A Drink For A Dehydrated Soul

We must capture that type of spiritual thirst! We must thirst and long for God and for spiritual living!

THIS MORNING, WE WILL TRY TO GAIN SOME INSIGHT INTO SPIRUTUAL THIRST…SPIRITUAL LIVING BY EXAMINING JESUS’ STATEMENT IN (JOHN 7:37).

§ "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

Americans are a people who love to celebrate holidays. I do not think anyone would argue that the three major holidays we celebrate throughout the year would be Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July.

The Jewish people also love to celebrate holidays. They call their holidays "feasts." There were three great annual national "feasts" in the Jewish religious calendar. The first was the Feast of the Passover; the second was known as the Feast of Pentecost; and the third was known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

Now we know from v.2 that Jesus was speaking here during the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a high, happy, holy day in the life of the Jew. The Feast of Tabernacles was like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July all rolled into one.

During that feast the High Priest would go to the Pool of Siloam, take a golden pitcher, dip it into that pool, and carry it back to the temple. There he would pour that water out on the altar of sacrifice.

At that moment the Levites would blow the trumpets, and the great crowd would cry out, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). There would be leaping, and dancing, and shouting, and singing, and great hallelujahs would fill the air.

It was right at this climax of this great holiday that the Lord Jesus stood up in that crowd, and with that royal voice, cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." (v.37b)

You see, Jesus realized that these people were drinking from the river of ritual…that after this day was over they would go back to the same old fears, the same old faults, the same old failures, the same old frustrations.

What was wrong with that crowd in that day is what is wrong with many people today. They were drawing water from the wrong well.

To often, we try to quench our thirst in all the wrong places. We drink from the worldly well instead from the well of life, which is found in Christ.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GAIN A SPIRITUAL THIRST, THEN LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAYS IN (JOHN 7:37).

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

I. TO GAIN A SPIRITUAL THIRST, WE MUST DESIRE GOD’S WATER.

Notice the condition that Jesus lays down. "If anyone thirsts," (v.37) Now I thank God for that word "anyone." Jesus plainly said if anyone wants God…a relationship with God, he could have it. If anyone wants spiritual living, he can obtain it. If anyone seeks God he can find Him.

But notice that this is specifically addressed only to those who are thirsty.

The problem with many people is, they are just not thirsty for God and spiritual living.

You see, before we can really have a close relationship with God, we’ve got to thirst for God. I mean we’ve got to thirst like the Psalmist who said…