The Kindness of Jesus' Invitation

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John 7:37–39 Pastor Rob Kimsey December 15, 2024 https://laurelbiblechurch.net/

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the kindness of Jesus's invitation. Brothers and sisters, as we gather this morning, let us consider a scene rich with symbolism and promise.
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Picture it, the Feast of Tabernacles, a grand celebration where the people of Israel remembered
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God's provision in the wilderness, and on the last and greatest day of the feast, the priest would draw water from the
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Pool of Siloam and pour it out at the altar, symbolizing both God's provision of water in the desert and their prayer for rain to sustain their future harvest.
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It was a profound ritual, steeped in meaning and hope. But imagine the weight of the moment when
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Jesus, standing amidst the crowd, interrupts the ritual with a bold declaration.
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If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
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What audacity, what authority. Jesus wasn't just offering water to quench a physical thirst.
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He was proclaiming himself as the ultimate source of satisfaction, the fulfillment of their deepest spiritual longings.
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This wasn't just about rain for crops. This was about the living water of the Holy Spirit, eternal life, peace and joy flowing from God to his people.
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In a world like ours, restless, anxious, parched for meaning, this invitation from Christ is as urgent and as relative as ever.
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We live in a culture that runs on empty, seeking satisfaction in everything, but the one source that can truly satisfy.
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Jesus isn't just one of many options on the spiritual menu. He is the only well that never runs dry.
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So today we will explore this profound truth. If you thirst for something more, more than fleeting happiness, more than temporary success, more than hollow pleasures, then the answer is to come to Christ.
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He doesn't just give water. He is the water and through him flows the Holy Spirit, offering a fountain of life that overflows into every corner of our existence and every corner of this world.
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I mean, picture this. Jesus stands in the temple courts during the climactic final day of the
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Feast of Booths. The air is thick with tension. Around him, the crowd buzzes with mixed emotions.
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We've seen curiosity, skepticism, even hostility. The religious leaders steeped in their condescending intellectual dishonesty have already plotted against him.
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They've dismissed his miracles, challenged his teachings, and fueled the people's doubts.
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Both overtly and covertly, they hated him because he exposed their hypocrisy and disrupted their illusion of control.
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Yet in the face of all of this, Jesus does something remarkable. Instead of responding with condemnation or withdrawing into silence, he extends an invitation of unfathomable kindness.
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If anyone thirsts, let him come to me. I mean, let's pause here for a moment.
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This is no ordinary offer. Jesus is not merely inviting them to take part in a ritual or hear another sermon.
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No, he is offering eternal life. He is proclaiming himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies, the one who would pour out streams of living water, bringing life to the dry and the thirsty.
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He's claiming to be the Messiah, the only one with the authority to give the Holy Spirit, the one who satisfies the deepest longings of the human soul.
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This invitation is not made to a crowd of adoring fans. This invitation is not made to people that are looking for him or that want him.
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No, but it's a hostile audience, a mixed bag of intrigue and unbelief and skepticism.
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Imagine the profound grace in that moment. I wanna make us sensitive to this, the kindness of Jesus's invitation.
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Jesus knows their hearts. He knows the plotting. He's heard the mockery, the rejection, and yet he opens his arms wide to them.
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He speaks not from fear or anger or pride, but from a divine kindness that defies worldly logic.
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He offers life to those who would prefer his death. He offers the Holy Spirit to those who would mock his power.
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And this same Jesus speaks to us today. He offers the same living water to a world still filled with skeptics, mockers, and rebels.
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He offers it to you, to me, not because we deserve it, but because his grace is greater than sin.
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So as we consider this passage, let's marvel at the Messiah, who in the face of hatred offered hope.
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In the face of rejection, offered relationship. And in the face of sin, offered salvation.
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This is not just a story about ancient Jerusalem. It's a story about us and the
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Savior who still calls out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. On the last day of the
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Feast of Booths, Jesus offers eternal life to the very people who ridicule him and seek to kill him so that you can see the amazing kindness of God towards sinners displayed in Jesus's invitation.
