======================================================================== THIRSTING FOR JESUS by Teresa Conlon ======================================================================== Summary: God will give a thirsty heart to Himself and His kingdom, and that thirsting for God is the proof of a willing servant. Duration: 1:00:24 Topics: "Personal Revival", "Christian Discipleship" Scripture References: Matthew 6:33 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In this sermon titled 'Thirsting for Jesus,' the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a deep thirst for Jesus and seeking a genuine relationship with Him. The message highlights the danger of relying on our own strength and emphasizes the need to rely on the power of Christ. The speaker uses the story of the Samaritan woman at the well to illustrate how Jesus can transform lives and satisfy our deepest longings. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that anyone, regardless of their past or religious background, can become a true worshiper of God by responding to the thirst that He has placed within them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. You are welcome to make additional cassettes of this message for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission, existing copyright laws apply. Christ is risen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. He is risen indeed. A very blessed Easter to you. The wonderful thing about if you know Christ and walk with Him, is that He is risen in our hearts. And we get to live Easter every day. For we know He is risen. His power is in us. And we praise Him for that. Today I'd like to speak to you a message called Thirsting for Jesus. Thirsting for Jesus. And if you would turn in your Bibles with me to John chapter 4. John chapter 4. And I'll pray while you're turning there. Lord, we praise you today. As an awesome God. Because you have risen from the dead. And you have shown us that no power of hell, no chains, no death can hold you. For the Spirit that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead. You have now sent to those your followers, your children, your believers. And Lord, we can truly say you have risen. Because we've experienced it in our heart. Now Lord, I pray that this word, O God, would send forth life. Lord, it would create life. That Lord, all that you want it to do, it would go to the very depths of our being, O God. And you would speak a word to us. And we would know a resurrection, Lord, in every area, Lord, that needs your resurrecting touch. And Lord, I just thank you for that. Lord, I rely on you and I thank you that the Holy Spirit will be our teacher. And lead us through this word that you gave in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Thirsting for Jesus. One of the most amazing truths that I know is that God will give a thirsty heart. For himself. And for his kingdom. He will give a thirsty heart because after salvation, that's what we need the most. Everything that we will become and everything we do for him will flow out of a heart that thirsts for him. And if we are truly thirsty for God, I believe that I think this message will show is that if we're truly thirsty for him, the proof of that we are thirsty is that we will become willing servants. And I hope that this message will prove that. John Wesley, a man greatly used in the 18th century in England and his preaching set all of England aflame. After 35 years of struggling to try to find out what salvation really meant. He was a minister at the time and trying to struggle about what all that meant. The first morning after he had given his heart truly to Christ and he knew that he had trusted Christ alone for his salvation. It wasn't going to be his works. It wasn't how much he preached. It wasn't how long he prayed, but he had truly trusted Christ for his salvation. The next morning he got up and he said the first prayer on his lips was Jesus master. And I think that sometimes when we say Jesus master, teach me to be a servant, we kind of reject that. We don't fully understand what that means. That's got to be the cry of the spirit in us to pray that prayer initially. But we want to hear about how we're a child of God. Of course we do. We want to learn how we're the bride. We want to learn a lot of things. But there's a scripture in Isaiah, you don't need to turn there. But it says, is it a light thing to be called a servant of the Lord? He says, it is a light thing that thou should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel. God was saying in this, that in this hour that we're living in, it is an hour for the servants of God. It is those that are going to say, Lord, I embrace that. I want to do your will and I want to finish the work that you have given me. Beloved, it's those that have that kind of understanding and heart that finally grows up are the ones who end up thirsting. Because we don't need God if we're not going to obey him. But we need God, we need to thirst if we plan on obeying him. And that's what a servant is. And the more that we thirst for Christ, the more we become what he is. And he said in John that his desire, his meat and his drink was to do the will of the Father, to do the work of the Father and to finish it. To give what he was given every day and to finish it. Now this is not a go and do message. This is not going to be exhortation to go out and do. Because I believe the Spirit of God wants us to go deeper than that. Because many men and women have set out to do and have not been able to finish. Many men have set out in their own strength and have come against forces greater than their own. And they have ended up with a cry, God where are you? I had a heart for you, I wanted to serve you. But the emphasis, it got misplaced. Their vision got clouded. They started to look to themselves and look to the work. The Lord wants to bring us to a place where he can form a