Audio
2007-10-28 AM Thirst.mp3

Thirst

Psalm 42:1-11; John 7:37-53 / Revelation 22:1-21

Edwin P. Elliott

I. People Are Thirsty

A. People natively have a thirst which only God can satisfy. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:2)

B. Believers have an even greater thirst because the world taunts them. “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm 42:3)

C. The memory of refreshment from God affects the thirst for God’s things in yet another way. “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.” (Psalm 42:4)

D. Christians always have hope. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” (Psalm 42:5) “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 wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” (John 4:10)

II. Living Water Is Available

A. Jesus directs suffering people to come to Him and receive what they most desire. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37)

B. Not only do people who come to Jesus find what they need, but they begin to supply others with what they also need. “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

C. People who determine not to drink will never be able to quench the overcoming thirst. “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him.” (John 7:40-43)

D. People who offer drinks which only make people thirstier are wretched; the church which does not focus on Christ is part of the problem people face. “ “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52)

III. Here Is How the Story Ends

A. Old things are inevitably passing away. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1)

B. Isaiah saw the holy future and the refreshing grace of God; the church is the New Jerusalem. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” (Isaiah 65:17-19)

C. Christ makes all things new; sovereign grace is free. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:5-6)

D. Jesus points to the happy way. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7)

E. The Triune God calls people to quench their thirst. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

F. Avoid everything which makes people thirsty; share the genuine water of life. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)