Streams of Living Water

 

In John 7:37-39 (NIV), it is written,

“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”

It was the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, where the water libation ritual was practiced year after year.

Water would be drawn from the pool at Siloam. This water, originating from a spring, could not be stagnant, it had to be fresh and able to give life – it was running or living water.

It is not insignificant that it was at this very important Feast that Jesus chose to declare that He was the true water, the true giver of life through whom the Spirit is given; only through Him can you receive lasting salvation and truly experience the reality of Life.

Jesus is speaking here of a spiritual thirst, not a physical thirst. He is telling us that “Whoever” you may be, once you believe in Him you will receive, coming from inside of you, streams of water that are alive and “do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11). As the above passage tells us, Jesus is in fact referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the “living water” that never runs dry.

As streams of natural living water transform dry, barren places, so the Spirit, the true Living Water, will transform the dryness and barrenness of your spiritual life. Just like the woman at the well in John 4, you too will never again be thirsty.

However, this Living Water is not solely for your benefit, as this Spiritual stream gushes forth from deep within you, you are to share this eternal life water with others, so that they too may experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Streams of Living Water” ©2012 revisited September 26, 2025