Living Water: One Drink, Continuous Flow

Introduction: The Universal Thirst (Opening Hook)

Today marks the first Sunday of a New Year. We have now officially entered the year 2025. As with any new year, it comes with new opportunities and resolutions for some. According to statista.com, the top resolution for many Americans is to save more money. Perhaps that resolution comes from spending too much money during the Christmas holidays. However, if you look at that chart, Americans' following three top resolutions are eating healthier, exercising more, and losing weight.

So, let’s imagine for a moment that those three resolutions are your resolutions for this new year. And, like most resolutions, you eagerly and enthusiastically embrace those resolutions. You are determined to lose weight and exercise more. It is January 1; you get up and jump on your treadmill. Soon, you are panting and trying to keep up with the video trainer you have downloaded on your phone. After about 5 minutes, you are done. You can’t take it anymore. It was the most intense workout of the year. You’re sweating, your muscles are aching, and you are in desperate need of hydration. So, you grab a Gatorade, chug it down, and feel the relief.

Now, if you know Gatorade’s slogan, “Quench Your Thirst!” you will assume that by grabbing that Gatorade and drinking it, your thirst would be quenched. For all intended purposes, it promises relief from physical dehydration. Unfortunately, we know that no sooner than you drink Gatorade, it is not long before you are thirsty again. It provides temporary relief and satisfaction. Yet, it does not truly quench your thirst!

As we enter this new year, many people have a thirst they cannot quench or satisfy. They try all sorts of things - relationships, careers, material possessions - but they find these things are like drinking Gatorade or whatever the latest hydration craze might be. Many sports drinks only worsen the thirst. It is the same with what people seek to quench a deeper spiritual thirst. However, this morning, I want you to know that

Jesus offers a different drink. He named it “Living Water.”

He promises that all who drink this water will be completely satisfied. It is water that will 100% quench your spiritual thirst.

Let’s read our text and see Jesus’s answer to the spiritual thirst we all experience.

John 7:31–39 KJV 1900

31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come? 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The first thing we see in this narrative is...

The Invitation: Come and Drink (John 7:37)

John 7:37 KJV 1900

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

This statement is made during the Feast of Tabernacles. From our early studies, we know that Christ attended this Feast in Jerusalem.

This Feast was one of the three great feasts held each year in Israel.

Purpose and Date

During this festival Israel gathered luxuriant boughs and built booths in which to live for the span of the festival. These acts were meant to remind them of the time spent wandering in the desert.

Biblical Relevance

Old Testament

Leviticus provides the most detailed instructions, indicating the time span and purpose of the festival as well as the plants to be used for the booths (Lev 23:33–36; 39–44). It is to be a seven-day festival, with a Sabbath rest and sacred assembly on the first and eighth days. On the first day the people were to take branches from palms, willows, and other luxuriant trees and rejoice before the Lord, and they were to live in booths for the week so their descendants would know that they lived in booths when God brought them out of Egypt.

This is the feast Christ is attending. However, in light of today’s text, something significant happens at the end of each Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day, there is a water libation service. The priest would draw water from the Pool of Siloam located within Jerusalem. This water was then brought to the Temple. The water was poured onto the altar in a special ceremony as a libation or offering. The pouring of wine also accompanied the water. This ceremony was considered a plea before God to provide rain, essential for Israel’s agricultural success.

Thus, on this day, we find Christ crying aloud. He stands in the middle of the entire congregation and loudly says, “If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

Note the invitation that He offers - “If any man thirst.”

His offer was for everyone, regardless of background, social status, or past sins.

It was an open offer to acknowledge that they needed spiritual and living water. This inclusivity of His offer is a testament to the fact that Jesus's love and grace are not limited by human boundaries.

One of the great things about God is how He treats all people the same, a fact that Peter, one of His disciples, noted later in the book of Acts.

Acts 10:34–35 KJV 1900

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Colossians 3:11 elaborates even further, noting...

