Matt Beaney

Aug 19, 20214 min read

#419 - RIVERS OF LIVING WATER - (19/8/21)

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

“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:37-38)

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

To be saved, we must come to a point of spiritual thirst. The Holy Spirit awakens a need for God in us and we come to ‘believe’ in Jesus. By the Spirit, we are born again - regeneration. On the back to this, we then live a new kind of life which is directed by the Spirit - an overflowing of ‘rivers of living water flowing from

within us.’

2. UP

Jesus spoke out in a loud voice to the crowds about the most precious gift that He was offering to them. Jesus is compassionate and generous. Jesus wants us to be satisfied in Him. Jesus promises to give the life and power of the Spirit to us.

3. IN

You and I are promised satisfaction by living water. If we have believed, we know God, we are new creations, we have everlasting life and we need never thirst, but do we thirst? Are we missing out on Jesus’ promise through lack of faith? Isaiah promises us,

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

Have we failed to heed the words of this proverb,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Come, then, let’s drink together afresh from Jesus. He stands at the door and knocks today. He comes with unlimited resources of spiritual refreshment.

4. OUT

Jesus’ words resound down to us. His voice still calls the thirsty to spiritual life in Him. God promises,

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3)

May we, be a prophet for Jesus. May we be ready to speak up and offer living water to the places and people that surround us.

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

Are we spiritually thirsty? Do we feel that we are in a close relationship with God? Are we finding joy and hope in the challenges that we face? How do you need to respond to Jesus’ invitation?

Living water flowing from within us is about the Holy Spirit working through us to affect the community around us. Do you need to take initiative? Do you need to lead? Do you need to speak up? Are you a bottleneck to the work of the 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?

#419 - RIVERS OF LIVING WATER - (19/8/21)

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

within us.’

2. UP

Jesus spoke out in a loud voice to the crowds about the most precious gift that He was offering to them. Jesus is compassionate and generous. Jesus wants us to be satisfied in Him. Jesus promises to give the life and power of the Spirit to us.

3. IN

You and I are promised satisfaction by living water. If we have believed, we know God, we are new creations, we have everlasting life and we need never thirst, but do we thirst? Are we missing out on Jesus’ promise through lack of faith? Isaiah promises us,

Have we failed to heed the words of this proverb,

Come, then, let’s drink together afresh from Jesus. He stands at the door and knocks today. He comes with unlimited resources of spiritual refreshment.

4. OUT

Jesus’ words resound down to us. His voice still calls the thirsty to spiritual life in Him. God promises,

May we, be a prophet for Jesus. May we be ready to speak up and offer living water to the places and people that surround us.

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

Are we spiritually thirsty? Do we feel that we are in a close relationship with God? Are we finding joy and hope in the challenges that we face? How do you need to respond to Jesus’ invitation?

Living water flowing from within us is about the Holy Spirit working through us to affect the community around us. Do you need to take initiative? Do you need to lead? Do you need to speak up? Are you a bottleneck to the work of the 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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