THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME AT PENTECOST – Part 3

As A River of Living Water

Titus 3:3-7; John 7:37-38

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

Water is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit.  In Titus we see the cleansing function of water, the washing of regeneration.  Being aware of sins is not what cleanses us, nor is our desire for cleansing what cleanses us.  It is only by the washing work of the Holy Spirit.

In John’s Gospel, we see water representing the powerful, life-giving river that the Holy Spirit wants to give each of us who believe.  Before Christ sent the Church into the world He sent the Spirit into the Church.  Then the Holy Spirit is to flow out of the Church like rivers of living water to a thirsty world.

Before the water of life can flow from us it must first fill our inmost being to overflowing.  You cannot give to others what you do not have.

                        “See, a fruitful field is growing,

                           Blessed fruit of righteousness;

                        And the streams of life are flowing

                           In the lonely wilderness.”

Rev. John C. Moyer