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And unlike the unbelieving crowd, accept Jesus's offer of everlasting life.
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Following the murmurs of the crowd and the attempt of the leaders to arrest Jesus, he gives an encouraging invitation to those present.
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An open offer in the face of hostility. Jesus then gives a helpful illustration of living water restoring the soul.
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An encouraging word picture of hopeful promise. The Apostle John then records the profound implication of Jesus, of his invitation really and his illustration.
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An explanation of the depths of God's grace in giving the Holy Spirit. So as we move deeper into these verses, we must grasp the rich biblical background that underpins
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Jesus's profound declaration. John tells us this moment unfolded on the last and greatest day of the
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Feast of Tabernacles. This was no ordinary day. Trumpets sounded, voices recited
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Isaiah 12, you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation and the
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Hallel or praise psalms were sung with exuberance. The praise psalms, they're defined like this,
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Psalms 113 through 118. They're known as the Hallel psalms or simply the
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Hallel. Hallel means praise. While many psalms praise God, this set of psalms became associated with Passover due to the mention of deliverance from Egypt in Psalm 114.
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The focus on the Exodus is the reason these psalms are also sometimes referred to as the
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Egyptian Hallel. These psalms were recited at Jewish feasts, especially Passover, depending upon which tradition was being followed, one or two of the psalms were recited before the meal and the rest after.
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So for seven days, the people had watched the priestly procession from the Pool of Siloam, carrying a golden container of water to the temple.
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The water was poured out as a symbol of gratitude for God's past provision and a prayer for future rain, future provision, but here's the key.
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This ceremony didn't just look backward, it pointed forward. It anticipated the ultimate salvation and life -giving blessings that the
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Messiah would bring. The Old Testament is filled with imagery of water representing spiritual renewal and divine blessing.
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In Isaiah, the invitation is clear. Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.
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Ezekiel's vision of a life -giving river flowing from the temple and Zechariah's prophecy of living waters flowing out from Jerusalem all culminate in this very moment.
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When Jesus stood and cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, he wasn't offering a mere metaphor.
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He was claiming to be the fulfillment of every one of those promises. He was declaring himself to be the true source of salvation, the giver of the
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Holy Spirit, the one who satisfies the deepest thirst of the soul. And yet, consider the context.
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Jesus made this bold proclamation in the face of extreme hostility.
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The religious leaders had already rejected him. The crowds were divided in their opinions and the undercurrent of unbelief was palpable, but Jesus didn't flinch.
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With divine kindness and unwavering resolve, he extended the gospel invitation, not just to the faithful, but to his critics, mockers, and enemies.
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This is the heart of the gospel, a savior who offers living water in the midst of rejection, who extends grace to the undeserving, and who calls the spiritually parched to drink deeply from the well of eternal life.
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This is where the Old Testament's anticipation meets the New Testament's fulfillment. Jesus is the living water, and his invitation echoes through the ages to every thirsty soul.
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Let us now consider how this profound offer of grace continues to challenge and comfort us today.
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Following the murmurs of the crowd and the attempt of the leaders to arrest Jesus, he gives an encouraging invitation to those present.
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Verse 37, invitation, an open offer in the face of hostility.
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Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
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On the concluding day of the festival of booths, there was a notable water ceremony.
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It provides the context for Jesus's statement about the spirit. This ceremony symbolized the longing for sufficient rainfall in the upcoming year.
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When Jesus declared if anyone is thirsty, he likely referred to Isaiah 55.
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Isaiah 55, verse one, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come buy and eat.
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Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. However, his message transcended the physical symbolism of the water ritual, offering a spiritual fulfillment far greater than what the ritual represented.
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The concept of thirst is used here metaphorically as often seen in his teachings. The eighth day of the feast was a
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Sabbath. It was really marking this final celebratory gathering of the year and distinguished by extraordinary rituals.
