February 9, 2020 - I AM the Bread of Life - John 6:22-71

Well, it is really good to see you and I see your faces today. I say that because I know during this time of season or is a lot of cold and sickness and flu. And so I thank you for your faithfulness. I'm glad that you're here and I'm excited about the word that God has for say so if you have your Bibles turn with me to John Chapter 7.

The sickness bug has been going around our house and I think we're on the road to recovery. But man if you got it, I am sorry. It has been nasty. Glad that you guys are here. That's out of our message today. Is this what does it mean? The really come to Jesus. I think that that's a legitimate question. I think a lot of us maybe early on in our Christian walk. Wanted to know that maybe you are here today and you can walk with the Lord for a long time and up when you go through hardships. Like what we just got done singing and maybe for some of you today that was tough to say I realize that you know, just uttering those words Lord take everything can be tough and yet isn't it interesting when God does take everything when God strips it all the way we realized at that moment at that time how much we do need him? And how desperate we are for the Savior. And so I think that really puts things into perspective for us. What does it mean to come to Jesus? I think that's a great question. I want to try to answer that Force this morning. Before we jump in the John chapter 7. I want to I want to really kind of help us understand what we just got done last week. We finished up John chapter 6 and at the end of John chapter 6 something very interesting takes place something very sad takes place and it's this that Jesus is so called Disciples people that would say I'm a follower of Jesus. They have not abandoned all that. And they have turned back and decided not to follow Jesus because the road was difficult and the reason why I bring that to our attention today's this because so many times during our day and age the exact same thing happens. People would make the statement. I'm a follower of Jesus. I'm a Christian. And yet we wonder what happened. I know even people that are close to me of Wonder Man. What what happened? Why what was it that turns you off to the Lord and turns you off to Christianity. So we know this that our Christian walk is difficult this this life that the Lord gives us. We realize is not always easy some of you in this room have gone through difficult times in your life difficult situations. And you wonder God where you at, how do I know that you're real? And so this question is important to so many of us. Now what we see at the end of John chapter 6 is the disciples falling away from the Lord. And so the question that we now look to in John chapter 7 is a legitimate question. What does it actually mean to be a disciple or follower of Jesus? Well, I think there's some important things that the Lord wants us to see here and as we take a look at these things today from God's word. I think these are things that we can apply to our own lives things that God has for us today that I want us to see And so here we go. John chapter 7. Let's look at the first 10 verses.

That John writes about here's what John tells us. After this Jesus went about in Galilee, you would not go into detail because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now. The Jews Feast of booths wasn't hand. So his brother said to him leave here and go to Judea that your disciples Also may see the works that you are doing for. No one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly if you do these things show yourself to the world for not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, my time is not yet come but your time is always here for seven the world cannot hate you but it hates me because I testify about it that it works are evil you go up to the feast I am not going to this Feast for my time has not yet fully come after saying this you remain in Galilee, but after his brothers have gone up to the feast and he also went up not publicly. But in private or in secrets. So here's the first question that I want to try to address today and in this is something that we need to know before we go into one of Jesus's famous statements talking about bringing living water or something that we need to understand about this Festival. Maybe your version says Feast of booths or Feast of Tabernacles. They're both the same thing. I want us to kind of understand this today and in so I think that that in order for us to Jump Ahead, we have to take some time here to explain what is going on. What is this Feast of booths? What is the Feast of Tabernacles? Well, it was one of the most popular Jewish festivals that took place of their 3 festival's last time Jesus was in town in Jerusalem we go back to John chapter 5 and we see Jesus coming to town and he heals this invalid he heals like a guy who was couldn't walk basically. When Jesus tells him to get up to pick up his mat in to take offense at the walk in Jesus heal somebody he lovingly comes along somebody and heals them but the main reason why Jesus went to Jerusalem was because of the festival or the Feast for Passover to celebrate that so 6 months had transpired and now Jesus is getting ready to head back to Jerusalem. So this this Festival took place this Feast of booths or Tabernacles took place during the months in between September and October in the fall. All of Jewish men during this time. We're required to go to this Festival is something that they had to do and so that's probably why Jesus's brothers have brothers for like a Jesus you need to head to Jerusalem. There's some things that are going on. You need to be part of okay. Now there was another reason main reason why they wanted them to go. This was for all of the Jewish men. And so the special Festival look back what really transpired here is that these Jewish people look back to their history. They look back to their ancestors and Israel's Journey Through the Wilderness. And then also look forward to the the promise Kingdom of the Messiah. And so what happened here for the Jewish people is what they would do during this Festival just like they would actually go out and live in booths made out of branches to remind them of God's care for their ancestors to remind them of God's care during the forty years that they wander around in the wilderness. So a little bit of backgrounds there now this and this is important as well. What did they actually do during the festival will during this Jewish Festival what would happen is the temple area was lit up by candlesticks and it would remind them of how God LED them. In the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of Fire by night. It would remind them of God's provision of God will leading them and guiding their steps. Also each day. The priest would go up. They would rise up early in the morning and they would go down to the pool of Salome and they would get some water and then they would bring it back to the temple and poured into a very special vessel to help remind the Jews of this miraculous provision of how God provided water for them when they were in the desert. They were thirsty. They they could make it another day as we all remember they were pleading to Moses save us and God provides. the water God provided for them over and over again. And so this Jewish Festival was a time of great celebration. It was a time of great joy and Thanksgiving for these Jewish people and now we see what is about to transpire. What is about to happen if Jesus makes a very famous statements and so I want us to kind of understand a little bit of history on what's going on here. The first thing that I want to point out to us is this We think about this question. What is it mean to come to Jesus? What does it mean to really follow Jesus? What here's the first thing that I think every believer needs to understand when we come to Jesus. We will face opposition. We will face opposition whether we like it or not. There are going to come times and all of our Lives you may be here today. And so I've never had difficult things happen in my life. Let me just say this get ready. Okay, and I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, but the longer that I have walked with the Lord the more that I realize opposition comes And sometimes it comes when we are prayed up and we're ready and other times man opposition comes in a man. We just wondered what are you doing? And why are you doing this?

This should have been a time of celebration for Jesus. Look just preparing it in my notes not think of this should have been a great time for Jesus, right but in all reality, this was a super tough struggle for Jesus because he faced opposition. So as we think about even in in Christ on life, Jesus faced opposition, Jesus was up against some difficult things about the things that Jesus face because I think some of you are up against some of these things that are very similar. First of all, we know this that Jesus faced opposition from his own family. Now without raising hands today how many of you have faced some opposition from people that are closest to you, right? Yeah.

Sometimes we face opposition from the people that are are closest to us. It's always see here in our text today. Is it these half-brothers of Jesus think that he should go to Jerusalem for this Festival. First of all, that's what Jewish men were supposed to do.

But they don't believe that Jesus is the messiah. They don't understand who their brother really is and they think that if he goes up to Jerusalem and performs some Miracles, he might actually get back some of the followers that he lost just a little earlier. As we read in John chapter 6 at the end.

Maybe if you goes up and does these Miracles he will prove who really says he is and so their challenges simple to their brother if you're really the Maasai going to make it public. I mean, why hide this? Why not let people see who you really are in the things that I want us to understand today loved ones. Is this that Jesus doesn't always work on our timetable. And yet so many of us man. We try to cram him into our own scheduled only. And so what Jesus was trying to help his brothers understand here is this I'm not here to do my my will I'm not here to be selfish. I'm here to do. My father's will and right now clearly this timing is not right and I'll go up when when the timing is right. And so there was some things that his brothers didn't understand. I think this is a great time for us to understand that God's timetable is not always ours. How many times do we so easily get frustrated when God does something not in our schedule on or are on our timing because here's the reality maybe just maybe God is doing something greater than we can even realize. And that's what was happening here. God was doing something greater than than these guys in these people. These religious leaders can even really truly get and understand because in just a moment he comes the offer them Living Water he comes to offer them salvation, which is exactly what they needed. Let me just say this. Could It Be The God Who is always existed may have a plan and we just like this that in in my 45 years of existence and in my 45 years of wisdom, I don't really understand yet absolutely And there are many times in my own life where I had to have to say this. I don't understand why you did this. I don't understand. How come this happened in my life, but maybe God there's something that you're teaching me help me to listen and help me to learn here. Help me to see what you really have that your plan is so much better. the micro me little plants So here's what I want to encourage us with today Church. Following Jesus actually coming to Jesus means that we have to give up control of our schedules. In our plan, so we have to turn the keys over to the master of this universe who will direct our paths and direct our steps and sometimes that is the most difficult thing. That we do is giving control over to Jesus. Some of you today are here in a man control is everything about you. And so I just want us to know this today. If we truly want to come to Jesus we have to turn it over to him. That's where everything begins. Now here's the part that I want to see this morning and I'm going to spend a little bit of time here on the front end and then we're going to hurry through the back end of this but I want us to see the opposition that these spaces because many times in our own lives. There's opposition that comes up and we don't handle it well. And then secondly, we also don't know what to do when opposition comes our way. So here's something very interesting that we see here. Jesus's brothers are almost taunting Jesus because at this point they didn't really believe in who Jesus said he was no, I'm sure this this was a very difficult very intricate thing because Jesus is Brothers had watched him grow up, right? What's