08/21/2008

August 2008

Rivers of Living Water

By Brenda Staggs

Jn.7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Jesus stated in the 4^th chapter of John that “he must needs go through Samaria ” [this is how it reads in the KJV]. Jesus knew that there was a woman that needed his help and he would go and be there when she came to get her water from the well.  I believe that she came at the sixth hour because she did not want to run into the women of the city were she lived. I believe that they would have given her a tough time because she was not like them the good women of Samaria . She had five husbands and the one she was living with was not her husband.  She was a woman that needed a Saviour and Jesus wanted to give her just that. Jesus will go out of his way to meet you were you are at. He will give you the help you need. He purposely went to be there just for her. He knew that she would carry her new found water to her city, which she did just that.  So the living water that he had given to her she shared with others and told them of a man. A man called Jesus that told her of everything she had ever done in her life. The whole town turns out to see the person that had brought change to this woman. She was not looked on with high regard from this town she was an outcast but Jesus deemed her redeemable. The town took notice and through her testimony the town became reachable because of the living water that flow through her.

As Jesus set at the well I believe as he rested his body from the long journey that he waited patiently for her. One thing he knew was what time she would be there and what sought of mood that she would have to receive him.  So when she approaches Jacob’s well, to her it was just like any other day that she went to get her water. Little did she know that day her life would never be the same. But the one that would give her eternal life was there to give her water that she would never thirst again. The water that she drew from, the well was natural water that gives you life in the natural.  Our bodies can not live without the natural fresh water that God provides here on earth. Our spirit man can not live with out the eternal water that flows from the well of our Saviour. We need our soul refreshed through the touch of his hand and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. I want what ever God as in store for me, I say please do not hold nothing back Lord, I want all of your benefits.  His word tells us that we can not even comprehend what he has prepared for us. I want what my Father has put up for me. I want you to have what he has put up for you. Our God is Almighty and Glorious to behold and this world has not beheld what he has for his children. One day they will and they will see that they miss the mark in their lives. They will want what you have in Jesus. You might be made fun of now and you might suffer now for the gospel. That is nothing compared to the glory that we will have with him in Glory.

The word tells us to know him in his resurrection we will also know him in his sufferings. The sufferings that you are going through in this old world are nothing compared to having him in your lives. To suffer with him is to reign with him. Glory Hallelujah, he reins!! My God is alive and well and he is triumph in all his ways. There is no weapon form against you that shall prosper Isa. 54:17. Jesus is in you and he is victorious and he will stand up in you and make you more then an conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are as clean vessels that the Lord has prepared for the masters used. He as made you the head and not the tail. It has been painful to be on the potter’s wheel but one thing for sure is that you put your trust in him and he has kept you in the making. He has formed us into a vessel of clay that will bring him glory through his Holy Spirit. You will not want to stand high but you will want to be lowly in mind and spirit so you will come forth in him. To be clothe in his vesture to come forth as pure gold and meet for the masters used. Oh, to go forth in him and go through out this earth lifting the name of Jesus to every man, woman, and child that Jesus Christ is Lord! He will put that living water in us and it will flow as rivers of living water to this generation that needs him so much. It saddens me, that there is so many that’s leaving this old world not knowing him as their personal Saviour.  They are facing eternality without him. I know that I want to carry Jesus to the lost this is my hearts desire. They do not need more flesh and man made programs and man made wisdom. But they need Jesus! Jesus Christ is the only way; he is the only door into the kingdom of God . There are many out there that will lie to you and tell you that it does not matter how you get to God. Oh, this is so untrue. Jesus is the only way, truth, and the life. In St John chapter 10 He states that he is the only door and if any man tries to enter any other way he is the same as a thief and a robber. I do not care how famous they might be to the world that tells you different. That will not mean a thing when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ on judgment day. He will not look at your status in this natural world kingdom but he will measure you and me both up to the word of God.  You can not stand for me or me for you. We all will have to face that day alone before God. I want to hear the Lord say to me well done my good and faithful servant, don’t you? I know without a doubt that he is the only one that can make us that way. I want to be clothed with his robe of righteousness because my righteousness is nothing but filthy rags. Through faith and by his grace we are saved through the precious blood of the Lamb.

In 1^st John chapter 3 says that when the seed of God remains in you, you will not sin. In Luke chapter 8:11 tells us the seed is the word of God. So if you hide the word of God in your heart then put forth action in your life by walking according to his word. His word will keep you! I believe this means that you will strive to enter into that strait and narrow gate and follow the strait and narrow road. You will live a repented life before the Lord.  He will cleanse us through the washing of his word. We are sanctified through truth. St John 17:17 Jesus stated in his word: Father sanctified them through your truth thy word is truth. So when we are given his Spirit in us that we will bear fruit unto the Father it says thereby he will be glorified. So we will bring forth good works not that we are saved by them works but we will bear fruit from the tree that we branch off from. He is the vine and we are the branches and it says that the Father will look and see the branches that are bearing. Which means they are putting forth, this is a action that he would prune them that they would bear forth much fruit. The branches that were not bearing fruit he would cut off. Children this is the word of God. These are the words of the Lord. You can read this in St. John chapter 15. You know in the natural if a fruit tree is not bearing much fruit then the care giver will prune its branches so it will bear much fruit. Then the branches that will not put forth any fruit he will cut it from the tree. When you leave an unbarring branch on the tree then it takes away from the health of the tree. It will hinder the tree from putting forth fruit to its fullness. It hurts to be prune but it is for our good. He takes good care of his children.

 I want to be a flame that is burning brightly in these last days for the lord he stated in his word that he would make us as flames of fire. This is what the world needs and it is JESUS! He is LORD! Every child of God we need to let God work on us until we come forth in his will and not our own. God will not force you into any thing this is why I said let God. We have to be a willing vessel and let him cleanse us through his cleansing blood. To make us vessels of honor that he can glorify His self through. To be a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid. Not to hide our light under a bushel but to let Him light our candle and shine brightly for all to see. The preaching of the gospel is foolishness to the world but unto us it is the power of the God. Paul stated in Romans chapter one: I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto Salvation to the Jew first and also the Greek. God is righteous in all His ways! He is mighty and powerful in all His wisdom.

When the Holy Ghost empowers you with fire then he will lead and guide us into all truth. This means the truth of God which reveals unto us JESUS. God is bearing his arm for the entire world to behold. That strong arm of God is Jesus. He is the long arm of Salvation that is restoring us back to the Father.  It is a free gift that God is offering to all that will yield to the drawing of His Spirit to the foot of the cross,  His Son JESUS. He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He will clothe you with His robe of righteousness. He will make you a new creature and the old man will pass away.

Let Jesus make us all wells of living water that will flow with His Spirit to all that we come in contact with. It is Christ in you the hope of Glory! This is what the world needs to see in all God’s people. For God to increase in us we have to be willing to decrease. Be that candle for God! God bless you is my prayer!