Water
John 7:37-38
INTRODUCTION
In October of 1807, Meriweather Lewis and William Clark had crossed over the Continental Divide, over the bitterroots of the mountains and were proceeding down the Columbia river to the Pacific Ocean. Dependent upon the river for fresh water the many of his party were becoming sick due to the murky brackish water of the turbulent Columbia river. Lewis, the great problem solver of the exhibition, gave this order, “Dip Deep Water.”
Lewis had discovered that if he dipped deep down into the mighty river fresher water could be raised and his men would be relieved from the infirmities inflicted by the brackish water.
In our spiritual lives many of our afflictions, trials and infirmities would be lessened or avoided if we would just learn the same lesson to dip Deep Water.
Too often we have settled for the scum on top. We have never plunged deep in into the fresh water that is only found deep down.
IF WE ARE TO ADVANCE IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS, WE MUST LEARN TO DIP DEEP WATER—FROM THE STREAMS OF LIVING WATER.
1. Dipping Deep Water means we are drinking deep of our relationship with Jesus
John 7:37-38
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
A. Found the River
Jesus has becoming the consuming fire and passion of our lives.
B. Freed the River
The power of the river is not found behind a dam. It is only discovered when it is released.
“streams of living water will flow from within him."
My question to you is this. Has your relationship with the father grown o the point where you describe it as a stream of living water flowing out of you? Has the river been released in your life?
Which picture depicts your spiritual life? A rushing Stream or a trickle of water.
2. Dipping Deep Water means that streams of living water are being released through our relationship with others who know Jesus.
John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This was Jesus’ will for us.
This was his prayer for us.
Living in community with other believers ultimately leads to the discovery of three things. Those three things lead to the release of the river in our lives.
A. Discovered the comfort of community
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you
Years ago, when speaker of the house Sam Rayburn heard he had terminal cancer, he shocked everyone when he announced he was going back to his small town in Bonham, Texas. People said to him: "They have got the finest facilities in Washington, D. C. Why go back to that little town?"
Rayburn's response speaks to the priceless importance of community. He said, "Because in Bonham, Texas, they know if you're sick, and they care when you die."
The comfort of community is that we are to be developing relationships with others who are a part of the River of Life who become sources of comfort and encouragement in our lives when we are struggling.
Have you developed a caring support network of other believers in your life? If not, you will never be successful.
B. Discovered the Challenge of Community
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you
Living in community makes us accountable to each other so that ultimately we validate the message of Christ.
Validate what’s right, challenge what’s wrong.
Seniors have things to learn from the freedom of new believers. New believers have something to learn form the conservatism if Seniors.
Is There Cream Cheese on My Mustache?
As I sat with my family at a local breakfast establishment, I noticed a finely dressed man at an adjacent table. His Armani suit and stiffly pressed shirt coordinated perfectly with a "power" tie. His wing-tipped shoes sparkled from a recent shine. Every hair was in place, including his perfectly groomed mustache.
The man sat alone, eating a bagel, as he prepared for a meeting. As he reviewed the papers before him, he appeared nervous, glancing frequently at his Rolex watch. It was obvious he had an important meeting ahead.
The man stood up, and I watched as he straightened his tie and prepared to leave. Immediately, I noticed a blob of cream cheese attached to his finely groomed mustache. He was about to go into the world, dressed in his finest, with cream cheese on his face. I thought of the business meeting he was about to attend. Who would tell him? Should I? What if no one did?
Suddenly the sermon on “community and accountability” I was preparing to preach flashed into my mind. I pushed my chair back and stood to warn him, but the tables were too close and the noise of the crowd too loud. He was at the door and on his way before I could stop him. Hopefully, the man looked in the mirror when he got into his car and saved himself from embarrassment.
All of us have flaws. That’s why Christian community is so important. We need others to walk with us, friends who see us as we are, including our blemishes and blunders. We need brothers and sisters who care enough to speak the truth in love and offer a word of kind correction.
Have you developed relationships with other believers who will challenge you when you are off track, out of line, in sin? Have you cultivated relationships with other believers who hold you accountable to grow,
C. Discovered the Clout of Community
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We cannot accomplish the mission alone.
One drop of water is nothing. A lot of drops of water can make a flood.
"Drumline": Unity of the Body
The movie Drumline explores the maturation of a talented percussionist from Harlem who receives a full-ride scholarship to Atlanta A&T University to play in the marching band. Early on Devon Miles (played by Nick Cannon) discovers that making the transition from hip-hop street drumming to the drumline of a university's celebrated marching band is more challenging than he expected.
Devon consistently deviates from the protocol outlined by Dr. Lee, the band director. He fails to read the band rulebook; he provokes a fight on the field at halftime, and he violates the philosophy of band unity by showing off.
One morning, before sunrise, the incoming freshmen band members are lined up like Army recruits on the University's football field. The returning band members observe from the sidelines. The freshmen are all wearing white t-shirts except for Devon who is in a black one. Dr. Lee addresses them like a boot camp sergeant. When a few stragglers arrive tardy, the director asks one of them to identify his roommate. The embarrassed latecomer points to Devon.
Dr. Lee approaches Devon and asks him why his roommate was late. He responds that his roommate likely overslept. When the band director inquires why he didn't wake him, Devon flippantly answers, "I'm not his mother."
Dr. Lee, put off by Devon's smart mouth, repeats the dialogue he and Devon have just had loud enough for the entire band to hear. Then in military fashion he barks out, "Section leaders. What is our concept?"
The section leaders answer loudly in unison, "One band, one sound!"
Dr. Lee repeats the slogan: "One band, one sound!" and then continues to address the newcomers. "When one of us is late, we are all late. When one of us looks or sounds bad, we all look and sound bad."
Staring at the freshmen, he asks, "So, what's the concept?"
The freshman musicians reply, "One band, one sound."
Dr. Lee continues, "Now I want ten laps from all those who are 'not their roommate's mama.'"
IF WE ARE TO ADVANCE IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS, WE MUST LEARN TO DIP DEEP WATER—FROM THE STREAMS OF LIVING WATER.
SUMMARY
Finding the river
Freeing the River
Through the community of support and accountability found in others in relationship with Jesus
To dip deep means not only are we investing in our relationship with Jesus, we are investing in and cultivating relationships with others who are in the river. Are you seeking to free the river? Are you dipping deep water? Do you need to be developing those comforting and challenging relationships with other believers that will release the power of God in your life?
Why not start today.
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