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The usually joyous atmosphere of the feast culminated in jubilant festivities, particularly during the climactic moment when the priest would carry a golden vessel filled with water drawn from the
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Pool of Siloam. This water was poured out upon the altar while Isaiah 12 .3
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was recited. With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
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This act, as verse 39 later explains, pointed to the spiritual blessings offered through the spirit of God.
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According to ancient sources, the accompanying trumpets and exuberant celebration were so extraordinary that it was said, quote, whoever has not witnessed it has never seen true rejoicing.
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Jesus, standing prominently in the midst of this celebration likely positioned himself to be heard and seen by the gathered multitudes.
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His proclamation delivered with authority declared, if anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink.
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Here, the deepest spiritual needs of humanity are described as thirst, while the eternal satisfaction of those needs is portrayed as drinking.
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The concept echoes his earlier conversation with the Samaritan woman. Remember John chapter four.
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Jesus answered and said to her, everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, referring to the water from the well, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst, ever.
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But the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
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However, whereas he presented this truth privately to her, he is now proclaiming it publicly.
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He proclaimed it publicly addressing the masses. Where the Samaritan woman hesitated to provide water from Jacob's well,
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Jesus now announced himself as the inexhaustible source of living water, capable of satisfying every spiritual longing.
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This invitation builds on themes already introduced in his teachings. For instance, in the
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Gospel of Matthew, he invited the weary and burdened to find rest in him, addressing similar deep -seated needs.
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We find this in Matthew 11. Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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Similarly, in John six, he referred to himself as the bread of life, satisfying spiritual hunger and thirst.
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John six, verse 35. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never, what?
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Thirst. Yet, what had previously been shared in intimate or provincial settings was now boldly proclaimed in the heart of Jerusalem.
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Jesus's words echo the divine invitation of Isaiah. Come, all you who are thirsty.
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Come to the waters, demonstrating that he is the fulfillment of God's promises.
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His declaration leaves only two possible responses. Rejection is exemplified by the religious leaders who sought to kill him, or submission, as later seen in Thomas's confession.
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What does Thomas say? My Lord and my God. That's John 20. This moment reveals
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Christ's unwavering commitment to his mission, despite intense opposition.
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Though aware of the plots against him, Jesus was undeterred. The crowd was large, the opposition was strong, and the temple a stronghold of his adversaries.
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Yet, he boldly proclaimed the message of salvation. And this courage stemmed from his reliance on the
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Father's sovereign protection, as seen in John, in the same chapter in verse 30, where his opponents could not seize him.
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Why? Because his hour had not yet come. The apostle John highlights
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Jesus's boldness, emphasizing that his invitation was extended not to a select few, but to all.
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To all. His voice was clear and loud, ensuring that the invitation was unmistakable.
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However, those who willfully shut their ears to his call were the only ones left untouched by his words.
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Jesus's invitation, if anyone is thirsty, underscores the universal spiritual poverty of humanity.
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All people are spiritually destitute. All people. But not all recognize their need.
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The imagery of thirst conveys an acute and pressing need, one that drives individuals to seek relief.
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It drives us to seek relief. Yet, only the Spirit of God can awaken this recognition or the need in the human heart, igniting a thirst for divine grace.
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Without this awakening, many remain indifferent, withering spiritually. Jesus calls not the satisfied or self -sufficient, but those who are keenly aware of their need for salvation.
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The metaphor of thirst aligns with the imagery of water and drinking, tying the entire discourse together.
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Isaiah's prophecy, come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
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As we enjoy this month of the year to reflect on the advent of our Savior, consider
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Mary's song in Luke chapter one, verse 53. It echoes this truth.
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Mary says this, he has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
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He has filled the hungry with good things. The promise embedded in Jesus's words, let them come to me and drink, offers assurance.
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This is an offer of assurance. The invitation carries with it the certainty of the fulfillment.
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Jesus is not a dry cistern, but an abundant, overflowing fountain.
