WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:13.339 Thank y'all. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:19.039 What a, what better thing to prepare you to preach than that. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:20.719 My goodness, that was wonderful. 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:22.460 That was beautiful. 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:25.280 Hello, church. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:26.339 Hello, Southwood. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:27.780 Hello, everyone visiting. 00:00:27.780 --> 00:00:28.740 Hello, mom. 00:00:28.739 --> 00:00:30.259 I think you're watching online. 00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:39.820 It's my pleasure to be able to preach, if we want to call it that today, to preach at you. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:44.640 I'm going to talk at you, with you, to learn with you today, to talk about the words of God. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.320 I'm excited about it. 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:55.019 And if you wouldn't mind, I'd love to open in prayer to get me on out of here and ask Jesus to be here. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:07.740 Father, I ask that you would be present in your word today, as you always are, but would you work by your spirit in me and through me, Father? 00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:11.719 I need you as the living water, and we all do. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:17.879 So, may we learn from you today as we now humbly come to sit at your feet. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:19.539 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:20.280 Amen. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:30.879 Back when I was about eight years old, I stumbled upon something that still surprises many people today. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.759 So, let me take you back to a visit with my grandparents in a rural area of Alabama. 00:01:37.619 --> 00:01:42.219 Their church was just down the road, and their pastor lived across the street. 00:01:42.479 --> 00:01:44.019 His name, L.C. 00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:52.319 And in the countryside, water did not come from the city pipes, but from wells dug deep into the earth. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:02:05.379 And L.C. shared a fascinating story with me that day about how the people in that area found their water without fancy equipment, but rather just by using a branch from a tree. 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:08.539 And it looked like this. 00:02:09.620 --> 00:02:21.819 You would take it off of a living tree, and you walk like this, and then eventually it finds water, and it would turn down in your hand and point at the water. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.659 And it's a bit controversial. 00:02:28.419 --> 00:02:30.879 I didn't believe it. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:35.079 But he demonstrated it to me into my disbelief. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:38.060 The branch actually moved in my hand. 00:02:38.579 --> 00:02:42.240 If guided by some unseen force, it will rip my hand. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.180 And what's more intriguing is the technique doesn't work on everybody in my family. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:48.799 If I'm right, Mom, correct me, but I don't think it works for you. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.820 I don't think it worked for my brother, but it worked for me and my dad and my granddad. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:58.460 And that's how they all have wells at their houses and in that area. 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:00.420 And to this day, they still work. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.420 And water is incredible, right? 00:03:04.980 --> 00:03:06.480 It sustains life. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:08.500 It quenches thirst. 00:03:08.620 --> 00:03:10.540 It holds immense power. 00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:12.280 I've got some pictures. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.060 It's beautiful. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:21.259 There's a waterfall all the time after it rains up on Cecil Ashburn, especially after the ice melted. 00:03:21.420 --> 00:03:24.860 Water can shut cities down for a week. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:28.100 It can harness power. 00:03:29.160 --> 00:03:30.100 It's incredible. 00:03:31.600 --> 00:03:36.360 And in today's passage, we're going to explore a different kind of water. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.700 But before we do, I want to acknowledge another reality. 00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:44.200 And that is the reality of uncertainty. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:45.240 All right. 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.740 What's the next slide on this, by the way? 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:48.820 No, not that. 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:52.740 Uncertainty. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:52.860 Uncertainty. 00:03:53.540 --> 00:03:54.719 I was uncertain. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.820 Is a common theme in our lives. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:57.780 All right. 00:03:58.219 --> 00:03:59.700 You are probably familiar with it. 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:08.920 Whether it's about the future or relationships or careers or actually perhaps your relationship with God, right? 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:12.580 It can seep into our hearts. 00:04:12.700 --> 00:04:17.220 It can breed doubts about our worth and whether or not God loves us. 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:27.800 And this uncertainty many times can seep down in and start to manifest itself as fear, as depression, as anxiety. 00:04:28.700 --> 00:04:37.000 And this video that I saw the other day, it's kind of tiny on here, but I thought it was a great representation of what a lot of us feel like when we try to get through a normal day. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:45.560 That's what I need at the end of the Bible app, by the way. 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:46.699 That. 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:49.079 When we're done reading, give me that song. 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:49.860 Okay. 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:49.939 Okay. 00:04:52.900 --> 00:04:55.120 You know, so somebody at church, right? 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:56.360 You're going through your day like that. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:59.100 And then somebody at church comes up to you and they say, how are you doing? 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.120 And you're like, well, we need to talk, right? 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:07.819 But instead we smile and say, I'm good. 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:10.399 But that's been your week. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:12.139 That's been your day. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:13.120 That's been your morning. 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:14.199 That's been your parenting. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:15.519 That's been your relationships. 00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:17.500 That's been your job. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.099 That's been your doubts. 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:22.680 That's been your insecurity and uncertainty, uncertainty, uncertainty. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:25.199 It can leave us feeling isolated in our struggles. 