Living Water
Hi Friends,
I was praying early this morning asking the Lord what vision should I share with you. I had several that I could share, but I wanted the Lord’s direction. So He gave me four, which I will share with you today.
The Visions
The Container
I saw a clear plastic container filled with water. The container was tipped in such a way that I could see the lower edge of one side and the bottom. I could see that the water was contaminated with tiny irregular black particles floating freely in the liquid.
If this was supposed to be pure drinking water, then it needed to be filtered first. If it had already been filtered and the container was actually a pitcher, then the filter failed to do its job. The water was not safe to drink.
Water can be a symbol of life, for without it, there can be no life. Water represent life, salvation and the Holy Spirit. In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well about living water:
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:10-14
Isaiah spoke prophetically about the future day when Jesus would bring salvation to those who would trust in him. In the following scripture, water represents salvation:
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3
Jesus’ name means salvation. He spoke of the water that he gives as “living water,” water that springs up to eternal life.
On the occassion, of the water pouring ceremony, during the feast of Tabernacles, Jesus used the moment to announce that he was the Messiah.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him.” By 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 7:38
So once again Jesus speaks of living water. He calls all of us to come to him, and drink. And he declares that for those who believe in him, rivers of living water will flow . Hallelujah!
Now going back to the vision, we see that the water in the container was contaminated. It was not pure living water that gives life. This was water that needed to be cleansed.
Living water will only flow through a vessel that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. If the vessel in the vision represents a person, and water represents life. What do the contaminants represent? Sin, of course. Sin is what makes us unholy, and separates us from God. But the precious blood Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
I believe that the Lord gives this vision to show us that we can become contaminated by sin and the world and its values. We are to shun evil and cling to what is good. We are to separate from the world for the Lord says:
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
We cannot allow sin and the things of this world to overtake our hearts and have us accept the world view. Living water cannot flow through a dirty vessel. And the purity of the Holy Spirit cannot inhabit the same vessel with something impure as contaminated water.
Water Poured Upon the Neck of a Child
In this vision, I saw a small girl whose head was dropped forward. I could see that she wore a top that buttoned at the base of her neck. Water was being poured out upon her neck. She did not flinch or wince.
This is another vision that concerns the pouring out of water. As I had shared above, the water pouring ceremony takes place on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. And as we have seen, water - living water - represents the new life that we receive when we become born again.
In the vision the child has water poured upon her. This may represent the infilling of the Holy Spirit at the moment that the child becomes born again. The child becomes a new creation.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The water being poured out upon the child may represent a water baptism which is commanded by the Lord.
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
Water baptism is a baptism of repentance. Yet Jesus, who was baptized by John, was sinless.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17
And the pouring out of water over the child may represent the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is the baptism with fire. It is a separate and greater in-filling of the Holy Spirit with power. This is the baptism of which the prophet Joel had prophesied, and John the Baptist had announced.
“And 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.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29
And:
John says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
And:
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32-34
This greater infilling was for the empowering of the Lord’s disciples to be witnesses throughout the world. It is an empowering with fire and the Holy Spirit. It is given to believers to fulfill the Great Commission, to perform signs, wonders, healings, deliverances, and to overcome temptation, sin and the world. Jesus said:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
This infilling of the Holy Spirit was so important, and so necessary to enable the disciples to turn the world upside down with the message of the Gospel. He commanded them:
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
This gift that the Father promised is for all believers. Jesus said:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
This infilling came to them as they were in the upper room. It came when Jerusalem was teeming with people who had come from many different countries and regions to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. It was the appointed time for the church to be born. For on that day, the disciples were endued with power. They received the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues. They were no longer fearful, but became powerfully bold. They declared to all people in hearing, that Jesus is Lord, God and King, that Jesus whom they crucified was the Son of God, their long awaited Messiah, and that salvation was found only in his name. Hallelujah!
When people heard the wonders of God preached in their own language, they were so amazed.
“They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:32-39
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41
The Lord wants his church to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Initially, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer when he becomes born again. And the Lord commands us to be baptized in water as a demonstration of our faith in him. In the water, our sinful nature dies. As we come up from the water we are raised as a new creation. We are born again, and filled with the Spirt of God.
But to us who desire the greater infilling of the Holy Spirit, to be empowered to fulfill the Great Commission, we are baptized in the Holy Spirit with fire. The fire represents supernatural power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit: (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophecy, faith, healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.)
The gift of speaking in tongues, is given to us to edify our spirit. It is the initial gift by which we recognize that we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given to enbolden us to proclaim the gospel and to perform signs and wonders, healings and deliverances. We are baptized in the Holy Spirit and with fire so that we can do the work of the Lord with his supernatural power.
