In our daily meditations, we continue to reflect on man's longing for God and how God fulfills everyone who seeks Him. To the Jewish people, the center of the world was Israel. The heart of Israel was Jerusalem, and the heart of Jerusalem was the Temple of God. During the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a formal religious event called the Water Libation Ceremony, where, at the very moment the high priest poured out the pitcher of water in the hope that the Spirit of God, spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel (36:24-27), would be poured out and fulfilled in their time, Jesus stood and raised His voice for everyone to hear.
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:37-39).
Jesus said that from the temple of His life would flow the refreshing, life-giving, healing power of the Spirit about which the water and the prophecy spoke (Ezekiel 47:1-9). When Christ lives in us, ruling and reigning over us, this river or spring will flow from the center of our being, just as Jesus said. When we enthrone Christ in the temple of our hearts, placing Him at the center of our minds, hearts, and wills, His Spirit will flow out to those around us, bringing new life to us and others. John the Apostle clarifies that the Spirit at that time had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified (v. 39). The Spirit had only come upon certain individuals for specific purposes. What God promised was that His Spirit would come into the lives of all people.
28And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days (Joel 2:28-29).
There are four conditions to the John 7 passage to drinking deeply of the Spirit of God:
1) You must have a thirst for more of God. Are you satisfied with life as it is? Our Lord loves to be pursued by hungry and thirsty people. Do not let Christ go until your thirst is quenched. Receive all that God has for you. Persevere in prayer for the Spirit to come and fill you.
2) You must come to the person of Christ. Jesus said, “Let him come to me.” This invitation is not about church or devotion to religious acts but about coming to Christ Himself. Do you have a love for the person of Jesus? When Peter denied knowing Jesus three times after the resurrection, the Lord restored him by asking three times if Peter loved Him (John 21:15-17), a question that each of us should answer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you again all Christ has done for you so that you may fall head-over-heels in love with the person of Christ.
3) You will need to drink. This statement emphasizes receiving the Spirit through an open, honest heart. Vulnerability and sincerity are the marks of a heart ready to be filled with the Spirit. It involves a conscious choice to follow God's way rather than our own. It reflects a willingness to submit and follow the Shepherd wherever He leads.
4) Whoever believes in Christ will receive (v. 38). What does it mean to believe? If this is a requirement set by God, we need to examine it closely. Christ isn't talking about merely agreeing intellectually with the facts of the Gospel. True belief in Christ is more about the will than just the mind. It requires a sincere, settled inner conviction that results in a different set of moral values influencing one's character. Jesus refers to this as being born again or born from above (John 3:3).
These four are the most crucial conditions for living a life of faith, guided and empowered by the Spirit. Everyone who believes in Christ has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), but the question is, "Does the Holy Spirit have us?" The most attractive people in the world are those whom God's Spirit leads. To be filled with God's Spirit, you need to relinquish control over the seat of authority in your life. The most notable example of someone filled with the Spirit is the Lord Jesus Christ. May you be found in Him. Keith Thomas
Shortened from the more extended study at the following link: To All Who Are Thirsty