take the rod(apply the death of Christ to your situation) and speak to the rock(speak to Christ in faith)!

This week we’re getting into the message entitled, Drawing Water with Rejoicing from the Springs of Salvation – in the Crystallization-study of Isaiah(1). Today I was reminded of the fact that most of the problems and murmurings in the church life are due to the shortage of the Spirit of life. The people of Israel were murmuring in the wilderness against God and against Moses because they were thirsty – and God did not “rebuke” them or tell them that this is wrong. God knows that we need the supply, we need to drink… We need Christ as the Spirit of life flowing into us and satisfying us all the time! Whenever we don’t drink of Him, whenever we are not supplied with life, we are not happy!

If we are short of the Spirit of life, which is typified here by the water, we either get in trouble or we cause trouble. We need to be continually drinking of the Lord within, and continually flowing Him out to the ones around us! Otherwise, we will either blame others or contend with God – simply because we’re deeply thirsty! Just like we see in the book of Numbers, Christ as the rock following us(to be available to us whenever we need Him) has already been smitten. The first time, God told Moses to “take the rod and strike the rock” – typifying the Lord Jesus was stricken on the cross by the rod of God’s law and His judgement, and out of His side flowed blood and water(John 19:34). When the Lord was pierced on the cross, out of Him flowed blood(for redemption and washing away of the sins) and water(for regeneration and continual drinking and supply) – see the note in the Recovery Version about Blood And Water.

Today we need to just take the rod(apply the death of Christ to our situation) and speak to the rock(speak to Christ by exercising our spirit)! We don’t need to “strike the rock” again – there is no effort on our side. All we have to do is apply the death of Christ to our situation – in this way we will experience the crucified Christ. Then, we just speak to Him with an open heart – Lord, thank You that the Spirit is flowing today! We speak and we believe – in this way, we just drink! Whenever you’re thirsty, just speak to the rock! Speak to Christ, who is not far away in the heavens or somewhere else – He’s in your heart and He’s in your mouth(Rom. 10:9). Now that the Spirit has been given, there is no need for Christ to be crucified again so that the living water may flow forth! Just take the rod(the death of Christ applied to our particular situation) and speak to the rock(not in a begging way but in a believing way, full of faith)!

When we are satisfied, when our thirst is quenched, we are happy and there are no problems. But when we are thirsty and short of the supply of life, there are a lot of troubles and issues. And the way to receive the life supply afresh is so simple – we just need to open our heart and open our mouth and speak to Christ by calling, fellowshipping with Him, praying in faith, and all kinds of speaking towards Him and with Him! The simple calling on the Lord’s name – O Lord Jesus! – will bring you to “take a drink” from the water of life. This water of life comes in and meets all our needs, refreshers us, envigorates us, enlivens us, and empowers us to live out Christ.

O, Lord, we want to keep out of trouble by drinking You! Thank You for reminding us that we just need to come to You and speak to You that we may drink! May there be no shortage of the Spirit in our being!