John 7:37-38 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.”

This is of course one of the most precious promises in all Scripture, but even so, far too few have appropriated it and walk in it. John, writing perhaps as much as 60 years after the fact, was careful to explain that Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, because even in the 1st Century that was a somewhat controversial subject. People in that society were much more likely to attribute things to spiritual causes than we are today, but even so, the idea that the Creator would pour His Spirit out on human beings seemed preposterous. With the humanistic, pseudo-scientific world view so prevalent today, it seems even more absurd. Frankly, it doesn’t help that some preachers who proclaim the Holy Spirit seem much more interested in manipulating crowds with psychological tricks than in operating genuinely in the anointing and power of the Spirit. Jesus isn’t promising parlor tricks here, He is promising refreshing, He is promising life itself. When Jesus promised the Spirit for the last time in Acts 1:8, it was in terms of power. The thing is, no one has the power to live as a witness, a disciple of Jesus Christ, without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. That creates a major problem for rationalistic humanism, because it defies human reason. We want to be able to take credit for what we do, but in God’s economy, that just doesn’t cut it. Paul put it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) That was the work of the Holy Spirit in him, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. (Philippians 1:19) We cannot generate “rivers of living water” on our own, and anything less than that is less than what God intends for His children.

I almost missed out on the baptism in the Holy Spirit myself, from focusing on manifestations rather than on God and His faithfulness. At this point, though I have a lot of room to grow, there are indeed many who receive refreshing through me. I know with painful certainty that it has nothing to do with the vessel, because as Paul said, I am no better than an earthenware pot, cracked and chipped. (2 Corinthians 4:7) As he says in that very verse, the Holy Spirit is indeed “all surpassing power,” but the minute I try to put the focus on me, the flow stops. As a pastor, I desire not only that people come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Timothy 2:3-4) but also that they be open channels for His Spirit to flow through. Only then will they be effective witnesses, speaking God’s words and working His works, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder at a time when I feel physically miserable because of a cold. That’s further confirmation that it’s the contents, not the container, that matters. Help me walk in trusting obedience at all times, so that nothing will hinder the flow of Your Spirit through me. I wasted time yesterday, browsing the Internet because I didn’t feel like doing anything else, but that was focusing on me rather than on You. Help me get it right, not so much for me as for those who look to me as an example, so that all of Your purposes for us may be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!