Thirsty? Come To Jesus, Drink And Flow Series

COME AND SEE #9: THIRSTY? COME TO JESUS, DRINK AND FLOW!

KEY TEXT:

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39).

THE BIG IDEA: Are you hungry and thirsty for MORE in your life? If so, then come to Jesus, drink of His presence, and let the river flow!

I. COME TO JESUS:

• Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let Him come to me…”

• “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters.” (Isaiah 55:1).

• If we don’t realize we’re thirsty / needy, we won’t come to Jesus.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message Bible).

• This is the most important thing that we can do – come to Jesus.

• Only Jesus can truly satisfy the deepest longings of our heart.

• QUOTE: “Now the remarkable thing, yea, the blessed thing, is, that not only is the believer himself satisfied, but he overflows with that which satisfies—out of his innermost parts "flow (forth) rivers of living water.” (AW Pink).

II. DRINK OF HIS PRESENCE:

• Jesus said, “Come to me and drink.”

• “A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).

• Sometimes the Lord will let us go through the wilderness to stir up our hunger and thirst for more of His presence.

• STORY: Getting tired of ‘church as usual’ and seeking and soaking – extended times of prayer and worship, and seeing REVIVAL – signs, wonders, healings, etc.

• What does it mean to ‘drink’?

o In prayer – spending time soaking / abiding in Jesus, just being in His presence

o In worship – as we praise and worship Him, we come into His presence

o In His Word – “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

III. LET THE RIVER FLOW:

• Jesus said, “out of your heart will flow rivers of living water.”

• We are filled up to flow out… don’t be a Dead Sea Christian!

“1 Then he (an angel) brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.

• First the water was up to his ankles (v.3), then to his knees and then his waist (v.4).

5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.” (Ezekiel 47:1,5,9-10).

• Prophetic picture of what the Lord wants to do with His people:

• He wants the water to flow out of the temple / the church, and into the world.

• Wherever God’s Spirit goes, people will be saved and healed – lots of fish!