NTC Edge #4

"The Edge" features creative perspectives and reflections associated with the subject matter presented on the Current Lesson page.

Study Series: NTC
The New Testament Church

Edge #4: March 11, 2001

Drink Up!

Bible Backdrop

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says,
'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.
AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'" (Acts 2:14-21 NASB, emphasis added)

Inspector Edge

Peter spoke of God pouring His Spirit on all flesh. Could it be that God's word means just what it says? That His Spirit was poured on mankind just as a heavy rain pours on the earth, covering all it touches with the wetness of its very nature. Perhaps His Spirit is our external guide - the living water that covers us with His very nature. When we think of such however we realize that we are only wet on the outside. What is on the inside isn't touched by the water until it is consumed - willfully consumed. The water then becomes a part of us as it is poured into us. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is saved. Whoever calls on the name of Jesus is filled with Him - filled internally with the Holy Spirit. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38 NASB)

Rivers in the literal sense have to get their water from somewhere... from a source outside of themselves and much larger than themselves. The water flows down the river's course and eventually empties out of what is called the mouth of the river. Funny, that this outlet is called the mouth. Connected to the source of living water, that is God Himself, we are truly in a sense vessels for which the water to flow - through our heart and eventually out of our mouth. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV) What happens to a river that for whatever reason ceases to take in water from its source? It eventually ceases to exist itself, drying up and leaving that which surrounds it lifeless. Contrarily, a river that is continually being filled with new water never dries up and is then able to be a life-giver to that which surrounds it. It becomes a fountain of life! (See Proverbs 10:11) When we drink from His cup, when we are connected to the source, we are then and only then, a river that pours the living water of the Holy Spirit on those around us.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14 NASB)

Notes

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.