Finding True Fulfillment: The Living Water of Jesus

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Victory Hill Church! It's a joy to be back after my eight-week sabbatical, a time of refreshing and intimate connection with God and my family. I am deeply grateful for your faithfulness and commitment during this period. Today, we continue our series "Encounters with Jesus" by exploring the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4. This story is rich with lessons about the living water that Jesus offers, which is essential for our spiritual lives.

In the story, Jesus goes out of His way to meet a Samaritan woman, an outcast, and offers her living water, symbolizing eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. This encounter teaches us that Jesus meets us in our mess and offers us what we truly need, not just what we want. Just as physical water is crucial for our bodies, the living water Jesus offers is critical for our spiritual well-being.

We often seek to quench our spiritual thirst through various "wells" like success, self, and satisfaction, but these only leave us empty. True fulfillment comes from drinking the living water that Jesus provides. To receive this living water, we must identify the wells we are currently drawing from, come to Jesus, and actively drink from the living water through prayer, reading the Word, and worship.

Jesus is all we need, regardless of our circumstances. Whether facing financial struggles, health issues, or relational problems, Jesus is the source that can truly satisfy our deepest needs. The invitation is open to everyone: come and drink freely from the water of life.

### Key Takeaways

1. Jesus Meets Us in Our Mess: Just as Jesus went out of His way to meet the Samaritan woman, He meets us in our lowest moments. He doesn't wait for us to clean up our lives but offers His love, grace, and mercy right where we are. This encounter reminds us that Jesus is always willing to meet us in our brokenness and offer us living water. [01:07:31]

2. The Wells We Draw From: We often seek fulfillment from various wells like success, self, and satisfaction, but these only leave us empty. True spiritual fulfillment comes from the living water that Jesus offers. Identifying the wells we are currently drawing from is the first step towards true spiritual satisfaction. [01:10:51]

3. Contentment Over Satisfaction: The well of satisfaction offers only temporary relief and often leads to destructive choices. Learning to be content with what God has given us is powerful and leads to a life of gratitude and praise. Contentment keeps us from the trap of seeking instant gratification and helps us focus on God's blessings. [01:24:04]

4. The Importance of Living Water: Just as physical water is essential for our bodies, the living water Jesus offers is critical for our spiritual lives. Without it, we experience spiritual dehydration, leading to anxiety, depression, and a lack of purpose. Drinking from the living water involves prayer, reading the Word, and worship. [01:04:04]

5. Jesus is All We Need: Regardless of our circumstances, Jesus is the source that can truly satisfy our deepest needs. Whether facing financial struggles, health issues, or relational problems, Jesus is all we need. The invitation to drink from the living water is open to everyone, and it is through this living water that we find true fulfillment. [01:09:32]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[52:05] - Gratitude for the Church
[52:51] - Testament of Community
[53:28] - The Best is Yet to Come
[54:00] - Sabbatical Reflections
[54:35] - Series Introduction: Encounters with Jesus
[55:25] - Context of the Samaritan Woman
[56:02] - Jesus Offers Living Water
[56:46] - The Thirst of Our Souls
[57:40] - Summer and Thirst
[58:26] - The Unquenchable Thirst
[59:14] - Spiritual Thirst and Misdiagnosis
[01:00:01] - The Benefits of Water
[01:01:46] - Spiritual Dehydration
[01:02:59] - The Critical Nature of Living Water
[01:04:04] - The Side Effects of Spiritual Dehydration
[01:05:49] - The Problem of Wrong Sources
[01:06:50] - Jesus Meets Us in Our Mess
[01:07:31] - Jesus Offers True Fulfillment
[01:08:36] - The Wells We Draw From
[01:10:51] - The Well of Success
[01:12:19] - Redefining Success
[01:15:08] - The Well of Self
[01:16:47] - The Danger of Pride
[01:18:07] - Glory Reflectors, Not Receptors
[01:19:44] - The Well of Satisfaction
[01:22:38] - The Trap of Temptation
[01:24:04] - The Power of Contentment
[01:25:17] - Other Wells We Draw From
[01:27:16] - The Well of Judgment
[01:27:59] - The Purified Living Water
[01:29:00] - Identifying Your Well
[01:29:40] - Drinking the Living Water
[01:30:34] - How to Drink the Living Water
[01:32:03] - The Importance of the Word
[01:33:11] - Worship and Connection
[01:34:04] - The Transformation of Living Water
[01:36:21] - Producing Good Fruit
[01:37:09] - The Invitation to Drink Freely
[01:37:44] - The Open Invitation
[01:39:04] - Closing Prayer and Worship
[01:40:08] - A Call to Receive Living Water
[01:41:41] - Final Worship and Blessing
[01:48:01] - Announcements and Farewell

