What Are the Rivers of Living Water?
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“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:38
As you read through the scriptures sometimes the greatest truths are found in some of the simplest verses. I believe this verse is one of them. Of all the things Jesus said this one verse could paint the greatest picture of what the Christian life is supposed to be. It seems so simple talking about rivers of living water but what are the rivers of living water that Jesus is referring to? I believe when you understand this truth it has the potential to revolutionize the way you view and live your Christian life.
What are the rivers of living water?
For this truth to transform you, it requires you to understand what the rivers of living water are. Thankfully Jesus answers this in the very next verse.
“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.” – John 7:39
The 'rivers of living water' Jesus was referring to is the Spirit of God working in and flowing out of the life of a believer. Up until this time, the Holy Spirit would come upon a believer and then depart. When Jesus makes this statement, he is shifting the paradigm, letting us know the Holy Spirit would no longer just come upon a believer but would dwell within the believer. In fact, if you were to rewrite John 7:38 you could write it this way. Whoever believes in me as Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing within them from the Spirit of God. This one truth alone is enough to transform your life, but we must look further. There are two other words in this verse we need to address to bring this truth into greater light.
What does the word “rivers” represent?
The word rivers here imply something greater than a calm, quiet river, or little stream. This word means a flood or an overabundance. Think of any time you have seen torrential rain and the water flows into the river creating a powerful stream of water that flows over everything in its path. This is how the Holy Spirit should be present and operating in your life. Because of this, I must ask, does the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life right now feel like a trickle, a stream, or an abundant overflow? What Jesus desires and what should be the case in the life of every believer is there should be an abundant overflow of the Spirit of God in your life. When that happens then the rivers of life are flowing within you.
What does the word “flow” represent?
The use of the word flow here is also important because it implies a continuous movement. The word flow means “to move along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream.” When something is flowing it is not static it continues moving in a determined direction. You will also find consistency and steadiness within the flow. As a Christian you should be consistent, steady, and continually moving forward. Before you think you must make this happen on your own, you don’t. The good news is you are not the source of the flow you are simply the channel for it. The more you open your heart to the work of the Holy Spirit, the more he will flow through you. This does not require you to do more or be more, it requires you to surrender more. The more surrendered you are to the Holy Spirit and the more you allow him to work in your life, the steadier and more consistent you will be. Because you are in the flow of the Spirit of God, he will continuously move you along making sure you arrive in the places he wants you to be.
Who does 'rivers of living water' apply to?
Another exciting part of this truth and understanding about the rivers of living water is who this applies to. Jesus said this is for whoever believes in me. This means Jesus intends for you to be a person that overflows with the abundance of the Holy Spirit working in you. This is not reserved for the anointed few but is intended for the believing many. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, which means he is your Savior and your Lord, then the rivers of living water should be flowing from within you. This promise is for every believer. That’s why when you understand the rivers of living water, it will change your life. God desires and expects that the Holy Spirit will be abundant in your life, not just a mere presence. This leads me to ask you again, is the presence of the Holy Spirit abundant in your life? If the answer is yes, fantastic. If the answer is no, then why? The qualifier for the Holy Spirit to flow in your life is to be a believer in Jesus Christ. If you meet that qualification and the stream is not flowing, there are likely two reasons why.
1. Disobedience or sin.
The first thing that will interrupt the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life is if you choose to live in disobedience, which is sin. If you're going to willfully live a sinful lifestyle, then you are going to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. This does not mean he's not dwelling in your heart. What it means is he's not abundantly overflowing in your life. When the spirit of God is abundantly overflowing in your life then you will see the evidence in every area of your life. He will impact your relationships, your decision making, your choices, your interests, and your desires. However, for this to happen you must make room and allow him to flow in your heart. Choosing to live in sin will not remove the Holy Spirit from your life but it will lessen his impact over your life. Instead of rivers of living water you'll end up with trickles or weak little streams.
2. Unbelief.
The second thing that will interrupt the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life is unbelief. By this I mean you simply don't believe the Holy Spirit can or wants to work in you. You reserve this work for other people who you think are more anointed. You think this is for more spiritual people. None of this is true. If you believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit wants to work in you. The reservoir of power available from the Holy Spirit is available to you. You don’t need to wait until next year, nine months from now, or some arbitrary time. This is available to you right now. If you ask God, he will fill you to abundance so the rivers of living water can flow from within you.
What should you do now?
If you remember the definition of the word flow, part of that definition is continuous, which means ongoing. I want to encourage you to step into the flow. Remember you are not the source you are the channel. Your job is to get connected to the source. We live in a day and age where we have all these powerful electronic devices. They have the capability to do absolutely amazing things. Regardless of how much they're able to do they are useless until they're connected to a source of power. They must be plugged in or charged up or they just don't work. You are the same way. God has given you abundant power, a river of living water that dwells within you in the person of the Holy Spirit.
When you get plugged into him and step into the flow you will see his influence in your life. For this reason, my encouragement to you today is simple. Don't be a spectator. Don't stand on the side of the stream but jump in. Make room for the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you. When you commit to this, he will transform you and that overflow will impact those around you. Jesus promised if you believed rivers of living water would flow and now it is time to turn the faucet on and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through your life the way he wants to.
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