Streams in the Desert

John 7:32-52

I simply want to begin by posing a few questions for you to think about as we come to this text. Why is it that so often Christians settle for mediocre expectations of the life of a Christian? Why do we so often have so low expectations for significant change in our own lives, the lives of fellow believers, and the ordinary life of the church? My prayer is that this text will give us a real confidence in the power of Christ in our lives individually and together, and that we will be convicted, motivated, and empowered to pursue Christ-exalting living in a focused and increased way.

Seeking to arrest Jesus

The resistance continues

The chief priests and Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus

John doesn’t simply jump straight to telling us what comes of their search to arrest Him

Instead, John gives a suspense-building account of what Jesus says to the crowd

It is good for us that he did it this way because we get a rich taste of truth from the account that he gives

In the midst of all of the opposition, He is going to make some very encouraging statements for His people

Soon you will seek Me and not find me

They will physically seek Him and He will not be found

This is the explicit point of Jesus’ statement

John 13:33- Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

However, what is inevitably implied is that some will look for Him, and yet they will die in their sins becasue they will not find Him

Death will not have the last say

His death is imminent

However, the grave will not be His end, but rather the glory that He had before the world began

John 17:5- And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Out of his heart will flow streams of living water

This was certainly alluding to the many times in the OT where rain and water language is used

Isaiah 55:1- “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 12:3- With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Zechariah 13:1- “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

This theme of God’s provision of rain also dominated the eighth day of the Feast of Booths

The festival was a celebration of God’s provision, and rain is one of the central elements of His provision

In this celebration of what God has provided in the past, there was also an expectation of what He would provide in the future- deliverance through the promised Messiah

Jesus’ message is clear- He is the fulfillment of all that the Feast of Booths anticipated with a coming Redeemer

He is the eternal source of water- living water

John 4:10- Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

This is speaking of the Holy Spirit

Therefore, from the heart will flow streams of living water

Two main views of who “his” is-

The water is flowing from Christ

The water is flowing from the believer

Of course, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and comes through Him.

However, I think that the best interpretation is that the flowing is coming from the heart of the believer

This couldn’t happen until Jesus’ ascension

Jesus said that it was good for His disciples that He go to be with the Father

John 16:7- Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Rejoice that we can look back on the finished work of Christ and, we who are redeemed by His blood, have received the indwelling Holy Spirit and all that He is for us

If He has given you His Spirit, then from your heart flows a stream from which you ought to live in full pursuit of faithfulness

The Holy Spirit in your life

He gives life

Romans 8:1-2- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:11- If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

He seals

Ephesians 1:13-14- In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

He grows and gives fruit

Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

He teaches

John 14:26- But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

He guides

John 16:13- When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

He strengthens

Ephesians 3:14-21- Bible

Will we live like we believe it?

It is time that we stopped being content with a mediocre, “good enough”, kind of Christian life, and that we begin to live in view of the omnipotent power of the One who dwells in us.

May we strive to live as those empowered by the Holy Spirit for the glory of Christ in all of our lives