Living Water: British Easter Conference Spring 1999
by Breda Sunderland

"Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."–John 7:38

In so many ways this verse was at the heart of all that went on at the 1999 British Easter Conference. On Monday evening Meryl Langley shared her testimony with us. Step-by-step she detailed the revolution that has taken place in her life since we met at Hothorpe Hall last Easter. Suffice it to say that "streams of living water" over-flowed. A continuum of perfect circumstances, accountability and rigorous honesty resulted in her complete surrender to God and to His desire to live through her a life out-poured for others.

From the outset of our five days together there was a focus on restoration. There was a real desire that those who had once acknowledged the truth of Christ in us, as us, but who have since wandered off into what Norman calls "bypath meadow" would see "what trouble God took to bring this one truth home to all who would wholly follow Him" (The Law of Faith, Chapter 5).

During the week we saw again the havoc wreaked when "the spring of living water" is forsaken; when people dig "their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13). Digging one’s own cistern–whatever form that takes–is hideous sin and its consequences are dry and barren. These verses from James spoke volumes to us during the conference: "You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures….That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble"’ (James 4: 2-6). The good news is that our God is "a jealous God" and that He pursues relentlessly those who would "wholly follow Him."

A fundamental unity characterised this conference and the direction was forward and outward looking. A sense of what it was like to be at Hothorpe this Easter is inherent in the connectedness of the details. On the last evening we all gathered round while Page Prewitt built a wonderful indoor fountain. Water trickled over stones piled high in a wicker basket, interwoven with greenery and pretty flowers. Later the sound of flowing water provided perfect accompaniment as Christina Duncan and Brett Burrows sang for us. One evening earlier in the week singing spontaneously broke out. Guess which song? "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee…."

"Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Rev. 22:17).