continuous cry in us. Jesus keep me thirsty for you. And then we know that we're going to have his presence. Because he'll answer that cry. He will put the thirst in our soul so that he can come and meet it. And satisfy us. So that he can begin to be to us what we long for him to be. And do for us what he's called us to do. I believe that thirsting for Jesus ends up a life transformed. It's a life that is noble and humble and powerful and useful. And I believe the transformed life is the only one that's offered to us by God. Now when we talk about thirsting. A thirst is something that has to be satisfied. Or you are increasingly tormented by that thirst. If you are thirsty there is an ever-present need on your mind. In the natural there are degrees of thirst. And that can be satisfied by liquid. Could be coffee, soda, alcohol. But there is a deep thirst that is only truly satisfied by cool water. We're told that there is a natural thirst awakened by the fact the more we drink water. We are hearing that we should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. A very daunting task for most. But they say the more that you drink water the more you get a thirst for water. And the more that you want it. It awakens a natural thirst that the body truly has. But if we don't drink enough water. We don't always recognize the body signaling for water. And we're told that many times we will eat when we're really thirsty. We're told that when we thirst we'll drink liquids. But what we are really needing is water. So we'll reach for coffee or soda or alcohol. And those will create their own thirst. There is a thirst for those things. And in certain quantities they're very detrimental to the body. While seeming to quench a thirst. It's working against us. But the scripture says that God will put a thirst for himself in people. And then invite them to come to him and be satisfied. But will we recognize the signals? That he's putting a God thirst. Or there is a God thirst in our life. In John 7.37 it says, If any man thirst let him come to me and drink. If any man it thirst let him come to me and drink. It says to me that the remedy for spiritual thirst is Jesus Christ. Do you have a thirst for truth? Do you and I have a thirst? An unsatisfied thirst for something? Beloved many times that is a God thirst. And he's using that to say come to me and be satisfied. In the only way that you will be satisfied. By me. I put the thirst there and only I can satisfy it. Now to understand really what I'm saying. And to get an understanding of what it really means to thirst for Christ. And then be satisfied by him. And what happens in our life when that takes place. I want us to look at John 4. The Samaritan woman. Now that Samaritan woman came to Jesus. And she had a Samaritan religion. And that Samaritan religion was one that resembled the true religion. There were very common points that seemed so very close to Judaism. Which was God's ordained system to worship him at that time before the cross. And the Samaritans were so close in many ways. But on the vital points. Where it really mattered. The Samaritan religion. And the religion of the Jews were far apart. There was in the Samaritan religion no covering for sin. There was no real peace with God. There was not a family relationship where God says this is my people. I put my arms around them. They are my chosen. I look after them as my children. There was no lasting protection. There was no lasting deliverance. There was no correction in their midst. But being so close to the Jewish religion. They did have a very lively sense of sin. Because you could not have been close to that system of religion and not feel it. And so the burden of unforgiven sin. To their mind had a remedy. And it's been the same remedy through the ages. That's work harder. Try harder. And it's never enough. And there's never that sense that I've been heard by God. Or there's a change in my life. I have peace with God. Or I still have a sin problem. That's not been dealt with. And God will only forgive sin by the way he has appointed and he has established it. The way he has chosen to forgive sin. And before the cross. Part of that way was you went and you went to Jerusalem. You went to the temple he had established. You did the sacrifices. And it was by his chosen ministers. But beloved the Samaritans believed any place. Anywhere. Any high hill. Any sacrifice. By anybody. Would bring them peace with God. In fact it was a God knows my heart religion. God knows my heart religion. And beloved yes he does. And he sees our heart to be sinful and deceitful. And the way to be brought to light was his way. Because our way we say God I want to have peace with you and here's how I want it to happen. And the Bible says there's a way that seems right to the eyes of men. But it is a way of death. And there is no liberation for the sin. And this woman comes to him. A sincere woman but sincerely wrong. And there was a longing in the heart of God to create in her a thirst for him. And for light. In other words salvation. And in John 4. Starting in verse 5. It says then cometh he to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar. Near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. And Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey sat thus on the well. And it was about the sixth hour. And there cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. And Jesus saith unto her give me to drink. For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him. How is it that thou being a Jew ask drink of me which am a woman of Samaria. For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. And Jesus answered and said unto her. If thou knewest the gift of God. And who it is that saith to thee give me to drink. Thou wouldst have asked of him. And he would have given of thee living water. First thing Jesus says to her is give me to drink. And he said that to her so he