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:27.439 And then even worse, right? 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:35.639 We have the ability now to go online and at any moment look at other people's lives and their versions of themselves 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.680 and draw the conclusion that we're the only ones dealing with uncertainty. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:44.939 And then this little voice in our head says, what's wrong with you? 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.259 But here's the truth. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:49.979 You're not alone in your uncertainty. 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:50.860 Okay. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:51.360 Hear that. 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:54.019 It's okay to wrestle with doubts. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.719 And this community here, we welcome your struggles. 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:04.240 Whether you feel overwhelmed and it hits you like a flood, 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:09.100 or you're just trying to navigate each day like Mario dodged in those obstacles, 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:14.319 know that others understand and empathize with you, even God himself. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:16.540 And so as we look at the passage today, 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:21.319 as we learn about the power and the beauty of a different kind of water, 00:06:21.939 --> 00:06:23.800 as we learn where to dig our wells, 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:28.699 and as we view uncertainty in response to every one of Jesus' truths, 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:32.520 I want you to remember that your uncertainty is worth something. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.780 It's something greater than you may have ever considered before. 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:37.980 All right? 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:41.000 So Jesus has been teaching. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:44.040 This is the passage today. 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:47.540 Jesus has been teaching in the temple leading up to this. 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:49.840 And the Jews, they're reasoning with Jesus. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:56.439 And as we read the scriptures, you know, pastors are trained to talk, believe it or not. 00:06:56.760 --> 00:06:58.080 You're probably trained to talk. 00:06:58.280 --> 00:07:00.020 And when something goes wrong, we just talk. 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:02.980 Well, how are we going to fix this problem in our lives? 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.420 Let's create a class where we sit and we talk more. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:07.540 Let's talk about the thing we need to do. 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:11.520 I think a lot of us need to do a lot more listening. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:13.200 That's what I'm learning in my own heart. 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:18.140 And so as we look at this passage today while I'm talking, 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:22.000 imagine that we're all listening, okay? 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:24.400 Sitting around listening to what Jesus is saying. 00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:27.540 And let's try to listen together and hear things. 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:29.660 And also look for uncertainty. 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:33.000 Look for certainty in the text as we read it. 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:35.460 So let's go there now. 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:36.660 We're sitting around. 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:37.520 Jesus is talking. 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.620 And we're going to start with these verses here. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.400 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:47.360 Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:49.700 And here he is speaking openly. 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.320 And they say nothing to him. 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:55.160 Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 00:07:56.140 --> 00:07:58.180 But we know where this man comes from. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:00.860 And when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from. 00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:03.500 So Jesus proclaimed as he taught in the temple, 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:06.480 You know me and you know where I come from. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.680 But I have not come of my own accord. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.319 He who sent me is true. 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:13.600 And him you do not know. 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:16.640 I know him for I come from him. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:17.860 And he sent me. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:19.819 So they were seeking to arrest him, 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:23.060 But no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:25.200 Yet many of the people believed in him. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:27.259 They said when the Christ appears, 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:29.700 Will he do more signs than this man has done? 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:35.340 So you see there right at the beginning there, 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:37.179 There's uncertainty. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:38.679 There's certainty. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:39.679 Okay. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:42.399 Can it be that the authorities really know that this is Jesus? 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:44.279 If so, why didn't they come arrest him already? 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:46.639 Why would they not come get him right now? 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:48.779 Is it because what he's saying really is real? 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:51.980 Does it mean that he is who he says he is? 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.539 Verse 27, they jump in there. 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:57.459 You see they start to justify their certainties. 00:08:58.059 --> 00:08:59.599 Well, we know where he comes from. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:02.339 We know his mom, his dad, his brothers. 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:04.419 And when the real Christ appears, 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:07.659 Nobody is going to know who he is. 00:09:08.599 --> 00:09:10.039 And then what does Jesus do? 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:12.879 He responds with his first truth. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:14.079 Okay. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:19.200 Jesus' origin is in eternity. 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:21.440 Or Jesus' origin is eternity. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:25.600 We call this the theology that he is eternally begotten. 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:26.660 Okay. 00:09:27.520 --> 00:09:28.879 He always is. 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.240 He is God. 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.840 And now he's pointing back to where he came from. 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:33.740 Right. 00:09:34.040 --> 00:09:34.639 And he says, 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.500 You know where I come from. 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:39.180 In verses 28 and 29 there. 00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:40.700 You know where I come from, 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:43.560 But you don't know where I come from. 00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:44.200 Right. 00:09:44.800 --> 00:09:46.780 And he's claiming his deity there. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.440 He knows the Father and he's sent by the Father. 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:50.680 Here's another way of saying it. 00:09:51.800 --> 00:09:55.040 Yes, you think you know me and where I'm from. 00:09:55.660 --> 00:09:57.220 But that's not where I'm from. 00:09:57.780 --> 00:09:59.780 I didn't set myself up in business. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:02.879 My true origin is in the one who sent me. 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:04.960 And you don't know him at all. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:06.900 I come from him. 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:08.060 That's how I know him. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.400 He sent me here. 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.980 And then what does the crowd do in response to that? 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:16.100 They want to arrest him. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:19.879 Because he's claiming again to be God. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.740 But Jesus does a Jesus juke. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:23.879 And he gets out. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:25.340 Without being arrested. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:25.600 Why? 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.120 Because it's not his time yet. 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:27.879 Was that a coincidence? 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:28.679 It was not. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:31.399 And people start to then get it in the crowd. 00:10:31.699 --> 00:10:33.340 How can more signs be done? 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:35.100 This is the one. 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:36.500 But they don't agree. 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:37.819 Some believe. 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:39.400 Some say get him out of here. 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.140 Truth. 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:41.280 Uncertainty. 00:10:42.020 --> 00:10:44.240 And as we continue in this passage here. 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:46.040 And Jesus is talking. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:47.840 Imagine we're listening again. 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:49.300 Imagine we're listening again. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.980 And we're going to read verses 32 through 36 now. 00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:58.500 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him. 00:10:59.300 --> 00:11:02.659 And the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:06.620 Jesus then said, I will be with you a little longer. 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:08.759 And then I'm going to him who sent me. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.879 You will seek me and you will not find me. 00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:13.840 Where I am you cannot come. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:18.560 The Jews said to one another, where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:22.720 Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:27.379 What does he mean by saying you will seek me and you will not find me? 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:29.620 And where I am you cannot come. 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:37.440 So this section is giving us a little bit more background info of what was going on in the crowd and that one right before it. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:43.440 And he follows up his first truth that his origin is in eternity with his second truth. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.820 He's going to go back to eternity. 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:50.060 And what's the response of the listeners again? 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:55.039 Then you'll notice a mix of certainty and uncertainty. 00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.099 Right? 00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:57.899 How can he hide from us? 00:11:58.459 --> 00:12:01.839 Is he going to the Greek world to teach the Jews who are over there? 00:12:01.979 --> 00:12:02.699 Is that what he means? 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:06.439 Yet you also get the sense of fear in there. 00:12:06.859 --> 00:12:07.839 Is he crazy? 00:12:08.719 --> 00:12:10.419 What if what he says is true? 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.699 What does he mean? 00:12:11.839 --> 00:12:12.759 Where is he going? 00:12:13.619 --> 00:12:15.759 So they want some clear answers. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:21.379 And we know now that he's the way to where we want to go. 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:22.340 Heaven. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.659 In the presence of God the Father. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:28.840 But at that time it would have been very confusing if you're sitting there listening. 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:29.860 Right? 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:32.360 Which leads to his next truth. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.120 The truth of all the truths. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:38.539 This is when Jesus is about to turn it up to level 10. 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:41.879 On the last day of the feast. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:43.659 The great day. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:45.860 Jesus stood up and cried out. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:48.659 If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:52.559 Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:56.019 Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 00:12:57.079 --> 00:12:58.719 Now this he said about the spirit. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.059 Whom those who believed in him were to receive. 00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:04.259 For as yet the spirit had not been given. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.539 Because Jesus was not yet glorified. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:07.299 Glorified. 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:08.779 Okay. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.199 This is a big listen up moment in scripture. 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:16.379 And it's easy to read this and just go on to the next thing. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.079 The first clue that you know this is a listen up moment is because of the volume. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:24.779 It says Jesus stood up and cried out. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:25.779 Okay. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:27.360 Let that sink in for a minute. 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:28.740 It's going to be very loud. 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.539 This is creating a ruckus. 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:33.980 The second clue is that it's the last day of the feast. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:34.539 Okay. 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:36.259 This was the feast of tabernacles. 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:38.459 It was an eight day feast. 00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:40.919 And each day they would do different rituals. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.899 And they would celebrate how God had provided for his people when they were in the wilderness. 00:13:46.719 --> 00:13:49.159 So they would make these booths and tents. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.519 And they would live outdoors. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.819 And the last day is the biggest day of it all. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.559 It's a big deal. 00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:58.339 It's like the end of the fireworks show. 00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:59.139 The climax. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:03.460 And on the last day they would have a water ritual. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:10.460 So the priest would have marched in a procession from the pool of Siloam to the temple. 00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:13.660 And then they pour out water at the base of the altar. 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:16.920 So people would have been singing Isaiah 12. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:21.740 They would have celebrated this time when God provided water for them in the wilderness. 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:22.980 Okay. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:25.779 So they said prayers for provision. 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:27.039 Prayers for rain. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.240 Prayers for resurrection of the dead. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.519 And new life. 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:39.059 And then scripture would have been read out loud teaching the lesson that rivers of living water would flow forth from the temple. 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:41.439 Bringing life to all the earth. 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:45.500 So people would come from all over just to see this ritual. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:51.819 And then they even gave out, the archaeologists found that souvenir jars they could take home with them. 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.740 Okay. 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:55.000 To commemorate this festival and represent it. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:02.000 So this would have formed the background to the listeners for what they were about to hear from Jesus. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.000 And what does Jesus do? 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.779 He drops the mic here if ever there was one of those moments. 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:11.159 But to fully appreciate it, we've got to read a little bit more of the Bible. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:12.700 Okay. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:14.259 So look at Isaiah 55 here. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.000 Come everyone who thirsts. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.860 Come to the waters. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.879 Then Isaiah 12. 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:23.480 God is my salvation. 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.060 I will trust and not be afraid. 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:29.440 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.560 Isaiah 58. 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.820 The Lord will guide you continually. 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:34.600 Right? 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.940 You shall be like a watered garden. 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:40.659 Like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:44.460 So the listeners, they would have been very familiar with these passages. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:49.639 And they have been looking for the fulfillment of these passages for, guess how long? 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.720 700 years. 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:59.840 And then Jesus is standing up, yelling out loud at the water ritual, the third truth. 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:02.600 Basically saying, I'm the fulfillment of all of these scriptures. 00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:05.080 Jesus is the living water. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:08.860 Jesus is the well of salvation. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.820 But how? 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.000 How? 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:14.800 How is he the fulfillment of these scriptures? 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:17.899 This is where it gets even way cooler. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.460 Okay? 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.240 So hang on. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:22.419 If we go back to Exodus 17. 00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:33.120 Now what had happened was people had just asked Moses, did you bring us out here to kill us from thirst? 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:43.960 And Moses has just gone to God and had a what in the world are you doing moment and said, what am I to do with all of these people griping at me? 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:50.560 And then God responds right here by telling him what to do. 00:16:50.560 --> 00:17:04.200 Now interesting, before I read this verse, after this, Moses names this place, Meribah and Massah, because it commemorates them questioning, is the Lord among us or not? 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.940 Certainty and uncertainty. 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:09.000 Again, the same thing's going on, but hang on. 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.680 And what does God say to do? 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:19.299 The Lord said to Moses, pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, taking in your hand the staff of which you struck the Nile and go. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:28.380 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink. 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.840 Okay. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.140 What happened here? 00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:39.580 The people are mad at God, and they're taking it out on Moses, because God's not provided for them the way that they wanted. 00:17:40.020 --> 00:17:40.860 They wanted water. 00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:42.140 They followed him. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.040 They're thirsty. 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:44.000 They're in the middle of the wilderness. 00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:46.740 So they're hungry, thirsty, angry. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.580 So what do they want to do? 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:49.080 They actually want to kill Moses. 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:52.320 Moses says to God, they're about to stone me to death. 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:57.280 He's the closest authority figure they have, and he's the closest thing they have to God. 00:17:57.540 --> 00:18:01.360 So they're going to kill him, and they're accusing him of being a bad manager. 