and I were talking about this in the office. Then I'm sure do a lot of interesting things that they saw Jesus do from a very early age and his teenage years. You know now he's he's growing up and I'm sure there are all kinds of questions in their mind, right. Like is he really that much difference from us? Let me what makes Jesus will Jesus and we were hanging out with Jesus playing what what why is he so much different than we are. Why is he so much more special than we are now, it had to be extremely hard here for Jesus to see and to know that his family was against him that they didn't really believe that he was the Messiah was John wrote about this years later he of all people understood especially all these disciples understood that following Jesus meant that they could and would be rejected by their own family. Many of their own family so you know, what? What are you doing? Why are you following this Jesus? Why are you here? You're so interested in him or or potentially even giving your life up for the sake of this gospel message. Let me just say this loved ones opposition is never easy, especially when it comes from those closest to us. family and friends and friendships and those relationships one of the things I've learned over time is that siblings and family and friendships are far from perfect. And here's why because I'm far from perfect. And sometimes we have to take a long hard look in the mirror and go. You know what? I've got my own stuff that God is working on in my life and got a sanctify me and he's helping me grow. And so yes, there are times where we need to be gracious and forgiving and loving to our family and friends. But opposition does come. And so what happens when conflict comes up what happens when those relationships are those people are closest to us? Say hurtful things. or do hurtful things How do we respond? Well, I think we can respond very easily sometimes and we can go on the defense. And we can blow up and we can we can come right back with her for words can't we? Or maybe we can say or do things that ruin our reputation? There are other times that we respond by just staying and being paralyzed by fear or having guilt because we know that there's something that we've done and we haven't handle ourselves in the right way. So here's the question. What can we do? What should we do? I want to just encourage you with a few things to keep in mind. First of all remember this that opposition will be part of this life and it is part of God's plan. Are those are those are hard things to say, but here's how we know that if you read through the Book of James, in fact, the very first chapter of James James tells us that we will face Trials of different kinds. They're going to come in our lives. And so so what do we do? Well, here's what I want encourage you with today. Don't be surprised when God sticks to his plans. And refines us through opposition. We know this that Jesus faced opposition all the time in fact At the end of of Jesus's life, what did Jesus face he faced the cross he went to the cross and he took our place. He paid our penalty on the cross and then we think about opposition there. There was some tough days in Christ life. We we read through God's word. We know that there were many men and women who faced opposition. From their own family Joseph his own Brothers through Amanda Pitts write some of you think you your family is bad or messed up man. That that's pretty messed up. These guys were pretty cruel. I'm pretty hurtful. Now I get that. There are people that have said some hurtful things some of your own family members have said hurtful things to you. so remember that opposition Will happen it's part of God's plan II remember this that we are to Faithfully follow God's commands through that opposition. So when opposition comes our way, let me just say this. It's impossible not to react in some way. It's going to happen. So the next time instead of reacting with vengeance is mine saith Matt because sometimes that's how we respond.

The next time we we want to lash out and get back or we even have fear. Here's what we need to do react with calm obedience and follow what God's word says for our lives. And that's to speak the truth in love. Let's put the lovingly come alongside of somebody and say hey that was hurtful or you know, man that that that was just really just blatant in my face and and I love you, but you can't continue to do that.

