Living Water
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Living Water; are you thirsty yet? [Topical]
John 7: 37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Leviticus 23:33-34 is where it all started, where God shared how we are to honor him with every area of our lives. I think sometimes we believe that because it’s in the old testament we don’t have to do any of those things anymore.
Living Water; are you thirsty yet? [Topical]
To appreciate the impact of Jesus’ promises we need to understand the first-century water-pouring ritual during this feast [Lev. 23 33-34], For the first six days of the feast they used to fill a golden flagon with water from the Pool of Siloam and carry it back to the temple. When they reached the Water Gate, three blasts from a ram’s horn, trumpet were sounded. When they arrived at the temple, they processed around the altar and sang from the
Psalms 113-118, “The Hallel” which is a Jewish prayer of praise and thanksgiving, everybody joined in. Sounds like they were getting there praise on. The flagon was taken to the priest on duty at the altar who had two silver bowls, one for the water and the other for wine. These bowls were filled and then the contents poured over the altar. On the seventh day they processed around the altar seven times. People believed that when the Messiah came he would provide water (as he would provide manna) just as Moses had done.
My Sermon Focus: Looking at our spirit man, and spirit woman. We put so much mess into our bodies, into our minds, into our hearts, into our spirits. Purposely and sometimes unknowingly. We are on the go 24/7, we gotta get there yesterday! Jesus was never in a hurry. I wonder why? Probably because Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything.
Purpose: To realize that we have all the power of the Holy Spirit at our disposal. We have not because we ask not [Jam. 4: 2-3] Lets’ not be passive in our direction of seeking Gods promises on our lives. …….Are you thirsty yet!
Question: What must happen for our thirst to be quenched?
John 7: 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
1) There must be a willingness to commit to going the distance.
· You don’t want to be the first one to leave early. It’s the 7th day the revival has been amazing they had Peter, and John preach, maybe some local ministers came up and shared. Some people talked about the 5 fish and 2 loaves of bread. On the day when the last of the water-pouring ceremonies was performed amid much singing and rejoicing, Jesus invited people to come to him, the one who provides the rivers of living water. It seems preferable to say that ‘the last and greatest day’ was, in fact, the seventh day, when the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles reached its climax. It didn’t matter what the occasion was, Jesus made it clear, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
We shouldn’t have to be reminded about our critical attitudes, complaining attitudes, rebellious attitudes, doubting attitudes! Jesus said I came so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly…….Are you thirsty yet!
Practical Application: Make sure you stay thirsty!
John 7:38; He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
2) We must be willing to grow our inner spirit
· Everybody knows the story at the well. Jesus stops at Jacobs well begins to talk to the Samaritan women about the living water, back in Chapter 4 read it for yourself. Jesus told her she will stay thirsty drinking that well water. She tried to brag on Jacob, because this was Jacobs well that he had dug, the same Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, the grandson of Abraham.*** But Jesus is always in teaching, correcting, and healing mode. The Samaritan women didn’t have a clue the whole time who she was talking to, how do I know because she addresses him as sir, she knew he was a man of respect, but not honor, because she calls him sir three times.*** Something internally though made her go and tell the town folks, now people are coming from the towns to be healed and restored***.Once she made up her mind, that it was something bigger than Jacob, she bolted up out of there! She left water containers and Jesus, to get the word out. Up until that time she didn’t know Jesus because she hadn’t gone where Jesus was at!!***If you think this is something of chance it wasn’t, this was a moment to witness for the kingdom. We have to take advantage of every opportunity to be witnesses for the Kingdom of God.*** This is was the welling up inside of her that made her leave everything there and go and share what she had heard***The books of Luke and Matthew show favor Towards the Samaritans, we know that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans but here we see Jesus teaching to a Samaritan woman. Its’ clear to remember, and never forget, Jesus is the living water, and that living water is inside us that proclaim Jesus as our Lord and savior of our lives.***Turn to Joel 2:28-29, God has pity on us, (I think sometimes Christians believe they supposed to be blessed and highly favored) we get what we don’t deserve, Grace and Mercy. Its’ more than coming to Jesus, I remember Pastor Colbert would always open up with “Come To Jesus Right Now”, but when you do come to Jesus, usually the bottom has fallen out, its’ dark, you don’t have anywhere else to go, Jesus is the last house on the block with any lights on. (That’s a rebellious spirit) Well I might as well try this. Trying This!*** That’s not drinking, that’s just sipping. God wants all of you, he don’t need your partiality. Matter of fact let me tell you what he thinks about your partiality to him, Turn to Malachi 3:16-17*** When your thirst is quenched you can run on, serve God with righteousness, with honor, with humbleness, and still not be passive. God knows and cares, this is our assurance. Those of us who fear the Lord are not necessarily a different group from those who had been complaining.*** Remember “not by my might but by the spirit of the Lord” (Zec 4:6) this is why we encourage each other to renewed faith. God hears our concerns, especially when your gulping and not sipping the water. Are you thirsty yet? Romans 10:9-10 gives us the proclamation for accepting Christ into our lives. This comes out of the body of the believer from the heart, from the inner most parts. This acceptance is living water, now we can live.*** Now we have to activate the Great Commission in our lives that Jesus told the Apostles as his earthly departure was nearing. All through-out the bible; the Good News; the Gospel, God has been calling people in which membership is based not on race but on a relationship with God through his Messiah, the living water.
Practical Application: In order to make disciples you have to drink the water!
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
3) By making sure my spirit glass is not empty.
· Jesus had not ascended to Heaven yet, there had to be something that connected, or made the people able to be connected to God through Jesus. Through Jesus a direct personal agency opens up, we have to have something to battle with our flesh. You will not be able to get rid of your flesh, not going to happen. WOULDN’T IT E GREAT TO WAKE UP TOMMOROW AND JUST BE IN OUR HEAVELY BODIES AND STILL BE HERE ON EARTH!!! Not going to happen! The word “glorified” is here used advisedly, to teach the reader not only that the departure of Christ to the Father was indispensable to the giving of the Spirit. John 3:6 tells us that “That which is born of the flesh is Flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The living water gives us access to the Spirit.
Practical Application: Stop being thirsty, let Jesus Quench your thirst.
Roderick Williams
First Baptist Church
Kansas City, Ks
500 Nebraska Ave