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:06.680 But God, on the other side, is accusing the people of being rebellious. 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:15.200 And trials took place in front of elders with a rod that always represented judgment and discipline. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.660 But what happens here? 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:17.580 Notice. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:24.040 God says to Moses, take the elders, the rod, go up to the big rock in front of the people, and God says, 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:30.279 I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.759 Catch what's going on here? 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:38.839 God is saying he's in front of the rock, and Moses, come hit me with the judgment. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.259 The elders are the witnesses the people will see. 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:45.619 I'm the one who's going to take the accusation. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.640 I'm going to take the punishment. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.759 Though the people are the ones who are in rebellion. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.839 So when he gets hit, what happens? 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.500 Streams of water flow out to God's people. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.960 Their lives are saved. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.019 But it's all pointing to something more. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:06.779 A future point, 700 years later about, where God once again will take the rod. 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:16.940 And instead of punishing the people in rebellion, he's going to offer the gift of everlasting water, salvation, and eternal spring of life. 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.879 Enter Jesus. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.319 Praise God. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:24.779 Jesus said to her, everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:29.359 But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:34.779 The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life. 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:37.899 To drink means to believe in him. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:44.660 To drink means to enter into a trusting and ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.839 Jesus is the living water. 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:51.500 Jesus is the well of salvation. 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:57.460 And in John 7, Jesus is saying there again, 00:19:57.460 --> 00:20:02.039 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:06.700 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.360 Keep going. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.240 1 Corinthians. 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:14.019 The first Adam became a living being. 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:17.400 The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.420 And where is that spirit held? 00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.059 You. 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:29.019 Did you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:34.819 Jesus is the well, okay, of salvation. 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:37.220 Jesus is the living water. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.759 He's the giver of that spirit. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.000 So in John 7, he's saying, 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:45.319 I'm the better water ritual. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:49.899 What you're doing right now, it all points to me. 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.939 I'm the one who quenches your thirst. 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:55.500 All the Old Testament, all history has been pointing to me. 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:58.220 Right now, you've been waiting 700 years. 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:00.179 Here I am. 00:21:00.939 --> 00:21:05.559 If you believe in me, I will give you everlasting water. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.619 And the water is the life-giving Holy Spirit. 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:12.599 Jesus, God himself, is the only one who gives that water. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:18.379 But he must be struck down for us to be able to give it on the cross. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:28.419 And for all who believe in him, he offers you living water that will well up to springs of eternal life and overflow. 00:21:28.739 --> 00:21:30.719 Now, here's why that matters right now. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:37.259 Because the rivers of living water flow through the channels of our uncertainty. 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:42.519 You see, we are like the Israelites. 00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:46.859 We're mad at God for not giving us what we want. 00:21:46.919 --> 00:21:50.259 And we're complaining all the freaking time. 00:21:51.239 --> 00:22:00.319 In our hearts, in our minds, to our church leaders, to our friends around us. 00:22:00.739 --> 00:22:02.679 What we're really mad at is God. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:05.379 We're not mad at those people. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.939 We're mad that we're not getting what we want. 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:10.879 And so we got to take it out on somebody. 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:17.279 We're uncertain about why he didn't do things the way that we wanted him to do them. 00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:19.099 So we want to kill somebody. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.000 We just do it in our minds. 00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:23.679 We do it in our hearts. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:29.359 And we're born into this life hostile and angry at God. 00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:32.179 The Bible calls that dead in our sins. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:37.220 And you see, that means we're born condemned to the death sentence already. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.340 We're guilty of rebellion. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:41.100 And punishment is inevitable. 00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:43.240 And actually, punishment is unavoidable. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:51.080 So then how do you move from that status to becoming a rock that overflows with the living water that Jesus is talking about? 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:52.939 Well, there's only one way. 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:55.819 And that's to take the strike of God. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.079 The strike of the rod. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.199 God's judgment. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.679 And you can do that one of two ways. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:08.100 You can say, I'm going to take it on my own. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.340 And that will play out in eternity in judgment. 00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:16.340 Or God offers a gift. 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.799 How about I take it for you? 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.759 And how about I give you the water? 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:25.539 And I take the penalty in your place. 