2.8.11 2.13.2022 Rivers of Living Water John 7.37-39

Start:

Entice: We live in an interesting time to be thirsty. In fact, we no longer talk about thirst. Thirst is, according to the scientific experts, an unreliable, personal experience. Hydration on the other hand…that’s scientific. It is an idea. It can be researched and refined. Thirst is thirst.

A person counter’s thirst by the simple act of drinking. One counters dehydration (danger!) With hydration (good!)

The relationship between Hydration and dehydration is technically what we call “pretending.” That is accepting something as real which is essentially made up. You don’t feel “dehydrated.” Dehydration is the ideation of the real, actual sensation of thirst.

I do hate to tell you this, however the information is out there. Hydration is a made-up concept invented to convince people that they need to fix something which in the vernacular “ain’t broke.” (getting thirsty is the physical signal you need to drink)

Engage: Ever since the invention of Gatorade in the 1960s, the science they quote—which is captive science done for marketing purposes—the athletes they recruit for endorsements, the purported benefits of sports drinks, bottled water, and gluten free/sugar free/caffeine-free sodas--all of it is designed to get people like you and me to

DRINK WHEN WE ARE NOT THIRSTY!

Jesus knew that a couple thousand years ago. Jesus does not speak in meaningless jargon. (Hydration?!?) He wants thirsty people to know that He has—He is the answer.

Expand: John 7 tells the story of a trip to Jerusalem. Jesus’ unbelieving, mocking brothers chide Him to go to Jerusalem to act like a “real” prophet. He goes in secret to focus on teaching. John records a long, drawn-out series of lessons taught, arguments, interrogations, and heated exchanges. At the end Jesus once again presents Himself as the solution to one of our most pressing needs.

John 7:37–39 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Excite: In effect Jesus wants to make sure that the quenching water He offers is recognized by thirsty people. It is not some artificial construct. It is not something which is made up or detached from a real need. People get thirsty and drink. The spiritually thirsty need a drink. I only fear that our focus on something other than, something different than, something instead of real thirst has dulled our ability to offer that thirst-quenching water Jesus still offers.

Explore:

There is only one solution to Spiritual Thirst.

Explain: Jesus describes a simple process which will satisfy the most desperate thirst.

Body of Sermon:

1. Reality Recognized.

Ἐάν τις διψᾷ

My last year of organized sports was my sophomore year of High School when I played football. I remember not having real bonafide water breaks. Just a hose with a coach admonishing. “Swish it around, don’t swallow too much it will make you sick.” Oh, how the times change! Do athletes “know” they are dehydrated? Nope. They get thirsty! Humans get thirsty that is the effect. Jesus addresses that!

1.1 Universal and Particular.

Everyone/anyone/someone/YOU

1.2 Thirst!

Thirst is a feeling or bodily response to a real need. Unlike “hydration” which means drinking before thirst is even properly identified.

2. Response Required.

ἐρχέσθω πρός με καὶ πινέτω ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ,

2.1 Coming

2.2 Drinking

2.3 Believing

upon/into me.

3. Resources Received.

καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.

My first experience of Gatorade…My Grandpa bought it at auction-sales. The old, original Glass Stokely/Van Camp bottle. In 1971 we had never heard of the stuff! Our palates were not conditioned to appreciate it. It had been designed to replace sweat. It tasted like sweat. It was wet, but not water. It was a resource we were not ready for. Jesus is both the source and the resource! When you are ready you will find your thirst quenched and re-quenched

3.1 Scripture fulfilling

3.2 Spirit welling!

(Rivers of Living Water)

Shut Down

I can’t tell by looking at you whether your are thirsty. Your spiritual life may be like someone who’s just watched a night of TV With all of the expected advertising...

Gatorade.

Smart-water,

Perrier.

Powerade.

Coca Cola.

Bud-lite.

You may be doing the equivalent of everything in your power to “hydrate”.

What of your thirst?

If you are really thirsty a little water will take care of the situation. If you are not thirsty it does not matter what you drink…you cannot meet the need because you really don’t know what it is!! Jesus does.

He does not force us, He invites us. He does not come up with some new-fangled problem and then go looking for a solution. He compares our great spiritual need with something so simple that we learn how to articulate the problem as one of the first few phrases we learn as an infant.

I’m Thirsty!

If you are, this is God’s thirst-quenching word for us today 2. 13.2022.