THE GIFT OF LIVING WATER

PROCLAMATION

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.’  ‘Sir,’ the woman said … Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself …?’  Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ”  John 4:10-14 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here, John records the conversation between Jesus, The Christ, and a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar in Samaria. (John 4:1-26)  After He asked the woman for a drink, she questioned Him. (John 4:7-8)  Jesus replied to her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for a drink, and He would have given her “living water.” (John 4:10)  Jesus makes it clear that He is not talking about the water in the well, but about spiritual living water which is linked to eternal life. (John 4:13-14)  When Jesus tells her about her life, her past five husbands and that she was living with a man whom she had not married, she wanted to change the subject and talk about religion. (John 4:16-19)  When Jesus told her that she did not know what she was worshiping, she replied that she knew that the Messiah was coming.  Then Jesus said, “I am He.” (John 4:25-26)  The woman left and brought the men in her life and many others to Jesus. (John 4:39-42)  The chapter ends with the second miracle of Jesus, the healing of the son of the nobleman in Capernaum. (John 4:46-54)  After his son was healed, the nobleman brought his whole family to Christ. (John 4:53)  Both the woman and the nobleman shared the living water.

 

APPLICATION

If we have the “living water” within us, it should spring forth and we would share it with others.  Many people will argue about religion, but they do not want to live it.  There are many people who worship regularly, but they do not know very much about that which they worship.  People all too often are quick to point out the faults and sins of others, but they want to change the subject when their own sins are uncovered.  You cannot come to Jesus, The Christ, hiding your sins and expect to receive eternal life.  We all must confess our sins, ask to be forgiven, and believe that He is who He says that He is. (Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9)  We must believe and have faith in Him.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  Jesus responded to the nobleman’s faith when He healed his son.  We must have faith, confess our sins, and believe.  We must also humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our sinful ways if we want Him to forgive us and to heal our current situation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

 

THE WATER I GIVE WILL BECOME A SPRING IN THEM

Proclamation:

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”  John 4:13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the conversation between Jesus, The Christ, and a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar in Samaria. (John 4:1-26)  After He asked the woman for a drink, she questioned Him. (John 4:7-8)  Jesus replied to her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him and He would have given her “living water.” (John 4:10)  Here, Jesus makes it clear that He is not talking about the water in the well but about spiritual living water which is linked to eternal life.  When Jesus tells her about her life, her past five husbands and that she was living with a man whom she had not married, she wanted to change the subject and talk about religion. (John 4:16-19)  When Jesus told her that she did not know what she was worshiping, she replied that she knew that the Messiah was coming.  Then Jesus said, “I am He.” (John 4:25-26)  The woman left and brought the men in her life and many others to Jesus. (John 4:39-42)  The chapter ends with the second miracle of Jesus, the healing of the son of the nobleman in Capernaum. (John 4:46-54)  After his son was healed, the nobleman brought his whole family to Christ. (John 4:53)  Both of them shared the living water.

Application:

If we have the “living water” within us, it should spring forth and we should share it with others.  Many people will argue about religion but they do not want to live it.  There are many people who worship regularly but they do not know very much about that which they worship.  People all too often are quick to point out the sins of others but they want to change the subject when their own sins are uncovered.  You cannot come to Jesus, The Christ, hiding your sins and expect to receive eternal life.  We all must confess our sins, ask to be forgiven, and believe that He is who He says that He is. (Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9)  We must believe and have faith in Him.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  Jesus responded to the nobleman’s faith when He healed his son.  We must have faith, and we must also turn from our sinful ways if we want Him to heal our situation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  

STAND IN FEAR AND TREMBLING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Tremble, earth, at the presence of The Lord, at the presence of The God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into a spring of water.”  Psalm 114:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The name of the human author of this psalm is unknown, however, it is clear that it was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is one the “Hallelujah psalms” (Psalms 112 through 118) which was sung during the feasts of Israel.  This psalm recalls some of the events which occurred when Israel was led out of captivity in Egypt. (Psalm 114:1)  As they wandered through the wilderness, The Lord God provided water for them by causing water to come out of a rock. (Exodus 17:6)

Application:

The Lord God is omnipotent, all powerful.  We should hold Him in reverential awe and stand in fear and trembling in His presence.  He is able to provide for all of the needs of His people.  For all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us, we should be eternally grateful.  He is The Rock of our salvation.  All who drink of the living water which He provides will never again thirst. (John 4:14)

THOSE WHO THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE FILLED

Proclamation:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for The Living God.  When can I go meet with God?”  Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by an unknown human author (probably King David) for the sons of Korah to sing.  The psalmist states that he thirsts for The Lord God like a deer thirsts for water.  He states that he thirsts so that it hurts and brings him to tears. (Psalm 42:3)  He is depressed, disturbed, and overwhelmed by his situation so he pours out his agony and grief. (Psalm 42:5-7)  Even though he feels that he has been forgotten, (Psalm 42:9) he knows that the loving-kindness of The Lord God will eventually help him and for this reason he will praise Him. (Psalm 42:11)  

Application:

Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)  Those who honestly desire and seek The Lord God will find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7-8, and Luke 11:9-10)  The storms of life can knock us down and when we are down it is easy to get depressed.  However, we just need to look back over our lives and remember the times when He brought us through.  He is always with us.  When we look back and see the two sets of footprints in the sand that became only one set for a while.  He did not leave us during those times, those are the times when He carried us.  As we travel life’s journey, from time to time we will get thirsty but He is our living water and we just need to refresh ourselves and drink Him in.  Return to the house of God and join in with the saints in prayer, praise and worship. (Psalm 42:4)

God Knows All About Us And Still Loves Us

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.' He told her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.' 'I have no husband,' she replied. Jesus said to her, 'You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.' 'Sir,' the woman said, 'I can see that you are a prophet' " John 4:10-26 (NIV)

When Jesus left Judea heading to Galilee, He went through Samaria. There He met the Samaritan woman by a well and asked her for a drink of water. She questioned Him and during their conversation He told her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for the living water that He could give her. Even though she did not fully understand she asked for that water. Jesus told her to go and get her husband and return. When she said I have no husband, Jesus told her about her past five husbands and her current situation.

Jesus knew all about the Samaritan woman's past and that she was living with a man to whom she was not married. He still offered her the living water of salvation. He also knows all about our past, including all of our sins, and still loves us enough to offer us salvation and eternal life. He had to tell the woman about herself before she believed. Sometimes He allows things to happen to us so that He can show us who He is and what He can do for us. He loves us and He wants us to be with Him, but we have to accept Him.