Warm hellos once again friends, brethren, fellow laborers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.
I remember as a young man, I always enjoyed being around water. Where I grew up the Platte and Missouri rivers were not far away. Fishing and hunting was enjoyed, and swimming on occasion also. Some great memories!
One of the things I remember clearly, is how in the early spring, after the melting of the ice had begun, that the currents of the river flowed ever so swiftly! What was once serene and gentle became at times torrential and highly dangerous.
While driving home earlier in the week from Mississippi, it rained most of the way home. Where we stayed on a farmette while in MS, they had not had any rain for a very long time. The ground was so hard we used lag bolts to attach a greenhouse to the soil. On our way home, while driving, I pondered the properties of water and thought perhaps a comparison of flowing (or living) water with the Holy Spirit might be interesting to all.
Water is a marvelous “invention” of our great Creator. Water is absolutely vital to life. Our human bodies are composed of about 65 per cent water. Human beings must take in about 2-1/2 quarts (2.4 liters) of water a day to maintain stable health and body functions.
Watery solutions help dissolve nutrients and carry them to all parts of an organism. Through chemical reactions, the organism turns nutrients into energy, or into materials it needs to grow or to repair itself. These chemical reactions can take place only in a watery solution. Finally, the organism needs water to carry away waste products.
Water is termed “the universal solvent”. The chemical structure and bipolar nature of water is part of the reason for this property. Water dissolves and carries the nutrients in the soil to plants and to the cells within plants. Water also dissolves the food that people and animals eat, and then carries this food to the cells.
Most substances contract as they grow colder. But when water is cooled, it contracts only until its temperature reaches 39 °F (4 °C). Water expands when it becomes colder than 39 °F. For this reason, when ice forms at 32 °F (0 °C), it floats on liquid water. If ice sank, the earth would become a lifeless arctic desert. Each winter, more and more ice would pile up on the bottom of lakes, rivers, and oceans. Our awesome God sure took into account all the details when creating things!
When water as rainfall comes down in a controlled way, and flows in a tranquil way, and when waves on lakes and oceans gently move, then water is beautiful and is a blessing. But when rainfall water comes down as a huge long lasting downpour, it is destructive. When rivers and streams overflow their banks and rampage through towns and inhabited areas the water becomes dangerous and deadly. I have a message on our website entitled “When it Rains, I hear Voices” from June 11, 2022. This historical event was a great example of deadly and dangerous water.
More than once I’ve spent a sleepless night sandbagging to protect brethren’s homes near the Platte River in Nebraska when I was growing up.
In the future restoration God will send rain in season and provide springs of water to irrigate the land of Israel. “I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.” (Isaiah 41:18) God will heal the land and heal humans as well. ” . . . Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water . . .” (Isaiah 35:6-7)
The Scriptures use the picture and positive properties of water to symbolize the working of God’s Spirit.
Notice the comparisons made in the book of Isaiah. “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:3) “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
The Messiah used similar comparisons to teach about the coming of the Holy Spirit. The positive influence of God’s Spirit is contrasted with “the spirit of the world” and destructive influence of the “god of this age” and “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2)
One of my favorite scriptures is this one. “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39)
After His resurrection and before His ascension Jesus told the disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) He referred to the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) that was poured out on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) and filled the apostles and disciples. (Act 2:4)
It was like a huge pristine river was pouring forth life giving waters that brought special blessings to those which whom it came into contact.
Peter went on to quote from the prophet Joel, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) There were signs and wonders that occurred then and probably only a few of them were recorded.
The message of how to tap into that river of God’s Spirit was preached to the crowds assembled then. It’s also preached to you and me today. “. . .Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Let us, you and I, continue to drink of this “water” and partake of the down payment of eternal life until we are born anew and are composed of 100% spirit as eternal beings in God’s family.
Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.