Colossians 3:11 KJV 1900

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Someone once wrote a song stating that the ground at the foot of the cross is level, meaning that Christ offered Himself to all men. Even this morning, His offer remains for all. He cries to all who will listen, “If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” This continuous availability of His offer is a source of hope and reassurance for us, knowing that His love and grace are always within our reach.

Note also the simplicity of His invitation. It is for all, regardless of background, social status, or past sins, and He makes it as easy as drinking water. This simplicity reflects Jesus's understanding and compassion, making it easier for us to accept His offer.

Remember our opening illustration about the intense workout and the great thirst generated by it? Let me ask you this: How easy is it to reach out with your hand, grab a bottle of Gatorade, lift it to your mouth, and drink it? It is so easy we don’t even have to think about it. Our mind says, “I’m thirsty.” Without thought or hesitation, we pick up the bottle and drink.

With Christ, it is just that easy as well. Christ said, “Come to me and drink.” That is all. There is no need to reform your life, then come to Him and drink. There is no need to quit a particular sin and then go to Him and drink. Christ never adds any prerequisite. It is a simple invite. Come to me and drink.

Too many times, we overthink the simplicity of spiritual matters.

For instance, we often overthink receiving Christ. For some odd reason, we cannot accept the simple act of believing Him. Instead, we convince ourselves that it cannot be that easy. Yet, it is. Nothing must be done, for Christ has done it all. He came. He offered Himself for our sins. He paid the price. He died so that we might live. He arose again, proving His power of death. Nothing is left for us to do but come to Him and drink.

Christ gave three simple words - thirst, come, and drink. All men have a natural thirst. We are all sinners and are born seeking something we cannot find. We know it is missing. We spend an entire lifetime looking for it. Yet, Christ offers us the one thing that will completely satisfy us. It is an offer for all. It is an offer that will quench everyone’s spiritual thirst. However, the offer requires personal action.

You must come to Him and drink the water that He offers.

Nothing outside of Christ will completely satisfy your spiritual thirst.

Isaiah 55:6 KJV 1900

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:

Now note the promise.

The Promise: Rivers of Living Water (John 7:38-39)

John 7:38–39 KJV 1900

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The promise is that all who thirst and come to Christ to drink will be rewarded. Interestingly, Christ clarifies how we go and drink. Note that He said, “He that believeth on me.” That is the how. We come and drink through our belief. We must believe that Christ is God and came to die for our sins. We must also believe that He rose again and is alive today, ascending to Heaven, sitting on the Father's right hand. Those who “believe” are those who drink the living water.

What did Christ mean when He said, “Out of his belly (the believer’s belly) shall flow rivers of living water?” Those standing before Chris that day were confused because they did not have the explanation we have today. For our clarification, the Holy Spirit added verse 39.

John 7:39 KJV 1900

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

After Christ died and rose again, Scripture records how His disciples saw him. In fact, He told them about the Comforter and that He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell them and aid them after His death, burial, and ascension. And, just like all of God’s promises, Christ did just as He said.

John 20:22 KJV 1900

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Later, on the day of Pentecost, the incredible power of the Holy Ghost became evident to all. The Holy Spirit empowered those He indwelled. On that day, Peter preached a great message, and everyone heard it in their native language. What was the message? It was essentially the same as today. Any man who thirsts, let him come to Christ and drink. Three thousand thirsty souls came to Christ and drank the living water that day. They believed, repented their sin, were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit, the living water.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:41 KJV 1900

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The promise remains for us today. All who thirst and come to Christ for a drink of the living water will receive the Holy Spirit. He is the source of living water.

This differs from drinking Gatorade because it only takes one drink.

The minute you believe in Christ and accept Him as your savior is the minute you drink the living water that completely satisfies you. It quenches that insatiable thirst you were striving to fill with many other things like relationships, careers, and possessions.

You see, the thirst you experience right now is the total absence of God in your life. It is the one relationship that is missing. Without that relationship and God in your life, your life is meaningless. It is on a collision course with a Godless eternity. However, all it takes is one drink. One drink of Christ and living water imparts God’s presence into your life. Everything changes. Life takes on meaning. Eternity with Christ is yours. The only question that remains is this. Will you come to Him and drink? Will you believe it?