can. He asked her something to drink. So that really he can end up giving her something to drink. It's just like when Jesus said seek ye my faith. It's saying so I can show you my faith. It's like when the Lord says draw near to me. It's so he can draw near to us. And beloved here is salvation in a nutshell. He's coming to her and he's saying give me to drink. Because the whole purpose behind that asking her for something is so that he can give her something. And that is salvation in a nutshell. But she says to him. I'm a Samaritan. I'm a people you despise. Rejected. That you have no dealings with. And if I give you something to drink. We're going to share the same cup. Well beloved that tells me. That both she and Jesus were thirsty. That Jesus was thirsty to reveal himself to her. Of who he really was. And she was thirsty for love and dignity and approval. And he said to her if you knew the gift of God. If you knew the gift of God. He said that gift of God is I am going to create a thirst in your heart. And then I'm going to satisfy it. He said if you knew the gift of God. You'd ask for it and I'd give it to you. That's what he's saying there. And I would satisfy you. And I'm going to give you living water he tells her. And that word living means that which causes to live. I'm going to put something in you that wasn't there before. And it's going to cause you to thirst. And in that thirsting I'm going to lead you right to the source of living water. That's going to create life in you. But she says in verse 11. But you have no cup. You have no bucket. You have nothing to draw water up with. She's speaking now as a natural person who's starting to be awakened to salvation. She goes I can't see. I can't see. I can't see what you're telling me you can do. I can't see how you do it. I can't see how this is going to happen. She says the well is deep. And Jacob our father gave us this well. You see this well is the center of our religion. But beloved we've just read in verse 5 not so. It says that Jacob gave that well to his son. And here he is uncovering the whole deception of what she's believing in. You are trusting in a well. Now beloved. A well. A man made well. Is something that men dig. Something that men have to go down through the earth till they can find underground water stream. It's something that requires effort. Effort with no lasting benefit. Because I'll tell you after living on a farm I'll tell you one thing I can say very assuredly. Wells go dry. Dug wells go dry. And he's saying here you are. You're trusting in a well. First of all no it wasn't given to you. And your people. It's not the center of your. It may be the center of your religion but it'll never be the center of your salvation. Because it's your work. It's your effort. It's everything you're hoping to do to get a source of living water. Something that you hope is going to transform you. It's going to answer the thirst that's now being created in your heart. That I'm creating in your heart. By being in my presence. And he tells her clearly in verse 13. You drink of this water from this well and you will thirst again. But whosoever drinks of the water I shall give them. He says she'll never thirst. That means that you will never have an unsatisfied thirst. That means you will not go thirsty when you thirst. Why? Because he says very clearly. Starting in verse 13. Jesus answered and said unto her. Whosoever drinks of this water. Shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him. Shall never thirst. But the water that I shall give him. Shall be in him. A well of water springing up. Into everlasting life. The why that you'll be thirsty. Is because you're looking for a natural source. You're looking for what man can do. But he's saying I'm going to do something in those that can hear me. And who begin to cry out because there's a thirst put into you by almighty God. And he says the only way that you're going to be satisfied. Is that if I put into you a living water in you. He says it shall be in you and it's going to spring up. And it's going to be living water and it's going to cause things to live in you. And you're going to be satisfied. It says it's going to be springing up. And in the natural that's an artesian well. That's a well that there is an underground flow of water. And the pressure behind that very sweet clean water. Finally finds a way that it can get something in the earth. That it can spring up through mostly sand. And it just shoots up into the. Bubbles up in the ground. Naturally it's not man made. It's not a dug well. It's a naturally occurring and naturally springing water source. That is fresh and clear. And it bubbles up because the force that's behind that water. Is sending it to the surface. Jesus is saying this is what I want to give you. I want to give you a life that springs up and it's not going to be your life. Because your underground source is a polluted source. But he said I'm going to put into you a living. It's going to go deep within you. And it's going to have a heavenly source. And the power of it is going to spring up. And it's going to be a clean water. And it's going to cause to live. It's going to cause you to live. Because it's living water. Verse 15. Jesus sir. Give me this water. Anyone who is now having this revelation. You may be sitting here getting this revelation. Would be a fool not to want this kind of thing. Wellspring of life in their life. And she says give me this water. That I thirst not. And that I don't have to work to dry it. I don't understand really what you're saying. Because all I've understood about religion. Is something that I know I have to work hard at. And I have to bear it. You know today Easter Sunday. All over the orthodox world. In Russian churches. They will stand for hours at a time. When you go into a Russian orthodox church. There are no seats. People come and stand. And they'll stand for hours. For those Easter services today. Because they believe to come into God's presence. You must suffer. It's not fitting. That you don't come into his presence. And suffer. And beloved that's what they're coming. They're offering their suffering. Hoping that's going to somehow make an appeasement. It's going to balance the scales. And that's that woman's understanding. I'm going to have to come to you. And I have to work. And God is making her a promise. Of something that she can barely understand. But the scripture says she wants it. And she says Lord. Give me. Give me this water. But now he must draw her into light. He must draw her into truth. So he says to her. Go get your husband. She says I have no husband. He said you've had five husbands. And the one you have now is not your husband. And that you have spoken the truth. Beloved what's it like to live in a town with five husbands. And now the one you live with is your live in. What's it like to live in a small town. And that's you. That's your life. Well one thing you go to the well when no one else is there. And that's what she did. No doubt. She's a hated woman. A feared woman. A despised woman. Probably no one hates her as much as herself. And she really can't stand that holier than thou crowd. But in spite of all that beloved. When you're in the presence of Jesus. You know that there is undealt with sin. And whatever was her religion. She knew she had no power to live free from it. But the interesting thing is when Jesus began to speak to her. And speak into her life. That made such an incredible impression on her. When he began to speak the truth into her life. And when she thought this man knows me. This man knows me. Beloved you're beginning to know you're in the presence of God. When you're beginning to be known. In that sense that you are being known. When your heart is beginning to be revealed to you. When you open this book. When you begin to hear an anointed and preached word. And you begin to know yourself through it. You can know that God is in it. You can know that God is beginning to speak. And he wants to create a thirst. Because we don't have a natural thirst. Our hearts not naturally going to be drawn out to spiritual things. Except he give it to us. And that's what was happening to her. And in verse 19. It says the woman said unto him sir. I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. And he say that in Jerusalem. Is the place where men ought to worship. And now she's full of questions. Because there's a man. Or more than a man. A prophet. A prophet. She doesn't know what she's dealing with. And he knows her. And he's not dealing with her like everyone else. And she's standing in his presence. And she's starting to get thirsty. She's got a lot of questions. And here's a man that's not rejecting her. But speaks plainly to her. And everything that's in her heart. That she probably didn't even know was there. A lot of times a lot of questions that get pushed down. Because there seems to be no answer. A lot of times when life and your mistakes and everything we've done. We just push it all down. Because we can't even understand what we're doing today. Let alone ask some questions that seemingly no one else has an answer for. We don't even ask them. But she begins to. Because there's a thirst growing in her. A thirst for truth. And she wants some answers. And something's been awakened in her. And it's like a torment of thirst. And she says to him. You Jews. I want to know something. I may not look like a woman. That would be interested in God's things. But I feel safe. I feel like I can ask you something. This worship. I found nothing that satisfies. And I want to know. You Jews say it's in Jerusalem. You say that the worship is this. And this is how you do it. What's the truth here? And Jesus answers her. And he says to her in verse 21. Woman believe me. The hour cometh when you shall neither in this mountain. Nor yet at Jerusalem. Worship the Father. You worship you know not what. We know what we worship. For salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh. And now is. When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit. And in truth. For the Father seek as such. To worship him. And beloved. He begins now to draw her into a full life. You see that wasn't a random question. It's now God's even beginning to form the right questions in her. And he's beginning to say those that would have a living relationship with God. He says you must worship in spirit. He says yes. Salvation is of the Jews. What you're going to hear are going to point you to the way of truth. But the hour is coming. And now is. That those that begin to cry out from the depths. From their spirit. Where I've created a thirst. And begin to cry out. And say God are you real? And God is you true? And God what is happening? The ones that begin to have a thirsty question rise to the surface. He says that those begin to worship in spirit. He says I'm going to answer you by my spirit. I'm going to come. And he says my spirit is going to come and answer the cry of your spirit. He's saying you're going to be made alive by my spirit. Because a living father begets a living child. And he says I'm going to those that begin to cry out. Not let out by their head. Not let out by questions. Not let out by just a mind game. Not religious game players. But those that have are responding now to a thirst that I put there. He says they cry out from that spirit. And I'm going to answer them. He says those that will worship me in spirit. Before it was impossible. Because your spirit was dead. But he's saying if you believe in me. I'm going to make your spirit alive. My spirit will come and quicken your spirit. He's saying there can be no relationship. With the father without the Holy Spirit. And he says you've got to come this way. And if you begin to have that cry from your spirit. You are thirsting for God. He says you've got to worship me in