My Dear Friend,

Ever foreseeing, faithful, and gracious, our Lord Jesus Christ did not leave His church in the wilderness of this world without survival supplies. In short, those essentials of spiritual life are the "food" of God's Word and "water" of His Spirit.

Jesus confirmed that in biblical symbolism food, specifically "bread," represents God's Word: "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). He also confirmed "water" is a symbol of the Holy Spirit by describing the fullness, or Baptism, of the Holy Spirit as "living water...a well of water, springing up into everlasting life," and later, "rivers of living [flowing, fresh] water" (John 4:10, 14; 7:37-39). These are the essentials of spiritual life.

Not one or the other but both are necessary to our survival. If we had all the food we needed but no water, we could not survive in the wilderness. If, on the other hand, we had abundant fresh, flowing water but no food, we could survive only a short time.

So I have some questions that have been burning in my heart a long, long time. May I share them?

Why does part of the body of Christ try to survive on God's Word alone, with little or no active seeking of the full anointing and power and gifts of His Spirit? Theirs seems to be a "bread only" attitude and practice.

Conversely, why does the other half of the body of Christ try to survive by seeking the moving of the Spirit and the presence and miracles of God, yet too often neglects to equally emphasize the deep, thorough study of God's Word and its sole authority in examining the validity of our spiritual experiences and teachings? Theirs seems to be a "water only" theology and practice.

Christ did not intend it to be this way! He did not want us to try to survive the spiritually hostile wilderness of this world on only one or the other of these, His vital provisions!

It is Christ's express will that we seek and derive benefit from both the "food" and "water" He has given us and quit trying to claim either of them alone will enable us to be spiritually mature Christians, churches, and ministries fulfilling our callings and commissions.

Personally, while passing through this wilderness I want all the vital supplies I can get my hands on - all the food, all the water! To reject any part of the survival gear Christ has provided is to insult His wisdom by implying that what He deemed necessary is really optional and we can get by quite comfortably without it. That is foolishness masquerading as wisdom. It is a sure road map to disaster.

May the Lord help us see there is no competition between the food and water Christ left us. The Scriptures and the Spirit complement one another in the mature believer's daily life and kingdom work. May we accept them both as biblical and necessary survival supplies - and thrive!

Accepting, thriving,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries