Rivers of Living Water
I drove by a martial arts studio today that teaches ‘aikido.’ It made me think of a demonstration I saw about thirty-five years ago. The ‘master’ had a young lady stand up, asked her to point her arm at about a forty-five degree angle forward, then asked a young man to push her arm down. He easily did so. Then he asked the young lady to now picture her arm as a fire hose that had to shoot water which flowed from her ‘gut’ toward the State Capitol. The young man could not push her arm down, until she broke her concentration.
I was reminded of a verse John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” KJV. This was predicated on the verse before stating, “if you are thirsty, come to Jesus, and drink.” Also John followed with an explanation that Jesus was speaking of the “Holy Spirit” (v. 39). Modern translations translate koilias (belly) as ‘heart’ or ‘innermost being’ or ‘within.’ Those translations essentially convey the meaning, but they lose that ‘gutsy,’ literal word ‘belly.’ The word occurs 22 times in the NT. Interestingly the same word is also translated as ‘womb.’ As in Elisabeth declaring, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” Luke 1:42. The meaning of ‘belly’ and ‘womb,’ significantly implies that the Holy Spirit comes from a place of intensity, depth of feeling, new life, and power.
During the month of August we are praying, for any who are thirsty, hungry, discouraged, depressed, despondent, etc. I am doing what I can to prepare myself for this season. I am reading a book on prayer, and one on ‘inner healing.’* And I am pondering scripture, what does it mean when it says ‘from the belly?’ What does it mean to ‘pray in the Spirit?’ (I think saying ‘tongues’ is only partially right. My opinion only.) What does a ‘fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man or woman’ look and sound and feel like? Perhaps for me, believing in faith that God wants to ‘pray through me,’ with those ‘unuttered groanings of the Spirit.’ (Rom 8:26). The lesson of the ‘aikido master,’ is that great and effective power is possible through intense focus. The lesson of Jesus the Master, is that drinking of Him, being thirsty for Him, total trust in Him; will allow the Holy Spirit to ‘gush’ from within, bringing salvation, healing and deliverance for ourselves and those we pray for.
Finally, I am contemplating these verses as well: John 4: 1-42 (woman at the well), especially v. 10, 14, ‘living water’ that Jesus offers, and ‘water (Jesus) gives is a well of water that springs up to eternal life.’ And Isaiah 12, esp. v. 3 “..with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” I believe we all desire to ‘draw out that water,’ and give others that ‘living water.’ I sense a solemnity upon this season of prayer. It is an opportunity to ‘get right’ with God. It is a time to ask for the salvation of children, or parents, or ourselves, neighbors, coworkers. It is a time of growing deep in our faith, Holy Spirit baptism, making life decisions, deliverance from habits, demons, etc. My only concern is not that we ask too much of God, but too little. I am praying folks come only with faith, believing that God wants to ‘show His hand.’
*’The Prayer Life’ by Andrew Murray, and ‘Risky Living - Keys to Inner Healing’ by Jamie Buckingham
