Guy Duininck: Out of Your Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water
Sometimes believers lose awareness of the Most Significant Realities of the New Testament. One of the Great of these Realities is that the Holy Spirit Himself, the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, comes to indwell those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus declared,
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive...” John 7:37-38
According to Jesus, those who believed on Him would receive the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit in them would be like rivers of living water flowing out of their bellies. The word “river” Jesus used comes from the Greek potamos and can mean, “a stream, a river, a torrent, floods.”
Too often, we look everywhere for refreshing, for power, for help, for encouragement, and for wisdom except to our Great Helper, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who dwells in us! Too often, we run to events, respond to "Christian marketing" and lean on others. Too often, we draw on others when we feel discouraged and depend on others for refreshing and direction.
Paul said,
"Be Continually Being Filled with the Spirit, SPEAKING TO YOURSELVES..."
Notice Paul did not say, "Speaking to others or listening to others speak."
I encourage you today to go First to your own belly when you have a need; Go First to your Great Helper, the Holy Spirit, Who indwells you. Cultivate that relationship with Him. Don't forfeit one of the Greatest Realities of the New Covenant through Neglect !
Learn to learn from The Holy Spirit. Develop a sensitivity to His voice. Ask Him to inspire your thoughts and direct your steps. Ask Him to guide you into All Truth. Draw the waters of Salvation from your own well. Let the Rivers rise in you till they are a Torrent. Let the Living Waters make all things New in You.
Out of your Own Belly shall flow streams, rivers, floods, even a torrent of Living Water — this Living Water is the Holy Spirit Whom you have already received!
