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"Rejecting the Water of Life"

by Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries

© Copyright Reserved

John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

G. Walter Hansenin, a writer from Christian Today expressed the passion of Christ so well when he wrote: I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus' emotions; not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger; not a silent tear, but groans of anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus' emotions are like a mountain river, cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or feeble trickle. Jesus invites us to come to him and drink.  Whoever is thirsty and believes in him will have the river of his life flowing out from the innermost being. We are not to be merely spellbound by what we see in the emotional Jesus; we are to be unbound by his Spirit so that his life becomes our life, his emotions our emotions to be "transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory."

For the last three weeks I have been healing from a broken heart from the suffering that has taken place around us. I have taken in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and now I am overflowing with the water of life that is Christ Jesus. Because of this out pouring that fills my heart, I have quietly stepped away from the crowd to weep my tears of compassion. The emotions are part of my transformation in Christ. The groan of anguish is the pain of my Lord's refining fire.

This devotional is about rejecting the water of life. What can the leader of a church do when the sheep reject the water of life? In the mission field the answer would be to spill whatever the Lord has poured into you as a vessel of God. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we don't have to speak. As we drink in the water of life which is Christ, it turns into a river that touches everything that you are claiming for God's glory.

Are we willing to drink in the character of our risen Saviour?  Are we willing to demostrate the passion of Jesus Christ?  When Christ died on the cross, he left the world believing that mankind would change from the days of old. Are we drinking in the Holy Spirit that Jesus left for us?  We must become our worst critic.  I find myself looking for ways to please God.  It is a good habit to have. 

Some might see this devotional message as aggressive!  Call it tough love!  We are running out of time and the word must be spoken with urgency.  Please, consider the passion that I am consumed with.  I have tasted the water of life, I have been filled with Jesus.  I am crying out to every soul, come with me, come and drink with me. 

Dear Lord,

My heart feels the wind pushing us to cry out into the streets with the passion of Christ. Break our heart oh Lord, Break our heart.  Let us experience the heart beat of Christ, let us feel the compassion of Jesus as he surrendered his life for the glory our Father in Heaven.  Let us feel  his groaning anguish as he gave his last breath.  Teach us how to be caretaker of  your creation oh God.  Use our flawed human character to reach the lost.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

 Someone today is empty with sorrow, lost, forgotton and broken in spiritual poverty. Each one of us can be used to pour out the gospel, the love of God, the compassion of Christ or a prayer for deliverance.  Go with the Spirit of God and spill the water of life to save souls.

Send all comment to:  dan@purpleark.org