Introduction

1.       The Feast Day & the Claims of Jesus (v.37-39)

a)        The Feast Day

This Was Not Only A Commemoration but an Anticipation Of What Was To Come. 

They Were Looking For Messiah To Come And Lead Them Spiritually Out Of The Wilderness And Lead Them Into The Promised Land Eternally. 

§   On the last day of the feast, the Priest in their priestly garments would make a processional down from the temple mount winding down to the pool of Siloam which means, by interpretation “the one who is sent.” 

§   Everyday previously when the priest made this processional down to the pool of Siloam they would dip their pitchers in the water and read Isaiah 12:3—Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation, and they would then make their way back to the temple and ascend to the alter circling it one time and read Psalm 118:25ff—this would express the cause of their praise & to remind God of His promises.   Then they would pour it out on the courtyard of the temple right around the altar.  And this was done to remind the people and to celebrate the fact how the Lord provided water for them in the wilderness, “the rock smitten” which of course we know speaks of Jesus. 

§   But on the last day, “the Great Day of the Feast”, the priest would make this processional down to the pool of Siloam but they would not bring back water, instead they would make their way back up to the temple mount where the people were congregating, but there was no water to pour out, signifying historically that there came a time when the supernatural flow of water from the rock when, when they got into the promised land.  The manna no longer fell, the stream no longer flowed.

§   And so the great day of the feast was celebrating the fact they made it in and now there was no longer any water supernaturally provided.  And so they would come back this time with empty jars pouring nothing showing that God had brought them into the promised land, and that wasn’t happening in the same way miraculously any longer, but with this twist, as they would pour out their empty jars when no water was being poured out, they would read from the Scripture that spoke of Messiah’s coming: Isaiah 44:3—For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.  This verse speaks of the Messiah.

§   So they would go to the pool of Siloam which means “the one who is sent” Messiah, so they would come back with empty vessels pouring out nothing around the altar, reminding them of what God had done in the past but also now showing symbolically “send Messiah” the one who is going to pour out water upon those that are thirsty, His Spirit upon the dry ground and then as they said this verse, they had the people bow in silent prayer, praying that Messiah would come that He might pour out His water upon us.  At this moment when it is completely quiet this is when Jesus cried out and said (v.37-38).    

2.       The Claims of Jesus Christ

a)        If anyone thirst’s (v.37a): Jesus wasn’t speaking of physical thirst or even man’s emotional need for love, security, or to be needed.  He was talking about the human thirst for God. 

1)        EVERY HUMAN SOUL HAS AN UNQUECHIBLE THIRST FOR GOD

(a)      Our sour longs for God (Ps. 42:1–2; 63:1-8; Rev. 21:6; 22:17; Matt. 5:6).

2)        MAN TWISTS THE THIRST OF GOD FOR SOMETHING ELSE

(a)      Broken cisterns our desires do not hold water (Jeremiah 2:13)

(b)      Spending our wages on what does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:2)

(c)      Are you looking for the right path, joy & pleasure (Psalm 16:11)?

(d)      Do you want wealth (2Cor.8:9; Romans 8:17; Mark 8:36)

(e)      Relationships the woman at the well (John 4:13-14). 

(f)       Some peoples god is their belly “appetite” (Phil.3:19; Rom.16:18)

(g)      Commercial “JUST DO IT” “Obey Your Thirst” Wrong

3)        IF CONTINUED THE CONSCIENSE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL

(a)      Through Repeated Abuse It Is Possible To Nullify The Conscience. 

1.         Both the mind and the conscience can become so defiled that they cease making distinctions between what is pure and what is impure (cf. Tit. 1:15).

2.         After so much violation, the conscience finally falls silent. Morally, those with defiled consciences are left flying blind. The annoying warning signals may be gone, but the danger certainly is not; in fact, the danger is greater than ever.

b)        He is the source of life: “If anyone thirst’s, let him come to me (v.37b)

By design God has created us so that we would reach out to Him, and find a meaningful relationship with Him.  It is the only way to fulfillment.    

1)        THERE IS ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14 NKJV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV)

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20 NKJV)

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. (Revelation 22:17 NKJV)

c)         He is the source of abundant life (v.38)

1)        Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water—literally means, “there shall gush forth torrents of living water.”  What scripture is He referring to? 