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:28.779 Forgiveness of your debt. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.200 Accepting the strike of the rod that he already took. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.399 That we deserved. 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.379 And where did that happen? 00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:37.759 On the cross. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.500 Right? 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:45.059 And he promises then all who come to him and accept that gift will overflow with the living water that he gives. 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:46.559 But how will you respond? 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.000 How will you respond? 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:51.779 In verses 40 through 52, there's not time to read all of that. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.819 But go read it. 00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.920 You'll see that Nicodemus starts to get interested. 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:56.840 You'll see there's a lot of uncertainty. 00:23:57.300 --> 00:23:59.060 And some people say, just go arrest him. 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.279 Not much different than us. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:06.900 I'm going to believe God or I'm just going to question his authority and gripe all the time and make my own way. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.480 But where are you? 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.779 How will you respond? 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.539 Some believe. 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.279 Some doubt. 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:17.140 But he's telling you this. 00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:17.740 Right? 00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:21.180 You may have come to the temple today and Jesus showed up. 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.539 You came here for your ritual. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.960 For your weekly. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.759 Come to church. 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.879 Do your thing. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.759 Go home. 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.619 Eat lunch. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.599 Go back to life. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.920 Maybe Jesus showed up. 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:32.839 And said, hey. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.180 There's something different here. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:39.480 There's something bigger I've got for you. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:46.880 And it involves you going out into this world and sharing who you are. 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:50.680 Sharing where I took the rod of discipline for you. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.400 Sharing a blessing. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.140 Perhaps sharing a burden. 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:56.900 He's telling you that he's what you're looking for today. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:25:00.620 And all of the things that are causing your life to be so anxious. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:05.380 For some of you, it may mean that you have to admit for the first time that you actually are parched. 00:25:06.520 --> 00:25:09.720 And that you've been digging empty wells and that you've come up dry. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.100 Man, I have. 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:16.959 For some of you, it means you need to come to Jesus and say, all right. 00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.279 I'm ready. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.980 I want to drink from that well of salvation. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:25.219 Because what I've been drinking from is like an energy drink and I can't get enough. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:28.679 And then after it goes away, I'm just lazy and I don't want to do anything. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:34.680 The rivers of living water flow through the channels of our uncertainty. 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.220 Okay. 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:43.460 And the direction of the current is always first to us, then flowing through us. 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:49.779 The miracle that the followers of Jesus carry is that life-giving water. 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.380 Okay. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.580 We hold it in our bodies, which he calls the temple. 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:59.619 And that means that our uncertainty and our brokenness is worth something. 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:05.259 Something greater than we may have ever considered before. 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:14.659 The messes in your life and in my life, the things that are taking you down that you think are going to be the things that kill you. 00:26:15.699 --> 00:26:20.079 The things that are overwhelmed may be the things you don't even think you can talk about to anybody. 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.159 Okay. 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:28.160 They are the channel through which the love and grace of God flows to us. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.900 Okay. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:34.480 And through us to other people. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:39.019 To flood this world with God's grace. 00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:39.900 Are you a dam? 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.600 Because you're holding it in? 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:47.700 Keeping it from God or keeping it from someone else? 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:53.900 It's the broken parts of us that not only let the light in, but they let the love out. 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.920 To overflow. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:02.360 Imagine just pouring a cup and it just continues to have a, you know, continual water going in. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.580 It's just going to overflow forever. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:06.100 That's what it's supposed to be like in the Christian life. 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:12.880 And what's poured into our cups is supposed to be the most life-giving thing that you've ever experienced. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.780 Is that your experience with the church and in the world today? 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.940 If it's not, we've got to figure out why. 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.420 We've got to figure out why. 00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:24.460 And that's a whole other conversation. 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:34.820 But when you think nobody understands, or you think that nobody gets you, you can know that Jesus understands you. 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:37.019 He understands your uncertainty. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:39.159 And in fact, he holds it close. 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:42.039 He died for that uncertainty. 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:45.179 And he's working through that uncertainty. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.619 And that means that our blemishes are beautiful. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:53.539 Because they're the greatest opportunities for us to know his love. 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:56.000 And for the world to know his love. 00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:57.139 Does that make sense? 00:27:57.679 --> 00:27:58.179 What I'm saying? 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:03.579 Whatever that thing is that's bugging you, it may be different than the person next to you. 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:05.599 And the thing that you think is the worst thing about you. 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:10.279 That's the number one thing on the dashboard light that Jesus is saying, bring that over here to me. 00:28:10.919 --> 00:28:12.740 I want to talk to you about that. 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:16.379 I put that on your dashboard so that you see me. 00:28:17.199 --> 00:28:17.960 Go to him. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:20.439 And it may mean going with some of his people. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:27.519 And then you're going to find that that's the frequency that other people tune into to know the love of God. 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:31.679 And just see how alive you come when you encounter that. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:35.000 But it first starts with taking it to him and letting it flow to you. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:38.019 And then it will flow through you. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.840 And it's not going to be overnight. 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.360 But is that how we're living? 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.600 Is that how we're living as a church? 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:46.560 I'm trying to push us there. 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.759 So don't avoid your blemishes. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.860 In fact, share them. 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:50.840 Okay? 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:52.720 God's there to meet you in them. 00:28:53.320 --> 00:28:55.299 You don't have to put on church face. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.420 Okay? 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:58.060 So here's the challenge to do that. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:02.380 Share a burden or share a blessing. 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.940 Your choice. 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:09.600 And you're going to find when you share a burden, you actually are sharing a blessing and giving a blessing of God to someone else. 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.720 I want you to think of that. 00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:12.539 What's a burden that you might need to share? 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:18.680 What's a blessing that you can call out the goodness and greatness of God in someone else this week within this community? 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:25.740 And if you don't see it impact somebody there, go try it in the world in a Mexican restaurant to somebody that you see. 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.440 See what happens there if you call out a blessing. 00:29:29.560 --> 00:29:30.340 You can do it. 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:32.120 And it's not flattery. 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.519 But just try that out. 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:36.600 A burden and a blessing. 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:39.539 With the loved one, someone in your family, your friends. 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.620 You choose. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:42.400 And watch God use you. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:45.279 I'm going to close with this. 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:48.180 This is an illustration by Tim Keller. 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:56.880 He says, have you ever been in a dark room in a theater or something and a spotlight comes on and hits a particular figure up there? 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.039 You see nothing else. 00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:03.519 And before the spotlight hit, you could sort of make out other kinds of forms. 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:06.600 But when the spotlight hits, that one person just dazzles your eyes. 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.560 You can see nothing else. 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.560 You can't see a background. 00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:12.279 You can't see the spotlight itself. 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.880 You can just see that person. 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:17.320 That person becomes glorious in your eyes. 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:25.119 Well, the way that you can tell the Spirit of God is working in your life is the Spirit of God is doing that to Jesus. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:33.000 Taking what Jesus is doing to you and what Jesus is to you and what Jesus is and glorifying it. 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:36.839 And Jesus comes to you and he says, I'm your divine lover. 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:38.500 I'm your king. 00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.500 Your true king. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.699 I'm your savior. 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.639 I'm your shepherd. 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:43.139 I'm your guide and your friend. 00:30:43.459 --> 00:30:44.319 I'm your life. 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:45.139 I'm your hope. 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:47.439 I'm the author and the finisher of your faith. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:50.400 I'm the Lord of your personal history. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.900 I'm all of these things to you. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:56.960 I'm the road to fulfillment of your craziest dreams. 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:59.259 And I'm the prize at the end of that road. 00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:00.740 I'm all of these things to you. 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:03.759 And here's how you know that the Spirit of God is working. 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:09.480 Is when those things become so glorious to you that you can't see anything else. 00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:12.900 It overwhelms everything else. 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:20.180 When the love of God is so real to you that it overwhelms the rejection around you. 00:31:20.800 --> 00:31:28.100 That it overwhelms you and it captures your heart so no matter what other people say, you feel loved. 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:32.040 The Spirit of God then is working. 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:34.360 You can take criticism. 00:31:35.280 --> 00:31:37.740 You don't have to fish for affirmation anymore. 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:41.880 You don't have to stick around people who only like you. 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.340 You're free. 00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:44.480 Why? 00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:47.820 Because the love of God stopped being a concept. 00:31:48.760 --> 00:31:50.640 And it became a thirst quenching reality. 