Living Water of Life vs. River of Water of Life vs. Current of Life vs. Flow of Life

 

Living Water of Life vs. River of Water of Life vs. Current of Life vs. Flow of Life

John 4:10 - "Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

Rev 22:1-2 - "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street. And on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

1 John 1:3 - "That which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

John 7:38 - "He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water."

 

Analysis Aspect	Living Water of Life	River of Water of Life	Current of Life	Flow of Life
Basic Meaning	God Himself as our life, satisfying the thirst in man's spirit	Life supply system flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb	Circulation and fellowship of divine life in the Body	Divine life power flowing from God's throne
Core Characteristics	Personal, direct, satisfying	Systematic, continuous, supplying	Circulating, fellowshipping, corporate	Originating, dynamic, propelling
Primary Function	Quench thirst, satisfy, supply individual life needs	Nourish the tree of life, supply the whole city, maintain life growth	Generate Body fellowship, build the church, spread the gospel	Propel God's work, produce testimony, bring revival
Specific Effect	Regenerate, renew, gain eternal life	Provide continuous life nourishment and supply	Connect saints, form one Body, expand God's kingdom	Release power from the source, propel all spiritual activities
Focus	Individual drinking and enjoyment	Overall life system	Corporate fellowship circulation	Source power release
Scope	Individual experience	City-wide supply	Body building	Work propulsion
Nature	Static supply and satisfaction	Organized distribution system	Dynamic circulation and connection	Active emanation and propulsion
Key Verses	John 4:10-14 John 7:37-38 Rev 22:17	Rev 22:1-2 Ezek 47:1-12	1 John 1:3 Acts 2:42 Acts 8:4-8	John 7:38 Acts 2:1-4 Acts 13:2-4
Biblical Examples	Living water spoken to Samaritan woman; Lord's call at Feast of Tabernacles	River in New Jerusalem; River flowing from temple in Ezekiel	Apostolic fellowship; Post-Pentecost expansion; Philip in Samaria	Rivers of living water from believers; Spirit's descent; Antioch sending
Personal Application	Daily coming to the Lord for life supply	Normal growth in life system	Function in Body fellowship	Let the Lord have first place as first love
Church Application	Supply saints' individual spiritual needs	Establish healthy church life system	Maintain fellowship circulation among saints	Keep the church in the divine flow
Ministry Application	Minister with Christ as life	Establish orderly ministry system	Propel God's work through coordination	Let the Spirit propel all work

 

Interrelationship Analysis:

Relationship Type	Relationship Description	Specific Manifestation
Source Relationship	Flow → River → Current → Living Water	Complete process from source to personal experience
Scope Relationship	Living Water (individual) → Current (Body) → River (system) → Flow (universal)	Hierarchical expansion from individual to universal
Functional Relationship	Flow provides power → River establishes system → Current generates fellowship → Living Water satisfies individual	Interlocking functions forming complete system
Temporal Relationship	Flow (eternal source) → River (eternal supply) → Current (generational continuation) → Living Water (present experience)	Complete coverage from eternity to time

 

Detailed Scripture References:

Living Water of Life

• John 4:14 - "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall by no means thirst forever; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life."
• John 7:37-38 - "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water."
• Rev 22:17 - "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come; let him who wills take the water of life freely."

River of Water of Life

• Ezek 47:1-2 - "Then he brought me back to the entrance of the house, and there was water flowing out from under the threshold of the house toward the east...This water was flowing from under the right side of the house, south of the altar."
• Ezek 47:9 - "And every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes shall live. And there shall be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything shall live wherever the river goes."

Current of Life

• Acts 2:42 - "And they continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers."
• Acts 8:4 - "Those then who were scattered went throughout the land announcing the word as the gospel."
• Acts 11:19-21 - "Those then who were scattered because of the tribulation that occurred over Stephen passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch...And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, announcing the Lord Jesus as the gospel. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord."

Flow of Life

• Acts 2:2-4 - "And suddenly there came out of heaven a sound like the rushing of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which were distributed and sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit gave them to utter forth."
• Acts 13:2-4 - "And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. They then, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed away to Cyprus."

  

Comprehensive Analysis Points: 

I. Manifestation of Uniqueness

Essential Unity: The four concepts are different aspects of the same divine life

Source Unity: All flow from the throne of God and the Lamb

Goal Unity: All for building the church as God's corporate expression

 

II. Functional Complementarity

Flow of Life: Provides eternal inexhaustible power source

River of Water of Life: Establishes stable orderly supply system

Current of Life: Promotes living effective Body fellowship

Living Water of Life: Satisfies individual practical spiritual needs

 

III. Historical Continuity

Origin: Divine life flow beginning from Pentecost

Development: Continuous expansion through generations

Continuation: Persistent flowing from Jerusalem to the ends of earth

Completion: Until eternal realization of New Jerusalem

 

IV. Practical Requirements

Preservation: Need to keep ourselves in this one flow

Cooperation: Let the Lord have first place in our whole being as first love

Following: Submit to the Spirit's leading and propelling

Building: For Body building and God's expression

 

V. Resulting Production

God's Life: Wherever the flow goes, there is God's life

Body Fellowship: Produces genuine fellowship of Christ's Body

Jesus' Testimony: Brings forth the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ

God's Work: Propels and accomplishes God's eternal work

  

Conclusion:

These four concepts, though each with distinct characteristics, are actually one entity, together constituting the complete system of divine life. From the eternal flow to temporal experience, from universal system to personal enjoyment, from source propulsion to final consummation, they form a perfect spiritual ecological cycle. Both believers and the church need to recognize and experience this fourfold richness, being preserved, built up, and perfected in this unique divine flow.

  

*Please refer to the April 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training General Topic: Oneness and the Vital Aspects of Acts Chapter 5 Keep Yourself in the One Flow of the Lord’s Work for the Expansion of the Church and Be Saved by the Lord’s Mercy from Satan’s Schemes