The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; (Isaiah 44:3)

(a)      There is one thing of man that never seems to be satisfied, and that is his belly. It seems that we are always hungry.

(b)      This is the very area that Jesus said He would not only fill but it would be the area from which the living water would overflow.

(c)      David said, "My cup runs over."

2)        AT LARGE FOR SERVICE—Why is it so important for us to realize that the Spirit of God wants to flow forth from us as a mighty gushing torrent? 

(a)      He Wants Us To Be Instruments—God wants us to be instruments through which the Holy Spirit might flow forth to a needy world. 

(b)      To Become A Blessing To Others—The Water Of The Holy Spirit Not Only Goes In, It Also Comes Out. Not only does the believer receive blessing, but he becomes a blessing to others.  This is the contrast between two contemporary religious movements of Jesus’ day. The ancient village of the Palestine sect had no outflow, becoming stagnant and dead. But Christianity emphasizes outflow, extending life and blessing to others.

3)        FOUR PREPOSITIONS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(a)      These are within, upon, and filling – Read John 16:7-11.

1.         What is the Holy Spirit trying to show people who have not accepted Christ?

2.         In John 14:16,17, what two prepositions are used here?  (para “with”) & (en “in”)

3.         The disciples went from para to en in (John 20:22), when Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

4.         The same thing characterizes our own experience prior to conversion.

(b)      The next relationship centers around the preposition “en”.

1.         According to Romans 8:9, where does the Spirit dwell?  “en” in you

2.         The moment you accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit came into you and began to indwell you, you went from para to en.

3.         Not every believer, however, has the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  

(c)      The next relationship relates to the word upon – “epi”.  

1.         This is the same as the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

2.         Where does the Holy Spirit come in Acts 1:8 in relation to the person? 

3.         What about in Luke 24:49? 

4.         Acts 19:1-7? (esp. v. 6) “ upon them”—This epi empowers the believer for service—Ex. of “chain saw” & “cup of water”.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead & seated Him in heaven is present in you by God’s Spirit to:

q   cause you to overflow with hope (Romans 15:13)

q   help you bear up under and escape temptation (Matt.4:1; 1 Corinthians 10:13)

q   equip you to be a servant (Ephesians 3:7)

q   give you inner strength (Ephesians 3:16)

q   allow God to do more than you can ask or imagine in and through your life (Eph.3:20)

q   equip you to resist Satan (Ephesians 6:10-11)

q   provide endurance and patience (Colossians 1:11)

q   help you work hard for Him (Colossians 1:29)

q   shield you (1 Peter 1:5)

q   provide everything you need for life & godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

(d)      The next relationship is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

1.         This is an experience the believer needs on a daily basis (Eph.5:18). 

2.         This literally means keep being filled with the Holy Spirit.   

3.         What happened to the Apostles in Acts 4:31 and 4:8? 

d)        He is the source of the Holy Spirit (v.39) by believing in Him, you receive the Holy Spirit

The Father sent the Son, and the Son died on the cross and the Holy Spirit sealed the person.  Who does John 1:33-34, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and Matthew 3:11 say will be the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit?  Jesus

1)        Jesus was not yet glorified (John 16:5-15; John 12:16; 13:31; 17:5)

2)        The Empowering of the Spirit (baptism of the Spirit, overflowing, or coming upon) 

(a)      The purpose of the empowering of the Holy Spirit is that Jesus is glorified.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself, but point to Him (John 6:12-15).  A truly Spirit filled person or congregation will not be talking primarily about the Spirit but about the person of Jesus Christ. 

(b)      Peter spoke of repenting and being baptized (Acts 2:38) the Spirit came upon them.

(c)      This also happened to Jesus (Matt.3:11-17) the Holy Spirit came upon Him and empowered Him for service (Acts 1:8; Judges 14:6,19; 15:14; Luke 4:14; 24:49; Act 10:38;  Rom. 15:19; Eph. 3:16; 1Thess 1:5. 2Tim.1:7)

e)         Does this describe what is going on in your life?

Are you overflowing and touching the lives of others around you?  Paul’s prayer for the Corinthians was that they did not come short of any spiritual gift, and that is my prayer for you!  Do not choose to come short of anything God wants to do in your life.