Water, Water, Everywhere
John 7:32-37
1. There is a Compulsion. (Need). (thirsts)
* When one is thirsty, that becomes his focus.
Illustration:
* Thirst is the most painful thing.
* Eudipsia is normal thirst. Hyperdipsia is temporary intense thirst,
* Polydipsia is sustained excessive thirst. Describe is wanting to drink anything. (Wikipedia)
* Affects every organ in the body, spasms muscles and digestion. Hallucinations.
* Background, Feast of Tabernacles, people thirsted in wilderness, God supplied water from the stone Moses struck.
* Now the priests went to pool of Siloam, got bucket of water, poured it in basin. Another basin of wine. Poured both on the alter and went down steps of temple. People shouted.
* People celebrated, remembering that God supplied their needs.
* Forgot that He sent Jesus Christ to fill their spirit needs.
* I Corinthians 10:1-4 - 1Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
* The rock was struck, and brought forth water.
* Jesus was about to be struck and would bring to us life.
* Mankind without Jesus Christ is constantly seeking satisfaction.
* Read text.
2. There is a Condition (prerequisite). (believes in me)
* There are many variations in Christianity of how to obtain life.
* People use pet verses.
* Mark 16:16 - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
* Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
* In each case, the action of Baptism is shown as a results of an inner change that already took place.
* Let me show you something.
* Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
* Is this teaching economic salvation? That is what is says!
* But we know from the whole of scripture that is not what Jesus was saying.
* This man had an obstacle to following Jesus, his wealth.
* Jesus said, "Let’s remove the obstacles so you can believe in me and follow me completely.
* Salvation was not found in selling all our goods. That just removed the obstacle.
* Coming to Jesus to follow Him is where salvation is found.
* Now, the Jews were mostly afraid of being ostracizes. Kicked out of the Synagogue and un-jewed.
* It was expected by the early Christians that one would follow Jesus completely, beginning with baptism, if they truly believed.
* However, for these Jews, they wanted to believe Jesus, but not publically announce it.
* Both passages indicate that we must surrender fully, overcome all obstacles, to fully have faith.
* The 17 other passages that Jesus gave us concerning salvation, "believe". John 3:16.
* Romans 10:9-10 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3. There is a Conformation (validation). (the Scripture has said)
* Zechariah 14:8 - And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur.
* All the scriptures speak of Jesus.
* The Old Testament promised a Savior. The New Testament shows us that Savior.
* I Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
4. There is a Covenant (promise) (abundant satisfaction, rivers of living water)
* Enough for us.
* Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
* Enough for others.
* A river means life, not to just you, but to all.
* 20% of the world’s oxygen supply is generated in the Amazon rain forest alone (http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm).
* Put a river in a desert and you have teaming life.
* I Thessalonians 3:17 - And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all.
* A Christian should not be a bank of love and blessings, but a river of love and blessings.
5. There is a Clarification. (He spoke of the Spirit, for those who believe to receive)
* Jesus promised a comforter.
* John 16:7-8 - "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
* This comforter, helper, parakletos, is one who comes along side to help us.
6. There was a Contingency. (Holy Spirit was not yet given, Jesus was not glorified)
* The disciples saw this promise fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.
* We see the promise fulfilled when we believe and receive Christ as Savior.
* If you are saved, you have the Spirit.
* Romans 8:9 - But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
* And if you have the Spirit, you have all power.
* John 16:12-14 - "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
* Are you relying upon His power in you, are yourself?
* Are you trusting in the Life of Christ in you, or your works and deeds?
ILLUSTRATION:
