John 4: 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.”
One thing that has stood out to be true throughout the years I have been serving the Lord is that “God must do it to you before he can do it through you.”
There are 2 bodies of water that I would like to look at to illustrate this promise that Jesus gives of living water.
- Lake – a body of water that has an opening for water to come in, but has no way of allowing water to go out, therefore becomes stagnant. Looks calm and peaceful on the outside but underneath the surface produce death and disease.
- River – has water coming into it from the higher places and also has water running through it into a larger body of water called the ocean. A River stays fresh and produces life because of its constant flow of water coming in and water going out.
John 4:13 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.”
God’s desire for us as His people is that He would be able to first do things to us, that he can eventually do through us.
After experiencing Jesus she immediately went back to the place that she lived and allowed what happened to her to flow through her.
39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”
I. Protect what happened to us
Matt 13:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
II. Cultivate what has happened in us
Before things can effectively go through us, they need to be deep with in us.
You and I must internalize what God has done, and what God wants to do.
This can be done the practice of prayer and meditation.
God told Joshua to meditate on what was imparted in him.
Josh 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
III. Practice faith so God can work through us
We to need to step out by faith and let our lives be a River of God’s love and God’s power to the world around us.
- Open up our house for a LIFE Group
- Step out by faith and become a LIFE Group leader
- Use your gift on the worship team
- Get involved with the children’s ministry
- Be a blessing to the men and women in the home
- Be a greater witness at your work place
Step out by faith and let what God has done in you, be done through you.
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.