John 7:38–39 (NIV) 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
“Have you encountered the God that is here?”
We Value: The Presence of God. Presence:Every time we gather everywhere we go.
Moses: Exodus 33:1–3 (NLT) The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”
Some will be content with the promise without the presence.
"The intended journey OF the Lord is WITH the Lord.”
Exodus 33:15–19 (NIV) Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here….17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you..
Presence: 1. His Glory 2. His Goodness
Hebrews 1:3 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.
David bore a similar longing. Psalm 63:1–4 (NIV) 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 27:4 (NIV) One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
His Presence: A. Every time we gather 1. His presence is at the center of our gatherings. 2. Our bible teaching & preaching is centered around Jesus.
John 5:39 (NLT) “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
3. Our worship is centered around Jesus.
4. Our prayers are centered around Jesus.
B. Everywhere we go.
A life that values presence: 1. Prioritize daily 2. Lean frequently 3. Pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17(NLT) Never stop praying. 4. Awareness always
Ministry: Matthew 13:33 (NLT)“The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
Our Purpose is that Every person we encounter will Encounter the reality of Jesus. Our Philosophy is that if people are well connected to Jesus, He will bring fulfillment to every area of their Life.
John 7: Feast of Tabernacles
John 7:37-38(NLT) 37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’
Jesus is revealing: 1. “I am The Rock!” 2. “The rain is here.” 3. “Water will flow!:”
“We don’t live from what falls but from what flows.”
Jesus is calling to: 1. Whoever is thirsty.
2. Believe, Come & Drink! John 7:38(NLT) Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.
“When we drink of Jesus, the River takes over.”
“The result isn’t simply satisfaction but participation.”
Life in The Holy Spirit: John 7:39(NLT) When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.
John 4:6–14 (NLT) Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal Life.”
We know several things about this woman: 1. She’s a woman. 2. She’s a Samaritan. 3. She’s immoral. 4. She’s ridden with guilt and shame. 5. She was broken.
Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT) “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
But Jesus….. 1. Repairs what is broken!
2. Jesus rebuilds
“Jesus doesn’t repair things to the place they once were. He rebuilds them into that which he intended them to be.”
“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” ― Oscar Wilde(Irish author/poet)
She drank of Jesus, and The river took over: John 4:28–30 (NLT) 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
John 4:39 (NLT) Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”
