Call on the Name of the Lord to Drink the Spirit
Revelation 22 adds to the description of New Jerusalem in chapter 21. Revelation 22:1 presents the “river of water of life.”
Verse 22:1 speaks of a river of water of life being in the middle of the street of the city. In Genesis [in the garden of Eden] there were four rivers, two of which have always oppressed the children of God. Babylon was built upon the river Pison, and Nineveh upon the river Hiddekel. God’s children have always been persecuted by these two rivers. But in the New Jerusalem there is only one river—the river of water of life. This river gives life and joy to man. Psalm 46:4 says: “There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.”*
Besides Psalm 46 is also Psalm 36:8-9a; men “are saturated with the fatness of Your house, And You cause them to drink of the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life.” It is God’s desire to give life, gladness, and pleasure to man to supply man to fulfill His desire.
John 7:38-39 speaks of thee Spirit as living water. When we come to Jesus and drink we receive the Spirit. This is the Spirit who regenerates us (John 3:6), is our bountiful supply (Phil. 1:19), renews us (Titus 3:5) and transforms us unto glory for New Jerusalem (2 Cor. 3:18).
In Isaiah 12 the ways to drink this water include rejoicing, giving thanks to the Lord, and calling upon His name. And in Romans 10 the Lord Jesus is “rich to all who call upon Him” and “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Let us call on His name and drink the living water now, not waiting for New Jerusalem.
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/ and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
Posted by Don on August 15, 2022
