Terminals or channels? ∙

Terminals or channels? ∙

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

 8 To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else, the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

 11 The one and only Spirit distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

For centuries, ships had to sail around the tip of South America to reach the West Coast of America. This was very time-consuming and often fraught with hazards. Recognizing the need for a more direct maritime path, the Isthmus of Panama was chosen to become a channel for maritime trade. The construction of the Panama Canal stands as one of the most significant and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. It is a testament to human ingenuity and determination. But the Panama Canal was well worth the effort.

Under the leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States embarked on the monumental task of constructing the canal across a 50-mile stretch in Panama starting in 1904. Through groundbreaking public health efforts, the threat of yellow fever was eradicated. Its source was identified and eliminated by ridding the area of disease-carrying mosquitoes. In 1914, the Panama Canal was inaugurated, creating a crucial maritime corridor between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The area where the canal was to be built was part of Columbia. The nation of Panama did not exist. An independence movement resulted in the formation of the Republic of Panama. The United States recognized it on November 6, 1903. The United States was granted exclusive and permanent possession of the Panama Canal Zone. In exchange, Panama received $10 million and an annuity of $250,000 beginning nine years later.

A terminal signifies an endpoint of something. South America was the natural divide between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Pacific Ocean terminated at the West Coast of South America, while the Atlantic Ocean terminated on the East Coast of South America. The Panama Canal transformed these coastal terminals into a channel between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The creation of the Panama Canal bridged these vast bodies of water.

This transformation from a terminus to a channel mirrors a broader spiritual principle, emphasizing the importance of being conduits of connection and flow rather than endpoints. Just as the Panama Canal serves as a channel for global commerce and navigation, the Father intends for each child of the King to be a channel, not a terminal.

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”

“Jesus was referring to the experience of Israel recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. That water was but a picture of the Spirit of God. Believers would not only drink the living water, but they would become channels of living water to bless a thirsty world! The “artesian well” that He promised in John 4:14 has now become a flowing river!” (Wiersbe).

The Lord Jesus Christ assured that those who place their faith in Him will have streams of living water flowing from the depths of their being. As children of the King, we are called to be channels of this living water. We are to be channels, not mere repositories and terminals.

REFLECT & PRAY

As the Father quenches our spiritual thirst, we are to pay it forward and satisfy the spiritual thirst of others.

Father thank You for Your kind intention of making each child of the King a channel of blessing for others in need. Please make it so.

INSIGHT

Something entirely new was about to happen to all who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises that the Holy Spirit will enter every child of the King when they believe in Him. His work within our hearts is likened to abundant streams of flowing out water of us to enrich and benefit others.

John 7:38-39

 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

The Holy Spirit fulfills a similar role on a spiritual level. The Holy Spirit spiritually satiates the deep thirst of the soul and satisfies the inner person, empowering them to bear spiritual fruit. “The expression ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ means out of the person’s inward parts or inner life would flow streams of help to others” (BBC).

“All who believe on Him will have their own needs supplied and will receive rivers of spiritual blessing that will flow out from them to others. All through the Old Testament, it was taught that those who accepted the Messiah would be helped themselves and would be channels of blessing to others (Isaiah 55:1)” (BBC).

This is similar to what the Lord Jesus Christ said to the Samaritan woman. He offered her living water. He told her that it would become a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). This closely resembles streams of living water flowing from the heart.

Children of the King are members of the body of Christ. Each is given a spiritual gift, ways to serve, and the results of their service.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Children of the King are diverse in their natural and spiritual makeup. These gifts are not intended to be bottled up or terminated. Instead, they are designed to be used for the common good. With these gifts, we are to help and build each other up.

“‘To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for mutual benefit.’ The gifts are given to individuals so that they may benefit others and serve the whole body” (Garland).

“No one can be indwelt by the Spirit of God and keep that Spirit to himself. Where the Spirit is, He flows forth” (Temple). Could it be if there is no flowing forth, the Holy Spirit is not there?

How is your flow?

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

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© Dr. H 2024