If Any Man Thirst, Let Him Come Unto Me and Drink
The Son of God gave this invitation announcing the Holy Ghost Baptism that the Father would send to His church at Pentecost.
We have a spiritually empty church world that is dying of thirst because it only comes to Jesus to save the soul but refuses to come to be filled with His Holy Spirit. This marvelous person of the Divine Godhead is the source of power and dynamic life. Stephen Alford, a mighty Baptist preacher said, “When I was saved I possessed the Spirit but when I was filled the Spirit possessed me. Again he said, “When I was saved the Holy Spirit was in residents but when I was baptized He was President”. When He baptizes (completely submerges) you, the joy of His presence is literally overwhelming. “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.” PI Peter 1:8b)
The Holy Ghost comes into your life to quicken your mortal body. The Holy Ghost said it like this: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11) Your body is an empty vessel unless it is filled with something. We may pump up a little happiness or find some temporary pleasure but very limited. We live in an unhappy time of human history. The Holy Ghost is life on a Divine level and He comes to possess you with great heavenly joy and with power.
Paul and Silas were in jail after being given a terrible beating. They were suffering serious pains and wounds. There was probably more awaiting them and they had nothing to use to relieve their discomfort. In stocks and bonds they sung and I imagine it was in the Holy Ghost. Remember Apostle Paul said he sung in the Spirit as well as in the understanding. “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (I Corinthians 14:15) Heaven got all happy and sent an earthquake and set the singing preachers free. This is the way the Spirit wants us to live in our lives.
Let’s read the invitations Jesus gave and then we will read what He was quoting from the prophesies of Isaiah in the First Testament. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (St. John 7:37-39) This is one of the greatest invitations to receive the Holy Ghost in the Bible. The Lord was quoting a great teaching by Isaiah that had been given him in a prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ and the Conforter that was to follow after His Death and Resurrection.
In this truth from the Prophet Isaiah, the Father called the church His “Jesurun,”and His beloved and chosen. That is a poetic term showing great favor. Read the promise that was to be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. “Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.” (Isaiah 44:2-4)
It is impossible to think of a greater assurance than to be a “willow by the water courses.” This is the most beautiful of decorative trees that glistens in the sunlight and expresses great humility. It literally bends in honor to its Maker and sends its roots far and wide to draw its life from the water courses.
Isaiah includes in this narrative one of the greatest prophesies of God’s Trinity and His Only Begotten Son promised as the Redeemer. This flood of Living Water was included in this Messianic promise. “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6-8) It is heart breaking to look at a church world that must entertain itself with music from the pits of hell when the great Savior has come to pour “floods upon the dry grounds.”
One of the beauties of this great prophesy is the character it bestows upon the thirsty that drink of its abundance. They are given a new personality and standard which changes their desires. They are satisfied to drink and thrill to the joy of drinking but want new names that manifest their new desires. They actually want to be holy vessels as the called of the Lord. “One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” (Isaiah 44:5) Holiness is always the character of those He touches with His Living Water.
I am asking my people to put this passage to memory and let your life reflect its beauty. Turn loose the world and its compromises and drink from this supply the rest of your life. The more you drink the more you will naturally be like Him.
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