Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from John 7. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- The Scripture is clear – and we have often noted from our own personal experience – that we do not have sufficient strength, energy, and enthusiasm to accomplish all of the good things that we would like to do for Christ, for the church, and even for ourselves. If you have never been completely exhausted and burned out then you haven’t ever really given your full and complete effort. If you do this – push yourself to the limits – you will discover that you are finite and limited.
- There is no area in our lives where this is more true than in our spiritual endeavors. Of course, if we have no spiritual ambition, no desire to grow spiritually, then we will likely not “thirst” – just as the person sitting on the couch watching an athletic contest does not thirst as the participants do. But if we are “in the game,” desiring to do God’s will, we will certainly experience our limitations and shortcomings, and our need for God’s refreshment and strengthening.
- The good news is that God is aware of our limitations and our needs, and He has promised to supply “ALL THE SPIRIT WE NEED” to continue on in faith, in love, and in service to Him and His kingdom. The promise of Jesus – in regard to “spiritual thirst” and “living water” – pertains to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which John notes “had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” But that has changed – as we read in the Second Reading from Acts – beginning with the Day of Pentecost. The good news for us today is that:
I. Jesus Christ Has Been Glorified, And The Fount Is Now Opened
Text: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
Statement: It is the love of Christ that compels us to engage in the work of building up His kingdom. This work takes many forms. We pray. We speak of Christ to others. We gather to worship and build up one another. We learn from God’s Word. We teach. We encourage and counsel one another. We do works of service for others. We support the life of the congregation with our offerings – sometimes sacrificially, giving up things that we otherwise could have done and enjoyed. We give our time and labor to maintain the property. There are always far more things for us to be doing than we have time, energy, or resources to do. We can become exhausted and burnt out, dis-enthused and apathetic.
Application: At such times we are tempted to quit, or to draw back. However, there is another alternative, that encouraged by Jesus. He encourages us: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” The alternative is to pray Jesus to supply the energy and resources that we lack through the gift of His Holy Spirit. And surprisingly, with the help of the Holy Spirit we are often able to be reinvigorated and empowered to do far more than we thought, and far more than could be reasonably anticipated! This is by the gift and power of God.
One caution, however. This does not mean that we can do anything and everything, or that there is not a time for rest and recuperation! Even Jesus retreated at times for rest and prayer. But it is to say that we can do far more with an abundance of the Spirit within us than we can without God’s help.
Transition: There is much that is vague and general in this description of Jesus, but it is certain that:
II. Those Who Receive The Spirit From Jesus Will Have Living Water Flowing Out Of Their Hearts
Text: “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Statement: We recall that when Jesus was visiting with the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob, He said to her: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [Jn. 4] When she asked Jesus for this water, Jesus began teaching her Law and Gospel – asking her to call her husband, when in fact she was just “living with” a man.
So, just what is this “living water” that wells up to eternal life, and that flows out of the hearts of believers? It is the faith given and sustained by the Holy Spirit of God, the knowledge and assurance of God’s gracious love, mercy, and forgiveness. It is knowing God and His love in Christ Jesus, and that if God so loved us as to give us His Son, then surely He will give us all things along with Him. And this love of God creates an abounding love within the hearts of those who believe in Jesus – a love that wells up and pours out to others, in accordance with the measure of faith. So it is the blessing and good that comes from God through us to others – by the power of His Spirit living within us.
Application: Often we become fatigued and think that we have to try a little harder, that we have to somehow generate greater energy within ourselves by our own efforts. This, however, is not how all of this actually works. Rather, when we are fatigued and overcome we are to confess our weakness and pray God to heal us and renew us. The assurance and warmth of His love is what reinvigorates us and empowers us to continue on. And there are times when this is indiscernible to us, for it is not dependent upon our perception but upon the promise and power of Jesus.
So we are encouraged to “continue” in Christ’s Word, that we might be His true disciples, growing in faith and trust in His gracious love, mercy, and forgiveness, and learning that everything depends on Him and what He supplies to us in love, and not on our own resources and energy.
Transition: But the promise is sure and certain, and we should trust and rely upon it, for as John notes in our text:
III. Those Who Believe In Jesus Are To Receive His Spirit
Text: “This He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.”
Statement: Again, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” [Rom. 10:17] So all blessings of faith and the Spirit, of love and living water, come from Jesus, through His Word, and by the power of His Spirit – and are received only by those who believe in Jesus. But they are intentionally directed to those who believe in Jesus, and are specifically promised to us, and so we should have great confidence in “coming” to Jesus and receiving His gifts. And this is, frankly, what genuine Christian worship is all about – drinking the living water of the Holy Spirit provided by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, through His Word, including also the “visible” Word of His Sacrament, His body and blood given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.
Application: We can think all kinds of things when it comes to church, and going to church, and we can even participate in ways that are oblivious to God’s will and purpose. But in reality, we are coming to Jesus to receive His love and salvation, and the power and energy of His Spirit, so that His great love might flow out of our hearts to others. We do so as believers who hunger and thirst for righteousness, goodness, and love – and who recognize our weaknesses and limitations, and our need for Jesus’ blessings and the Holy Spirit’s enlivening presence and power.
Conclusion: I know that at many times in my life I have grown very weary of well-doing, and exhausted of personal energy. On numerous occasions I have concluded that I have done too much and that I needed to withdraw and rest. Countless times I have forgotten to come to Jesus to drink of the water that He gives – His love, His Holy Spirit, His encouragement, and yes His very energy! But when we do turn to Him He is faithful to His promises and gives us what we need to accomplish His purposes and gracious will.
So let us keep His promises in mind, His gracious invitation, that we receive His Spirit and are constantly supplied with “rivers of living water” that well up and flow abundantly from our own hearts!
God grant it to us all for Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.