The Far Reaching River Of Life
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” John 7:38
A river reaches places which its source, in the mountains or springs higher than the plains, never knows.
And Jesus said that, if we received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessings “even unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is regardless of whether we see the visible effects or not for, “the wind (His Spirit working in and through us) bloweth where it listeth, and thou heareth the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit”. John 3:8 We have little do with the outflow except to be ready to serve God and believe that it happens.
Listen to a conversation between Jesus and the disciples. John 6:28-29; “And they said unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? 28
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” 29 .
God, in His mercy, sometimes allows us to see glimpses of our labours for Him, but for the most part those labours, be they small or great, may never be seen this side of God’s Kingdom, however, we can be sure of this. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”. Isa 55:10-11
A river is victoriously persistant, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for kilometres or miles, only to emerge later even broader and greater than ever. Jesus uses this beautiful analogy of the flowing river as our lives in service to Him. But as obstacles and barriers come into our lives do we allow them to stop us? Then we must pay more attention to The Source and He will take us around the obstacles and barriers or He will remove them. The river of The Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles.
Praise God I am learning to focus more on the Source of all life and allowing the obstacle or barrier to my progress fade into insignificance or vanish without trace. I am learning to not let barriers or obstacles come between me and my Lord Jesus Christ and by Him my Heavenly Father – not emotion nor experience – nothing must be allowed to keep me or any one else, from the One Great Sovereign Source.
Think of the healing and far reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us.
I see a literal example of this power that The Lord is willing to let flow spiritually through us in what is happening in Southern Australia at present. This area so recently ravaged for ten years by drought is now being restored by flood. I say restored because that is what I see happening. Although the flooded rivers have broken their banks and are causing some damage in doing so, they are indeed restoring much needed moisture to the very heart and soul of the land. Plant life, animal and bird life and crops are being given restored life by the source of their life which is water which in turn sends the message “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater” Isa 55:10.
As in the earthly realm so in the spiritual only more so.
“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”. John 4:14
But that is for another blog.
Our Heavenly Father thank you for being our source of life and praise be to You Father, that the river of life which flows from Your Throne through Your dear Son Michael Christ Jesus to us, will be a wellspring of life to all whom we reach through His Spirit in us. Amen.
