but continue to walk through life as God intends us to by loving Him, and those He places around us.
Paul gave an example of this principle of “keeping the vessel clean” to his friends in Thessalonica when he wrote:
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 1 Thess 4:1-4
In Greek culture, every young lady had a loutrophoros, a two handled vase, in her room filled with water which there for one purpose: to bathe on her wedding day. It was the water for her nuptial bath. This vase was kept pure and clean for this special event. If a woman died without marrying, this loutrophros was placed on her grave. I’ve seen them in cemeteries in Athens.
Paul was using this culturally common example to speak to his friends in Thessaloniki about the importance of “keeping the cistern clean”. This was in regard to sexual issues, but the principle applies across the board with all our “issues”.
We are the Bride of Christ! We must keep our vessels clean!
God wants to use you today to touch someone who is in need of His Love.
Are our cisterns filled with sand and rocks?
Do we have enough ‘water’ to get us through even the driest times?
Banyas Waterfall during the dry season. Israel
Let the Living Water flow, let it fill us up to overflowing, and let it refresh us and all those around us!
Banyas Waterfall during the rainy season.
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