Invited to Experience the Abundance of God's Presence
Summary
God is inviting each of us into a deeper experience of his presence, removing every obstacle that keeps us from coming before him. There is a spiritual hunger rising—a longing for more than just religious routine or fleeting moments of inspiration. The Holy Spirit, who has always existed and was present at creation, is the one who brings order out of chaos and breathes true life into us. This is not a life of mere survival, dragging ourselves from week to week, but a life empowered, guided, and comforted by the Spirit. We are not left to our own strength or wisdom; God’s Spirit dwells within us, equipping us for the mission and purpose he has placed in our lives.
The invitation to drink from the living waters is for all who thirst. Jesus, during the Feast of Tabernacles, stood and declared that anyone who is thirsty should come to him and drink, promising that rivers of living water—the Holy Spirit—would flow from within those who believe. This is more than a metaphor; it is a promise of spiritual satisfaction and abundance. Yet, many settle for spiritual dehydration, content with occasional sips rather than the fullness God offers. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are reminded that God alone can satisfy our deepest thirsts, and that turning to other sources—our own “cracked cisterns”—leaves us empty.
Access to God’s presence is not limited to special occasions or moments of crisis. Through Christ, the veil has been torn, and we are invited to come boldly and continually into his presence. David’s longing for God’s presence, even after his failures, shows us the value of cultivating a life that seeks God daily. Sin separates, but repentance and a renewed spirit restore us to the joy of his salvation. God’s presence is not drudgery but beauty, peace, and joy—a place we should run to, not dread.
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s desire is to dwell with his people, to be close, to commune, and to fill us with his Spirit. The invitation is open: “Come, all who are thirsty, take the water of life without price.” This is a free gift, offered abundantly. As we receive, we are also called to extend this invitation to others, so that generations may come to know the fullness of life in God’s presence.
Key Takeaways
- Waiting on God is not wasting time, but a posture of renewal. In a world that equates waiting with inactivity, God promises that those who wait upon him will be renewed in strength. This waiting is not passive, but an active, expectant seeking of his presence, where our weariness is exchanged for his vitality. It is in these moments that God pours out his Spirit and prepares us for the journey ahead. [00:01]
- The Holy Spirit is the source of true life and empowerment. From creation to Pentecost and beyond, the Spirit is not an optional add-on but the very breath that animates and sustains us. When we feel inadequate or overwhelmed by the mission God has given us, it is the Spirit who equips, guides, and strengthens us to move forward as the living church. We are not called to strive in our own strength, but to live in the overflow of his presence. [00:10:00]
- Religious activity without God’s presence leads to spiritual dehydration. Like the crowds at the Feast of Tabernacles, it is possible to go through the motions—serving, worshiping, keeping traditions—yet leave spiritually empty. Jesus offers more than ritual; he offers living water that truly satisfies. Settling for “sips” in times of crisis, while ignoring God in daily life, leaves us parched and longing for more. [00:54:00]
- Sin separates, but repentance restores us to the joy of God’s presence. David’s plea after his failures was not for restored status or comfort, but for the return of God’s presence and Spirit. True transformation comes when we invite God to search our hearts, renew our spirits, and restore us to the joy of salvation. The manifest presence of God is available to those who seek him with humility and honesty. [01:09:13]
- God’s invitation to his presence is continual, abundant, and free. From the garden in Genesis to the final invitation in Revelation, God’s heart is to dwell with his people. There is no longer any barrier; the way is open for all who desire to come and drink deeply of his Spirit. This is not just for our own satisfaction, but so that we might extend the invitation to others, becoming channels of living water to a thirsty world. [01:17:04]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:01:00] - Removing Obstacles to God’s Presence
[00:10:00] - The Holy Spirit: From Creation to Pentecost
[00:18:00] - Empowered for Mission
[00:25:00] - The Hunger for God’s Presence
[00:32:00] - A Personal Story: Seeking Power and Presence
[00:50:02] - The Cost of Seeking Power Apart from God
[00:54:00] - Jesus’ Invitation: Living Water at the Feast
[01:01:00] - The Rituals and the Reality
[01:07:53] - David’s Longing for God’s Presence
[01:09:13] - Repentance and Restoration
[01:11:35] - Cultivating a Life of Presence
[01:12:32] - The Veil is Torn: Access to God
[01:14:41] - God’s Invitation from Genesis to Revelation
[01:17:04] - The Spirit and the Bride Say, “Come”
[01:20:21] - Stagnant Cisterns vs. Living Water
[01:27:01] - A Church Hungry for God’s Presence
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Rivers of Living Water – Experiencing God’s Presence
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### Bible Reading
1. John 7:37-39
_On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified._
2. Psalm 51:10-12
_Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit._
3. Jeremiah 2:13
_My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water._
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 7:37-39, what does Jesus promise to those who are thirsty and come to him? How does he describe the result in the lives of believers?
