Email from Abiding Place Daily Bread – June 13, 2025 (The Sixth Day – Genesis 1:24-31) John 7:37-39 – Now in the last great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, just as the Scriptures said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Now this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom they that believe in Him were about to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. The Abundant & Unlimited Supply of the Spirit of God Rivers of living water flowing out of the belly of a person is an allegory of an abundant and unlimited supply of the Spirit of God in mankind. These rivers of living water are described to be the Holy Spirit Who would be given to mankind once Jesus was glorified. When Peter spoke of this glorification in Acts 2:33, He related it to the language of the Spirit which was evident for all of those standing before Peter to hear. These rivers are described by the prophets in the Old Testament. In fact, one of the common songs to sing on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles is found in Isaiah 12:3, “With joy shall you draw waters out of the well of salvation.” Yet now, at this particular time, Jesus promised a supply of water going far beyond the concept of a well – it is, rather, an overwhelming and unstoppable flow of converging rivers streaming out of the belly of a person. Other Scriptures that refer to the rivers are Isaiah 43:19-20, “Behold I do a new thing; now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness; rivers in the desert…I give water in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.” The psalmist said “You shall make them drink of the rivers of your pleasure” (Psalms 36:8). Other references include: Isaiah 33:21, 44:3, 48:21; Deuteronomy 8:15; Zechariah 14:8,11; Ezekiel 47:12; Psalms 46:4, 78:15-16; 1 Corinthians 10:4. The river of God is again pictured in Ezekiel 47 pouring out of the temple of God and bringing healing to everything it touches. Finally, the river is pictured in Revelation 22 flowing forth from the throne of God and the Lamb. All of Heaven is calling all men everywhere to come and drink of this water. This is the water that is flowing out to everyone who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Tabernacles was also linked with Zechariah 9-14, which describes the triumph of Yahweh. In Zechariah 9:9, the Messiah comes to Jerusalem, triumphantly riding on a donkey, and Yahweh pours out a spirit of compassion and supplication on Jerusalem (12:10), He opens up a fountain for the house of David to cleanse Jerusalem (13:1), and everything in Jerusalem is holy (14:20-21). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 6/13/2025
