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Rivers of Living Water from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

When someone is speaking, it is helpful to know the context and their environment to fully grasp what they mean. Consider the words of Jesus in John chapter 7:

(John 7:37 NKJV) On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."

Let's examine that and add a little history so we understand it better: Three times a year, Jewish men were required to attend annual feasts if they lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17):

1. The Passover Feast is celebrated in the spring, commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and God's deliverance from slavery. It begins on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, starting at sundown on April 15, 2025.

2. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) occurs 50 days after Passover. It commemorates the giving of the law at Mount Sinai and the first fruits of the harvest. It begins at sundown on June 5, 2025.

3. The Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Booths, is an autumn festival that begins at sundown on October 9, 2025 and lasts seven days. It commemorates the Israelites' journey in the desert and God's provision for them while they lived in temporary shelters. The feast is followed by an additional eighth day known as "The eighth day of assembly."

The Feast of Tabernacles is our setting for today. The city of Jerusalem was bustling with great throngs of travelers and became like a giant RV park with shelters everywhere. It was a colorful event with hundreds of years of layered traditions.

Temporary shelters sprang up all over the city, on flat rooftops, in alleyways, in the temple courtyard, and they all followed the rabbinical building code: The walls of the shelters were required to be thin so that you could see sunlight, and the roof had to allow a view of the stars, reminding the Jews how they had wandered in the wilderness and how God had provided for them there. People dressed in their best Sabbath clothing for the week-long event. The Feast of Tabernacles was a wonderful and festive time. They called it, "the season of our gladness." It was a time when families and communities came together to rejoice and give thanks for God's provision.

Each morning of the Feast of Tabernacles, except for the eighth day, the multitudes gathered at the Temple for an elaborate ritual. The people carried citrus fruits, such as citron, in their left hands to remind them of God's bountiful blessings. In their right hands, they carried a Lulav, which is a bundle made up of three types of branches: a palm branch, a willow branch, and a myrtle branch. The Lulav symbolizes the stages of the journey of their ancestors through the wilderness and their gratitude for the harvest, signifying the connection between God's provision and their dependence on Him during their time in the desert.

Once everything was in order, a priest would raise a golden pitcher, and the crowds would follow him, chanting psalms and waving their Lulavs as they walked from the temple to the Pool of Siloam. As they neared the pool, they would recite the words of (Isaiah 12:3): "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

The crowd then marched back to the temple, accompanied by joy and singing, entering through the water gate to the blasts of trumpets. The priest circled the altar once and, with the accompanying priests, ascended to a platform. He raised the golden pitcher as high as he could and poured the water out on the altar, signifying Moses bringing water from the rock (Exodus 17:6). This was a daily ritual every morning.

On the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles, known as Hoshana Rabbah, the priest circled the altar seven times, symbolic of the Israelites' procession around the walls of Jericho. When he came around for the sixth time, another priest carrying wine joined him.

They would ascend to the altar together and pour the drawn water and wine into a basin. Afterward, the priest poured the contents of the basin onto the altar, symbolizing the community's prayers for rain and God's blessing for the upcoming year. It was considered to be the height of joy in an Israelite's life if he could see the water being poured onto the altar.

The whole ceremony conveyed that when the people were thirsty in the wilderness, God provided them with water to drink. (I also find it interesting that when the soldier pierced Jesus' side, water and blood came out, like the water and wine they poured on the altar (John 19:34). Those are probably connected.)

Now that we have set the stage, let's read the words of John again:

(John 7:37–39 NKJV) On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

The water symbolized the Holy Spirit, who would come after Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. Jesus was crucified during the Passover Feast, and the Holy Spirit came down on the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover. So, ten days after Jesus went up, the Holy Spirit came down, for Jesus had remained on Earth 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3).

(Acts 1:9 NKJV) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

(Acts 2:1–4 NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ now have rivers of living water within them, though in varying amounts. We are to be "filled" with the Holy Spirit, but suffice it to say that the Apostle Paul had more than most of us. So, some have more, and some have less. I have had more and then less, as it is not always easy to stay filled when you are a leaky vessel.

Rivers flow, but bodies of water with no outlets become stagnant and dead. Rivers are constantly giving and, in turn, constantly receiving a fresh supply. The more they give, the more life they receive.

Jesus Christ let the Holy Spirit flow through Him and touch those around Him. He put the needs of others before His own, and sometimes prayed all night (Luke 6:12). He loved people and showed mercy to the least of the least. All the things Jesus did, He said we could do:

(John 14:12 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

Jesus Christ lived as our example. Yet, too many doctrines today are built around someone's experience "so far" instead of what Scripture actually teaches. For a few years, I attended a church that didn't believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They taught that the spiritual gifts Paul wrote about died with the last Apostle and the Holy Spirit left after "Acts," and I believed that garbage. Oh, and it would make me upset if you tried to correct me!