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Those who seek him will find their spiritual thirst quenched. What makes Jesus's invitation even more astonishing is the context of hostility in which it was given.
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Earlier in this chapter, we see division among the crowds and outright opposition from the religious leaders.
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They mocked Jesus's origins, questioned his authority. They sought to arrest him.
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Yet in the face of such animosity, Jesus extended an open invitation to all.
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This is the heart of divine kindness, to offer life to those who plot your death, to extend grace to those who doubt and despise you.
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Jesus's courage and compassion in this moment are a vivid demonstration of God's love for sinners.
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Romans 5 reminds us, God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
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Christ died for us. Even as the crowd murmured and the leaders schemed,
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Jesus offered himself as the source of eternal life. This is the same savior who wept over Jerusalem.
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He would later weep over Jerusalem, lamenting their rejection of his offer of peace.
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We find that account in Luke 19. Jesus's invitation to come and drink remains as relevant today as it was then.
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In our world, people seek to quench their spiritual thirst in countless ways, through success, relationships, entertainment, self -autonomy or self -reliance.
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But as the prophet Jeremiah says, these pursuits are like broken cisterns. They can't hold water.
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They cannot hold water. They leave us empty and longing for more.
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The question for us is this, will we respond to Jesus's invitation or will we follow the murmurs of the crowd?
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The crowd in John 7 was divided. Some recognized Jesus as the prophet or the Christ, while others dismissed him due to preconceived notions and hardened hearts.
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This same dynamic exists today, does it not? Many hear the gospel but resist its call, preferring the fleeting satisfaction of worldly pursuits over the eternal joy found in Christ.
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For those who have already come to Jesus and received his living water, the challenge is to live as streams of blessing in a dry and thirsty world.
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Are we allowing the Spirit's life -giving power to flow through us, bringing hope and renewal to those around us?
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Are we proclaiming with boldness and kindness the same invitation that Jesus offered?
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On the last day of the Feast of Booths, Jesus offers eternal life to the very people who ridicule him and seek to kill him so that you can see the amazing kindness of God, the amazing kindness of God towards sinners, displayed in Jesus's invitation, and unlike the unbelieving crowd, accept
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Jesus's offer of everlasting life. Following the murmurs of the crowd and the attempt of the leaders to arrest
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Jesus, he gives an encouraging invitation to those present, an open offer in the face of hostility.
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In his gracious invitation on the final day of the feast, Christ demonstrates that the fountain of eternal life is freely offered, freely offered, even to those who mock and oppose him, revealing the boundless mercy of God who calls sinners to repentance and faith despite their hostility.
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Jesus then gives a helpful illustration of living water, restoring the soul.
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Verse 38, illustration, an encouraging word picture of hopeful promise.
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He who believes in me, as the scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
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This statement is profound, profound in its timing and significance.
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Jesus not only reveals his identity as the fulfillment of the festival's hopes, but also extends an invitation of grace to those who reject him.
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His words provide a vivid illustration of spiritual abundance, a living water that restores and overflows into eternal blessing.
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Jesus begins with a universal appeal. If anyone thirsts, thirst is a metaphor for spiritual longing, a soul parched by the arid wasteland of sin.
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As the psalmist writes, as the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, oh
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God. Psalm 42. Everyone experiences this spiritual thirst, whether they acknowledge it or not.
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For we were created to be satisfied only in our communion with our creator. To quench this thirst,
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Jesus issues a simple but profound call. Come to me and drink.
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This act of coming is not a physical, but a spiritual act. It signifies faith, a wholehearted trust in Jesus as the source of life.
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Isaiah echoes this invitation. Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.
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Believing in Christ means embracing him as the fountain of living water, the one who satisfies our deepest longings.
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Jesus's promise draws upon rich Old Testament imagery. The phrase rivers of living water points to passages like Ezekiel 47 and Zechariah 14, where streams flowing from the temple symbolizes
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God's life -giving presence. Here, Jesus identifies himself as the fulfillment of these prophecies.