Now, there is one last point to be made about the “living water,” and it is this.

The Continuous Flow: Living in the Spirit's Power

Once we drink the living water, it continues to flow into our lives.

As believers, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. However, just like a river that ebbs and flows, there are moments in our relationship with God that ebb and flow. What do I mean?

Too many times, the life of a believer is up and down spiritually. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, but we fail to realize the full potential of His presence. Sometimes, we experience spiritual highs and know His Spirit is working through us. Unfortunately, there are also lows when we feel as if He is absent even though we know He is there. Thus, we are up and down in our relationship with Him. We need that steady, continued flow of His power in our lives! How do we maintain that flow? There are three key actions we must take each day.

Yielding

Every day must be a day when we, as believers, yield ourselves to God and His sovereignty in our lives. We must recommit to His will and desires instead of our own. We must give up our ambitions and plans for His. This involves starting the day with prayer. We must submit to His Word daily and willingly follow its instructions.

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV 1900

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Romans 6:13 KJV 1900

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Another action that we, as believers, must take is...

Walking

By walking, I mean the daily action of obeying. Throughout Scripture, walking with God is portrayed as a journey. Each day, we are to walk following His Word as we walk with Him. I am convinced that our obedience is directly related to the Spirit’s influence. Those who obey allow more significant influence and power in their lives. However, those who choose not to obey limit the Spirit’s ability to work through them. In the end, obedience is never about legalism or forced action. No, we obey because we love Him. We obey because within us is His Spirit, creating a desire to please God, which can only come through our obedience. Here is a quick test for believers. Suppose you are uncomfortable with God's instructions and struggling with obeying Him. In that case, your relationship with the Holy Spirit is most likely disrupted by some sin you are clinging to. Get rid of sin, return to obeying, and soon, you will experience peace between you and the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

And, then, last but not least, an action that helps keep the continuous flow of “living water” in our lives is this.

Bearing Fruit

Yielding and walking must always lead to fruit bearing. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a comprehensive list of the fruit that should be evident in the life of a believer.

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Note, however, that these fruits are the fruit of the Spirit. They are not our fruit. We are just the instrument carrying the fruit. However, we are to be vessels with no cover. In other words, our lives should always reflect what is already inside. We should not be hiding the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When we live in sin and disobedience, His fruit is hidden. In turn, people around us see our sinful selves' ugliness. They know the opposite of who we indeed are. For as believers, we are the temples of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Our temple, aka our bodies, should be lit up with the Holy Spirit’s fruit. People should see in us the incredible characteristics of “living water” - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All these should be gushing from the well, the spring of living water within us. In turn, such fruit should cause them to desire the same for their lives. However, if we are not bearing fruit, we do them a great injustice.

Conclusion: One Source, Abundant Life

To conclude, I remind you of Christ’s invitation. He invites all who thirst to come to Him and drink. His promise is that He will give “living water.” The “living water” that He speaks of is the Holy Spirit, who is eternal and completely satisfies the spiritual thirst of all people. Once you believe in Christ and accept Him as your Savior, you receive the Holy Spirit, the living water that sustains and empowers you to live a life pleasing to God.

If you are here this morning and have never accepted Christ as your personal Savior, I invite you to do so. His invitation is yours. He invites you to quench your spiritual thirst. All it takes is for you to come to Him and drink. It is as easy as reaching out for a glass of water and drinking it. It is a simple matter of belief. Will you believe that Christ died for your sin? Will you believe He arose from the dead victorious over death, sin, and hell? Will you invite Him into your life today?

Believer, are you experiencing the continuous flow of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life? Or are you constantly up and down in your relationship with Him? Perhaps the ebb and flow are not continuous because you walk more in the flesh than in the Spirit. You can correct that right now. Confess your sin. Ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. Yield yourself to the Spirit’s control. Commit to total obedience to God’s Word. Bear the Spirit’s fruit by allowing Him to shine through you.