Ask with, obedience and follow God's word and then here's a third thing wait for God to intervene on your behalf. Because God will intervene. And he already knows what's going on. So here's what I want to encourage you to do to trust him in that waiting. And for those of us that are Christians that can be the toughest thing in the world. God I know that I want to react right now. I know why I want to say these things because my brother was in the wrong, but I'm going to turn it over to you and I'm going to let you take care of that.

Wait on God to intervene on your behalf. We get a move on. Here's the other thing that we see hear Jesus also faced opposition from the religious leaders of his time. Now notice this when you go back to John chapter 6 we see that some of Jesus's hard sings actually push the crowd away. There was some difficult conversations that Jesus had to have with people that were close to him. And in reality what it did is people stop following they said like I I don't know about this Jesus, this is tough and what it shows us that Jesus is true disciples really were And so now Jesus comes to his brother sister is half Brothers in and he makes it seems like you guys don't even understand. People don't hate you. And here's what Jesus says people hate me because what I have to do is tough. I have to expose their sin. It's so these religious leaders during this time didn't understand it. They were they were the opposition to Jesus, but they were of the world. They were unbelievers. They didn't believe God. And so Jesus calls them out because of their self-righteousness and because of their pride Jesus comes along he flips on the the light switch to reveal their Darkness. The reveal their sin and these guys didn't like it. Let me just say this church when our sin is held up against God's perfect righteousness. We see how fealty even our Good Deeds are. And a lot of us don't like to admit that. We understand that our sin hurts God, but what we don't get is that there is none righteous. No, not one. That's why we desperately need Jesus. And we need to run to him. And so at this point since brought out into the light and there are two things that happen when that transpires either people will will run to Jesus and come to Jesus for forgiveness and for healing and say Jesus. I know that that's not right and I'm sorry and I want to change or the latter happens. And it's this we hate him and we hate others for exposing who we really are. Those are the two sides of of this equation. And again, that's why these religious leaders were trying to kill Jesus. They hated him for exposing who they really were four for letting the cat out of the bag if you will because Jesus was like hey what you guys are doing is not right? You are living in sin to see King David understood what this is all about. E7 psalms 27 12 for false Witnesses have risen against me and they breathe out violence. As you remember early on in David's life people were constantly against him. He had people who were out against him because David David was living righteous. He was living for the Lord of people didn't like that then they came against him. And so it's important today to understand this. But Jesus didn't just come to expose sin. Love once I want us to also know this that Jesus came to die for arson. I think it as as your pastor, I would be remiss not to tell you this. Yes said has to be exposed. He just came to expose him, but he also came to die for our sin. And here's why Jesus expose sin in order to bring about healing and Reconciliation and there are many times that we as Believers we forget about that. You see the Pharisees forgot about it because the Pharisees were great about pointing out sin. They were great about coming to people and and looking at every little single fall and every single little mistake and go on your wrong. You're a sinner. And people felt ashamed and people felt guilty. Lease vs. Love to sit in court and hand out punishment for people's crimes, but they didn't like it when somebody came and said you're the center. And the point out the sin. reason why I tell us that this morning is this I want us as a church and its Believers to understand that we need to take serious. This thing called sin. And here's why sometimes there will come opposition because we're the ones that have to point out the sin. And that's never easy. And some of you are here today and you've had to come along side of a family member or you had to come along side of a friend and say hey. I love you enough to tell you some hard news. I'm not here just to take gripe and complain and to tell you some difficult things because I'd much rather be having a conversation about the Cowboys won the Superbowl. Okay, I much rather be here telling you that you just won $1000000 in a lot. Okay, I get that. But sometimes those people that are closest to us. Family or friends have to have a loving conversation to say. I love you enough to tell you this that before you drive over the cliff and continue to hurt yourself and continue to go down a pathway of foolishness that eventually leads to death. I just care enough about you to have this conversation to say stop. Don't do it. Don't hurt yourself and don't continue to hurt others around you. I just love you enough to have a conversation. And because of that generally conflict can come up.