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The living water he offers is the Holy Spirit, given to believers to bring eternal life and spiritual vitality.
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This water is not stagnant, but abundant, described as rivers.
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It satisfies the believer's soul and overflows to bless others. Just as water refreshes and sustains, so the spirit regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers.
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The living water also points forward to the eternal restoration promised in the revelation of Jesus Christ, where the river of life flows from God's throne.
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Revelation chapter 22. Again, the Apostle John's speaking here.
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He says, then Jesus showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the
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Lamb in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life bearing 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
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Believers who receive this gift participate in God's kingdom now and anticipate its fullness in eternity.
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The phrase out of his heart will flow rivers of living water underscores the transformative power of the spirit.
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As believers, we not only receive God's blessings, but become channels through which his grace flows to others.
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Proverbs connects the inner being, the heart or belly, to the spirit's work, highlighting the inner transformation that results in outward impact.
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Proverbs 20. The breath of man is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all the innermost parts of his body.
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In a culture filled with distractions and counterfeit satisfaction substitutions, many fail to recognize their spiritual need.
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People seek fulfillment in wealth. Wealth relationships is a strong one, success, earthly success, only to find their souls still parched, unsatisfied by the things of this world, thirsty and hungry.
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Jeremiah chapter two rebukes this tendency. Thus says the Lord, my people have committed two evils.
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They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters and hewn out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
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Reflect on your life. Are you drinking from broken cisterns? Or have you come to the source of living water?
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The crowd in John seven hesitated and murmured. Many rejected Jesus outright, yet his invitation remains open.
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Come to me. To refuse this offer is to choose eternal thirst. It's to accept it is to receive eternal life.
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As second Corinthians six reminds us, now is the favorable time. Now is the favorable time.
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Now is the day of salvation. Today, Jesus calls you to drink deeply from the water that he provides, that only he can provide.
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For those who have received the spirit, the call does not end with personal satisfaction. No, believers are conduits of God's grace to a thirsty world.
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Jesus exhorts us to let our light shine before others so that they may glorify our
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Father in heaven. Are you allowing the spirit's rivers to flow through you, refreshing and blessing others?
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Let your life be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ. The kindness of God is displayed in Jesus's invitation.
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He offered living water to those who mocked him, to those who sought his death.
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This grace should humble us and it should inspire us to worship. Scripture reminds us that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, to turn away from our earthly pursuits, and what, to return to him, to have a change of mind.
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Reflect on his grace in your life and respond with gratitude and faith. Jesus's promise in verse 38, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water, finds its fulfillment in the giving of the
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Holy Spirit. John explicitly connects this statement to the spirit, who would later be poured out on believers after Jesus's glorification.
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The imagery of flowing water conveys abundance, vitality, and perpetual renewal.
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It reflects the spirit's role in regenerating, sanctifying, and empowering believers. This promise is not merely about our own needs or personal satisfaction while we're here on earth, but it's transformation, transformation that overflows to others.
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Believers filled with the spirit become conduits of God's grace to a dying and thirsty world.
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As Isaiah 58 says, the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places.
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And you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
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Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. An encouraging word picture of hopeful promise.
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By declaring that rivers of living water will flow from within those who believe in him,
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Christ unveils a profound offer of salvation, that through faith, the
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Holy Spirit becomes an inexhaustible source of life and grace, nourishing the soul, and demonstrating the unparalleled kindness of God in redeeming sinners.
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The Apostle John then records the profound implication of Jesus's invitation and illustration.
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Verse 39, implication. This is an explanation of the depths of God's grace in giving the spirit.
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But this he spoke of the spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
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Verse 39 serves as a pivotal verse in understanding the transformative role of the
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Holy Spirit. He is given to believers after Christ's glorification. And what we've seen so far in the passage is that the
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Feast of Booths commemorated God's provision for Israel during their wilderness journey.
