It Only Works If You Drink It Series

It only works, if you drink it

Pastor Danny Williams – April 5, 2008

John 7:37-39

Rivers of Living Water

John 7:37(BK) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, (BL) "If anyone thirsts, let him(BM) come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me,(BN) as[f] the Scripture has said,(BO) ’Out of his heart will flow rivers of(BP) living water.’" 39Now(BQ) this he said about the Spirit,(BR) whom those who believed in him were to receive,(BS) for as yet the Spirit had not been(BT) given,(BU) because Jesus was not yet glorified.

It is important to note the order of these seven feasts, for they give us a “prophetic calendar” for both Israel and the church.

1. The religious year opened with Passover, which pictures the death of Christ.

2. On the day following the Passover Sabbath (a Sunday), the Israelites celebrated First fruits, picturing our Lord’s resurrection from the dead.

3. The week following Passover was devoted to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when all the leaven was put out of the houses. This illustrates the sanctification of believers as they put sin out of their lives.

All of this took place in the first month of the year.

4. Fifty days after First fruits is the NT Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church. In the seventh month, three feasts were celebrated.

5. The Feast of Trumpets opened the month, reminding us of the gathering of God’s people when the Lord returns.

6. On the tenth day was the Day of Atonement, illustrating the cleansing of God’s people;

7. and from the fifteenth to the twenty-first days, the Jews joyfully celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, picturing the blessings of the future kingdom.

On the seventh month -

Last day of Feast - Feast of Tabernacles ( 23:33–44 )

For seven days, the Jews were to live in booths, reminding them of God’s provision and protection when they were in the wilderness.

Vs 43that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

The Feast of Tabernacles was the final and most important holiday of the year.

The importance of this festival is indicated by the statement, “This is to be a lasting ordinance.”

The divine pronouncement, “I am the Lord your God,” concludes this section on the holidays of the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

God is saying what I brought you out of is forever!

The last day was dramatic!

It was a celebration; it was a dramatic way to express to God their need for rain, the water that them the fruit of the ground.

The feast would symbolize, how they would rejoice when The Lord came!

It was right at the moment when the people shouting and dancing around,

Shouting: Hosanna, meaning – save please!

Psalm 118:25 - It is a cry to God for help. Help, save me"

Isaiah 12:2-6

Can I tell you that Jesus hears our Hosanna cry?

It was at that moment! Vs.37

Look with me: Vs. 37

Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Jesus stood up! – I thank God, Jesus stood up! While the world sits down, Jesus Stood up!

When no one else hears my cry, Jesus stood up!

When I cry Hosanna, Jesus stands up!

When I cry for help, Jesus stands up!

Amen?

When no one cares Jesus stood up! The announcement is indicated by the statement, “This is to be a lasting ordinance.”

This will last!!

( a teacher always sat in that day)

He startled and shocked the people to attention!

Why?

Because sometimes, I can’t hear, him for all the noise around me.

I need to hear Jesus shout over me!

Picture thousands of voices shouting, “for God to send living rain, God save us!

Then the Thunder of Jesus Voice!

And cried out!

If anyone –a corporate call

Who is anyone? Anyone, you know what anyone means in Greek? Anyone!

What does it mean in English? Any person at all!

No exceptions,

Are you an anyone?

Do we understand what Jesus meant?

He meant anyone.

Question -

Do you know anyone?

Are they thirsty?

Yes, but their thirst may be mistaken for other things

The counterfeit of thirst is lust, greed or even pain.

Do you know anyone who is hurting?

Then they are thirsty.

Thirsts – What does it mean to thirst?

Not thirsty, which is temporary,,, but Thirsts!!!