INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Over the next few weeks we are going to spend time on a journey called Come Thirsty. This series is inspired by Christian author and Minister Max Lucado’s book by the same title. Today let’s begin by asking the question…
• Why are we thirsty? What are we thirsty for? Have you ever craved some certain item to drink and until you got it, you were not going to be satisfied?
• You may have wanted a tall cold glass of tea, but you had to settle for some water.
• The water sort of took care of your thirst, but it did not satisfy what you were longing for.
• Advertisers try to tell about the best thirst-quenchers. A new car, some new clothing or the latest gadget.
• The problem that we have with continuing to thirst no matter what we get comes from the fact that we are thirsting in a way we do not know.
• There are a lot of people who are going through life thirsty, they are looking for satisfaction and purpose in life only not to find it in anything they have done or tried.
• SLIDE #2
• Can you feel the frustration dripping from the pen of Solomon as he writes the opening verses of the book of Ecclesiastes?
• Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 (ESV) The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
• We are like the person who is a float at sea, we are dying of thirsty, and there is the ocean water all around us.
• We start to drink from it, and we seem to have our thirst quenched only to later die, the very water that we thought was helping us was actually poisoning us.
• Think about how many things in life do that to us!
• We are dealing with a spiritual thirst! That emptiness you feel inside of you is your soul crying out for something that you are not giving it right now.
• Jesus has something for you, something that will satisfy your thirsty soul.
• SLIDE #3
• John 7:37–38 (ESV) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
• SLIDE #4
• God has provided everything to satisfy our spiritual thirst. We all need to go to the W-E-L-L of God’s provision.
• From God’s well the heart will receive everything it needs!
• This “well” is the prescription for quenching your dry hearts. So, this morning, let’s go to the well and see what God is doing for us!
• This is a time where we get to focus in on what God has done and will do for us if we will just allow Him to!
• Today we are going to learn about the W-E-L-L of God’s provision!
• SLIDE #5
SERMON
I. W- GOD’S WORK
• The “W” in the word “well” stands for God’s work!
• I wonder if we sometimes feel that God is through working or that He quit working a couple of thousand years ago when Jesus ascended into heaven.
• If we believe or think this, we will not be too enthused about coming to God’s well to drink because we will feel like it is empty!
• There is something very important you need to realize about God.
• SLIDE #6
• God is actively working in you and for you. We cannot save ourselves. Salvation is God’s work!
• We can receive that work on our behalf and rely on it with confidence!
• We can stop trying to do it ourselves, we can stop reducing our Christian life to a bunch of doing and we can focus on being like Christ!
• You will not get to heaven on a checklist of good deeds, being a good person or any other way than through God’s work!
• SLIDE #7
• We are saved by His grace. Grace defines us!
• Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• We are saved by the Grace of God! WE serve because of what HE has done for us, not to earn our salvation!
• Jesus died on the cross for you, you did not die for Him, although when you give your life to Him, you will die to self!
• We need to stop trying to earn a paycheck from God. This leads to frustration and feelings of inadequacy.
• Instead should focus our efforts on enjoying the GIFT of salvation.
• When we ENJOY the GIFT of salvation we will be motivated to serve the Lord because we LOVE HIM, not because we HAVE to!
• The great thing about accepting and receiving God’s WORK is the fact that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Him!
• SLIDE #8
• Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• Wouldn’t you like to experience that in your life?
• Are you tired of trying to work on your own? Isn’t it time we quit drinking out of the ocean of relying on our own work?
• Remember that God is actively working in you and for you!
• SLIDE #9
II. E- GOD’S ENERGY
• Are you one of those who thinks you can do it all by yourself? Have you been trying to live your Christian life on your own strength?
• Do you find yourself weak and weary from the effort?
• I have some good news for you!
• When you come to God’s WELL God has something special for you! God has something that will refresh you!
• SLIDE #10
• God has given us His energy to be all that He intends us to be. We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength!
• We do not have to go it alone! God offers us His own energy, His power, and Spirit!
• We get ourselves into trouble when we try to do things with only our own energy.
• When we live our life in this manner, we will never get too far, we will only do what we can do. We serve a GREAT God who has infinite power, wisdom, and strength.
• For many of us our walk with Jesus is dull, tiring and dry because we are trying to only rely on our power, wisdom and, strength to do things.
• Don’t you find it exciting and challenging to do something beyond yourself! How exciting would it be to be a part of doing things and living life in such a manner that you know the only way it will happen is if God is in the middle of it all!
• Do you know that when God calls you to do something, He gives you the energy to do it, He gives you all you need to get the job done!
• SLIDE #11
• Galatians 3:3 (ESV) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
• God wants you to rely on Him for the power you need to live for Him! That is why He has made it available to you!
• Think about this for a moment!
• SLIDE #12 VIPER VIDEO
• We are all like that beautiful Viper, we have all the power available to us, but we are trying to drive the car with no fuel.
• We then end up pushing the car everywhere and it becomes a burden to us.
• We are called to live in Christ!
• SLIDE #13
• Colossians 2:6 (ESV) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
• Walking in Him means to live by His strength also!
• Let us look at the first “L” in the word WELL.
• SLIDE #14
III. L- GOD’S LORDSHIP
• Another gift we can receive when we come to God’s well for refreshment is His Lordship!
• SLIDE #15
• Lordship is a big word, but simply put it means: God is sovereign (supreme ruler), and we can trust in His perspective and His purpose.
• There is no need to worry. His ways are always good!
• There is nothing too big for our God to handle. We do not have to walk in fear and worry when God is our Lord. Our Lord takes care of us, He wants to carry our burdens, He wants to provide for and bless us!
• SLIDE #16
• Acts 17:25 (ESV) nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
• When you are going through tough times in life, isn’t it refreshing to know that God is on your side ready to work through you and with you!
• SLIDE #17
• If He is your Lord, then you can claim the wonderful promise of Romans 8:28 which says:
• Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
• I do not know about you, but if I can claim that promise, I want the one who can deliver on that one to be my Lord!
• Since God is supreme ruler or sovereign, who else would you want on your side?
• We can trust Him to do what is best for; we do not have to question His motivation and purposes!
• SLIDE #18
• Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
• You can trust Him to lead you down the right path, why don’t you allow Him to give you the gift of His Lordship today?
• Let us look at the second “L” in God’s WELL
• SLIDE #19
IV. L- GOD’S LOVE
• How many people need to feel true love today maybe more than ever? We are a round a lot people, yet we are lonely, many feel unloved, many have been betrayed by those closest to them.
• We have been hurt by those who were supposed to love us.
• When this happens, we grow cynical, we have a hard time trusting people because we do not want to be let down or hurt.
• I want to share something with you, when you come to God’s well for refreshment, you will find love like you never knew before!
• SLIDE #20
• God’s love for us is immeasurable – more vast than any of us can understand. He loved us before we knew Him. He loved us enough to die in our place. Absolutely nothing can ever separate us from His love.
• God has unconditional love for you. God’s love leads Him to do what is best for you. He always has your best interests at heart.
• God is not looking to ruin your fun; He is looking out for your future. He wants what is best for you; He knows what hurts you and what will hurt you.
• SLIDE #21
• Romans 8:38–39 (ESV) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Do you want to experience the joy of true love; you will find it at the well!
• SLIDE #22
• Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
CONCLUSION
• Drink with me from God’s bottomless well. You don’t have to live with a dehydrated heart.
• Receive Christ’s work on the cross, the energy of His Spirit, His Lordship over your life, His unending, unfailing love. Drink deeply and often. And out of you will flow rivers of living water.
• Next week we will look at The Five Pillars of God’s Grace!
