A few years ago, a small group of us came together to seek a new and fresh revelation of the Lord. We felt there were changes coming, and even though we all lived in different states, we wanted to be together for a weekend, setting ourselves apart for worship and prayer. The meeting with God uplifted our hearts and renewed our spirits. God revealed to our hearts that we must become rivers of living waters, channels not vessels. We do not want to be vessels, because a vessel is merely a container. It has only one opening that something is poured into, but no flowing out, no ministering to others. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38.
We do not want what God has filled us with to become stagnant. Water that doesn’t move becomes stagnant. It begins to collect dead things such as bugs and leaves. It eventually has a film over it and is no longer clear. However, water that flows is pure and clear, and the rocks beneath the surface are smoothed in the process. It is the same way with us. If we take what God has given us and only contain it rather than letting it flow to others, then we will also collect dead things. The stagnant areas of our hearts will cause our focus to become dull and our vision unclear. The rocky areas beneath the surface remain. We must become those rivers of living water that minister the Lord to others.
It is also important for us to realize that as channels God does not conform to us, but we conform to God. Our need is to become immersed in Him, just as if someone had thrown us into a lake. When we try to think like Jesus or act like Him in a situation, we separate Him from us. As we allow God to flow through us, then we begin to conform to Him. Our thought processes change. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2.
In the past I have always prayed for God to fill me. Now I say, “Flow through me!”
Copyright © 1990 by Henry DuBose