The picture our Lord described here is not that of a simple stream of water, but an overflowing fountain. Continue to “be filled” (Ephesians 5:18) and the sweetness of your vital relationship to Jesus will flow as generously out of you as it has been given to you. If you find that His life is not springing up as it should, you are to blame— something is obstructing the flow. Was Jesus saying to stay focused on the Source so that you may be blessed personally? No, you are to focus on the Source so that out of you “will flow rivers of living water”— irrepressible life (John 7:38).We are to be fountains through which Jesus can flow as “rivers of living water” in blessing to everyone. Yet some of us are like the Dead Sea, always receiving but never giving, because our relationship is not right with the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive blessings from Him, He will pour out blessings through us. But whenever the blessings are not being poured out in the same measure they are received, there is a defect in our relationship with Him. Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything hindering your faith in Him? If not, then Jesus says that out of you “will flow rivers of living water.” It is not a blessing that you pass on, or an experience that you share with others, but a river that continually flows through you. Stay at the Source, closely guarding your faith in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow into the lives of others with no dryness or deadness whatsoever.Is it excessive to say that rivers will flow out of one individual believer? Do you look at yourself and say, “But I don’t see the rivers”? Through the history of God’s work you will usually find that He has started with the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but those who have been steadfastly true to Jesus Christ.

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September 7 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank you for this reminder; one more key to determining if we are connected to you: Are we a blessing to others? Have we helped others receive their blessings? Are we a blessing to them? David and I learned that if we are not a blessing to others; if we are spiteful, stingy, wanting our blessing’s to remain with us, then perhaps we are not allowing You to live through us because we are not surrendered or connected. Is our thinking accurate Lord? Is this an indicator of our disconnect with You? What about those that take from us? What about those that take what is ours, and do not offer up payment or restitution? What about those that take from our meager supply or resources. We only have so much time, money, or patience Lord.

 

And God says…”When you are truly surrendered and connected to Me, you share my unlimited time, money and patience….and you know it, feel it and have faith in the unseen. My resources are your resources and they are unlimited. When you start thinking about tightly holding onto the blessings I have given you, you are in effect saying, “Lord, I do not trust you to provide for me, I can only trust what I can see, touch and feel.” You become like the Israelites in the desert trying to store up the daily manna. As Chambers says…You are to focus on the Source so that out of you “will flow rivers of living water”— irrepressible life (John 7:38). You are to be fountains through which Jesus can flow as “rivers of living water” in blessing to everyone. Yet some of you are like the Dead Sea, always receiving but never giving, because your relationship is not right with the Lord Jesus…(that is to say you are not surrendered and connected to Jesus).

Let your lack of bubbling waters of blessings and your lack of desire to offer these blessings up to others be a simple indicator of your need….You can pray…”Lord, I feel the natural inclination to hold onto my time, money, and related blessings and resources. Please help me surrender this need and live in connection with You knowing You will meet all my needs, as I demonstrate and reinforce my trust by offering up my time, money, patience and other resources that You give me, to others