February 27, 1026
THE PROBLEM:
HUNGER and THIRST
There is nothing so terrible and hard to bear as hunger and thirst….. How much more painful is the hunger and thirst of the soul?...
• To see the value of our souls, and find out they are in danger of eternal ruin;
• To feel the burden of unforgiven sin, and not know where to turn for relief;
• To have a conscience sick and ill at ease, and to be ignorant of the remedy;
• To discover that we are dying, dying daily, and yet unprepared to meet God;
• To have some clear view of our own guilt and wickedness, and yet to be in utter darkness about absolution – this is the highest degree of pain. It is hunger and thirst after pardon, forgiveness, absolution, and peace with God. - JC Ryle HOLINESS 314
THE REMEDY:
• I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
• Let him come unto Me and drink (John 7: 37, 38)
THE PROMISE:
• He that comes to Me shall never hunger and he that believes in Me shall never thirst
• He that believes in Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
• JC Ryle {Holiness 317}: Christ is that Fountain of Living Water which God has graciously provided for thirsty souls. From Him there flows an abundant stream for all who travel through the wilderness of this world. There is an endless supply of all that men can need – pardon, absolution, mercy, grace, peace, rest, relief, comfort, and hope. It is His office to receive sinners. It is His pleasure to give them pardon, life and peace. And the words of the text are a proclamation He makes to all mankind – “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.”
THE PROBLEM:
BLINDNESS – Stumbling around in the darkness of sin – Carlsbad
• Ellen White {DA 466}: Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness. Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul.
THE REMEDY:
• I am the light of the world (John 8:12)
THE PROMISE:
• He that follows Me shall never walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life
THE PROBLEM:
BARRIERS – We have come to believe the lie that there are many ways to God – many and various roads. While it is true that our journey’s will be different, the gate is the same. There is only ONE way to God.
THE REMEDY:
• I am the door (John 10:9)
• Ellen White {Youth Instructor par. 7}: There is no way for sinners to be saved but to go in at the door which Christ has opened for them.
THE PROMISE:
• If any man enters in, he shall be saved
• Ellen White {DA 477}: Christ is the door to the fold of God. Through this door all His children, from the earliest times, have found entrance. In Jesus, as shown in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelation of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples, and in the miracles wrought for the sons of men, they have beheld "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), and through Him they are brought within the fold of His grace.
THE PROBLEM:
LOST – Lost in sin, lost in our own power to overcome sin.
THE REMEDY:
• I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6)
THE PROMISE:
• No one comes to the Father except through Me
• Hebrews 2:17-18 - Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted
• Ellen White {COL 173}: If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision. Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend.
THE PROBLEM:
BURDENED - Burden by sin – we carry guilt, shame
THE REMEDY:
• Come unto me all that labor and are heavy laden (Matt. 11:28-30)
THE PROMISE:
• I will give you rest
• Ellen White {Appeal to Mothers 31}: Jesus is acquainted with all the weaknesses of human nature, and if entreated, will give strength to overcome the most powerful temptations. All can obtain this strength if they seek for it in humility. Jesus gives all a blessed invitation who are burdened, and laden with sin, to come to him, the sinner's friend.
THE PROBLEM:
HESITANT - Thinking we have to be “perfect” before we can come to Christ for salvation. Correct all our sins & defects. Make a list “If I can just fix this”…..
THE REMEDY:
• Him that comes to me (John 6:37)
• Ellen White COL 205}: Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come…Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.
• Ellen White {The Faith I Live By 23}: As you come to Him, believe that He accepts you, because He has promised. You can never perish while you do this—never.
THE PROMISE:
• I will in no wise cast out
• Ellen White {Historical Sketches 158}: There has never been a time when the people of God have had greater need to claim his promises than now. Let the hand of faith pass through the darkness, and grasp the arm of infinite power…. It is our privilege to believe that his blood is able to cleanse us from every spot and stain of sin. We must not limit the power of the Holy One of Israel. He wants us to come to him just as we are, sinful and polluted….If you fall under temptation, do not become discouraged. This promise comes ringing down along the line to our time: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”… Let us gather up these precious jewels of promise, and when Satan accuses us of our great sinfulness, and tempts us to doubt the power of God to save, let us repeat the words of Christ, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
