WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
SEPTEMBER 16, 2001
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: THE SERVANTS THAT DREW WATER
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.” JOHN 3:16-18
TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO JOHN 2:1-11 “AND THE THIRD DAY THERE WAS A MARRIAGE IN CANA OF GALILEE; AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE: AND BOTH JESUS WAS CALLED, AND HIS DISCIPLES, TO THE MARRIAGE. AND WHEN THEY WANTED WINE, THE MOTHER OF JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, THEY HAVE NO WINE. JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN, WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THEE? MINE IS NOT YET COME. HIS MOTHER SAITH UNTO THE SERVANTS, WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT. AND THERE WERE SET THERE SIX WATERPOTS OF STONE, AFTER THE MANNER OF THE PURIFYING OF THE JEWS, CONTAINING TWO OR THREE FIRKINS APIECE. JESUS SAITH UNTO THEM, FILL THE WATERPOTS WITH WATER. AND THEY FILLED THEM UP TO THE BRIM. AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, DRAW OUT NOW, AND BEAR UNTO THE GOVERNOR OF THE FEAST. AND THEY BARE IT. WHEN THE RULER OF THE FEAST HAD TASTED THE WATER THAT WAS MADE WINE, AND KNEW NOT WHENCE IT WAS: (BUT THE SERVANTS WHICH DREW THE WATER KNEW;) THE GOVERNOR OF THE FEAST CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM, AND SAITH UNTO HIM, EVERY MAN AT THE BEGINNING, DOTH SET FORTH GOOD WINE; AND WHEN MEN HAVE WELL DRUNK, THEN THAT WHICH IS WORSE: BUT THOU HAST KEPT THE GOOD WINE UNTIL NOW. THIS BEGINNING OF MIRACLES DID JESUS IN CANA OF GALILEE, AND MANIFESTED FORTH HIS GLORY; AND HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED ON HIM.”
I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU THIS MORNING ON THE SERVANTS THAT DREW THE WATER. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT ARE DEPENDING ON GOD FOR A LOT OF THINGS IN THEIR LIVES. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE NEED BUT WE NEED TO SOMETIMES STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT THE LORD NEEDS. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT GOD NEEDS TODAY, HE NEEDS SOME SERVANTS THAT’S WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THAT’S WHERE IT STOPS. THEIR SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE BUT THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
NOTE IN VERSE 1 IT TALKS ABOUT THE THIRD DAY. WHEN WE THINK OF THE THIRD DAY WE THINK ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. IN JOHN 2:19 JESUS TOLD THE PEOPLE THIS: “DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.” IN JOHN 11:25 WHEN JESUS WAS TALKING TO MARTHA HE SAID: “I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE.” I’M GLAD I KNOW A LIVING SAVIOR TODAY. IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS 3:10 PAUL SAID “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING MADE CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH.” THERE’S SOME POWER IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
BACK IN JOHN 2:1 NOTICE THE NEXT WORD IS MARRIAGE. WHEN I THINK OF THE WORD MARRIAGE I THINK OF THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH OF A SINNER INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. IN EPHESIANS 2:8 JESUS SAID: “FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.” WHEN I GET TO THINKING ABOUT THE RESURRECTION , ABOUT THE MARRIAGE, ABOUT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF
GOD I TEND TO GET A LITTLE BIT EXCITED. I’M GLAD I KNOW A RISEN SAVIOR TODAY.
IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:17 “THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATURE. OLD THINGS ARE PAST AWAY. BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.”
IN ROMANS 10:9 “IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” THANK GOD, GOD’S STILL IN THE SAVING BUSINESS.
THERE’S TWO REQUIREMENTS THAT’S NEEDED OF YOU TO BE A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST. NUMBER ONE YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN THE DEATH, THE BURIAL AND THE RESURRECTION. NUMBER TWO YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE WEDDING. BEEN BIRTHED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. THE OLD BLIND MAN SAID: I ONCE WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE. THE PRODICAL SONS FATHER SAID, MY SON WAS LOST BUT THANK GOD NOW HE’S FOUND. THAT’S THE TWO REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYONE TO BE A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST.
IN JAMES 1:1 “JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SEATED ABROAD, GREETING. “ JAMES WAS A SERVANT.
