Whenever a river flows, there is life nearby. All sorts of living things are in and around rivers all over the world.  Rivers have been an important part of life for human beings from the beginning of time.

Believers in Jesus, like rivers of life in the Spirit, bring vitality to this parched and barren world. The world’s offerings, which appear enticing, are dried up, withered, and lifeless. They are mere mirages in the desert, empty, hollow, and devoid of true life.

Jesus said something of great significance that every believer should take to heart.

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus eagerly anticipated the moment when the Holy Spirit would begin His ministry in full here on earth through believers in Jesus who would be baptized with His power and presence.  Jesus likened it to a river of life flowing through this world.

Believers themselves do not give life.  It requires the work of the Holy Spirit!

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Jesus spoke by the Spirit. He was not merely quoting Scripture. He was speaking in a timely and pointed manner according to the Spirit’s leading. Jesus was submitted to the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry, and He did everything that He did and spoke everything He spoke by the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. He ministered according to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The Holy Spirit also brings vitality to our flesh when we are submitted to Him in faith.  But more than that, it is the Holy Spirit that makes us proper ministers.

2Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

To be a river in this world, we need to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives so that He can bring revelation and life to others.

The Holy Spirit is always looking to magnify Jesus and make Him known.  The Holy Spirit promotes the New Covenant as it is the Covenant Jesus established.  It is the Covenant of life.

No one wants to swim in a polluted river filled with muck and nasty, dangerous chemicals.  But that is what mixture is, spiritually speaking.  It seeks to pollute the river of life by bringing in things that are not beneficial and even harmful to someone.  The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  I want to be a clean-flowing river of life to my generation that magnifies Jesus according to the flow and power of the Holy Spirit working in and through me.  I do not wish to merely quote Scriptures but rather speak the appropriate truth at each moment that I am privileged to have the opportunity to do so.