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:56.700 I sure pray for that for all of us. 00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:58.920 I pray for that for me. 00:31:59.280 --> 00:32:01.360 And here's the reality of what we're all seeking. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.920 The river of the water of life. 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:09.740 Now it's located in heaven and guess what it flows out of? 00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:10.900 The temple. 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:14.700 Jesus is the water. 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:18.940 Why am I getting emotional right now? 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.980 I don't know. 00:32:20.760 --> 00:32:22.440 Lord, what's going on? 00:32:26.760 --> 00:32:28.040 Jesus is that water. 00:32:29.800 --> 00:32:31.060 Don't miss your purpose. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.520 It's every single second of the day. 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:36.940 This is just the appetizer. 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:45.220 And when you go into this world and you share what's going on with you, watch what happens. 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.460 And it's not going to be easy. 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:52.400 He gives us a community to start with. 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.700 Start with a grace group. 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.740 Start with your friend. 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:57.019 Start with your pastors. 00:32:58.120 --> 00:33:01.819 And then go and call the good in life out in somebody else. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.839 Tell me if you don't see that river overflow. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:11.259 And tell me if it doesn't change how you come back to church and how you read your scriptures and how you pray. 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:13.980 It makes a huge, huge difference. 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:19.720 What that is is the river of life flowing through us until we get to be there face to face in heaven. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:22.660 And Jesus is the only reason that can happen. 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:24.879 That's the healing that we're seeking. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.900 And not just in here. 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:28.400 Every single car driving by here. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.940 Whether or not they know it or believe it. 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:33.100 And that's the healing that God offers. 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.360 And it's on the way. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:39.000 But until then, he holds us. 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.860 The one whose origin is eternity. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.860 The one who went back to eternity. 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:47.160 The one who went back there to prepare a place for us. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:52.100 The one who sent his spirit till the work on earth is done. 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:57.559 And the one who's the living water and the fulfillment of all of those promises to God's people. 00:33:57.559 --> 00:34:06.139 You and your stories and your uncertainties are the channels through which God's grace and love flow first to you. 00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:10.019 And then through you to flood this world with grace. 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:15.920 Lord Jesus, I pray that you did something this morning with your word. 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:19.480 Something way beyond Derek talking. 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.900 I know that you're moving my heart. 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:24.960 Goodness, you stirred me to something in there. 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.519 What you're teaching me in there. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.239 But thank you. 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:33.420 Thank you for showing me where I dam up the flow. 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:36.440 By just holding back who I am. 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:38.059 And being afraid to talk to people. 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:43.199 And Lord Jesus, thank you for people in here who pattern the opposite of that. 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:45.159 And are places to talk. 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.539 And who give life. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:51.119 Thank you for how you're using this flock here in this city in so many ways. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:56.099 And the channels of the branches of the life-giving water flow to so many places that we cannot imagine. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.219 Thank you. 00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.219 Thank you for every person here. 00:34:59.339 --> 00:35:01.819 And I pray by the power of the gospel that you will use them. 00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:02.819 And that they will know you. 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:05.019 And they will love their church. 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:08.699 And that they will see the mission that you call them on. 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:10.119 That this world needs it. 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:13.059 And you have called this church as the army. 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:16.579 And the churches all around the world as the army with the weapons of love. 00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.679 And the gospel. 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.960 And the Holy Spirit. 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:23.019 But first we have to sip of you and drink of you over and over again. 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.440 And I pray that's what we want. 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.799 Because we meet you there. 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:28.659 And when you meet us there, we are changed. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:31.980 Lord Jesus, be the center of everything that we have. 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:34.500 Be so bright we can see nothing else. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:37.679 And may that love just envelop us. 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:41.780 And be a beacon of hope to everyone we come in the encounter with. 00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:44.059 Lord Jesus, thank you for your gospel. 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:46.500 I pray for your spirit to rest on this church. 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:49.179 And I thank you for the ability to talk about it. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:51.539 Lord Jesus, thank you. 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.039 May we listen. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.599 We go in your name. 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.840 We ask you to be here. 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:58.179 And now we get to celebrate your sacrament. 00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.719 In Christ's name we pray. 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:00.519 Amen. 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:06.059 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.