Sermon Central
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"Living Water"
Contributed by Ray Scott on Feb 2, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: We’re not victorious in our Christian life because we aren’t THIRSTY for the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. God will pour out His Spirit on those who are THIRSTY for Him.
“Living Water”
John 4:5-15, 28 – READ
WATER … Multi-billion $ industry … WATER!!!!
- PUBLIX … made list of different types of water sold.
WHY? Desire for “pure water” vs. “tap water”.
- There IS a difference!
ILL. – Chemistry class … “distilled water” …
2 THINGS I notice in John Ch. 4 … “water” and “thirsty”.
WHAT is the “water” that Jesus is speaking of? - John 7:37-39 – all turn
NOTICE: The ABUNDANCE of the Spirit … 7:38 … “rivers”.
- Jesus wants you “filled”.
WHY do we need to be “filled”?
- BECAUSE … we LEAK … got “holes” in us … comes out all over the place!
· WHEN tell that dirty joke (or listen) … start LEAKING!
· WHEN spread that gossip (or listen) … start LEAKING!
· WHEN read that magazine … watch that TV show, movie … drink from that can … think that thought … START LEAKING!
“Leaking” isn’t good … BUT … at least we have something to leak!
INDWELT w/ Holy Spirit when SAVED … a 1-time event … once-and-for-all.
Jesus promised this in Jn. 14:17 – “for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
- Rom. 8:9 – “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
1 Cor. 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
THINK ABOUT THAT!
The Holy Spirit … LIVES WITHIN … YOU! (if saved).
-Are you ever AWARE of this?
We hear of being DEMON POSSESSED … AND … we know the consequences …….
- BUT … we are HOLY SPIRIT POSSESSED.
· Do you ever SENSE His presence?
· Do you ever HEAR Him speak to you … (hear voices)?
· Do you ever FEEL His LOVE?
· Do you ever TALK to Him?
· Do you ever THINK about Him?
IF NOT … EITHER … LOST … OR … been ”leaking”!
You are INDWELT by the Holy Spirit.
Do you know the CONSEQUENCES? The BENEFITS?
You won’t realize the BENEFITS … UNLESS … you STOP THE LEAK … AND … get FILLED with the Holy Spirit.
WHAT are some of the BENEFITS of being “filled with the Holy Spirit”?
Gal. 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
We WANT these things … AMEN? (“Yes?”) They are a “fruit” of the Holy Spirit.
IF you’re “dry” … all “leaked out” … “empty” … THEN … these things have “leaked out”.
- BECAUSE … they are a “fruit” of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
· Have you got POWER over Satan? - WHY NOT? BECAUSE … you’re “leaky”.
BESIDES … YOU have no power over Satan … ONLY the Holy Spirit does.
- SO … if running on “empty” … NO POWER.
· Do you have POWER over HABITS? If NOT … running on “empty” … “leaky”.
· Do you have POWER over TEMPTATION? “empty” …
· Do you have POWER over WORRY … FEAR … LUST … HATE … SINFUL THOUGHTS …
- IF NOT … running on “empty” … “leaking” …
JESUS – John 14:26 – “But the Comforter, the HolySpirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.”
The Holy Spirit is your “comforter” … your “teacher”.
John 16:13 – “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth;”
Do you ever do DUMB things … things you eventually REGRET?
- SOMETIMES … like a “bull in china shop” … act on IMPULSE …
- SOMETIMES … we just live our life AIMLESSLY … without any clear DIRECTION.
WHY? BECAUSE … acting in the “flesh” … don’t rely on the WISDOM of the Holy Spirit.
- WHY? BECAUSE … Running on “empty” … “leaking” … not “filled with the Holy Spirit”.
HOW DO YOU GET THIS “filling” OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
John 7:37-39 – all turn … AGAIN.
“thirsts” … turn back to 4:13-15 … read.
IF you are “thirsty” … Jesus promises you:
· 4:15 - “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
· 7:38 – “rivers of living water.”
God has promised us an ABUNDANCE … “fountain” … “springing up” … “rivers” …
- We don’t need to live off of just a FEW DROPS of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
You aren’t going to DRINK … UNLESS … “thirsty”.
- PROBLEM … we DRINK the WRONG THINGS.
WHAT do we NEED? We NEED the “water” of the Holy Spirit.
WHAT do we DRINK? We drink from the “well of the world” … AND … wonder why “running on empty” … “leaking”.
