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"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"
The Gift Of Living Water (John 4:10-14)
INTRODUCTION
1. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He spoke of "living
water"...
a. He approached her for a drink on His way to Galilee - Jn 4:3-8
b. She was amazed that He, a Jew, would speak to her, a Samaritan
woman - Jn 4:9
-- Jesus used the opportunity to tell her about "living water" - Jn 4:10-14
2. Questions abound about "the gift of God" and "living water" in this
passage...
a. What is "the gift of God"?
1) Many say it refers to Jesus
2) Others believe it refers to the salvation He offers
b. What is the "living water" Jesus offers?
1) Many say it is a figure for salvation or eternal life
2) Others apply it to the Holy Spirit, because of Jn 4:37-39
-- Are they two different things, or one and the same?
3. Many believe "the gift of God" and "living water" are one
and the same...
a. "Now it is quite clear that our Lord means the same thing,
whatever it may be, by the two expressions, 'the gift of God' and
'the living water.'" - Maclaren
b. "When Jesus spoke about 'the gift of God,' He meant 'living
water.'" - Hendriksen
-- We can appreciate why many believe "the gift of God" is
Jesus - cf. Jn 3:16
4. Many also believe "living water" in this passage may refer
to the Holy Spirit...
a. "By this living water is meant the Spirit..." - Matthew Henry
b. "From [Jn 4:37-39] it is plain, that our Savior here by the living
water he speaks of understood the Holy Spirit." - Poole
-- However we believe there is another explanation ...
Jesus describes the nature of the "living water" in our Scripture
text Jn 4:10-14 and in Jn 7. From this we realize he is talking about
the way to salvation. By drinking (studying, learning) one learns what
is necessary for eternal life. Those who do not drink (study the Word)
forfeit this opportunity. Lets examine this "living water"
I. THE LIVING WATER MUST BE DRUNK
A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
1. "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will
never thirst" - Jn 4:14
2. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" - Jn 7:37
cf. Heb 11:6
B. DO WE "DRINK" THE HOLY SPIRIT...?
1. Yes, upon our conversion
a. Those who are baptized are made to "drink" of the Spirit
- 1 Cor 12:13 cf. 1 Cor 10:4; Jn 7:37-38
Note: Do not confuse "drinking of the Spirit" with the "gift of the Spirit."
All Christians drink of the Spirit (with continuous study a Christian
strengthens his relationship with God and His Spirit). It is to our great
advantage to seek the Lord and all that is His. Acts 17:27
But the 'gift of the Spirit' was only for those who had been baptized by
the apostles themselves, i.e. by their own hands. Acts 8:18; Acts 19:6
They were the only ones to receive the 'gift of the Spirit' - Acts 2:38;
Acts 10:44-46 which was the ability to perform 'miraculous powers,'
such as healing the sick and speaking in tongues.
2. As we continue to seek to be filled with the Spirit
a. We are not to be drunk with wine, but filled with the Spirit
- Eph 5:18-19
b. The implication may be that filling comes through "drinking"
c. How do we continue to drink of the Spirit? We suggest:
1) Singing and making melody in our heart - Eph 5:18-19
2) Drinking in the Word of God, which is the sword of the
Spirit - Eph 6:17; Heb 11:6
3) Praying for strength through the Spirit - Eph 3:16; cf. Lk 11:13
[Thus we see a similarity between the "living water" of Jesus and what
is said concerning the Spirit and the Christian. The similarity
continues...]
II. THE LIVING WATER QUENCHES THIRST
A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
1. "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will
never thirst." - Jn 4:14
2. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." - Jn 7:37
B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "QUENCH THIRST"...?
