Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
-John 7:38
So, how do you begin to live in such a way that if Christ were not real, you would then be viewed as the most pitiable among men? In order to slay all the incredible giants God has for you to slay, to walk on all the waters that Christ would have you walk, to take down all the strongholds you are to take down, you need a source of strength much much greater than what you currently possess in your human ability. You need a well spring of energy that never runs dry. You need confidence, peace, assurance, power, and much more in order to walk in the works Christ has prepared for you to walk in. You need the power of the Spirit.
Most people don’t really know what to do with the Holy Spirit. Still many others have strong opinions about what manifesting the Holy Spirit should look like. However, I’ve almost never heard anyone describe the Holy Spirit as Jesus describes it here—overflowing rivers of life. Usually, the Holy Spirit is associated with just plain weird stuff. Alternatively, it is understood in an extremely dry manner: “if you believe in Jesus, you technically have it. So just believe you have it.”
But Jesus says the Holy Spirit is like overflowing waters. You feel it in your heart and soul as such (“out of his heart…”). This was my experience as I started following Jesus where it really counted. I spent a lot of time daily with Jesus in His Word, in prayer, and in worship. What I experienced did indeed feel like water over-saturating my dry heart. Tears would flow. Clarity would come. Conviction would set in. Fears would dissipate. I could feel God’s pleasure. I felt okay. Stable. Healed from pain that otherwise would never leave me. The overflowing waters of life also felt like power. I actually had substance inside of me that didn’t just want to stay there but had to be shared. Then words would come to me (that was the overflow…maybe the tears too). I’d get ideas for more songs (I’m a songwriter). It was amazing when I made the connection of, “oh, this is the Holy Spirit!”
It was both exciting and challenging knowing that I must obey what the Spirit lays on my heart. This was God actively guiding me day in and day out—His active, healing, and powerful voice. As I’ve matured over the years, I’ve learned not to rely on impulse, but to be still and wait for the Holy Spirit to move, and to move with Him. I feel Him as I sit before His Word, then I ask and seek, “what do you want me to do, Lord?”
Jesus came so He could share the wonderful reality of who He is. His Spirit doesn’t fill a temple made by human hands, but your very own heart. When you believe Jesus and confess Him and decide to follow Him, being baptized, and asking for the Holy Spirit, He does come and fill you. God is true to His word. However, our Christian culture does not know how to foster this amazing gift. Many are taught to rely on their own understanding of Scripture rather than letting the Holy Spirit guide them through Scripture. This does not mean we shouldn’t use our minds, for Christ renews our minds…for us to use them! Jesus frees our entire being—mind, heart, soul. But we must be guided by Him. We don’t just use our minds, but we also listen to the Holy Spirit. Our mind, albeit renewed in Christ, does not equal the Holy Spirit. He still must be one that we submit ourselves to, despite what our mind may be saying, for He is spirit. Our minds are being renewed, but the spirit of Jesus already is totally perfect—the goal of what we are being renewed unto.
The only thing that convinces or enables one to follow Jesus in the first place is the power of the Holy Spirit. Power convinces us to change. And it does change us—from the inside out, the entire being being reformed. The Word of God is alive and operates in the power of the Holy Spirit, but this power can be ignored and fought against. Sharing the gospel really is a spiritual battle. Others (even yourself) can resist the power of the Holy Spirit: they can insist on believing lies or clog their ears. They can distract themselves or even run away.
The world is full of people’s words. The world is not full of the Holy Spirit. One won’t always feel unction or power when sharing the gospel, but that is where our faith comes in—we trust God to use His Word in power, even if we don’t feel it (but many times, we do!).
When was the last time you felt the Holy Spirit like this? It may have been a very small moment—just a taste or glimpse of those overflowing living waters. Was it in a message you heard, a Bible verse that briefly touched your heart, or a moment when someone prayed for you? Was it a moment you told someone else about your favorite Bible verse, or maybe you were sharing the gospel with them? Dig! Remember.
How can you fan into flame what the Holy Spirit has ignited in your heart? How can you let the Holy Spirit grow in your heart?
What do you need to stop filling your mind or heart with in order to be filled more fully with the Holy Spirit?
How often do you give time to listening for the Holy Spirit? How often do you quiet and hush the activity of your mind?
Silence your thoughts, and listen in peace. Take a moment to dwell on precious memories where you felt the power of the Holy Spirit. Sit down and enjoy your favorite Bible verse, and do nothing more.