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 4:7-14 (NIV)
> "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?' (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.' 'Sir,' the woman said, 'you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?' Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Jesus asking the Samaritan woman for a drink? How did she react to His request? [55:25]
2. What does Jesus mean by "living water" in His conversation with the Samaritan woman? [56:02]
3. How does Jesus describe the effects of drinking the water He provides compared to the water from the well? [56:46]
4. What are some of the "wells" mentioned in the sermon that people often turn to for fulfillment? [01:10:51]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to meet the Samaritan woman at the well, despite the cultural and social barriers? [55:25]
2. How does the concept of "living water" relate to our spiritual needs and fulfillment? [56:02]
3. In what ways do the "wells" of success, self, and satisfaction fail to provide true fulfillment? [01:10:51]
4. How does contentment, as discussed in the sermon, differ from temporary satisfaction? [01:24:04]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dry. What "wells" did you turn to, and how did they fail to satisfy your deeper needs? [01:02:59]
2. Jesus meets us in our mess and offers us living water. How can you open yourself up to receive His grace and mercy in your current circumstances? [01:07:31]
3. Identify one "well" you have been drawing from that leaves you empty. What steps can you take this week to turn away from it and seek the living water Jesus offers? [01:29:00]
4. Contentment is powerful and leads to a life of gratitude and praise. What is one area of your life where you struggle with contentment, and how can you practice gratitude in that area? [01:24:04]
5. How can you incorporate prayer, reading the Word, and worship into your daily routine to ensure you are drinking from the living water? [01:30:34]
6. Think of a specific challenge you are facing right now. How can you remind yourself that Jesus is all you need in this situation? [01:09:32]
7. The invitation to drink from the living water is open to everyone. How can you extend this invitation to someone in your life who may be seeking fulfillment in the wrong places? [01:37:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Mess
Jesus meets us in our lowest moments, offering His love, grace, and mercy right where we are. He doesn't wait for us to clean up our lives but comes to us in our brokenness. This is exemplified in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, where He offers her living water despite her status as an outcast. This story reminds us that Jesus is always willing to meet us in our mess and offer us what we truly need, not just what we want. [07:31]

John 4:13-14 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, '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.'"

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt at your lowest. How did you experience Jesus meeting you in that moment? If you haven't, what steps can you take to invite Him into your current struggles?

Day 2: The Wells We Draw From
We often seek fulfillment from various wells like success, self, and satisfaction, but these only leave us empty. True spiritual fulfillment comes from the living water that Jesus offers. Identifying the wells we are currently drawing from is the first step towards true spiritual satisfaction. By recognizing these false sources of fulfillment, we can turn to Jesus for the living water that truly satisfies our souls. [10:51]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: Identify one "well" you have been drawing from that leaves you feeling empty. How can you begin to shift your focus towards the living water that Jesus offers?

Day 3: Contentment Over Satisfaction
The well of satisfaction offers only temporary relief and often leads to destructive choices. Learning to be content with what God has given us is powerful and leads to a life of gratitude and praise. Contentment keeps us from the trap of seeking instant gratification and helps us focus on God's blessings. By embracing contentment, we can experience a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment in our lives. [24:04]

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV): "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with contentment. What steps can you take to cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment in that area?

