Living Water

John 7:37–39 NKJV

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Introduction

The Feast of Pentecost

One of the three great feasts each year in Israel

Jews traveled to Jerusalem for a week long festival

Also called the festival of weeks - began 7 weeks and 1 day after passover

Feast of firstfruits

The very day on which the Holy Spirit would later be given

Here Jesus would make an announcement about the Holy Spirit

the disciples may not have fully understood this since the Holy Spirit had not yet been given -

John says that He spake this of the Holy Spirit - this living water that flows through us

There were many Reactions about Jesus by People at the Feast

A good many people thought He would not come since the Jews had planned to kill Him

but as Messiah He must come

His brothers mocked Him, and taunted Him about coming

He went, but privately, not with a large entourage

John 7:10–11 NKJV

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

When He was there, He went into the temple and taught the people

John 7:15, “How knoweth this man letters?”

they were amazed at His understanding of doctrine, having never been to seminary

John 7:31, “When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles?”

John 7:46, “Never man spake like this man”

John 7:48, “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed on Him?”

The Last Day, great day of the feast

finally, the last day of the festival was a great feast, a sabbath - the best of the week

Then Jesus stood in a crowded place and made this Great Statement about the Holy Spirit

An Invitation to Those Who Desire

The Invitation to those Desiring the Holy Spirit (v. 37)

“If any man thirst”

Notice to whom the invitation is given

Not to those who have prayed and fasted long enough

Not to those who have prayed … or loud enough

Not to those who have done enough good deeds

Not to those who have recently taken the sacraments

Not to those who have given enough

Not to those who have learned enough bible verses

Is Anyone Thirsty?

But to those who are thirsty

How wonderful to express it this way!

Have you ever been thirsty?

Some people might not know how to get religious enough

Some might not be able to reform themselves enough

Some might not understand theology enough

But everyone knows how it feels to be thirsty

Imagine if you were thirsty - really thirsty - desperate for water

Do you thirst to know that the guilt is gone?

Do you thirst to know that the record is clean?

Do you thirst for fellowship with God?

The Instruction to Receive the Holy Spirit

“Let him come unto me and drink”

To receive this refreshing water, come to Jesus and drink

Consider the call by Isaiah (Isaiah 55:1)

Isaiah 55:1 NKJV

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

Consider the last invitation in the Bible (Rev. 22:17)

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

What is meant by “come unto me and drink”?

To come to Him is to believe on Him

Not just that He exists, but He is Lord

Lord - Leader - Right

come into agreement with Him

To come to Him is to trust Him

Trust that His Word is the right Word - His way is the right way

Trust that what He has promised He is able to perform

To come to Him is to receive Him

Note that the requirement for receiving the Holy Spirit is the same as that for receiving Christ

Upon receiving Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into the believer

Out of His Hear Will Flow Rivers of Living Water

The inner Fountain that Flows within those who have Received Christ

“Out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water”

We are not to be cisterns but rivers

Not like the Dead Sea … but a great river

Not like a swamp … but a refreshing stream

What will flow in these rivers?

The fruit of the Spirit will flow in these rivers

The gifts of the Spirit will flow

The compassion of Christ will flow in these rivers

Power to witness will flow in these rivers

Faith will flow in these rivers

Do you Thirst?

Will you come to Christ and Drink?