Jesus: The Inexhaustible Fountain of Life

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound invitation of Jesus Christ to come to Him and drink, as He offers Himself as the inexhaustible fountain of life. This invitation is not just a call to a one-time event but a pattern of life where we continually draw near to Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of all we need. Jesus invites us to come as we are, with the only qualification being our thirst. This is a call to action, a movement of the heart and will, akin to what we would do physically if Jesus were standing before us.

Jesus uses the metaphor of a fountain to illustrate the nature of faith. Just as drinking from a fountain allows what is in the fountain to be in us, so does faith allow the love, peace, and joy of Jesus to dwell within us. This is not a distant belief in a creed but an intimate relationship where Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit. This relationship is made possible by Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, which offer us cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.

The promise is that as we come to Jesus and drink, rivers of living water will flow from our hearts. This means that the peace, love, and joy we receive from Christ will not only satisfy our deepest needs but will also overflow to bless others. Authentic ministry and sustainable service are born from this overflow, as we cannot give what we have not received. The key to sustaining our ministry and relationships lies in continually coming to Jesus, drinking from His inexhaustible fountain, and allowing His life to flow through us.

At the end of time, there will be two groups of people: those who are eternally thirsty and those who are eternally satisfied. Jesus, who experienced thirst on the cross, offers us the opportunity to be eternally satisfied in Him. This invitation is a call to a life of abundance, where we are filled with His Spirit and become conduits of His grace to a thirsty world.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus invites us to come to Him as we are, with the only requirement being our thirst. This invitation is a call to action, a movement of the heart and will, to receive the life He offers. [12:29]

- Faith is like drinking from an inexhaustible fountain, allowing the love, peace, and joy of Jesus to dwell within us. This intimate relationship is made possible by His death, resurrection, and ascension. [14:09]

- As we drink from Jesus, rivers of living water will flow from our hearts, blessing others with the peace, love, and joy we receive. Authentic ministry is born from this overflow. [19:09]

- Sustainable ministry and relationships are possible when we continually come to Jesus, drink from His inexhaustible fountain, and allow His life to flow through us. [23:52]

- At the end of time, there will be those who are eternally thirsty and those who are eternally satisfied. Jesus offers us the opportunity to be eternally satisfied in Him, having experienced thirst on the cross for our sake. [33:34]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:40] - Invitation to Come and Drink
[12:15] - Come as You Are
[13:00] - Jesus, the Fountain of Life
[14:09] - Nature of Faith
[15:08] - Christ Living in Us
[16:31] - Receiving Through Faith
[18:00] - A Pattern of Life
[19:09] - Rivers of Living Water
[20:40] - Overflowing to Others
[22:14] - Authentic Ministry
[23:52] - Sustainable Ministry
[26:27] - Vision for a Thirsty World
[29:18] - Eternal Satisfaction
[33:34] - Jesus' Thirst on the Cross
[34:32] - Eternal Satisfaction in Christ

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 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."

2. Revelation 7:16-17 (ESV): "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He invites us to "come to me and drink"? How is this invitation described in the sermon? [11:40]

2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and drinking from the fountain of Jesus? [14:09]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' statement, "I thirst," on the cross? [33:34]

4. What promise does Jesus give to those who come to Him and drink, as mentioned in the sermon? [19:09]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the metaphor of Jesus as a fountain help us understand the nature of faith and our relationship with Him? [13:00]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the peace, love, and joy of Jesus can overflow from us to others? [20:40]

3. What does the sermon imply about the difference between those who are eternally thirsty and those who are eternally satisfied? [29:57]

4. How does the sermon explain the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer who comes to Jesus and drinks? [15:08]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual thirst. What steps can you take this week to come to Jesus and drink more deeply from His fountain? [18:00]

2. Consider a time when you felt spiritually dry. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now in light of Jesus' invitation? [18:19]

3. Identify one area in your life where you need more of Jesus' peace, love, or joy. How can you intentionally seek Him in that area this week? [27:31]

4. Think about a relationship in your life that could benefit from the overflow of Jesus' love and joy. What practical steps can you take to be a conduit of His grace in that relationship? [20:58]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of coming to Jesus and drinking from His fountain into your daily routine? What might that look like practically? [23:20]

6. Reflect on the concept of sustainable ministry. How can you ensure that you are continually receiving from Jesus so that you can authentically minister to others? [23:52]

7. Consider the eternal perspective shared in the sermon. How does the promise of eternal satisfaction in Jesus influence your daily life and decisions? [34:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Come As You Are, Thirsty for Jesus
Jesus invites us to come to Him as we are, with the only requirement being our thirst. This invitation is a call to action, a movement of the heart and will, to receive the life He offers. Jesus' invitation is not about having everything figured out or being perfect; it's about recognizing our need for Him and responding to His call. He stands as the inexhaustible fountain of life, ready to quench our deepest thirsts and meet our most profound needs. [12:29]

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: What is one area of your life where you feel a deep thirst or longing? How can you bring this need to Jesus today, trusting Him to satisfy it?


Day 2: Faith as an Inexhaustible Fountain
Faith is like drinking from an inexhaustible fountain, allowing the love, peace, and joy of Jesus to dwell within us. This intimate relationship is made possible by His death, resurrection, and ascension. Through faith, we are invited to experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers, not as a distant belief but as a living reality within us. This relationship transforms us from the inside out, as we continually draw from the well of His grace and truth. [14:09]

John 7:37-38 (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.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your faith today to allow more of Jesus' love, peace, and joy to dwell within you? What practical steps can you take to nurture this relationship?


