WE ARE THE SOURCE OF LIVING WATER TO THE WORLD.
Dearly beloved, I feel compelled to share this disclaimer as a minister of the gospel and a spiritual leader to many emerging ministers. I stand as a defender of the faith and a custodian of the pure doctrines passed down through generations.
Recently, I encountered a preacher on a social media platform who argued that the scripture in John 7:37-38 does not indicate that rivers of living water flow from believers, but rather that this water flows solely from Jesus, who is the fountain.
John 7:37-38 states: “In the last day, that 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.’”** (John 7:39 clarifies that this refers to the Spirit, which believers would receive after Jesus was glorified.)
Firstly, the scripture does not portray Jesus as merely the fountain. The Bible clearly articulates that “this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him shall receive.” The rivers of living water flow from us, the believers who have come to drink of the Spirit.
Throughout the gospels, we see that Jesus desires to share His nature with His disciples. In John 15:5, He says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” When we are in Christ, we reflect His very nature and become an extension of His presence.
In John 4:13-15, Jesus explains how believers can become the source of living water: “Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 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.’”
When you partake of the water that Jesus offers, it becomes a well of water within you, springing up to everlasting life. After the woman’s encounter at the well, Jesus further reveals in John 4:23-24 that the essence of this experience is to understand God as Spirit, and that true worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
The phrase "rivers of living water" has its origins in the Bible, primarily found in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John. The specific reference is in John 7:37-39, where Jesus speaks during the Feast of Tabernacles, inviting those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink. He further explains that those who believe in Him will have "rivers of living water" flowing from within them, which is interpreted to refer to the Holy Spirit.
In Christian theology, "living water" is often interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual life, renewal, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It signifies the necessity of a relationship with Christ for spiritual sustenance and the active presence of God within believers.
The imagery of water is powerful in conveying the idea of cleansing, refreshment, and the ongoing flow of grace and life that believers experience through faith in Jesus.
When you believe in Jesus, rivers of living water will also flow from within you to the world. It is crucial that we preserve the Word of God in its original form, refraining from adding or removing elements in a quest for superior knowledge of established truth.
God has blessed us with the truth of His Word and has given us the Holy Spirit as our guide. This is a straightforward yet profound teaching of the Word of God.
Remain blessed.
Pastor Yinka Yusuf
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