Class Outline:

Thursday April 11, 2024

 

There is only one source to the life of righteousness, Jesus Christ. He gives rivers of living water and promised that if we drink, we would never be thirsty again. But did He mean that our lives would be easy?

 

It is a misconception that Christianity can be lived without loss or suffering. As we pursue righteousness, we will have to lay aside some things and deny ourselves other things that are lawful because they get in the way of righteousness. The promise is that you will be satisfied (Php 4:11-14).

 

Idea: The desire to be righteous and live righteous are gifts from Jesus Christ and these alone satisfy our thirst.  

 

Introduction:

 

There are a few prophecies about water flowing from the Temple (EZE 47:1; JOE 3:18). 

 

God loves beautiful things: Garden of Eden (four rivers), New Jerusalem (water flows from His throne), Tabernacle and Temple (water for cleansing), Promised Land (milk and honey needs loads of water; DEU 11:8-11). 

 

God is in all the beautiful things, even though the world is fallen (PRO 8:30). 

 

God’s beauty is apexed in the redemption of mankind (PSA 8:5). 

 

Themes of water throughout the Bible are satisfying thirst, symbolic power and salvation (Red Sea and Jordan), ritual cleansing (Law), the cleansing of repentance (John’s baptism), and beauty (water from the Temple, from the throne; EZE 47:1; REV 22:1; EXO 17:5-6; PSA 78:15-16; ISA 12:3; 55:1; 58:11; ZEC 13:1. 

 

Everyone thirsts. The things we think will satisfy us will not. All learn this the hard way. 

 

MAT 5:6. 

 

Righteousness, a standing and walking upright before God (having His norm or holiness front and center), has a source just as all springs do. 

 

To be satisfied we must be made righteous as a gift (positional or forensic - justified), and we must live righteously, which is also a gift but based on many decisions (experiential or upright walking that pleases God). 

 

Jesus said the good tree will bear good fruit and vice versa. We must be made good trees, righteousness as a gift, ROM 5:17. 

 

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37-39. 

 

Background: Feast of Tabernacles. Procession of water brought from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple, and with a burst of triumph from the trumpets of the Levites, it was poured out at the base of the altar. Immediately after the Hallel (Psa 113-118) was chanted antiphonally, which was then followed by the morning sacrifices. 

 

It is very possible that Jesus waited for the lull between the Hallel and the sacrifices to stand up and cry out. 

 

The qualification is only that one is thirsty. A splendid way to state the gospel - by grace for those who come to Him. Jesus combines this statement with the miracle of healing the man born blind, who washes in the same Pool of Siloam.

 

Then a promise, which John interprets for us: the Holy Spirit will produce rivers of living water. Self is satisfied and is blessed so much that there is an overflow to others. 

 

We must know the ways of God clearly. 

 

There are a lot of people in John 7 who are misinformed. Jesus’ brothers vv.3-4; the public vs. 12, 15, 20, 27, 35, (after He calls the thirsty) vv. 41-44; and the Pharisees vs. 52. 

 

We have been given the authority to live righteously. Many Christians are not exercising this authority.

 

The fruit of righteousness. This has been God’s design for you all along, for His beauty to flow through and from you.  

 

Stop fighting it and give in. God is going to overcome you one way or another.