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Each day, priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam, pour it out at the temple altar, and pray for future rains and the outpouring of God's spirit.
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On the last day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
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His words directly address the deepest human need, spiritual thirst.
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John adds a commentary in verse 39, explaining that Jesus's offer of living water refers to the
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Holy Spirit, who would later be given to those who believe in Jesus. This gift, however, was contingent on Christ's glorification through his death, his resurrection, and his ascension.
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Until then, the spirit's work was present, but not yet fully manifest. The phrase living water encapsulates the life -giving work of the spirit.
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Throughout scripture, water symbolizes cleansing, renewal, and sustenance.
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In Ezekiel 47, we see a vision of rivers flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever they go.
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I'll give you just two verses, Ezekiel 47, eight and nine. Then the Lord said to me, these waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the
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Arabah. Then they go toward the sea, being made to flow out to the sea, and the waters of the sea will be healed.
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And it will be that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes will live.
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And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the other waters are healed, so everything will live where the river goes.
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Similarly, Zechariah 14 anticipates living waters flowing out of Jerusalem, Zechariah 14, verse eight.
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And it will be in that day that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea.
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It will be in summer as well as in winter. Jesus declares that he is the fulfillment of these prophecies.
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He alone is the source of eternal life and the Spirit is the channel through which life flows.
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John clarifies that this promise was not yet realized in its fullness because the
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Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. The Spirit's full outpouring was inaugurated at Pentecost following Christ's ascension.
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This event marked the beginning of the new covenant era in which the Spirit indwells every believer.
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You know, sometimes we don't think about that. Pause and reflect. The Spirit of God, the
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Holy Spirit, indwells every believer. The amazing kindness and grace of God, the
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Spirit of God given freely, empowering every believer to live for God's glory and proclaim his gospel.
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The Spirit's indwelling transforms the believer's inner being. Jesus described this as rivers of living water flowing from within.
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The imagery emphasizes both abundance and outward impact. The Spirit not only satisfies our spiritual thirst but also enables us to be the source of blessing to others.
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The Spirit's primary work is regeneration. A nice way to think about the gospel is
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Titus chapter three states it like this. God, our Savior, it's referring to Jesus Christ, saved us, how?
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Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit given to us.
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Without the Spirit, we remain spiritually dead, unable to respond to God.
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When we come to Christ by faith, the Spirit breathes new life into our souls, making us new creations.
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Second Corinthians five, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is what? A new creation.
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The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come. The Spirit empowers believers to live in obedience to God.
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He works within us to produce the fruit of the Spirit, conforming us to the image of Christ.
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Of course, the famous passage, Galatians five, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control.
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Against such things, there is no law. And I'll just get off my notes for a second.
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As I read that passage to you, does that describe your life? And I understand no one's perfect.
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Some days are better than others, I get that. Does the fruit of the
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Spirit describe your life? Because if you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, a born -again believer, indwelled by the
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Holy Spirit, and that is foreign to you, those words mean nothing to you,
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I would caution you to reassess where you're at. You may need to rethink that. This should describe every believer.
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Not 10 out of 10, but there should be some recognition here. I see where I'm failing here.
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Praise God, I see where I'm succeeding here. But if this is foreign to you, you need to look into your heart.
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Do you really know him? Do you know him? The Holy Spirit, as we submit to his leading, we grow in holiness and reflect
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God's character to the world. The rivers of living water also symbolize the believer's role in proclaiming the gospel.
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Just as the Spirit flows into our lives, he flows out to reach others. Acts chapter one underscores this truth.
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You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses, witnessing.
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The truths of verse 39 are profoundly relevant today, profoundly relevant.
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Many in our world are spiritually parched. Really, let's be honest, they're spiritually dead.
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They're starving to death. Spiritually parched, seeking satisfaction in fleeting earthly pursuits that aren't lasting.
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Jesus's invitation to come and drink remains as urgent as ever. But how do we apply these passages with these profound theological truths to our lives?