truth. He says whatever you hear from the father. Whatever a word is given through his word. Making it real to our minds. We must agree with him and we must obey him. He says that's how you worship me in truth. We live in light. We deal in the truth. We respond in truth. He says that's a true worshipper. One who will bend their knee. Say God be God to me because I'm thirsty for a change. I'm thirsty for the change to be loosed. And then he tells her. And the father seeks such to worship him. You have been on a God quest. But I tell you I put the thirst in you. To let you know that if this is you and you worship me. And it's coming out of your spirit to know truth. I'm going to reveal myself to you. And he says the father has been seeking you. The father seeks those to worship him. That is what true worship is. He says it doesn't matter where you've come from. What religious confusion has been your heritage. He says that I can take any man and any woman. And I will put a thirst in them. And if they will respond. And they will open up. He says I will reveal myself to you. And you will become a true worshipper. All over this world. People from every persuasion and every religion. Have stood to their feet. Touched by the quickening living spirit of God. And are now worshippers of God. And his son Jesus Christ. Because they have been thirsty for a change. They have been thirsty to be released from their chains. They have said I know what it is to sin. But God now I need to know what it is to have life. And those become worshippers. Life begets life. And she's standing in the presence. Of the giver of life. He says to her in the next line. God is a spirit. And they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. He was saying God is a spirit. You have to know that God belongs to every man and every woman. He belongs to every race and every culture and every language. Jesus became a man. And he became a Jew. But the Jew comes from every nation. He comes from Europe and Spain and Ethiopia. He comes from many cultures. The Lord dispersed him throughout the world. That he could be brought together. And the symbolism is we become one new man in Christ. He says God is a spirit. I belong not to one culture. I do not belong to one type. He says I am a spirit. I am your spirit to me. I'm going to reveal myself as I am. And you're going to see that with my spirit in you we are one. Jesus said God is a spirit. That means he can enter down into the deepest part of us. And he does. And he deposits a wellspring of life. Bringing up the death that gets overcome in life. Swallowed up by life. And she says something very interesting. After listening to all that and I know that she was being drawn. And I know the thirst in her. It was almost like this was too good to be true. But she says to him like many of us do in the presence of truth. There's always one barrier to be overcome. And she says to him in verse 25 she says. This is so radical. She said when Messiah comes. Who is called the Christ. When he comes. He will tell us all things. Then I'll really know if what the words you were telling me are truth or not. And Jesus says in verse 26. I that speak unto you am he. She got a revelation. That his disciples didn't have yet. She got a revelation. That Caiaphas the high priest of that religious nation would never have. God revealed to a thirsty woman plainly and clearly the revelation. I am Messiah. I am the Christ. I am everything that you've ever wanted. And the words I speak to you are truth and they are life. And if you will take what I have to say. You will never thirst again. Because first I'm going to put a thirst in you for me. And then I'm going to satisfy you with me. But then he begins to say I'm going to teach you how to walk thirsty. Beloved we got to learn how to walk thirsty. Because when we begin to walk thirsty Jesus comes and he satisfies himself. He satisfies us with himself. And beloved the scripture tells us in John 7. If you'll turn there. John 7 37. The last part of that verse says if any man thirsts let him come unto me and drink. He says in verse 38. He that believeth on me. As the scripture has said. Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. And beloved that was a right now word for her. Because she believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the scripture is true. He deposited by the spirit into her. A water that would spring up. And beloved it didn't just spring out but it began to course through her. Rivers of living water. And the scripture says that she returned back. To a village. A woman with a reputation. A woman who everybody knew if you want to see a messed up life just look here. And that woman went boldly back into that village and she said come and see a man. Who told me all things that I ever did. Is not this the Christ. And beloved she began to show us. That when we begin to trust Christ. That he does a now work. He does something so liberating now. We've got to start as a church to begin to believe him for a now deliverance. We've got to believe him when he says that I deposit in you. A well springing up of living water. That overcomes death. That we have to believe him for that. And we have to move out in that. And he says when you come to me thirsty. I'll fill you. And then out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. He's saying that if you will believe me now you'll come to me thirsty. I will satisfy you. But then I'll give you the power to obey me. And I will give you the power and the power of the spirit to obey me. He says you will go out forth in the power of the spirit. Because out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. And beloved that woman did it right then. She had a now deliverance. And she proved the truth of that scripture. Jesus says if we thirst for Jesus come to me. Thirst is a regular thing with life. We are thirsty several times a day. In the natural. Thirst is not a