2. According to Psalm 51:10-12, what does David ask God for after his failure? What does he value most in his relationship with God? [01:07:53]
3. In Jeremiah 2:13, what two mistakes does God say his people have made? What is the consequence of these actions?
4. The sermon describes the Feast of Tabernacles and its rituals. What was the significance of the water ceremony during this feast, and how did Jesus use it to make his invitation? [00:54:00]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use the image of “living water” to describe the Holy Spirit? What does this say about the kind of life he wants for his followers? [00:54:00]
2. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 is not for restored status or comfort, but for God’s presence. Why is God’s presence more important than anything else, even after failure? [01:07:53]
3. The sermon mentions that many people settle for “spiritual dehydration” by only taking “sips” of God’s presence in crisis. What does it look like to live in a state of spiritual dehydration, and why do people settle for it? [00:54:00]
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to “wait on God,” and how is this different from simply being inactive or passive? [00:01:00]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “Waiting on God is not wasting time, but a posture of renewal.” What does waiting on God look like in your daily life? Is there a specific area where you need to slow down and seek God’s presence instead of rushing ahead? [00:01:00]
2. Jesus invites anyone who is thirsty to come and drink. What are some “cracked cisterns” (other sources of satisfaction) you have turned to instead of God? How have these left you feeling? What would it look like to turn back to the “spring of living water” this week? [01:20:21]
3. The sermon describes how religious activity without God’s presence leads to spiritual dryness. Are there areas in your life where you are “going through the motions” spiritually? What is one step you can take to invite God’s presence into those routines? [00:54:00]
4. David’s longing was to dwell in God’s presence “all the days of my life.” What practical habits or rhythms could you build into your week to cultivate a greater awareness of God’s presence? [01:11:35]
5. The message says, “Sin separates, but repentance restores us to the joy of God’s presence.” Is there an area where you need to ask God to “renew a right spirit” within you? How can you take a step toward honest repentance and restoration? [01:09:13]
6. The invitation to God’s presence is “continual, abundant, and free.” Who in your life needs to hear this invitation? How can you extend it to them in a practical way this week? [01:17:04]
7. The sermon challenges us not to limit access to God to special occasions or moments of crisis. What is one way you can remind yourself daily that the “veil is torn” and you have open access to God? [01:12:32]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray, asking God to increase their hunger for his presence, to reveal any obstacles or “cracked cisterns,” and to fill them afresh with the Holy Spirit.
Devotional
Day 1: The Holy Spirit Satisfies Our Deepest Thirst
God invites each of us to come and drink freely from the living waters He offers, a picture of the Holy Spirit who alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our souls. In the midst of our busyness, religious routines, and even spiritual dryness, Jesus stands and calls out to all who are thirsty, promising that those who believe in Him will experience rivers of living water flowing from within. This is not a mere trickle or a temporary fix, but an abundant, overflowing presence that brings true life, joy, and satisfaction. The invitation is for everyone—no matter your background or past—to come and receive the Spirit’s fullness, not just in moments of crisis, but every day. [50:02]
John 7:37-39 (ESV)
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel spiritually dry or thirsty, and how can you intentionally come to Jesus today to drink deeply of His Spirit?
Day 2: Sin Separates, but God’s Presence Restores
Sin creates a barrier between us and God, leaving us spiritually dehydrated and longing for restoration. David, after his failures, did not plead for his kingdom or reputation, but desperately cried out for God not to take His presence away. He knew that true joy and transformation come only when we allow God to search our hearts, renew our spirits, and restore us to the joy of His salvation. The presence of God is not something to be taken lightly or for granted; it is the very source of life, peace, and assurance, and separation from it is a fate worse than death. [01:07:53]
Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Reflection: Is there any area of unconfessed sin or spiritual complacency in your life that is keeping you from experiencing God’s presence? Will you ask God today to search your heart and renew a right spirit within you?
Day 3: Cultivating a Life that Seeks God’s Presence Daily
David’s greatest desire was to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to gaze upon God’s beauty and inquire in His temple. He understood that God’s presence is not reserved for moments of crisis or Sunday mornings, but is to be sought and cherished every day. We are now the temple of God, with His Spirit dwelling in us, and we are invited to cultivate a life that welcomes His presence—morning, noon, and evening. This is not drudgery, but a source of beauty, peace, and joy, transforming our daily walk and drawing us ever closer to Him. [01:11:35]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally seek and welcome God’s presence throughout your day, not just in times of need but as a daily pursuit?
Day 4: God’s Invitation: Come Freely and Boldly into His Presence
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s heart has always been to dwell with His people, to be close, and to offer abundant life. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, the veil that once separated us from God’s presence has been torn, granting us bold and unhindered access to Him. No longer do we need to strive or perform rituals to reach God; He bends low, comes near, and invites us to come just as we are. The water of life is offered freely to all who desire—no price, no barrier, just a loving invitation to come and be filled. [01:18:00]
Revelation 22:17 (ESV)
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Reflection: What keeps you from coming boldly and freely into God’s presence, and how can you respond to His invitation to “come” today?
Day 5: Choose God’s Abundant Presence Over Empty Substitutes
We often try to satisfy our spiritual thirst with our own “cisterns”—pursuing things that promise fulfillment but leave us empty and wanting. These cracked cisterns cannot hold water, and the stagnant substitutes we build for ourselves never overflow into the lives of others. God, however, offers a fountain of living water—abundant, overflowing, and life-giving. He calls us to choose Him over every transient thing, to drink deeply of His presence, and to let that living water flow out to bless others. Away from His presence is a fate worse than death, but in His presence is fullness of life and joy. [01:20:21]
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: What “cisterns” or substitutes have you been turning to for satisfaction, and how can you choose today to drink from God’s abundant, overflowing presence instead?
Quotes
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