Day 4: The Importance of Living Water
Just as physical water is essential for our bodies, the living water Jesus offers is critical for our spiritual lives. Without it, we experience spiritual dehydration, leading to anxiety, depression, and a lack of purpose. Drinking from the living water involves prayer, reading the Word, and worship. By prioritizing these spiritual disciplines, we can maintain our spiritual health and find true fulfillment in Christ. [04:04]

Isaiah 55:1-2 (ESV): "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for prayer, reading the Word, and worship into your daily routine to ensure you are drinking from the living water?

Day 5: Jesus is All We Need
Regardless of our circumstances, Jesus is the source that can truly satisfy our deepest needs. Whether facing financial struggles, health issues, or relational problems, Jesus is all we need. The invitation to drink from the living water is open to everyone, and it is through this living water that we find true fulfillment. By turning to Jesus in all situations, we can experience His peace and provision in our lives. [09:32]

Psalm 63:1 (ESV): "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus as your source of fulfillment? What practical steps can you take to turn to Him in that area today?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Because his spirit changes everything in our life. And so I'd love to have the opportunity to meet you after service. And just to get to connect with you a little bit more. But I'm so excited that you're here." [52:05] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I always say the best is yet to come. And I really believe that. Because no matter how great God has been in the past. No matter how faithful he's been in the past. There's always more that he has for us. And I hope that we're always pursuing that. And chasing after that. And going after that with all of our heart." [53:28] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The good news that each and every one of us has to understand this morning is simply this. Is that just like Jesus did with this woman, he shows up at the well and he meets her in the middle of her mess, in the middle of her circumstances. That's what Jesus does for each and every one of us is that when we are at our lowest, when we are in the biggest messes of our life, Jesus doesn't say, clean it up and then come to me. No, no, no. Jesus goes out of his way so that he can have encounters with us so that he can say, I love you. I love you. I accept you." [01:07:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus is the living water, that Jesus is the source that we need in our life, that Jesus is the only thing that we need. I want to remind you today, as you've walked into this place, Jesus is all you need. Jesus is all you need. I know our world is crazy and there's all kinds of things that are happening in our world. I know there's inflation that's rising and people are struggling to make ends meet, but can I remind you today, Jesus is all you need." [01:09:32] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Whenever we are thirsty come and let us drink freely of the living water of Christ and so may the spirit of God empower you may the spirit of God fill you and may you overflow with living water would you give Jesus Christ one more time a praise in this place amen god bless you." [01:48:01] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "And the same is true about our spiritual lives. There are often things that we're running to in life. Things that we desire in our life. That is causing our spirits to become thirsty again. Okay? And while a tall, cold glass of Coke won't quench my thirst, the thing that will quench our thirst is a tall, cold glass of water." [59:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And we have to understand this simple truth, is that the living water that Jesus offers us isn't just important for our life. It's critical for our life. Like it's not just a good suggestion, but it is critical for the intake of our life. Because just like when you don't consume water that you, it causes your body not to function properly, when we are not connected to the living water, it also has side effects for our life." [01:02:59] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The problem is that we're going to the wrong source to quench our thirst. We're going to the wrong things to fulfill the need that is inside of us. And so that's what we see in this story. This encounter. This encounter with Jesus. Jesus, the Bible says, had to go to Samaria. Like this was a destined moment for him to have an encounter with this woman. And in the heat of the day, Jesus sits down at the well, thirsty from his travel. And on that moment, this woman comes and she also comes to draw from the well." [01:05:49] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And the reason that contentment is so powerful, because the more content you are, the more gratitude that you will have towards God. And the more gratitude you have towards God, guess what? The more praise you're going to give God. And the more that we praise God, here's how God works, the more his blessings begin to fall down in our life. And the more blessings that come down, the more that you have to give out of your life." [01:24:04] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And we have to be careful. We have to be careful not to drink of any of these wells. The well of success, the well of self, the well of satisfaction. And I'm running out of time, but there's also other wells. For some of us, this isn't the wells that we drink of, but there's many wells in life. For some of us, it's the well, it's the well of approval. We're always looking for the affirmation or the approval of someone else." [01:25:17] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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Were there any personal stories shared?