What sustains, Drives, & Energizes
JOHN 4:34
A man is asleep in his house getting a good nights rest. Outside in the driveway this man has a car. That car has four wheels with tires on them. What holds those tires up. What sustains them, keeps them in working order? Air. Air holds them up, keeps them working right. Sustaining.
Under that hood is a motor. If there’s no gas for the motor that motor won’t run a lick. With that gas in there for that motor it can drive that car on down the road. Drive.
The morning comes . That man wakes up. He comes in to the kitchen , sits down at the table to a well balanced, nutritious, energizing breakfast. The most important meal of the day. Feed the body. Creates chemical reactions in the brain, the muscles of the body. That food energizes the body. It gives the body energy to face the day ahead. Energize.
What can we gather from this statement Jesus made? Yes He said some things before He made this statement and He went on to say some others. But what can we glean from this one statement He made right here in the middle of many?
(I) Devotion.
Jesus also said, Where a man’s treasure is that’s where his heart will be. Here He said," My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me". My meat is My food. What sustains Me, keeps Me going. It drives me.
The mission set before me. My love for my Father, passionate zeal to do His will. It’s what energizes Me. Because I know He loves and honors devotion.
(II) Determination.
And to finish his work. Can’t you just feel the determination here. I will do His will and will finish His work. I believe with all my heart when Jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty God came up out of those baptismal waters in the Jordan river He set His eyes like a flint to Calvary. He never wavered to the left nor to the right. When He got there He laid His life down on that old rugged cross and allowed them to drive those three rusty nails in His hands and feet. Then they raised Him up in the air and dropped that old cross down in that hole and for hour after lonely hour He hung there. Suffering in great pain and agony. The Bible says He wasn’t even recognizable as a man. Then hanging there between two thieves in His last moment with His last breath He could muster up He spoke it. "It Is Finished" “Tetellesti”. Paid in full. It is done. Then He descended into the deepest, darkest pits of Hell to set the captives free and take on Satan himself. Then came back. Rose up from the dead. Walked out of that cold dark tomb victorious over death, hell, and the grave.
He finished His Father’s work. In this same conversation He goes on to say to His disciples, as He says to you and me, "Lift up your eyes, look on the fields. For they are white already for the harvest". As you and I go out into the fields let’s watch our diets. Let’s dine with God. Let’s indulge in our devotion to doing His work, in will. This is what will sustain us. Makes life worth living. This is where we get our energy. We’re gonna need our energy when we’re determined to finish His work He has set before us which is the drive down deep within our souls.
Let’s fight a good fight. Let’s run the race forever knowing that the gates of hell cannot prevail upon this type of faith.
So I ask you," What sustains you in your own personal life? Is it a paycheck? Is it that drink you look so forward to after a long hard day at work? Is it that pack of cigarettes laying by the bed that you reach for every morning before going out to face the day? Is it a family member (child, spouse, parent) that dictates every move you make? Or is it a deep, passionate, longing, burning desire to feed, gorge on, and digest the word of God as He nurtures your very existence and your faith that the just walk by. Remember Ananias and Saphira? They gave only a portion of what was required of them and wanted to keep the rest. They thought that money would sustain them, rather than their obedience to God. It did not. It only led to their destruction. God, His word, His work, His will. It sustained Jesus.
What drives you? Is it fame, glory, and praise that some seemingly so desperately crave when taking on a task? Is it a sense of power from being in charge? Is it the expectation of getting special recognition or something tangable in return for your efforts? Or is it the healing, cleansing, saving, securing power of Jesus Christ and His marching orders for you to carry out and accomplish in His time, in His power, within His will? Remember the parable that Jesus told of the rich young ruler. His riches, his worldly possessions and wealth drove him. They drove him right away from the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He never got to know thrill of the passionate drive to serve the lord of all the ages.
What energizes you? Is it the buzz you get from that drink, that cigarette or tobacco, that drug? is it that thrill you get when you go down town and buy something new? nNo metter how much or how little it’s needed? Or is it the sweet, refreshing, comforting presence and leadership of God’s Holy Spirit Dominating in your life and revealing to you throughout your life the mind and will of God? Remember the church at Laodicea? She got lazy and puffed up with pride. She had no energy. she was neither hot nor cold. She was lukewarm. They hed even convinced themselves that they were rich with a house full of goods. But God says they werewretched..He said that He would spew them right out if His mouth.
So, let us examine ourselves, you and me. What is our level of devotion? How determined are we?” Can we honestly say, “My meat is to do the will of our Heavenly Father and to finish His work that He has sent us to do?