1. Yes, as prophesied by Isaiah - cf. Isa 44:3
2. Yes, if by quenching our thirst one means meeting our spiritual
needs
a. Such as our having the love of God in our hearts - cf. Rom 5:5
b. Such as our crying out for our Father - cf. Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6
c. Such as our need to mortify the flesh - cf. Rom 8:12-13
d. Such as our need to abound in hope - cf. Rom 15:13
e. Such as our need for inner strength - cf. Eph 3:16
[In many ways the Spirit quenches our spiritual thirst! As one continues
to seek wisdom in the Word we note the similarity between "living water"
and the Spirit in the life of the Christian.]
III. THE LIVING WATER IS IN YOU
A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
1. "the water that I shall give him will become in him..." - Jn 4:14
2. "out of his heart..." - Jn 7:38
B. IS THE HOLY SPIRIT "IN" US...?
1. Yes, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor 6:19
2. Yes, for the Spirit dwells in us if we are Christ's - Rom 8:9; Rom 8:11
[How the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian may be a mystery; that He
does, there is no doubt. Notice another similarity between "living water"
and the Spirit in the life of the Christian...]
IV. THE LIVING WATER SPRINGS UP
A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
1. "a fountain of water springing up" - Jn 4:14
2. "will flow rivers of living water" - Jn 7:38
B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "SPRING UP"...?
1. Yes, by moving the Christian to "cry out" Abba, Father - Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6
2. Yes, by helping the Christian to "abound" in hope - Rom 15:13
3. Yes, by producing "fruit" in the life of the Christian - Gal 5:22-23
[The fruit of the Spirit truly refreshes the soul of the Christian as
"living water" does the thirsty soul. Finally, note one more similarity
between "living water" and the Spirit in the life of the Christian...]
V. THE LIVING WATER RESULTS IN ETERNAL LIFE
A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
1. "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." - Jn 4:14
Note: the "living water" is not everlasting life itself,
rather it results in everlasting life. The more you drink (study)
the closer you come to know:
a. The plan of salvation
b. The daily conduct of a Christian
B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "RESULT IN ETERNAL LIFE"...?
1. Yes, for through the Spirit we wait for the hope of
righteousness - Gal 5:5
2. That hope, of course, is eternal life - Titus 1:2
3. By the Spirit whom God poured out on us abundantly through
Jesus...
a. We are renewed and justified by God's grace - Titus 3:5-6
b. Thus made heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Titus 3:5-7
4. And sowing the Spirit in our hearts will reap everlasting life - Gal 6:8
CONCLUSION
1. The euphemism "living water" in Jn 4:10-14 pertains to knowledge.
It has particular reference to studying the Word of God which is
necessary in the life of every Christian.
a. Knowing what God wants leads to both justification and sanctification
b. The Holy Spirit certainly plays a role in both -
cf. 1 Cor 6:11; Titus 3:4-7
c. And the Spirit is given to those who become Christians -
Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; Gal 4:6
-- It certainly has such reference in Jn 7:37-39
2. Thus we can understand Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman...
a. "If you knew the gift of God" - If you knew what God is willing to
give you (i.e., undeserved salvation) Eph 2:8
b. "...and who it is who says to you..." - That He is the Messiah,
the one who will pour out the Spirit on all flesh - cf. Jn 1:33; Acts 2:33
c. "...He would have given you living water..." - i.e., knowldege
1) The same promise made to all believers in Jn 7:37-39
3. Have you accepted "The Gift Of Living Water" that Jesus
offers?
a. Acceptance starts with studying the Word of God - Rom 10:17
b. The more one studys, the more one believes in that Word Heb 11:6
c. Which teaches that one must repent and turn from sin Luke 13:3-5
d. The message also teaches that one must publicly proclaim that Christ
is the Son of God Mt 10:32
e. We learn the final act necessary to obtain salvation is to have
our past sins washed away in baptism Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 12:13; Mk 16:16
Once accepted we must be careful not to "quench" the Spirit -
cf. 1 Th 5:19; e.g., Rev 2:10
May our thirst for knowledge be like that of the Samaritan woman
when she said, "Sir, give me this water..." - Jn 4:15
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