IN SECOND PETER 1:1 “SIMON PETER, A SERVANT AND AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO THEM THAT HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST:” SIMON PETER WAS A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW IN PHILIPPIANS 2:7 WHEN THE BIBLE TALKED ABOUT THE JESUS THE BIBLE SAID THAT HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE FORM OF A SERVANT AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING A SERVANT. JESUS CHRIST NEEDS SOME SERVANTS THAT’S WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER. YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN A SERVANT AND A SERVANT THAT’S WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER IS? THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER ARE WHAT WE CALL WORKERS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IN JAMES 2:26 THE BIBLE SAYS: “FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO.” JESUS SAID THE HARVEST TRULY IS GREAT BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE NEED IN THE DAY AND TIME WE’RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW: WE NEED SOME SERVANTS THAT’S WILLING TO DRAW OUT OF THE WATER. LISTEN, YOU CAN SIT ON THE STOOL OF DO NOTHING IF YOU WANT TO BUT I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT. THERE’S SOME GREAT REWARDS FOR SOME SERVANTS THAT’S WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER. NOTICE IN VERSE 3 OF JOHN 2 HIS MOTHER SAID THEY HAD NO WINE. IN THE BIBLE, WINE IS A PICTURE OF JOY AND HAPPINESS AND PEACE. I DON’T WANT YOU TO TAKE THE SCRIPTURE THE WRONG WAY. I’M NOT SAYING IT’S OKAY TO GO OUT AND GET DRUNK. I’M NOT EVEN SAYING IT’S OKAY FOR YOU TO DRINK. I’M SAYING THAT YOU OUGHT TO BE HAPPY IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU OUGHT TO BE FILLED WITH THE POWER AND THE JOY OF SERVING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE PSALMIST DAVID SAID RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION. PEOPLE WILL GET MORE THINGS DONE WHEN THEIR HAPPY THAN THEY WILL WHEN THEIR SAD. IF YOU LET YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND YOUR FAMILY PROBLEMS AND PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD BRING YOU DOWN YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE. BUT GET JESUS IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU CAN SHOUT THE VICTORY. YOU CAN HAVE HAPPINESS ON THE INSIDE.
SHE SAID LORD THEY HAVE NO WINE. THEY DIDN’T HAVE NO HAPPINESS, NO PEACE, NO JOY, NO COMFORT. BUT JESUS CHRIST WAS ALWAYS IN THE MIDST WILLING TO GIVE SOMEBODY HELP. NOTICE THIS: IN VERSE 5 SHE SAID WHATSOEVER THINGS HE SAITH UNTO THEE, DO IT. SHE WAS TRYING TO TELL THOSE DISCIPLES IF HE SAYS SOMETHING; NOT IF I SAY SOMETHING OR THE PEOPLE AT THE WEDDING SAY SOMETHING BUT WHATSOEVER JESUS SAYS TO DO, DO IT. THAT’S WHERE WE GET OUR INSTRUCTIONS FROM. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WANTS TO DO. LISTENING
TO THIS ONE AND THAT ONE. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. THAT’S WHERE JESUS CHRIST KNOCKED WHEN HE WANTED HE WANTED TO SAVE YOUR SOUL IF IT WORKED BACK THEN IT’LL WORK NOW. WE OUGHT TO LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS CHRIST WANTS.
FIVE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THE SERVANTS THAT DREW THE WATER. FIVE THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU BECOME SERVANTS FOR JESUS CHRIST.
NUMBER ONE: LOOK IN VERSE TWO. THEY WERE WITH JESUS. BOTH JESUS WAS CALLED AND HIS DISCIPLES. IF YOU’RE ONE OF THOSE CHRISTIANS HERE TODAY AND
YOU’RE SAYING WELL, GOD IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, AND I DON’T HAVE TO ANYTHING; YOU’RE BACK SLID MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW. GOD ALWAYS USES HIS PEOPLE TO GET HIS MIRACLES DONE. THAT’S WHAT HE DID WHEN HE FED THE FIVE THOUSAND. GOD WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING AND YOU OUGHT TO GIVE IT AWAY EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. BUT YOU’VE GOT TO BE WITH JESUS IN ORDER TO GET HIS WORK DONE. YOU CAN’T JESUS’ WORK DONE IF HE’S OVER HERE AND YOU’RE OFF SOMEWHERE OVER THERE. THAT’S WHAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT PEOPLE NOT COMING TO THE HOUSE OF GOD. IF YOU WANT TO BE WITH JESUS THEN COME TO WHERE HE’S AT. I’VE HEARD THEM PEOPLE SAY, “WELL HE’S WITH ME ON THE FISHING BANK.” YES, HE WAS WITH YOU BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, HE WASN’T BLESSING YOU WHILE YOU WAS THERE. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHASTISING YOU OR SCOLDING YOU, BUT HE WASN’T BLESSING YOU FOR BEING THERE INSTEAD OF AT CHURCH.
