The Water Of Life
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 1:24 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #125c Written 19JUL08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
Spiritual Survival: Part Three—The Water Of Life
by rev dave c
“The Water of Life” is Part Three of a discussion that relates breathing clean air, drinking fresh water, getting adequate rest, and eating good food to the metaphoric equivalents of praying without ceasing, reading Scripture daily, attending a Christ centered church, and being surrounded by Christian family and friends. Just as the former are necessities for physical existence, the latter are necessary for our sustained spiritual life. In Part Two the immediate need for continuous breathing was equated with the need for continual communication with God the Father; that is, prayer as described in First Thessalonians 5:17. This paper is concerned with daily reading the written Word of God as compared to our basic requirement for clean water.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Is 55:10 & 11; NIV). These Scriptures from the Old Testament clearly equate the Word of God with water (as well as accurately describing the evaporation process). In Ephesians 5:26 & 27 we read, Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word (NAS). And finally, in John 7:37-39 we are told, On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive (NIV). In these sets of verses are depicted three different aspects of the Word of God that are likened to water as necessary for the substance of life, as needed for cleansing, and for the slaking of thirst.
Firstly, Isaiah tells us in Chapter 55 that the Word goes out from God and provides the “moisture” in which life can grow. The Gospel of John opens with, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (NIV). As a consequence we see that Jesus is the Word that goes out from God the Father for life itself to exist. Soil and flesh require a specific range of water content in order for plant and animal life to be produced and sustained. Likewise, it is only through the presence of the Word that existence itself is possible. In Chapter One of Colossians we read, For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Co 1:16&17; NIV). Likewise, The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (He 1:3; NIV).
Secondly, the verses from Ephesians 5 teach that Christ washes us as the Church (His Bride) with the water of the Word. Furthermore, John 13:6-10 tells us, [Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean (NAS).
Thirdly, the Seventh Chapter of the Gospel of John shows us that only through Jesus, the living Word of God, can we satisfy our thirst for life fulfilled by the drinking of the Holy Spirit. Jesus answered and said to [the woman at the well], "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (Jn 4:13&14; NAS)." In Revelation 21:6 Jesus promises, I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
The Bible is the written revelation of the Living Word; that is, it reveals the person and nature of Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture, the Word is equated with water. If my spiritual life has become dry and barren, I need to tap into the water of the Word. If I am feeling unclean, dirty from contact with this world in my flesh, I need to bathe my soul and spirit in the Word. If I am thirsty for the presence of God, I need to drink deeply of His Word. "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." ... Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. ..."Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ..."I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Re 22:12-17; NIV). Amen.
Spiritual Survival: Part Three—The Water Of Life
by rev dave c
“The Water of Life” is Part Three of a discussion that relates breathing clean air, drinking fresh water, getting adequate rest, and eating good food to the metaphoric equivalents of praying without ceasing, reading Scripture daily, attending a Christ centered church, and being surrounded by Christian family and friends. Just as the former are necessities for physical existence, the latter are necessary for our sustained spiritual life. In Part Two the immediate need for continuous breathing was equated with the need for continual communication with God the Father; that is, prayer as described in First Thessalonians 5:17. This paper is concerned with daily reading the written Word of God as compared to our basic requirement for clean water.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Is 55:10 & 11; NIV). These Scriptures from the Old Testament clearly equate the Word of God with water (as well as accurately describing the evaporation process). In Ephesians 5:26 & 27 we read, Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word (NAS). And finally, in John 7:37-39 we are told, On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive (NIV). In these sets of verses are depicted three different aspects of the Word of God that are likened to water as necessary for the substance of life, as needed for cleansing, and for the slaking of thirst.
Firstly, Isaiah tells us in Chapter 55 that the Word goes out from God and provides the “moisture” in which life can grow. The Gospel of John opens with, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (NIV). As a consequence we see that Jesus is the Word that goes out from God the Father for life itself to exist. Soil and flesh require a specific range of water content in order for plant and animal life to be produced and sustained. Likewise, it is only through the presence of the Word that existence itself is possible. In Chapter One of Colossians we read, For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Co 1:16&17; NIV). Likewise, The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (He 1:3; NIV).
Secondly, the verses from Ephesians 5 teach that Christ washes us as the Church (His Bride) with the water of the Word. Furthermore, John 13:6-10 tells us, [Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean (NAS).
Thirdly, the Seventh Chapter of the Gospel of John shows us that only through Jesus, the living Word of God, can we satisfy our thirst for life fulfilled by the drinking of the Holy Spirit. Jesus answered and said to [the woman at the well], "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (Jn 4:13&14; NAS)." In Revelation 21:6 Jesus promises, I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
The Bible is the written revelation of the Living Word; that is, it reveals the person and nature of Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture, the Word is equated with water. If my spiritual life has become dry and barren, I need to tap into the water of the Word. If I am feeling unclean, dirty from contact with this world in my flesh, I need to bathe my soul and spirit in the Word. If I am thirsty for the presence of God, I need to drink deeply of His Word. "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." ... Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. ..."Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ..."I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Re 22:12-17; NIV). Amen.