Rivers of Living Water
Speaker: Steve Little (Pastor)
Date: October 5, 2025
Scripture Reading
John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 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.
Introduction
Over the next few weeks, we are going to attempt to bring in to focus phrases that Jesus stated, like, ‘out of you will flow rivers of living water’; ‘you are the light of the world’; ‘being the bride of Christ’; you are the branches’; etc., and see how they work in our everyday life now.
The first one we are going to focus on is out of the book of John chapter 7 when Jesus said to a crowd of people, ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’
The setting of this statement – Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Sukkot
There are 3 festivals that the Jewish people were to gather together where the Lord designated. They are the Festival of Unleavened Bread (In April on our calendar - celebrating the hasty exodus from Egypt – God delivering them), (it aligns with our Easter time) the Festival of Weeks (was held on June 1st this year – celebrating the giving of the Torah 50 days after the exodus) (falls in line with Pentecost Sunday, which was on June 8th this year, the giving of the Holy Spirit, the inception day of the church) and the Festival of Tabernacles
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
This festival had a threefold purpose –
· To remember that when they left Egypt they lived in tents for 40 years as God led them and provided for them. (Read Exodus 17:1-7)
· To celebrate what they had harvested in the land God gave them.
· To pray for rain for the next season as they prepared to plant.
How the week went:
The day before the feast begins (See examples of the booths created)
Families arrived in Jerusalem, traveling from Galilee, Judea, other parts of Israel and some even traveled from other countries.
After arriving they gather branches (palm, willow, myrtle, citron) and construct their booth on rooftops, in courtyards, or in open squares.
Day 1 – Opening of the Feast (Leviticus 23:34–35)
The first day is a Sabbath-like day of rest.
Families begin living in their booths, eating their meals under the leafy roofs, talking how God sheltered Israel in the wilderness.
At the Temple, priests blew the silver trumpets, and sacrifices are offered.
The people would wave palm, willow, myrtle branches which contained citron fruit (lemon like, very fragrant) in joyful processions.
Days 2–6 – Daily Celebration
Each day has two big highlights at the Temple:
1. Water-Pouring Ceremony (Morning)
At dawn the priests would leave the Temple with golden pitchers and go to the Pool of Siloam, there they drew water and a procession went back to the temple.
Crowds would line the streets and be in a procession singing Isaiah 12:3: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
The water was then poured out on the altar with wine, during this custom the people would be praying for rain and God’s blessing on the next years .
2. Lighting Ceremony (Evening)
In the evening in a temple courtyard four enormous golden lampstands, standing 75 feet tall, were lit. Their light was visible all-around Jerusalem.
Levites would play harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets, while people sang and danced late into the night.
History records that Rabbis way, “He who has not seen the rejoicing at the water-drawing has never seen joy in his life.”
Day 7 – Called “The Great Day of the Feast”
The most climactic day. Pilgrims would circle the altar seven times waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna! Save us now!”
The water ceremony reaches its peak with great rejoicing.
This is the backdrop, on the great day of the feast, the last day, when Jesus’ cries out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38).
Questions: What does this mean for us today? How do we live it out?
1. The Source of Living Water (v. 38-39) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 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.
The living water is the Holy Spirit given through Jesus.
Just as we do not create water when we are thirsty, we have to find it then receive it.. Luke 11:13 "…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him"
This is not a onetime event in our life, thirst reminds us we cannot live without Him.
Ephesians 5:17-20 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application:
As you would eat and drink on a daily basis, come daily to Jesus, it’s not a onetime event.
Prayer, Scripture, worship are ways we “drink deeply” of Him.
2. The Overflow of Living Water (v. 38) ‘out of you will flow living water’
Living water is not stored; it needs to flow outward.
The Spirit within us becomes rivers that bless others.
What God pours into you is meant to touch your family, your workplace, your community.
Illustration: Picture of Dead Sea
Application:
Ask: “Who in my life needs the refreshing touch of God’s Spirit through me?”
It may be encouragement, forgiveness, a meal shared, or simply pointing someone to Jesus.
3. The Witness of Living Water (v. 39)
The Spirit is both comforter and witness.
As He fills us, He empowers us to live and speak the gospel.
Our lives become a testimony that Jesus truly satisfies.
Corrie ten Boom (who was imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during WWII for hiding Jews said this) “Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”
Application:
Let your faith be seen naturally—words and actions they both matter.
Pray each morning: “Lord, let Your Spirit flow through me today.”
Tomorrow is the start of the Feast of Tabernacles for the Jewish people this year. Maybe throughout the week we can rejoice with them.
As we prepare for communion:
Are you thirsty today? Come and drink.
Are you dry? Ask Him to refill you.
Are you filled? Let it flow.
Revelation 19:6-7 ‘I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory….’