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Well, first, recognize your need. Recognize your need. Jesus's call is for those who thirst.
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Spiritual thirst is universal, yet many fail to acknowledge it. Instead, they seek to quench it with what?
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Career success, temporal relationships, entertainment.
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Only Christ can satisfy the soul's deepest longings. If you have not yet trusted in him, hear his invitation today.
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Second, receive the Spirit's fullness. For believers, this passage is a call to live in the fullness of the
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Spirit. Although the Spirit indwells every Christian, we often hinder his work through sin or neglect.
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Sin and neglect. Ephesians 5 exhorts us to be filled with the
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Spirit. Now, at the time of your salvation, you were indwelled with the Holy Spirit, but Paul here is talking about a command that requires ongoing submission and dependence on him.
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Was it that time of salvation, you're filled with the Spirit? Oh, I'm good now, I don't need his help anymore.
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Please don't think like that. No, continual submission, continual obedience and dependence.
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And next, share the living water. Share the living water. At one point, you were spiritually dead, spiritually parched, dying of thirst.
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Now you're filled with the living water. Pass this living water on to others who are dying of thirst. As recipients of the
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Spirit, we are called to share the living water with others. This involves both words and actions.
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By proclaiming the Gospel and demonstrating Christ's love, we allow the Spirit to flow through us to a thirsty world, a dying world.
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And finally, let us marvel at the kindness of God revealed in this passage. Jesus offered living water to those who mocked him and sought to kill him.
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They wanted his life. This astounding grace reflects the heart of God who desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance.
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2 Peter 3, the Lord is not slow about his promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
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And you think about that passage and the context there, and what is Peter dealing with? In the last time, there will be mockers and scoffers.
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Where is the coming of the Lord? The fathers have been dying, people are dying.
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If you've ever done evangelism, I guarantee you've heard this. Oh, why doesn't God just come back and make everything right?
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It's the same thing, folks. Where is God? Look around at this evil world.
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Where is God? Where is the coming of his promise? We hear this every day, every day.
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And actually, for some people, you don't want him to come back yet. You don't want him to come back yet because you haven't accepted his invitation.
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I saw a funny post, and I can't remember, it might've been someone in the church, looking at a social media thing, and it said something like, some of y 'all are playing hide and seek with Jesus.
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And it's basically like Jesus is saying, here I am, here I come.
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It's his turn to come and find you, in other words. God is good.
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It's not that he's slow in the coming of his promise. He is coming back. But he's patient and long -suffering because he wishes for everyone to accept the invitation.
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Not everyone will. Think about that passage. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
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And the idea there in that passage from Peter is that they would do what? Believe the gospel. Believe the gospel.
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If Christ could extend such an invitation to his enemies, how much more should we proclaim his love to those around us?
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The message of verse 39 is one of hope and transformation. The living water of the spirit is available to all who believe in Jesus.
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This gift made possible through his glorification not only satisfies our deepest needs, it does, but it empowers us to fulfill his mission, an explanation of the depths of God's grace in giving the
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Holy Spirit. I love this little insert here. It's a commentary from the apostle, an explanation of the depths of God's grace in giving the
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Spirit. In proclaiming the promise of the Holy Spirit, yet to be given until his glorification.
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Christ reveals that the full outpouring of spiritual life and renewal is secured through his death, resurrection, and ascension, magnifying the infinite grace of God toward those who believe.
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As we go forth, let us drink deeply of this living water and share it generously with a world in desperate need of Christ.
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May we, like rivers, flow with the life -giving power of the Spirit, bringing glory to God and blessing to others.
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On the last day of the Feast of Booths, Jesus offered eternal life to the very people who ridiculed him and sought to kill him.
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So that you can see the amazing kindness of God towards sinners displayed in Jesus's invitation.
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And unlike the unbelieving crowd, accept Jesus's offer of everlasting life.