natural thing with death. But it's a natural thing with life. And we are to keep coming to him. Jesus said if a man will come to me. He says if you will come to me. He said if you're thirsty come to me. Jesus is saying that we as a church we don't have a one time coming and a one time filling. He says if natural thirst occurs several times a day. So do I need to start creating a capacity of a spiritual thirst in you. That you will come to me on a regular basis. That you will come to me several times a day. That you will come to me in prayer. You will come to me for direction. You will come that I may move in and through you. He says come to me. He says rivers. Rivers of living water. The spirit of Jesus is the intended plan for our lives. If we will come. He says I've created a thirst in you. So come. And when we come to him. He says then we go forth with rivers of living water flowing through us. And we're supposed to come often. And we're supposed to come regularly. For that river to keep flowing. Now that spirit does not operate alone. It needs the word. And I want to show you how this operates. You know Psalm 101. It talks, you don't need to turn there. But it says that he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight. He that lies shall not tarry in my sight. Beloved if you are having regular devotions. You're creating a capacity for thirst. And if you read that scripture in the morning. And you, God convicts you. The Holy Spirit comes all over that scripture. He that tells lies. Shall not tarry in my presence. In my sight. And a conviction comes over you. That God says now this day. My work for you to do. Is that you're going to walk this day speaking the truth. You are going to walk this day speaking the truth. Because we're called to do the will of the Father. And he is making his will known. And he says I'm not just going to. Will. You just don't have that to do. But he says I want you to finish it. And that speaks to me of a day. That speaks to me of beginning and an end. And in one day God is saying now I'm making a word come alive to you. And I'm giving you a task to do today. This is my work and this is my will. You, he that tarries in my presence. He that speaks lies doesn't walk with me. And so the conviction comes God this day. By your spirit. I hear what you want me to do. And I purpose Lord. By your grace. That no lies no deceit. Shall come from my mouth this day. That I may finish the work at the end of the day. I may give glory to you. And when the hour of testing comes beloved. As it will. We get awfully thirsty. When that hour of decision comes. You can know. That if it has been a tongue. That has not been given to truth. You're going to have a very thirsty moment. And so will I. And we're going to have a need. And we're going to have to come to Jesus. We're going to have to say spring up oh well. That you've deposited in me. And he will come. He is there he is promised. He says if you're thirsty come. And we come to him. And we see that what he has said is true. That he has put his life in us. And it springs up and we have the power for that moment. To speak the truth regardless. And beloved if we want to be kept throughout the day. We are going to be kept thirsty. But in order to do the will of God. We need to be kept thirsty. Because like I said if we have no intention to obey him. We don't need him. But if we want to obey him we need him. And if we need him we have to be kept thirsty. Jesus said that when I put that living water in you. It is your privilege to do what the spirit of God anointed Jesus to do. And he said that's only possible when you keep coming to me. Because when you come to me with your thirst. I'm going to satisfy you. And the intake of Jesus produces the outflow of the spirit. But if over time beloved we come less and less to Jesus. To have our thirst satisfied. If we will have it satisfied by other spiritual liquids. Other than the living spirit. I'm not talking alcohol but I am truly talking other spirit. When we stop coming in spirit and in truth. I'm not talking about not coming to church. I'm not talking about we can come to church and we can come to prayer meetings. We can go to devotions. But beloved we come distracted. We come thirsty. We come unsatisfied. We don't come to have it dealt with. We don't come to him to be satisfied by him. But we join the ranks of many in the church today. Who are unsatisfied by Jesus. Many in the church ranks. Because they are not coming to Jesus in their thirst. Beloved there is a thirst. Put there by God. If we've been touched by him there is a thirst. But that springing up of life that he has deposited in us gets refused. It gets neglected. And the Holy Spirit grieved, refused and forsaken. That which is our privilege to partake as often as we need. When the cry of Jesus that last great day of the feast said, Come to me if you're thirsty. It's his delight. To satisfy that thirst. I'll tell you if we don't come to him the thirst will get so great. We'll go to other sources to have it satisfied. But in Matthew 12, if you will turn quickly with me there. There's a very vivid picture. Of a child of God. Who is refusing and neglecting that well. That springing up well. Has taken lightly the words of Christ. Has made it a light thing that the Lord of this universe. Who promises to be everything to us. And to satisfy it completely. When we neglect that and it becomes forsaken. Matthew 12. Starting at verse 43. Christ gives us this picture. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man. He walketh through dry places. Seeking rest. And findeth none. And that unclean spirit is such a picture. Of a man or woman who's trusted Christ. And the uncleanness has gone out. It's a picture of salvation. But that unclean spirit will never find rest. And verse 44. Then he saith I will return. Into my house from whence I came out. And when he has come. He findeth it empty. Swept. And garnished. And this unclean spirit returns now. And the man is now in the words of Christ. Made to be a house. He's giving us a picture of a man as a house. And this unclean spirit is saying. The man in whom I used to live. And the man in whom I used to deceive. That spirit comes back. And he finds this man. He finds this house empty. Swept and garnished. Picture of a house put in order. Beautifully decorated but empty. Now beloved. When we come to Christ. God gives us a right ordering of things. If we trust him and we walk with him. He begins to put relationships in order. And if you've walked with him any length of time. You know that's your testimony. You're in right relationship with God. And so right relationships flow from that. Life flows from this relationship. God word and then to others. And we begin to see a change in our marriages. And in our parenting. In our business practices. With others. That's the fruit that we have. God has touched us. And we're redeemed. And there's a season of peace. There's a season of order. I was remembering back to when I was a young mom. My husband used to work night shift. And I had three small children. And I used to do my house cleaning at night. After they went to bed. And I desperately needed. For an hour or two. Everything to stay in order. I needed to look around. And see for a little while. That everything was in its place. But how foolish I would be. To think that in the morning. That it would stay that way. Because life begets life. And everything was put in order. So that in the morning. Life could go on. And the training of children. And the living of life. Could go on. It's not expected to stay in a pristine condition. Because life is not like that. And God is saying that. There's a picture here. Of a house in perfect order. And yes for a season. We enjoy that peace. But he is saying that there is a house. That is empty. Swept. It's beautifully decorated. But beloved where is the master of the house? Where is. Where is the Holy Ghost? The scripture says that this house is empty. And it says in verse 45. Then he goeth and taketh with himself. Seven other spirits. More wicked than himself. And they enter in and dwell there. And the last state of that man. Is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also. Under this wicked generation. And God is saying that the last state. Is worse than the first. If the house remains empty. He is saying here that the Holy Ghost. Promised that would be springing up. It tells us in John. That those rivers of life. Is the Holy Spirit. And he is saying that there are some wells. That are being stopped up. That there is a. There is a stopping up. There is a sand of disobedience. Being poured down that hole. And he is saying that the Holy Ghost. Is given to those that obey him. The scripture says. But those that given the Holy Ghost. And the power to obey him. If they refuse the rivers of life. The living water. The Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus. There is no real coming to him. After a season. Repeatedly there is no confessing. I am not thirsty Jesus. There is something wrong. I don't have pouring out of me. Rivers of living water like you say. I don't ever call up on that well. To spring up. And I am telling you the most. It is an empty house. Beloved that is a picture of one. Distracted unsatisfied. Restless. All the while walking with Christ. One pulled to former lusts. And former defilements. One were walking with Christ. But the thought life is where the murmuring. And the envying. And all that is of the flesh. Is given into. And is entertained. A strange emptiness. A thirst. Of unsatisfied longings. And the scripture tells us the old spirit is returned. But it is brought more. And it is brought worse. Because the house is empty by choice. Because the house is empty by choice. Because we are no longer willing to be willing servants to him. We have stopped up the well. With repeated disobedience. Of not coming to Jesus. And scripture says defiling spirits enter and dwell in an empty house. But they are going to live in a house with no water. Beloved. We need to have a cry. We need to have a cry. Especially. In the restless times. Especially in the distracted times. Especially those that are squirming right now. When is this going to end? I don't like this. I came to church to get happy. But beloved. That empty house is a picture of someone who has had the touch of God. Has an ordered life. Knows the power of God upon them. And it is a picture now that Christ is saying there is a time that you must cry out. And that I must cry out. And in those distracted empty times. That if we will say Lord I understand what is happening now. That that which you have cast out. That which you have pushed far from my life wants to come back in. And we are not going to be ignorant of the times we live in. We are not going to be undiscerning. That word is given that we can get a picture of what is happening. That I have not been coming to you Jesus thirsting. And that is springing up a well. Of where Jesus you will come and your life will overcome this restlessness. Lord you are calling me not to be satisfied in those former defilements. But you will give me the power to turn away and to thirst for you. There may be a season. Where I have an unsatisfied soul. But that is when you are teaching me to cry out to you and you are going to satisfy it. And then out of my bellies I am going to move forward in the power of the spirit. Because out of my bellies my intended purpose for my life and yours. Is that rivers, not one, rivers. Rivers of living water flow from us and around us. We are called to be more than conquerors and it can start now. We are called to believe him now. To move in on the restlessness and the distraction and the boredom. And the pull to other lusts that are happening in our soul. That is the age we live in. To pull us in another direction. But we are called now to stand with a new understanding and a new anointing. Of being able to cry out in our spirit. Spring up oh well. And he will. And he will. I want to close with a story about a man Hudson Taylor. He was a missionary to China. 