I know that's not easy. And I know that that stuff and so we love others enough to speak truth in love and it's a difficult things. Not just because we want to be harsh but because we want to bring about healing and Reconciliation to those that are closest to us. So let me just say this. We've got to move on WE expose sin and then help people know that they can have victory over that because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Let me in. Let me just say this really quick loved ones. This is important for you to know. Some of you today are struggling with this and you're struggling with something and you need to be reminded that the blood of Jesus Christ has already gotten victory over that thing in your life, whatever it is. And so today do you trust? The Jesus's blood is enough for whatever that is it you're struggling with. I hope that you do today. Well, that's just a side note. I can continue to go down that path. We got to move on. The second thing that I want I want us to understand today is this when it comes to following Jesus when it comes to this question of what does it mean to really come to Jesus Matt? You're something else that we have to understand? When we come to Jesus our character will be challenged. When we come to Jesus and and we do like it the song that we just sang. I'm laying it down Jesus. He can all strip it all away. I'm I'm coming to you. I want you to be Lord and savior of my life. We have to realize that sometimes our character will be challenged. What I'm talking about here loved ones is who we are and what we believe what we stand for will be challenged. In generally not always but I but I want to make this statement today generally or character will be called into question when we have to make difficult decisions. Or we have to say difficult. Thanks. And people wrestle with that and people don't like it. And so there's a struggle and opposition comes in and character is challenged. So let's look at this if you have your Bibles look at verse 11 The Jews were looking for Jesus they were looking for him at the feast in sink. Where is Jesus? Where where is he and there was much murmuring people were Whispering about Jesus about him among the people. Well, some said, he's a good man good character. You guys don't see Miracles other said now, he's Leading the People astray. In other words. He's a deceiver yet for fear of the Jews. No one spoke openly of him. So about the middle of the feast Jesus now comes on the scene, right? He went to the temple and began teaching the Jews therefore marveled saying how is it that this man has learning when he's never even studied. So Jesus answer them. My teaching notices is not mine. But his who sent me if anyone's will is to do God's will he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I'm speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks is own Glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true. And in him, there is no falsehood and awesome verse 19 years were Jesus gets real has not Moses given you the law yet. None of you keeps the law. Why do you see to kill me the crowd answered you have a demon who is seeking to kill you? So Jesus answer them. I did want to work and you all Marvel at its Moses gave you the circumcision not that is from Moses, but from the fathers and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath if on the Sabbath a man receive circumcision so that the law of Moses may not be broken. Are you angry with me? Because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body will Do not judge by appearances but judge with right judgment Jesus like throws down the hammer here. Okay, the response you're from Jesus is like in your face because this was very tough for these religious leaders to hear again. They didn't like it because Jesus preached with authority.

What he was preaching was the will of a father who sent him. And so when we come to Jesus our character can be challenged. We see why Jesus was being challenged because of what he said because of what he did, right? The character of Jesus was challenged. Now. Let me just say this this debate began long before Jesus or even arrived on the scene. Even before Jesus came to the city of Jerusalem. There was already a debate going on here. So in verse 11, we see that the religious leaders like where is Jesus? Where is he at? Like we're looking for me what we want to talk to understand what's going on here. And then we begin to see the other side of the equation. We begin to see the people the crowd begin argue whether Jesus was a man of good character or Court was was this man a deceiver. He was either one or the other. That's what we know about Jesus, right? And for us it was as Believers, we understand. Yes, Jesus love people so much that he wanted to see them healed. That's why he heal this lame man. He wanted to see them safe. He wanted to see their lives transformed in the same is true for you. And I today. Jesus loved us so much that he gave us his life so that we can be healed so that our lives can be transformed loved ones.

What a great message to be reminded of. Just wanted them to understand that he was a man of good character. He wouldn't come along and do all these things to deceive people. His character could be tested and tried and could come out at the end saying yes, he is who he says he is. I'm so Jesus claims to be the Messiah or the people are are saying he is a liar and this is the debate that's going on. And now we see this Jesus comes along and verse 14 and Jesus begins to teach openly in the Temple. And so the debate now changes from the character of Jesus to what he is saying to his doctrines what he believes in right? Let me just say this character and what we believe in or saying go hand-in-hand. It would have been very foolish for these people to trust in the teachings of a liar if Jesus like yeah, I'm the Messiah and and there was no proof there. There was no Miracles. There was no healing Jesus himself in the wrong way black man. This guy is a Deceiver. This guy can't be who he says he is, but that doesn't happen with Jesus. In fact, the Jewish people are so amazed that Jesus is teaching and how he talks. They begin to question that they begin to wonder how he's so knowledgeable because he never studied with any of their famous. Rabbis. Now notice this one of the things that stands out to a Sears. This Jesus is very quick to point out that his teaching is not his it's from his father. And again, that's why Jesus teaches was such great Authority that people are drawn to him that they listen to him that they see he is who he says he is he is a man of good character.