IN JOHN 12:26 “IF ANY MAN SERVE ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE: IF ANY MAN SERVE ME, HIM WILL MY FATHER HONOR.” IF YOU WANT TO BE A SERVANT THAT DRAWS WATER YOU’VE GOT TO BE RIGHT WHERE GOD WANTS YOU ALL THE TIME. YOU GOT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS EVERYDAY. THE BIBLE SAYS TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.
NUMBER TWO: VERSE 5 HIS MOTHER SAID: WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT. THEY WERE HEARERS OF THE WORD. THEY DIDN’T DO NOTHING UNLESS GOD SPOKE. THEY WAS READY, LISTENING, WAITING ON JESUS TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. A LOT OF PEOPLE EVEN LISTEN FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD. SERVANTS THAT DRAW WATER LISTEN TO JESUS. I WANT TO SHARE THIS VERSE IN JOHN 10:27 “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME:” THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD NOT FOLLOWING GOD. THERE NOT FOLLOWING CHRIST. I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE FOLLOWING AND IT’S NOT CHRIST. YOU WANT TO BE A SERVANT THAT DRAWS WATER THEN YOU’VE GOT TO BE THERE WITH JESUS. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE’S TELLING YOU. OTHER PEOPLE WILL SUFFER IF YOU’RE NOT DOING YOUR PART.
NUMBER THREE: IN VERSE 7 & 8 I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THAT THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL. THERE’S TWO TYPES OF OBEDIENCE. IN VERSE 7 JESUS SAID TO FILL THE WATERPOTS WITH WATER. AND THEY FILLED THEM UP TO THE BRIM. I WANT YOU TO UNDERLINE OR MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF THAT WORD FILL. IN VERSE 8 HE SAID TO DRAW OUT NOW. YOU’VE GOT TO COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD SO HE CAN FILL YOU UP AND DRAW OUT OF WHAT GOD PUTS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ALWAYS WANTS TO BE FILLED UP BUT THEY NEVER WANT TO DRAW FROM IT. IF YOU’RE NOT A HELP TO SOMEONE ELSE, HOW CAN YOU BE A HELP TO THE LORD? THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL. WHAT’S GOD TELLING YOU TO DO? I DON’T KNOW BUT I KNOW WHAT HE TELLS ME TO DO. IF YOU’RE NOT DOING WHAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO DO THEN YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER FOR IT.
NUMBER FOUR: IN VERSE 9 THEY KNEW IT WAS A MIRACLE. THE WORLD MIGHT TELL YOU THAT YOU’RE LOST AND THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE YOUR RELIGION BUT JOB SAID I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVETH. IF YOU’RE A WILLING SERVANT DRAWING THE WATER, YOU’LL KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DRAWING THE WATER FOR. YOU OUGHT TO KNOW IF YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD OR NOT. AND YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT
OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO BE SAVED. THAT’S OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL. WE NEED TO SHARE IT. GO OUT INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES AND COMPEL THEM TO COME IN. THERE’S CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THIS WORLD THAT’S DOING NOTHING FOR THE LORD. THEN THEY GET IN A CRISIS AND THEY GOD WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP ME. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE A SERVANT THAT DRAWS FROM THE WATER. HE WANTS YOU TO CARRY THE GOSPEL OUT INTO THE WORLD. IF I HAD FOUND A MILLION DOLLARS AND I KNEW THERE WERE OTHER PLACES THAT HAD A MILLION DOLLARS AND I KNEW SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE IN NEED, I’D TELL THEM WHERE IT WAS. I WOULDN’T KEEP IT FOR MYSELF. AN UNWILLING SERVANT WOULD GO GET THE MILLION DOLLARS AND KEEP IT FOR HIMSELF. WE OUGHT TO BE TELLING PEOPLE THAT HE’S GOT THE GREATEST TREASURE WE’VE EVER KNOWN.
