Matt Beaney
- Aug 18, 2021
- 4 min read

#418 - EVERYONE WHO DRINKS THIS WATER - (18/8/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

‘Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”’ (John 4:13-14)

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Everyone is thirsty. Everyone needs the living water of salvation. Every form of water - good things which sustain, refresh and entertain - point to the true source of life and refreshing - Jesus. Jesus gives ‘living water’ (14:10). This is the Holy Spirit’s life-giving presence. He dwells in anyone who receives Jesus. Paul writes,

“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness (Romans 8:10)

We are to drink this water constantly. We are to remember and enjoy the truth of our satisfaction in Christ. We need never thirst. We need never be in doubt about God’s love, presence and our future. May we do as Isaiah says,

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)

2. UP

Jesus - God the Son - came to this woman in order to save her. She was in sin and was confused about God, but Jesus came to her. God is merciful and takes initiative to save us.

God doesn’t just save, He also walks with us by the Spirit in our lives. God is concerned that our spiritual thirst is quenched. He wants to satisfy our spiritual thirst each day.

3. IN

In order to live in the satisfaction that Jesus gives, we must live by faith and in active contemplation of the truth of the living water that we have received. Too often we are focused on ‘this water’ that does not truly sustain. We can substitute the shadow for the substance. If we do not drink deeply of Christ each day, don’t be surprised if we lack the satisfaction that He gives!

Jesus is not promising freedom from our troubles. He is promising satisfying truth and satisfying experiences of God’s presence in the midst of suffering.

“‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

4. OUT

Jesus continues to reach out to people like the woman in this account. He continues to take broken and confused people and restore them through His living water. It’s through us that Jesus reaches out. Each day may we be prepared and vigilant so as to see the people to whom we can offer the water of Christ.

5. DO? - Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

Are we satisfied in Christ? If not, what do we need to do in order to drink from the satisfying water - the water of the Spirit - that He gives?

Focussing on the gospel each day is drinking afresh from Jesus. Is this something that we are consistently doing?

An application could be to study the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

#418 - EVERYONE WHO DRINKS THIS WATER - (18/8/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

We are to drink this water constantly. We are to remember and enjoy the truth of our satisfaction in Christ. We need never thirst. We need never be in doubt about God’s love, presence and our future. May we do as Isaiah says,

2. UP

Jesus - God the Son - came to this woman in order to save her. She was in sin and was confused about God, but Jesus came to her. God is merciful and takes initiative to save us.

God doesn’t just save, He also walks with us by the Spirit in our lives. God is concerned that our spiritual thirst is quenched. He wants to satisfy our spiritual thirst each day.

3. IN

Jesus is not promising freedom from our troubles. He is promising satisfying truth and satisfying experiences of God’s presence in the midst of suffering.

4. OUT

5. DO? - Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

Are we satisfied in Christ? If not, what do we need to do in order to drink from the satisfying water - the water of the Spirit - that He gives?

Focussing on the gospel each day is drinking afresh from Jesus. Is this something that we are consistently doing?

An application could be to study the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

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