the final thing that I want to mention here that Jesus characters also challenged because of what he did notice this he healed a man who could not walk now one of the verses that is so interesting to us years verse 19 Jesus says this has not Moses given you the law yet. None of you keeps the law. So why do you seek to kill me? I mean we understand the opposition just comes out there, right? But one of the things that we also see here's this we see the character of Christ. We see this character. We see that Jesus lovingly healed a man who could not walk in as I thought about that this week. I thought about if you were the Pharisee and you couldn't walk and you were like wouldn't you want to be healed? Absolutely? These guys were blinded they were deceived by the devil and their eyes were open to the truth because they were walking and living in darkness. And that's why Jesus is like you guys missed it. You're so focused on the little things that don't matter that you yourselves are being disobedient to to the law. You're you're doing this circumcision on the Sabbath which is a work and here I am lovingly coming alongside of somebody who needed to be healed. And I do that and you've missed it. So often we get attacked. So often are characters called out and what happens is if we're not careful in the midst of conflict we can respond in an ungodly way. And what happens is our character in our witness go out the door. I love what Billy Graham wants said. He said one wealth is lost. Nothing in reality is really lost. When our health is lost. Something is lost a little bit. But when our characters lost he said this All Is Lost You see loved ones that statement is so true. And so it's so important as Christians. We know this that our character will be challenged. And so I want to encourage you this morning to lean until the Holy Spirit. Went when conflict comes up when the challenges come when when your character is challenged leaning to the holy spirit for words and actions and know this that he will guide you. He will give you what you need to say or what you don't need to say. Watch her character. It's so important. We got to move on. Here's a third thing and we're done. What does it mean to, Jesus? What does it mean to really come to Jesus number three when we come to Jesus we see the importance of thirsting for God Alone in other words. Check this out. Nothing else matters in this life.

nothing else in this life matters doesn't matter where you going to go eat today? Doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank.

Doesn't matter.

What your job is like even though some of us man? We put all Oliver eggs in that basket What matters most is this? Do you know Jesus?

Do you know Jesus and are you following him? Are you thirsting for God Alone? Will get verse 37 with me.

On the last day. This is the most important day of the feast the great day Jesus stood up and he cries out if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water. Now this you said about the spirit and those who believe in him work to receive for his yet. The spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified. And so here's what we need to know today and just want to give you a few things wearing a close-up, but we see here in our Texas everyone now begins to see and understand and they're talking about Jesus. They're Whispering about him because they don't want the Pharisees to to see and hear their talk and might get them into trouble. Right people are wondering if Jesus could really be the Messiah who is to come. To beat could this be the guy that God has given us to take away our sin and it take away or death. The before Jesus invites the crowds to come to him. I want you to check this out notice that he warns them that they must make a decision. Look at verses 33 and 34. Jesus done said I will be with you a little longer and then I'm going to him who sent me you will seek me and you will not find me where I am. You cannot come the religious leaders during the time of like what is he talking about? Where is Jesus going to go? Is he going to go to the Greeks? Is he going to go away? What what what street is talking about here? You see loved ones. Jesus knows that his time on this Earth is drawing there. He realizes that he's about to go to the cross and died for the sins of mankind and then be returned to his father. Things are going to change. It is challenge is to his people is that they can't wait and definitely decide whether or not to come to him. You may be here today and say oh man. I thought Jesus is long suffering. Absolutely. He's not willing that any should perish.