Day 3: Rivers of Living Water Flowing from the Heart
As we drink from Jesus, rivers of living water will flow from our hearts, blessing others with the peace, love, and joy we receive. Authentic ministry is born from this overflow. When we are filled with the life of Christ, it naturally spills over into our interactions with others, impacting them with His grace and truth. This overflow is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is the result of being deeply connected to Jesus, the source of all life. [19:09]

Ezekiel 47:9 (ESV): "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes."

Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from the overflow of Jesus' love and joy in your heart? How can you intentionally share this with them today?


Day 4: Sustaining Ministry and Relationships
Sustainable ministry and relationships are possible when we continually come to Jesus, drink from His inexhaustible fountain, and allow His life to flow through us. Our ability to serve and love others effectively is directly tied to our connection with Christ. When we prioritize our relationship with Him, we find the strength and resources needed to sustain our commitments and relationships. This ongoing process of coming to Jesus ensures that we are not running on empty but are continually replenished by His Spirit. [23:52]

Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV): "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Reflection: What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to ensure you are continually coming to Jesus and being replenished by His Spirit?


Day 5: Eternal Satisfaction in Christ
At the end of time, there will be those who are eternally thirsty and those who are eternally satisfied. Jesus offers us the opportunity to be eternally satisfied in Him, having experienced thirst on the cross for our sake. This promise of eternal satisfaction is not just for the future but begins now as we live in relationship with Him. By accepting His invitation, we enter into a life of abundance, filled with His Spirit and grace, and become conduits of His love to a thirsty world. [33:34]

Revelation 21:6 (ESV): "And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.'"

Reflection: How does the promise of eternal satisfaction in Christ impact your perspective on your current circumstances? What steps can you take today to live more fully in this promise?

Quotes


"Come to me now notice how we receive what Jesus offers if you're thirsty come to me and he says this come and drink come, come, that means some movement some movement of your heart and some movement of your will. A.W. Pink says very helpfully to come to Christ means that you do with your heart and with your will what you would do with your feet if he was standing right there in front of you and said come to me." [00:11:24]

"Jesus Christ invites you to come as you are, this is wonderful for the Sunday that we are going to be receiving communion together over this weekend. Come as you are, you don't have to work yourself into some kind of pretended spiritual state in order to come to Jesus. Isn't that good news? You just come as you are, the only qualification that you need today for drawing near to Jesus and receiving from Jesus is that you are thirsty." [00:12:22]

"Jesus is speaking of himself as being like a fountain, and he says if you're thirsty, I'm the fountain so you come and drink from me, and if you drink of a fountain then what is in the fountain will be in you. So when Jesus says come to me and drink, he is saying look the love and the peace and the joy that are in me can be in you." [00:13:11]

"Faith is like drinking from an inexhaustible fountain, it is the means by which you receive Jesus Christ in your own life and all the good that is in him that he offers to you. Can you see how much more there is here than a sort of distant or vague believing in a creed? We're talking about Jesus Christ actually living in you." [00:14:09]

"All that Jesus then accomplished in his death and in his resurrection and in his ascension becomes yours as you come to him with faith receiving from him by the Holy Spirit. All that he accomplished by way of the cleansing and forgiveness and reconciliation with God that he made available through his death becomes yours as you draw near to him in faith." [00:16:12]

"As you drink of Christ, not only will you have joy and love and peace in yourself but you will then be the means of bringing what you have found in Jesus Christ to others. That's the point about the rivers that will flow out of you. It's a very simple and obvious fact that whatever fills you will flow out from you." [00:19:53]

"Drink of Jesus Christ brother sister and you will be a means of blessing in a thirsty world. As you receive from Christ, you will find that you are able to minister for Christ. What comes to you will flow out through you, what you receive you will be able to give, and here is the secret in this wonderful promise, here is the secret of authentic sustainable ministry." [00:20:48]

"Whoever drinks whoever believes in me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. That's how ministry is sustained, you will keep pouring out because Christ keeps pouring in and he is the inexhaustible fountain. I think the future would be terrifying apart from that, but if the fountain is inexhaustible why would you ever run dry?" [00:25:53]

"At the end of time, there will be two groups of people: the Bible is very clear about this, two groups of people, one will be thirsty and the other will be satisfied. Here's thirsty: Jesus told a story about a rich man who lived for himself and a poor man by the name of Lazarus who lay Jesus said at the rich man's gate hoping just to pick up some scraps of food from his table." [00:29:43]

"To be without Jesus Christ is to be far from the fountain, it is to be far from the fountain that brings the slaking of human thirst. To be far from the fountain is to be always thirsty, and here's why Jesus is the fountain, here's why he is the one to whom we can come and from whom we can receive and from who of whom we can drink." [00:31:54]

"The thirst of our lives became his so that the fountain of his life might become ours. The unending thirst that would have been yours in hell became his so that the unending joy that has always been his in heaven would become yours. And so in the very last book of the Bible our Lord gives us a picture of what it will be like when all of his people are gathered together in his presence fully satisfied." [00:33:34]

"Every human life will have one of two outcomes: to be always thirsty or to be always satisfied, and every life is moving in one of these two directions. Either you are becoming more and more thirsty without Jesus or you are becoming more and more satisfied in Jesus. If anyone thirsts he says, let him her come to me and drink." [00:34:44]

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Transcript
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