150 years ago. A willing servant of the Lord. And he went to China and he founded the China Inland Mission. But when he was there on the field. He lost his wife. His beloved wife died. His children were sent back to England for schooling and the ones that remained died but one. Beloved, there was a time in his life when his wife was dying. He had the grace to say Jesus you do all things well. And let her depart to the Lord. But if you read his biography, not many days later. The terrible and intense loneliness. And a despair gripped him. He became sick. And he was lying alone. In his room. And all of a sudden it seemed like all his life work. He had laid everything down. He had given everything. And now he was bereft of the greatest comfort in his life next to Jesus. His children weren't around him. And he remembered the words where Jesus said. If any man will come to me. Any man who thirsts will come to me. And he lifted up his hand in his room. And he cried out from the depths of his spirit. And he said Jesus. I thirst. And you said if any man would come to you and thirst. Lord that you would satisfy him. But I tell you. In my service to you I thirst. And in that biography. The story tells. How he said a glory moved into his room. A glory. A real glory moved into his room in his heart. And he said I could scarce believe. That my beloved wife who was in heaven. Knew a less. Knew a less presence of glory. Than I did at that moment. That was because he was with Jesus. Just like she was. Beloved that's our heritage. That's our heritage. That we can cry out I thirst. And he comes. And his presence will enable us. To obey him willingly. Will you stand with me. I'm from a very confused background. But you've heard God calling you. In Jesus Christ. If there's some here today. That your life has never been touched by living water. You don't know what it is to have your sins forgiven. We're going to ask. That you can right now. Know of a living relationship. With a living God through Jesus Christ. You can be touched the same way she was. And you could that thirst in you. To know God and have your sin forgiven. And a new life be given you. And as the musicians play. If there's some here that are saying. I want that. I want that new beginning like that woman had. I want that ability that new testimony. To say I have life. God knows my name. God's forgiven me. He has chosen me. Because I believed him. When he said I was with Messiah. I would have no thirst if I came to him. My thirst for God is over. But another way there's probably. Almost everyone in this place. Would need to make an altar in our hearts. Say God I need you to increase the capacity. Of my thirst for you. Because Lord I've been so slow to obey you. I have not been a willing servant. Lord I see your promise to me. And I hear what you intend to do. I intend for my life. At far surpass anything. I can even begin to think. But beloved we have to walk with him. In the manner he chooses. That's going to be a radical obedience. For us. We heard this morning it's an hour. A time to be radical. The good news is. God's not asking us to be radical in ourselves. He says I'm going to give you the power. That is going to spring up. I promise you. My life in you will spring up. When you need me the most. And your obedience will be flowing. In the power of the spirit. I would say that all of us. Need to make an altar around that issue. There may be some here today. That are saying God. I need to make that move forward. Because there's something. You're asking me to do specifically. And I need your power to do it. And I go to the front. Saying God I'm serious. I'm serious. God this. I have to obey you in this. And I declare I can't do it. And I won't do it. But I hear you. I'm going to ask you to lead me into that obedience. By your spirit. I purpose to do it. But you're going to give me the power and strength. That's how he gets the glory. Are. Asking Christ into your heart for the first time. You just. Confess that you're a sinner. And as surely as he changed that woman. He will change you. And for those of us that have come to this altar. And saying Jesus I thirst. And he says come and drink. Come and drink. We're just going to hold our hands up now. As a symbol. Of saying Lord I am thirsty. Jesus. Make me more thirsty. And Lord. We come to you in faith. And we believe Lord. When you say come and drink. That's what we're doing now. That Lord we're going to come. It has to be. Many many times a day. And Lord it should be. That we come and we say Lord. As I come. You're going to give me the power. You're going to give me the power. To do what you're asking me to do. Lord I'm going to come to you in prayer. And you're going to give me the ability to have a prayer life. Lord. That I've always wanted. Lord I'm going to come to you thirsty. Over issues you're dealing with me. And Lord I'm going to go out in the power. Of having come to you. And been satisfied. And then move in the spirit. Lord we thank you for these precious words. They are life to us. They are truth. So Lord we open up and we receive them now by faith. And Lord we thank you for this. This power now. Of coming to you. And Lord walking in a new way. A new closeness. A new sweetness. A new obedience. Because we're going to come as often as we need to. So Lord increase our need to. Increase our thirst for you. This is the conclusion of the message. ======================================================================== Audio: https://sermonindex1.b-cdn.net/3/SID3223.mp3 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/teresa-conlon/thirsting-for-jesus/ ========================================================================