Drink

For the body to function as it was designed, it must have nourishment. It is possible to do without some of the necessary forms of sustenance for periods of time, but the one thing the body cannot do without for more than just a few days is water. In infancy, the body is made up of about %74 water. This ratio may decrease with age, but the necessity of water for the blood to circulate and the body to detox and renew is all dependent on the intake and flushing of it. With dehydration comes foggy thinking, dizziness, and a breakdown of the body’s ability to protect itself from threats. As the body continually discharges it to cool and flush the system, the drinking of prior days does very little for the condition of each subsequent day. To remain healthy and functioning at designed levels, request frequent drinking of the substance of life.

In Christ, we’ve received a new life with new nourishment requirements for sustenance. There is still the need to maintain the physical body, but there is an even greater need to drink the water of life in Him that enables spiritual health and functionality. As we have together become the dwelling place for His presence, there is now a river that flows continually from the throne of God to our surrounding world with eternal life-giving water. Maintaining this essential substance of His presence, like the physical body, requires frequent and prolonged drinking from its stream. Because of this necessity, the flow from the throne comes right from our place in Him. It initially brings nourishment to us but then fulfills a much larger purpose: to provide the world with its requirement for life. Doing without a drink from the Spirit of God will result in a diminished ability to see truth from the Word while allowing corruption of the heart from lack of its spiritual substance. As it is so sweet to the taste, how wonderful it is to consume, frequently and in large portions, what is already designed for our strength and purpose.

Notes

Provision of water in the desert – New Thing

Isaiah 43:19-20 (NLT) 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. 20 The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.

Salvation – Deep Drinking

Isaiah 12:2-3 (NLT) 2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” 3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

River Source – the Throne

Revelation 22:1 (NLT) 1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

River – Life Provision

Ezekiel 47:11-12 (NLT) 11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Jesus – the Water of Life

John 4:10-13 (NLT) 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Jesus – Drinking is Doing

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

Water drains from other wells.

Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT) 13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

To Drink – must abandon other sources.

Acts 3:19-20 (NLT) 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

Jesus – still calling to drink.

John 7:37-38 (NLT) 37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”