Ask For Living Water

Like physical ground, spiritual ground must have moisture to be productive.

From a sermon by Allen Friesen

Water is a precious commodity. If you have ever been through a drought or lived in an area where water is scarce, you would not question that statement. But can you imagine asking for water as a wedding present? It happened!

The bride’s father had promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man who could take a certain city in battle. The bridegroom had won his bride’s hand by performing that feat. Marriage plans were underway, and the father of the bride had presented his daughter with a portion of land as a wedding present.

Then this bride-to-be approached her father to make an unusual request. We read in the Book of Judges, “Caleb [the father] said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs” (Judges 1:14,15). Notice the father’s response when the daughter requested water from him. He gave her more than one spring—he gave her two! This father loved his daughter, and he proved that love by giving her what she wanted and more. Possibly the water encompassed the whole piece of property.

To assess the value of this gift, imagine for a moment what happens when you put a little water on a piece of dry ground as you work with it. All of a sudden, the dry, hard, lifeless earth becomes something potentially fruitful. When the two springs were included in the wedding present, instead of a dry and barren parcel of ground, Caleb’s daughter had property that could produce something of benefit. The potential of that field suddenly became much greater.

Is the “ground” of your spiritual life as productive as it could be? Or, when you look it over, do you recognize that it is more barren and dry than you would like? The Psalmist David expressed the soul’s desire for the life and freshness that God alone can bestow: “My flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). How many Christians are in this “desert land” as to their spiritual experience! It is sad to be in such a condition, but it is even more tragic to be there and not have any longing to be “filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). I am convinced that if our spiritual ground is to be productive, it will take moisture. Where are we going to get the needed supply? When the young lady in this story wanted something, she went to her father, and he gave her more than she asked for. I believe if we go to our Heavenly Father, He will be more than willing to bestow the spiritual moisture we need in order to make our lives fruitful.

If we could read between the lines in this story, I think we would find that the bride-to-be made her request to her father because she wanted to give her bridegroom something truly worthwhile. We have a Bridegroom who is coming to claim His Bride one of these days. Are you one of that number who will be part of the Bride of Christ? Do you have something of value to offer your spiritual Bridegroom?

Notice that once Caleb’s daughter recognized how much more productive her property would be if it had a water supply, she did not wait to bring her request to her father. There is no better time than today to seek the Lord and to ask for spiritual moisture for your dry ground. We do not read that she had to plead with her father or do anything special to earn the blessing. Similarly, the Lord is near, waiting to give. When we come to Him in the right way, He will not offer us a meager supply: He will give a double portion. When we ask for a little water, He will let it overflow our life! He will do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Why is God so eager and willing to pour out of the abundance of His living water upon our lives? It is provided so we can get out there and begin to serve—so you and I can be productive. When our “field” is watered with spiritual moisture, our lives will be fruit-bearing, and other people will benefit. Life-giving water is not provided just so we can enjoy it by ourselves. Sometimes we might be prone to think, Yes, I want the water of Life for myself, my wife, and my son,” and that is about as far as our focus goes. But we live in a dark world. We do not have to go far to find people who need Jesus. What are we going to do that they might be influenced? How are we going to act or react when we come into contact with them? What are we going to say to those whose lives touch ours? How are we going to pray that these people will be led to the Lord? We can only do these things effectively when our lives are fruitful and flourishing because we have been recipients of God’s spiritual moisture.

If a love for God is burning in your heart, you want to serve the Lord in a manner acceptable to Him. You want to please the Bridegroom of your soul when He comes. Like a bride preparing for her wedding, you want to make sure that everything is in order and every detail finalized. As you strive toward that goal, every point, every precept in the Word of God is used as a measuring tool for your life. Your heart’s cry is, “Lord, I want to make sure my life is pleasing in Your sight. I want to make sure I’m doing everything right: the decisions I make every day, the friends I choose, the places I go, and my reactions to situations and to people who come my way.” When you have that attitude, and listen carefully and obey the Spirit’s direction, your life will be a delight to the Bridegroom of your soul.

The Bridegroom is coming. Are you ready? Or do you need to say, “Lord, I need another infusion of that Living Water. Things are getting a little dry.” Do you need to be truly saved? That is the starting point. God would tell you, “I have something I can give you today that you have never experienced. I can make you happy. I can forgive your sins and give you peace. I can change your way of looking at life. I can help solve your problems. I can give you victory!” That is what a good initial outpouring of Living Water will do for you.

Do you need to be sanctified? That second definite work of grace purifies the soul, takes out the old carnal nature and brings holiness into the life—something that is so necessary. In Hebrews 12:14, the Bible says that without holiness, we are not going to see God. That sanctifying portion, the second definite work of grace, is available today. Are you thirsty? Ask your Father for the water needed for that parched ground.

Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? God has provided a special anointing of power from on high for sanctified believers. There is no better opportunity than now to come to God for that infilling. Then you can encourage others to open their hearts and to cry out, “Father, I need Your moisture in my life. I need those springs of Living Water in my soul!”

If it has been a while since you have experienced an outpouring from Heaven and you feel a little dry spiritually, the Lord can moisten things up in a hurry. God’s Word assures us that He is even more willing to give than we are to receive. Just tell the Lord, “I’ve come. You know what I need. You see my heart, that I’m thirsty for more of You. I want to believe, and I want to receive!”

Seek for those springs of Living Water that the Lord has for you. He will grant your desire, and your spiritual ground will be refreshed.

Allen Friesen is on the ministerial staff of the Portland headquarters church.