But he realizes that eventually we all have to make a decision. And so now it's the day of the festival. This is a crucible moment. All the people are gathered together on this last day in Jesus makes this defining statement. He makes this invitation to all the people. To understand this invitation we need to go back. To the book of Isaiah few things that we need to understand about the book of Isaiah the first 39 chapters of Isaiah deal with the Judgment of God's people. God tells the prophet Isaiah. Hey, there's some difficult things that you got to say to these people are not going to like it. And so the first 39 chapters are tough, but then in chapter 40 things begin to turn. And what we see chapter 14 chapters 50 and 53 and 55 is that the book of Isaiah takes an encouraging turn instead of judgment. We find a promise of salvation. I want you to listen to this verse in Isaiah 55:1 it says this. Come everyone who thirsts come to the waters? Why did I tell you all of that? Here's why because remember at the beginning of our time today. We talked about the Festival of the shelter's the Festival of the booths in this commemorated a time in Israel's history where they were stuck in the deserts they were dying and they were thirsty and so one of these people do they call out to Moses to help them to save them. And then Moses returns calls out to God and God instructs Moses and what to do and Moses hit the rock and out of this rock comes water. It took care of these thirsty people's needs Granite. It was only for a short time. God was the one who provided the water in the middle of a desert. And so once again, we see come full circle and John chapter 7 God Is providing water. Jesus says this and verse 37 if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Church, that's such a such a life-altering statement if we could really truly understand that some of our lives today would be different.

If you're thirsty today. Come to Jesus and drink. This time things were different because the water that God was offering was life-giving water. It was salvation and that of his son Jesus Christ who invites all of us today. He invites the dying to come to him. Church, I want us to know this today is we close only. Jesus can give you life. The only condition is this. Are you thirsty? My question to you this morning. Is this are you willing to drink? Are you willing to admit? I'm thirsty.

Is he the drink of Jesus means to trust him for salvation and God's word. We know this promises. to those who believe in Jesus wow, their souls satisfied

If you're here today, and you've trusted Christ, but maybe you would say, you know, I'm and I'm struggling with the sin. I'm struggling with a trial in my life.

Here's what I want to encourage you with today understand this that all spiritual and Vance's begin with a thirst and a desire for Jesus. It's so maybe today your prayers this Jesus. I need you help me to turn to you when the trials in The Temptations in the conflict comes up in my life. Help me to stop trying to do this on my own to try to conquer sin on my own because that's never going to happen. Only through the blood of Jesus only through the Holy Spirit. Can we gain victory over that and we need to be reminded today is Galatians reminds us that we don't have to be in bondage. So that stuff any longer. That's why we need to run to Jesus in the midst of the battle and remember that he's already won the battle for us.

Is he loved ones? There must come a time for each and every one of us to take a long hard look within and ask this question how thirsty am I? Do I really desire Jesus do I really want to come to Jesus?

What's a question between you and the Lord?

Today I want to ask you this with with eyes closed and heads about I just want you to think about this today. Have I placed my trust in Jesus?

How about place my trust in Jesus?

Because when you do that. Your soul will be truly satisfied.

If you have placed your trust in Jesus today, there's a question that I want to ask you or are you walking with him daily?

When you get up in the morning is your prayer God help me to walk with you. Help me to trust you because I know what I want to do. I know that my flesh cries out for all these things in the world. That that's a decision within so today. I'm going to trust you. I'm going to walk with you. even with my flesh Cries Out Are you walking with the Lord today? Some of you have made a decision to walk away from the Lord? And did not trust him. You're not admitting that you you're thirsty and you need him.

Also this my doing anything to help others know about the wonderful news that Jesus comes to offer. Believer in here today. Do you know the Lord your life is been transform and change. What are we doing the point others to him? You may say well that's it's kind of tough mad at you know, it's it's kind of a challenge. It gets me out of my comfort zone. We have white changing this.

Some of you of day I've seen your friends and your family members drive over the cliff and you've never stopped. Tell them about the news of Jesus. You've never stopped and tell them about how Jesus has changed your life and transform your life. They need to know.

Some of them want to know we just haven't taken the opportunity to share Christ with others.

So look properties pray for up to use God. Give me chances to share.

Be ready to go in to adjust a great time of life groups in the next 10 weeks and we're going to learn what it means to sheriff a how do we do that? So excited about what God is going to teach us through that time. I just pray that God would put people around us. And we can share this great. Pray for us they got thank you for your word. Yeah, we thank you for how it rings true. It is was stood the test of time. God is your word spoke during the time of Isaiah and goddess is your word spoke. True when you were on Earth God. We thank you for that. It speaks true even today and that we desperately need to hear. We know that you've come to give us life. You come to take care of our thirsty souls and we thank you for the message of Jesus. We thank you for for for your death on the cross Jesus. You took care of our sin in that we can be reminded today that we can living Taurus lie for you. Not perfect. But in progression and we thank you for that. Help us this week that we were mine.