The baptism in water and the baptism in fire are two distinctly different infillings. We see in the book of Acts that sometimes they receive one before the other and at other times, the opposite is true. Here are two examples:
“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:14-17
In the above example, the disciples had already been baptized in water. Peter knew that they needed this greater infilling so he laid hands on them and prayed that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit, for they had not as yet had the gift of speaking in tongues. This next example shows the timing of the infillings to be in reverse order:
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” Acts 10: 44-48
So we see that the Holy Spirit can baptize with fire either before or after water baptism. So there is no reason to get hung up on this. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is so necessary for today. We need the power of God to be displayed through us. The world needs a powerful Church to become a powerful witness to those who are lost.
The Lord has commanded everyone of us to fulfill his Great Commission. We need the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are given to empower us to do the work of the Gospel. Signs and wonders, healings and deliverances show forth the power of God and validate the message of the Gospel.
The apolstle Paul said:
“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-4
Amen!
A Ball Point Pen
In this vision, I saw a ballpoint pen as it was being inserted into two metal holes about 2” apart and mounted on the vertical edge of the corner of a metal box. The pen stood upright in the two holes. The sides of the metal box looked like the sides of a file drawer. Perhaps it was a box drawer for a file cabinet.
Several years ago, when God had first asked me to write, He showed me a vision of a desk, and then in another vision, my bag was turned upside down and emptied of its contents. Pens and pencils poured out. Then one morning at the church, I went into the bathroom and saw an enormous pencil sitting on the counter. I knew that the Lord was asking me to write about the visions that He was giving me, and share them with others.
In this vision, I saw the pen placed on the very corner of the metal box. Its location is significant. When a building is to be erected, the cornerstone of the foundation, sets the orientation on the site where the building is to be constructed.
In the vision, the pen is the cornerstone of my calling to reach others for Christ. Through the visions I receive, and the word of God on the pages of my posts, I hope to encourage the reader to hunger for more of God and his Word. The Word of God is essential to understanding who he is, and what he desires for us.
I have not advertised or promoted my blog much, if at all, simply because I believe that the Lord will direct people to the site. Even if I am the only one who benefits from my hours of prayer, study and writing I am content. I love to sit at his feet and to wait upon him for revelation and to hear his voice. Every time that I write on a topic, I am convicted of falling short of the glory of God. As I receive his correction and his gentle rebukes, I also receive his love and encouragement. If by chance, or by revelation, you have received any benefit from reading, will you please pass it on?
A High Chair
In this vision, I saw a white molded plastic high chair that sat on the ground, surrounded by the chair’s legs and component parts, ready to be assembled.
A high chair is a special chair with or without a tray, to bring a small child up to normal table height, to allow him to interact with the family, and to make it convenient for an adult to assist in feeding.
From a spiritual standpoint the chair lifts one up to a higher level. As the Bible states:
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6
In the vision, the chair was on the floor surrounded by its parts. The chair was not yet assembled and raised to the proper height from the floor. I believe that this vision speaks of those who do not fully understand God’s heart for the believer. God wants believers to come up higher, to know him and to carry his authority. But some are still trying to figure out the directions.
Everything is in place, ready to go, but we must be obedient to follow the Lord’s leading. He provides what we need to go higher with him. He wants us to eat at the table with him. He wants us to converse with him, to abide in him, to learn from him. He is giving an invitation to any of us who have a desire to go deeper and to go higher.
If we follow his directions, we will be able to assemble the chair. We will be taken higher, taken into his confidence. He will share his heart with us. And as we become more intune with him, we will begin to take on his nature. We will begin to see things more from his perspective. What he loves, we will love. What he hates, we will hate. What moves him, will move us. And what he gives us, we will use for his glory, be it strength, wisdom or understanding.
I hope that you will choose to go higher with him and recognize the authority that we carry by abiding in him. Peter, Paul and all the apostles carried the authority of God because they were obedient. They chose to abide in him, to put him first in all things, and to not compromise with the things of the world. They were sold out to God. Nothing, not imprisonment, not even the threat of death could shake them from their total devotion to the Lord. Paul was beheaded for his faith. Peter was crucified — upside down at his request, feeling unworthy to give his life in the same manner as the Lord.
Can we say “Yes,” to God? Can we follow him? If we choose him, at every turn and in every situation, he will direct our paths, and we will find ourselves seated with him in the heavenly realms!
Please share this message with others. Jesus is coming for his bride. Let’s be ready!
God bless you and your family, friends and loved ones. And please remember to pray for our nation and the nations around the world, that they will be “Under God, with liberty and justice for all!” Amen!