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Following the murmurs of the crowd and the attempt of the leaders to arrest Jesus, he gave an encouraging invitation to those present.
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It's an open offer in the face of hostility. In his gracious invitation on the final day of the feast,
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Christ demonstrated that the fountain of eternal life is freely offered. Jesus then gave a helpful illustration of living water, restoring the soul, an encouraging word picture of hopeful promise.
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By declaring that rivers of living water will flow from within those who believe in him, Christ unveiled a profound offer of salvation.
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The Apostle John then recorded the profound implication of Jesus's invitation and illustration.
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An explanation of the depths of God's grace in giving the Holy Spirit. Christ revealed that the full outpouring of spiritual life and renewal is secured through his death, his resurrection and his ascension.
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And so as we reflect on this passage, we see Jesus revealed as the ultimate satisfaction of life.
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His invitation rooted in divine grace confronts our deepest need with a promise of fulfillment that only he can provide.
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In offering himself as the source of living water, Christ not only addresses our spiritual thirst, but also equips us to overflow with his life -giving spirit, blessing those around us.
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The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated God's provision in the wilderness, but Jesus proclaims himself as the fulfillment of that provision.
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He is the true and living water, the only source of eternal life.
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Have you acknowledged your spiritual thirst? Have you come to Christ to drink of the living water he offers?
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For those who believe, are you allowing the spirit's work to flow through you, bringing life and blessing to others?
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Just as Jesus boldly declared the good news in the midst of opposition, so we must share his invitation with this dying world, with a spiritually dead, parched world, a thirsty world.
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Let us marvel at the kindness of God who extends the offer of eternal life even to those who oppose him.
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And let us, unlike the murmuring crowd, respond with faith and gratitude, embracing the living water that Christ alone provides.
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Jesus stood and cried out, a posture and tone that underscored the urgency and gravity of his message.
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If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. This was not a casual invitation.
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It was a proclamation of his identity as the Messiah and the fulfillment of scripture.
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We consider the Old Testament echoes in his words. Isaiah 55 invites the thirsty to come to the waters without cost.
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Ezekiel 47 envisions a life -giving river flowing from the temple, bringing renewal to all that it touches.
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Zechariah 14 speaks of living waters flowing from Jerusalem in the Messianic age.
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By identifying himself as the source of these waters, Jesus was making a stunning claim.
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He is the temple, he is the fountain of life and the fulfillment of these prophecies.
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Moreover, Jesus's use of thirst as a metaphor for spiritual longing aligns with the scripture's consistent portrayal of human need.
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Just as physical thirst is urgent and unrelenting, so too is the soul's craving for meaning, peace and reconciliation with God.
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Jesus's invitation points to the inadequacy of ritual or tradition alone to satisfy the deepest need.
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Only through him can the thirsty soul find true and lasting refreshment.
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The Feast of Booths celebrated God's provision and anticipated the Messianic age. In these verses,
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Jesus stood in the midst of that celebration and declared himself to be the fulfillment of its hopes and the answer to humanity's deepest need.
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His offer of living water is an unparalleled display of God's kindness, an open invitation extended even to those who rejected him.
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And so the question is simple, will you come to him? Will you come to him?
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Will you drink deeply of the living waters that he offers? Do not let the murmurs of the crowd or the distractions of this world keep you from responding to the
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Savior's call. Instead, let us, like the Samaritan woman in John 4, leave behind our empty vessels and proclaim, come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.
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Can this be the Christ? As we conclude, let us be reminded that Christ alone is the all -sufficient satisfaction for every longing soul.
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On the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, he stood and proclaimed that he alone could quench the deepest thirst of the human heart.
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While his words stirred division and provoked questions, his invitation remains clear and compelling, come to him and drink.
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In Christ, we not only find answers to our misgivings, but the fullness of joy and everlasting life.
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Let us leave here today renewed in our confidence that Jesus satisfies every need.
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And may our lives testify to the abundant life found only in Christ.