He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow continuously springs and rivers of living water. –John 7:38
Take a moment and mentally picture a spring bubbling up and flowing out into a river or stream. That is a picture of the Holy Spirit in you, if you are a disciple of Christ. Throughout the Bible, water is used to symbolize the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed in John 7:39 which clearly states that Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit.
In the past I’ve had the visual reference that I’m like a cup that pours out and needs to be refilled with the Spirit. But this is not Scriptural according to the New Covenant. We do not pour out the Holy Spirit in us (in the sense that we have to go get more), nor does He leak out over time, as we live our lives in this messy world. No, the Holy Spirit is a spring within us that is waiting to be released from our innermost being!
But we can block Him. Through our hardness of heart, unbelief, fear, and living only by our five senses (otherwise known as being carnal). The Holy Spirit is there, but we have to participate with Him. He doesn’t take over our physical bodies and make us automatons. We always have a choice in whether to go the way of the Spirit or the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
The Word instructs us not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). This verse is telling a born-again believer of Christ to let the Holy Spirit within you continually be full and flowing in your life. The fruit of this will be evident to those around you. (One way I know how to let the Holy Spirit flow is keeping my mind renewed through the Word of God. John 6:63 says that the Word is spirit and life – so as I meditate on the Word it brings the Spirit to the forefront.)
The New Testament is full of references about the Holy Spirit’s place and role in your life. This article is by no means exhaustive. I hope it sparks you to evaluate your perspective and position in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
If you’re not yet a disciple of Christ or have questions about the Holy Spirit’s work in your life, please post in the comments section or email me directly at eliseklepatz@hotmail.com.
photo by Keattikorn/freedigitalphotos.net