NUMBER FIVE: IN VERSE 11 THEY BELIEVED ON HIM. YOU KNOW WHY A LOT OF CHRISTIANS AREN’T DOING ANYTHING? THEY DON’T BELIEVE GOD CAN USE THEM. THEY DON’T BELIEVE GOD CAN DO ANYTHING. THEY SAY WE’RE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS AND THERE’S NO NEED IN TRYING. NO USE IN GOING. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS DON’T BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING OR SENDING MISSIONARIES OVER SEAS. NO WONDER WE HAVE SO MANY TERRORISTS OVER THERE. THEY DON’T HAVE THE GOSPEL. WE OUGHT TO BE SUPPORTING SOME MEN AND WOMEN AND SENDING THEM OUT ALL ACROSS THE LAND TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE GOSPEL IS. IF JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE ME I BELIEVE HE CAN SAVE YOU. PAUL WAS PERSECUTED HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE WAS STONED, AND CUT BUT HE KEPT GOING FOR JESUS CHRIST. I HEARD ON THE RADIO TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE TERRORISTS OVER IN AFGHANISTAN OR PAKISTAN AND HOW THEY FOUND EIGHT MEN SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND THEY TOOK THEM AND LOCKED THEM UP BUT LET THE REST OF THE AMERICANS GO. THE RADIO SAID THEY WERE READING AND PREACHING AND TEACHING OUT OF THE BIBLE. THEY LOCKED THEM UP NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE AMERICAN BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE PREACHING OUT OF THE BIBLE. ANYTIME YOU’RE PERSECUTED FOR SHARING THE WORD OF GOD, YOU WILL BE BLESSED. I’M TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT JUST BEING A CHRISTIAN TODAY IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO BE SERVANTS WHO DRAW FROM THE WATER.
IN JAMES 2:23 THE BIBLE SAID THAT ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD. YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN BECOME GOD’S FRIEND? BELIEVE IN HIM. NO MATTER WHERE HE SENDS YOU, NO MATTER WHAT HE TELLS YOU TO DO, BELIEVE THAT HE’LL BE WITH YOU. YOU MAY NOT SEE IT WITH YOUR EYES BUT YOU KNOW HE’LL WORK IT OUT.
I THINK ABOUT MY DADDY A LOT. I LOST HIM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. A GOOD DEVOTED DEACON. I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE CHILD GROWING UP MY DADDY ALWAYS TOOK ME TO CHURCH. SOME TIMES I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE GOING. HE’D MAKE ME GO ANYWAY. AS I GOT OLDER HE STARTED TO LET ME LEARN ON MY OWN. AND A FEW TIMES I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE GOING ( I SAID A FEW TIMES, NOT MANY) AND EVERY TIME I DIDN’T GO MY DADDY WOULD COME HOME THAT DAY AND TELL ME I MISSED OUT ON A BIG BLESSING. HE’D MAKE ME SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO WHAT GOD DID THAT DAY AT CHURCH. MY DADDY RAISED EIGHT KIDS AND WE NEVER HAD MUCH. HE WAS NEVER POPULAR BUT IN GOD’S EYES, HE WAS SOMEBODY. GOD’S KEEPING A RECORD AND WE OUGHT TO SERVANTS WILLING TO DRAW FROM THE WATER.
LET ME END THIS SERMON WITH ROMANS 15:13 “NOW THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YE MAY ABOUND IN HOPE, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.”
LET US PRAY: FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS SERMON TODAY. I PRAY LORD THAT YOU WOULD GIVE ME A SERVANTS HEART. A HEART FILLED WITH THE JOY, THE LOVE, AND THE PEACE THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO DRAW FROM THE WATER THAT I MIGHT GO
OUT AND REACH OUT TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD. I THANK YOU LORD FOR SHOWING ME THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN DOING ENOUGH AND I PRAY LORD THAT YOU WOULD GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO A WILLING SERVANT. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN
