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Jun 04, 2025 06:00am

The Stunning Arrangement

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On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me^, and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:37–39 CSB)

This moment in the life of Jesus and our history is breathtaking. Jesus had been quietly teaching during the Jewish Festival in Jerusalem. He arrived late into into the city with no fanfare so that He would not attract attention. But now, on the last and greatest day of the feast, He “stood up and cried out,” for this announcement carried world-changing weight.

THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT

Jesus prophesied about something, or rather Someone, who was coming that would change everything. After His death and resurrection, He was going to send the Spirit of God who, “those who believed in Jesus were going to receive.” The Spirit would not merely live beside us, but would inhabit us!

IN US

Just think of this! Each person who believes not only receives forgiveness and cleansing through Christ, making us able to stand with peace facing God and walk with Him on earth and heaven, but there’s more! We receive God Himself in Spirit form. All of God’s life in us! Everything we need for life and godliness. All love, all power, all strength; all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We now have all, as we have Him! We have but to turn and rely upon Him for His life and the never-ending resource. What a blessed arrangement. But there’s more still …

THROUGH US

Not only are we the temple of the Spirit, housing His presence, accessible to us every moment of every day. But He comes to live in us to fill us and flow through us so we will have “streams of living water (flowing) from deep within.” Just think: Our God residing deep within is not stagnant. He is not merely a thought or a theory. A distant deity or mere historical figure. He is the living God! And He is moving and active “deep within” us and through us—cleansing, refreshing, restoring. This inexhaustible Source explodes through our unique lives (made in His image) and touches all those around us in every common day.

Think of this refreshing well of life in you. Everywhere you go, the stream goes. Everyone you speak to feels the refreshment of this river. We are a mobile well of life, for we carry Him and He has promised to flow.

OUR COOPERATION

The reason we do not always see this occur in our lives and the lives of other believers is that it requires our continual cooperation. We can quench and grieve Him by our distractions, our silly preoccupation with worldly gods and selfish ambitions. What a tragedy for us to miss Him for a moment and all He brings. What a serious sin to abort for a day or a season the release of living water to those around us who are dying of thirst.

We must rise each morning acknowledging and praising Him for His presence. We must yield to His control and request Him to fill us for the day. And we must follow His slightest promptings, careful not to resist His leadership and ignore His plans. But if we do, we must quickly, humbly return for forgiveness and filling once again.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord.

Oh, to be lost in Thee.

Oh, that it may be no more self,

But Christ who lives in me!

(Ada Whiddington)