Life through Prayer: Praying for Others

The Spirit of God is the living water that is poured out on a thirsty land, producing streams on the dry ground. As believers, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and let the rivers of living water bubble from within us in prayer for others.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3

The living water is the Holy Spirit. Jesus extended the offer to everyone (“anyone” in John 7:37 and “whoever” in verse 38). The requirement for salvation was faith in Christ (verses 38 and 39). The result of salvation would be the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 39), likened unto “rivers of living water” (verse 38). Jesus repeats the promise of the Spirit to his disciples in John 16:7-15.

The picture of the Spirit as “living water” leads us to the following conclusions:

The Spirit gives life

Just as water refreshes and revitalizes a thirsty person, so the Spirit gives life to the believer, enabling God to produce fruit in his or her life. Just as, in Moses’ time, the water that sprang from the rock in the desert kept the Israelites alive, so the Spirit enlivens the followers of Christ (and, according to 1 Corinthians 10:4, the rock providing the water was a picture of Christ).

The Spirit is active

He is living water, as opposed to still, standing, or stagnant water. He is an artesian well, “a spring of water welling up to eternal life,” in John 4:14. He is "a flowing river of living water" in John 7:38.

Believers are channels for the Spirit’s work

At the well in Samaria, Jesus said the water would be “in them” to well up and overflow. During the Feast of Booths, Jesus said the water would “flow from within them.” The Spirit gives gifts, and the believer “shall receive spiritual blessings, or communications of divine grace, in so great an abundance, that he shall not only be refreshed and comforted himself but shall be instrumental in refreshing and comforting others.”
(Benson, J., Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, 1857).

Long ago, God told his people, Israel, not to fear, giving them this promise:

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3

The Spirit, whom the Father likens unto water, was indeed poured out on all those who put their faith in the Son. It’s just one of the many promises of God that are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

We should be allowing the living water of the Holy Spirit to bubble through us as we pray for others. We are called to pray in the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:26) on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18).

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that the Holy Spirit is the rivers of living water that flow from within me. I pray that you, Holy Spirit, would empower me to let the living water flow through praying for others. Give me a heart of compassion to pray for others.