Weekly Ministry Tip #10 Fall 2013
Where Can I Find That Living Water?
Take a moment and read the spiritually power-packed story of the women at the well in John 4:4-42. Jesus had an encounter with a woman from Samaria who had come to draw water from Jacob’s well. Jesus was already at the well resting when she arrived. He asked her, “Give me a drink.” The woman responded in verse 9 by saying, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?”
Jesus made a challenging statement in verse 10 by saying, “If you know the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Jesus goes on to say in verse 13-14, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
This living water that Jesus promised had a special meaning. The flowing living water He referred to was the Holy Spirit, not physical water that is stagnant and cannot satisfy permanently. Jesus used the metaphor of living water from the Old Testament as something that represented God. This living water that Jesus talked about did not have to be drawn from a deep well, which required hard work and effort. The living water is the Holy Spirit who brings salvation to anyone who believes. The Holy Spirit satisfies our hearts by bringing us into a right relationship with God the Father through the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross.
This living water that Jesus offered could satisfy the inner being by quenching the thirsty soul with what can only truly satisfy. Nothing brings greater fulfillment than knowing that one is in a right standing with and knows the God of this universe who is our Creator.
Because of the woman’s testimony, the transformation that took place in the lives of many Samaritans was great. Verse 39-42 is a wonderful passage. Notice the number of times that the word “believed” or “believe” is mentioned,
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
The message we have the privilege of telling to the world is that they can also partake of the living water that truly satisfies – that Jesus died for their sins and He can fill them, redeem them and give them eternal life. But they must believe. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people unto a relationship with God. Our work is to be available to tell others the Good News. Tell the Gospel message as often and as complete as you can, and let’s watch the Holy Spirit work.
Refocus On Discipleship
This week consider the people that God has placed in your life, that you might help them to grow in their relationship with our heavenly Father. Here are some ideas by way of reminders:
- Spend time with young believers who need to learn to trust God with every issue in their lives. Here is a loaded article on ways to spend time with your disciples: http://crupressgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Building_Community.pdf
- Involve young and growing believers in Bible studies, church, and spiritual discussions that helps them understand sound Biblical Doctrine which leads to maturity as a believer – http://www.benrivera.org/2012/09/05/which-bible-study-will-you-use/
- Take your disciples and young believers with you to special events like Fall Retreats, Christmas/Winter Conferences, special church events, local leadership conferences, that help to accelerate spiritual growth in their lives – http://crupressgreen.com/challenging-to-conferences/
- Delegate activities to your disciples that will help build commitment, maturity, ownership and leadership skills in their lives. As you do this, you are helping to build multiplying disciples that will last a lifetime – http://crupressgreen.com/the-art-of-delegation/
- Finally, pray regularly for your disciples. Unleash the power of prayer in their lives, asking God to move powerfully in their hearts, that they would become lifetime committed followers and workers in the harvest field for the souls of men – Read Jesus prayer for Himself and for His disciples https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jhn.17.esv
As you live life from an eternal perspective and purpose, it does not get any better then this.
Talk to you next week,
Ben with Cru
Orlando, FL