Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a way (pathway, road, highway) in the wilderness And Rivers (streams) in the desert…I provide water in the wilderness and I make rivers flow in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people -Is. 43:18
REVIEW
We covered last session, the Birthright Blessing promised and intended for the first born. But through deceitful means, the firstborn Esau who did not esteem the things of God gave it away for a bowl of stew. Jacob the second born ends up with the blessing and goes on the run because his brother wants to kill him….We discovered we as children of God and a part of his household, the commonwealth of Israel — we are co-heirs to the same gifts of inheritance, one of them being the blessing.
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STORY
5So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)……9“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? 11“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water?…
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INTRODUCTION – GRAFTED IN ONES INTO GOD’S HOUSEHOLD
In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of grafting to explain how non-Jewish believers (Gentiles) are included in God’s covenant with Israel through faith in Jesus Christ. This “grafting” signifies being incorporated into the spiritual blessings and promises originally given to Israel, becoming partakers of the “root and fatness” of the olive tree, which represents the people of God.
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: -Ephesians 2:12
Ephesians 2:12, refers to the nation of Israel and its unique relationship with God under the Old Covenant. It signifies their status as God’s chosen people with access to his promises and covenants. Gentiles were previously excluded from this commonwealth but are now, through faith in Christ, reconciled to God and made fellow citizens with believers.
Biblical Symbology:
The image of flowing water expresses the idea of a continuous, abundant, abiding, sustainable and life-giving source. It suggests that the Holy Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life is not stagnant but rather a dynamic and active force.
The authors of Scripture use a lot of metaphors. One of the most common is water, as in ‘living water’, a ‘well-watered garden’ and ‘streams in the desert’. In general, the use of water, especially living water, symbolizes the Holy Spirit, healing, the Spirit-filled life, and the Kingdom of God.
It also symbolizes ‘continuous, sustainable, replenishing abundant provision, blessing flowing, spiritual life flowing into eternal life. In God’s kingdom it pairs well with exceedingly abundantly above what we have asked or imagined according to the power at work within us. Or Matthew 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you pressed down, shaken together, and running over will people give into your bosom.
New Testament Symbolism:
The image of flowing water is powerful because it conveys the idea of a continuous, abundant, and life-giving source. It suggests that the Holy Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life is not stagnant but rather a dynamic and active force.
What does it mean spiritually?
Rivers of living water” represent the Holy Spirit’s presence and power poured out on Christ disciples or believers. The Holy Spirit’s presence points to his cleansing and sanctifying work in the hearts of God’s children. Here are eight ways to tap into the blessing flow:
- REMEMBER OLD THINGS PASSED AWAY
Behold, the former things are come tom pass, and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them. -Is. 42: 9 - FORGET THE OLD THINGS.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a way (pathway, road, highway) in the wilderness And Rivers (streams) in the desert…I provide water in the wilderness and I make rivers flow in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people. Is. 43>18 - PREPARE OUR HEARTS.
Seeking God for instruction to receive his blessing. We all are on different levels. You may be young in the Lord. So, for you it may be as simple as examining your heart for grudges or anything that would block your blessing. God loves us so much. For many it is the exact rainy day he has allowed in your life that will cause us to examine our heart. Hosea 10:12: This verse reads, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” It emphasizes the need to seek God and prepare for His blessings.
Jeremiah 4:3: This verse states, “For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” It connects the breaking up of fallow ground with not sowing among thorns (sin and worldly distractions). It emphasizes the need to seek God and prepare for His blessings.
- OPENS NEW WATER SOURCES
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water…Is. 41:18 Four areas of life that the Prophet Isaiah points out that we might find ourselves in life. The HIGH PLACES, MIDST OF THE VALLEYS, WILDERNESS, DRY OR THIRSTY LAND or ROCKY LANDS. - FILL THIRSTY LANDS
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. / The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.-Isaiah 35:6-7
- Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
- AGREE WITH GOD FLOW RIVERS FLOW
“I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees. -Isaiah 66:12
- He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs. -Psalm 107:35
- He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas. / He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers. -Psalm 78:15-16
- SPRING FORTH
Remember our text, it is now springing forth, do you not see it? Stay in agreement with Him. Here’s another Prophet confirming, “They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. -Isaiah 49:10
He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. -Psalm 23:2
- GUSHING WATER OUT OF A ROCK
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.-Isaiah 48:21
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel -Exodus 17:6
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water…provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” -Numbers 20:8-11
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas. / He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers. -Psalm 78:15-16
He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. -Psalm 105:41
- FLOWING STREAMS OF WATER
And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall. -Isaiah 30:25
“I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees. -Isaiah 66:12 - POURING OUT THE BLESSING
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. / They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams. -Isaiah 44:3-4 - SEE THE END RESULT (GOD’S COMFORT, COMPASSION, MERCY – GARDEN OF EDEN
For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.-Isaiah 51:3
For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees. -Isaiah 66:12
- FULFILLMENT OF OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES IN New Covenant
The blessing, an impartation becomes a person with a capital B, the Blessing. All the covenants of promise that we studied and observed in the Old Testament was fulfilled the New Testament or the New Covenant.
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” -John 4:14
John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” -Revelation 7:17
In summary, we discovered God wants to do a new thing! Look for it, expect it. Four major areas he wants to open Rivers in the high places, fountains in the valleys, pools in the wilderness, springs in the dry places. You might have been asking, what if I’m in a hard place – like a rock, or a devastated place (desolate), there’s hope for you too – he says I can even bring water out of a rock and make desolate places like the garden of Eden with Springs. We listed off all the types and shadows of flowing water symbolizing resources, income streams, opportunities, sustainable income where there was once desolation. All pointing to the Grace age we are living in now through Jesus Christ.
End of Blog
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Pastor Earma, 24 Book Christian Author & Co-Founder of Grace Covenant House. What did you think of today’s blog? Pastor Brown loves to hear from you. Do you have a comment? Please post your thoughts, comments or questions below in the comment box. For more of her teaching, click here to sign up for the Graced Life blog.