When I asked what I should study this morning, these words came to me, “soaking in Him, drinking in HIs presence”.
Below are the scriptures and thoughts that came to me as I thought about these words.
John 7:37-39 – Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, from his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. But He was speaking here of the Spirit, whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).
Jesus said come to me and drink. How do I drink? Through faith – he who believes, from his innermost being shall flow continuously springs of living water.
John 6:53-58 – And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life and the saving merit of His blood]. He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has (possesses now) eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. For My flesh is true and genuine food, and My blood is true and genuine drink. He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me. This is the Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate, and yet died; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever.
I feed on Him and dwell continually in Him. I live by and through Him. I take Him for my food and am nourished by Him. I live through and because of Him.
Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The life I now life in the body I live by faith in Him who lives in me. He dwells in me, but His presence and reality is activated by faith. I believe He is there. I act like He is there. I put faith in the truth of what He has said. He is with me always. He will never leave me or forsake me. I abide in these truths and let them fill me and saturate me.
John 15:4-5 – Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Abide (meno) – Abide, remain, dwell, continue, endure, stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy.
(PassionNTPsa) – So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.
(MSG) – Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.
Ephesians 3:17, 19 – May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love… That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
Again it is through my faith. Through me faith He will dwell, settle down, abode and make His permanent home in me. This is how I can be filled through all my being unto the fullness of God. This is how I can have the richest measure of His presence. This is who I can become abody wholly filled and floodd with God Himself.
This is what I am after. How do I get it? It starts by faith.
Psalm 36:7-9 – How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
(PassionNTPsa) – O God, how extravagant is your cherishing love! All mankind can find a hiding place under the shadow of your wings. All may drink of the anointing from the abundance of your house. All may drink their fill from the delightful springs of Eden. To know you is to experience a flowing fountain, drinking in your life, springing up to satisfy. In the light of your holiness we receive the light of revelation. Lord, keep pouring out your unfailing love on those who are near you. Release more of your blessings to those who are loyal to you.
Isaiah 55:1-3 – Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.
If it doesn’t take money, what is the cost?
- Wait. Listen. Come to the waters.
- Hearken diligently, eat what is good, let your soul delight in fatness. Incline your ear, submit and consent.
- Come to me. Hear and your soul will revive.
Isaiah 55:12-13 – For you shall go out with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.
I shall go out of the place of communion with Him, out of the place of His very presence with peace.
I carry Him. I carry His presence, the fragrance of His being, so the mountains and hills break forth before me into singing and the hills clap their lands.
Out of this place of abiding, I bear fruit. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle, and my life glorifies Him and brings Him praise.
Revelation 22:1 – Then He showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Lord, show me the waters that give me life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from your throne, so that I can drink, so that I can soak up who you are into my being and walk out into the world carrying you. Amen.
