Introduction –
1. Fresh Water vs. City or Well Water.
2. Today, I am here to turn on the faucet to the Fresh Water.
a. I can’t make you drink, but I can turn the faucet on.
3. This may shock many of you. There is a Holy Spirit!
4. Read Acts 19:1-6.
5. You see, God told us he would send the Holy Spirit.
6. John said:
John 1:33 -- I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to
baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and
remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
I. Message of Water.
A. The word water is found many many times in scripture.
1. Mostly used literally but also used figuratively.
2. Used figuratively:
a. to show instability (Genesis 49:4)
b. to show purification from sin (Numbers 8:7)
c. to show separation from sin (Numbers 19 & 31)
d. to show spiritual growth (Psalm 1:3)
e. to show salvation (John 4:7-14)
f. to represent the Word of God (John 15:3)
g. baptism represents the death, burial & resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 3:21)
h. armies (Jeremiah 47:2)
i. to show trouble (Psalm 69:1 – Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.)
j. to represent sin (Proverbs 9:17)
k. to represent mankind (Ecclesiastes 11:1 & Revelation 17:1,15)
l. to represent God (Jeremiah 2:13 – My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.)
m. to show our spiritual life in Christ (Exodus 17:6 & 1 Corinthians 10:4)
n. to represent our daily supply (Psalm 23:2)
o. spiritual outpouring
Isaiah 44:3 – For as I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams
on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on you descendants.
Joel 2:28 -- And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
II. It’s Time to Find the Spirit of God.
A. A River Run’s Through It.
1. Vulgar movie with a great story line.
a. Told the story of the Maclean family who lived in Montana in the early 20th century.
b. Father was a Presbyterian minister – stern but loving.
c. 2 Sons: 1st born Norman, who tells the story and a younger son Paul…
d. The protagonist in the story is the river that runs through their part of Montana. This river is the focal point of the whole family life and the catalyst for everything significant in their lives.
1. Relationships built.
e. The boys ran here after school and rivaled one another in fly fishing for trout.
f. To prove themselves they took a dangerous trip down the river in a stolen raft.
g. It was on the same river that Paul (younger one) made a name for himself fishing.
h. It was on the same river that Norman returned from college trying to find himself.
i. The Maclean family knew failure and success and laughter and fighting and change and disappointment, but the river was always there. It was the define force and spiritual center for that family.
j. Montana would have just been a wilderness; their home 4 walls and a roof; their lives just sound and fury – if not for the river running through it all.
k. I would like to suggest there is a river that runs through the lives of Christians, and that is the Holy Spirit.
B. Today, I say it is time to find the river in you – allow the Holy Spirit to flow through you.
1. The Holy Spirit is needed to live an abundant life.
2. Most Christians (and many churches as well) don’t utilize it.
3. The Holy spirit is:
a. power to witness
b. power to hear God’s voice
c. power to have a heart like God’s heart and love like God loves
d. power to be holy
e. power to anticipate the future
f. power to pray
4. When the Holy Spirit is present in “Power”
a. Worship becomes exciting
b. God will use us in spite of our talents
c. Lives are changed
d. Hearts are touched
e. Numerical growth occurs
f. More importantly – spiritual growth occurs
C. What happens if we don’t use the Spirit to its’ full potential in our daily lives?
1. Illustration of man and Cow.
a. A fellow who had been raised in the city bought a farm and several milking cows. In the feed store one day he complained his best cow had gone dry.
b. “Aren’t you feeding her right?” asked the store owner.
c. “I am feeding her what you’ve been selling me,” said the man.
d. “Are you milking her everyday?”
e. “Just about. If I need 6 or 8 ounces of milk for breakfast, I go out and get it. I just let her save it up.”
f. The feed store owner had to explain it doesn’t work that way. With cow’s milk, like God’s presence, you take all that is there, or you eventually have nothing.
g. Asking for God’s power in 6 or 8 ounce doses, or asking at our convenience or once in a blue moon, may mean that for us, the source could dry up.
III. The Source is the Throne of God.
A. Revelation 22:1 – And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
B. You can question my abilities because of my age.
1. I don’t question myself, because I know who I am.
C. Illustration: Finding the Water
1. A number of travelers were making their way across the desert. The last drop of water had been exhausted, and they were pushing on with the hope that more might be found. They were growing weaker and weaker. As a last resort they divided their men into companies and sent them on, one in advance of the other, in this way securing a rest they so much needed. If they who were in the advance guard were able to find the springs, they were to shout the good tidings to the men who were the nearest to them, and so they were to send the message along. The long line reached far across the desert. They were fainting by the way when, suddenly, every one was cheered by the good news. The leader of the first company had found the springs of water. He stood at the head of his men shouting until the farthest man had heard his cry: "Water! water!" The word went from mouth to mouth, until the whole company of men heard the sound, quickened their pace, and soon were drinking to their hearts’ content.
2. I have found the Water of Life; it is flowing fully, it is flowing freely; and so I stand and cry: "Water! water!" Take up the cry, every one, until every thirsty soul shall drink and live.
D. God gave me a vision/dream.
1. Illustration:
a. Deep waters.
b. Do you want to see people saved because of the things you say or the things you do.
c. Be neck deep. Be prepared to be drowned in the spirit.
Conclusion –
1. At all times we must be full of the Spirit and prepared for work.
2. If you are full of sin, wickedness and hatefulness, that is the type of language you will use.
3. Read Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
4. Read Revelation 21:6 & 22:17.
5. Altar Call!!!