Let's examine that closer. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would abide with us "Forever." And if Jesus Christ says, "Forever," who has the authority to say the Holy Spirit has already left? Don't lie to me in your preaching.

(John 14:15–16 NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever..."

The Holy Spirit is here and will be here with us until the end of time. He is not leaving before we do. Also, the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians about the ignorance of spiritual gifts:

(1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV) "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant"

Could we be ignorant but believe we are informed? I did. Let's examine the facts: The Apostle Paul had never met Jesus Christ before His death, resurrection, and ascension. Paul was a post-resurrection Apostle who received the Holy Spirit years after Jesus went to heaven when a disciple named Ananias in Damascus laid his hands on him and prayed (Acts 9:17). Then, years later, Paul met some disciples of Jesus in Ephesus, and he must have felt they were missing something. So he asked them if they knew about the Holy Spirit. They didn't.

(Acts 19:1–7 NKJV) And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.

Here, a dozen men in Ephesus who had never heard of the Holy Spirit before were baptized in the Holy Spirit, by an Apostle who had received it from a disciple named Ananias in Damascus, who had received the Holy Spirit before then. This all happened years after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Today, there are still people who have not heard there is a Holy Spirit, so this trend continues generation after generation.

The day before Paul came, those men knew nothing about the Holy Spirit, and they could not have told you about Him, but the next day all that changed. I tell you that because your leaders cannot lead you where they have not yet been, and they may well meaningly try to protect you from the unknown.

For example, I have heard the gift of speaking in tongues preached against by people who didn't speak in tongues. They even said tongues were from the devil, which is very dangerous (Matthew 12:32). Yet, while those disciples in Ephesus didn't speak in tongues on Monday, they did on Tuesday. Ignorance is not a sin, but attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to the work of the devil is a dire mistake.

The Holy Spirit will flow through you to reach others, and as you give out, you will receive more. The more you give, the more you will receive, and the easier the living water will flow. You will remain fresh and full of life, but without an outlet, you will become stagnant and dead. Servitude, helping others, giving, all these things keep you alive and fresh and are returned to you multiplied.

(Matthew 23:11 NASB) "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

(Matthew 7:12 NKJV) Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

(Luke 6:38 NKJV) "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

We are to "earnestly desire spiritual gifts" and not "quench the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:31) (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We should want Him to flow through us, for this is life-changing. The Apostle Paul paid special attention to prophecy, a spiritual gift given to build up the church. Apparently, some people despised it, perhaps because it revealed things they would rather remain hidden. Especially in the last days, there will be an outpouring of the Spirit and prophecy (Acts 2:16–17).

(1 Thessalonians 5:20 NKJV) "Do not despise prophecies."

(Acts 2:17 NKJV) 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

(1 Corinthians 14:3 NKJV) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

(2 Peter 1:21 NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

At times, I move in the gift of prophecy. It usually works like this: while writing or praying for someone, a few words may come, and if I have the courage to write or speak them, more follow. It begins to flow like dictation. Afterward, I often don't remember what I said - because it wasn't premeditated. I didn't have to think of what to say. He gave the words to me at that moment. It is like water flowing through a garden hose, then people write me and say, "This was just like the Lord was speaking directly to me..."

(Matthew 10:19–20 ESV) ...what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

I am not trying to build myself up here but to build you up: I was so nervous when I began writing things to be shared publicly. I didn't want to look like a fool. Who does? So, over the years, I have kept some of the feedback we get on our devotional for encouragement to look back on when I feel I am not making a difference. Now I have hundreds like this:

Wow. Just wow. Another message from you this morning that directly answered the question I asked God last night. This happens with your messages entirely too often for it to be coincidence. Literally almost every day in the last half of the year. I pray and the next morning there you are with the answer to that prayer. It's like you're the Google for God when it comes to me needing an answer. Thank you for being there. God bless y'all.

This is going to sound strange but over this last couple of months it almost seems like we have been in a conversation because 99% of what you have wrote has been more like you were responding to me in a conversation than something you wrote as a general help to everyone reading your devotional. I truly feel like God is talking directly through you to me. I'll pray about something and the very next morning your devotional is a response specifically to that prayer right up to this morning. You are a miracle.

Don't no much about the bible, but when I be reading your article its like it all be pertaining to whats going on in my life. SO THANK YOU!

That is the river of living water flowing. Let the Holy Spirit flow through you to touch and encourage others. Have a little faith, have a little courage, take a little risk, and be willing to be thought a fool for His sake. Today, I choose to believe. I choose to let Him flow through me. Let the words of Paul still ring true today:

(1 Corinthians 14:5 NKJV) I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied...

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please flow through me! Fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit, Lord, and give me an outlet to encourage others. Speak to me in a way that I understand and give me orders from heaven. I am Yours, Lord. I choose to believe that You are alive, that You love me, and that You are listening to me today. Come and be a part of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!