Sent Forth

In John chapter seven verse two, Jesus on the eighth day of the feast of tents or tabernacles, stands up and he proclaims “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This scripture opens up an amazing thought of where the Holy Spirit is leading the church. Too often we have used this scripture as we pray for those who are seeking the gift of tongues. When instead of seeking the gift of tongues we need to be seeking the giver and listening to the heart of the one who is leading. The Holy Spirit does not want us to place him on a pedestal, his work is to honor, and glorify the one who was sent, Jesus Christ. We as the church, rooted in Pentecostal tradition, need to remember and ensure that our ways of worship bring reverence, honor, and point to the savior whom the Holy Spirit came to glorify. 
 

In this text Jesus proclaims that from our bellies will flow rivers of living water. The Holy Spirit is often referred to as water as He is in this scripture. However, there is a flow that is spoken of here. When water is flowing, where does it go? It goes to the lowest places. If we are to be followers of Jesus Christ, then we must go where He is leading us, and He is leading us to the lowest places. To the poor, and to those who are in need. We must listen as He leads us to people who are waiting for Jesus to show up in their lives. We become the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and dying world in need of mercy and grace. 
 
As Jesus was standing in the doorway on this great day something synonymous was happening. During the Feast of Tabernacles the priest would use a golden ewer (an ancient wine vessel) and he would dip the ewer into the Pool of Siloam. Siloam means “The Sent”. He would bring the water from the Pool of Siloam to the altar where there are two silver basins and a sacrifice is being made. In one basin blood is poured in, and in the other the water from the Pool of Siloam. Both the blood and the water flow down through pipes and they commingle onto the sacrifice. Now Jesus has showed up at this feast on its Greatest Day, and John is being very deliberate to express that the Pool of Siloam in Greek means apostellō
 (The Sent). Jesus stands up and He cries out saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” What is happening here, the Jews themselves are flustered and begin to question who this man is. But, Jesus is linking himself to the entire concept, the water that comes out of the rock in the wilderness (the Pool of Siloam), it is Jesus the one who is sent forth! He is saying to them “You want to see the real Pool of Siloam, it is right here. I am the one who has been sent, come to me and I will give you drink and you will never thirst again!” 
 
Seven months later Jesus would be crucified and as the solider would pierce His side, the water and the blood would flow again over the ultimate sacrifice. He was sent forth and so are we. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit to the lowest places in our cities, towns, and communities and bring them Jesus Christ, reflected in us. Galatians 4:4-6 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” 
 
The church needs to quit using the Holy Spirit as a means only for emotional experiences, but allow Him liberty to speak once again, through messages and interpretations, and divine guidance. I used to pray “Lord lead me with a visible hand, that where you lead, I will follow”, but now I pray “Lord give me your eyes, so I can see what you see, and minister where your vision leads me”.  We are now those who are sent forth. Are you willing to go?