GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 22

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

TRUE HOLY WATER

John 4:13-15

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’   The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw’”

True religion is a gift from Jesus.  Our Lord says, “The water that I will give him.”  The only true religion in the world is that which comes from Jesus Christ, and the only fulfillment of that religion in your own soul is by receiving it from the hand of Christ.  True spiritual life, in all its details, is connected with Him.  Do we want peace of conscience because sin is forgiven?  We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Do we desire deliverance from the power of sin within us?  We can only overcome by the blood of the Lamb.  Do we need teaching?  The best instruction comes from his lips.  Do we desire an example which will empower us to obey the teaching?  He is our pattern:  Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30).   He is our all in all.  If anyone dreams they have a God-given religion, they are in deadly error if the mark of the pierced hand is not upon it.  That peace which does not come to us sealed with the blood of the Mediator’s sacrifice is a false peace.  You must drink from the fountain opened upon Calvary.  Drink from the cup which Jesus fills;  do not think that satisfying waters can be drawn from any well but Him.

True godliness is next described in the text as a gift which must be received:  “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him…” It is received, you see, not merely into the hand, but into the inward parts.  When we drink water, it enters into us, saturates us, becomes a part of our being, and helps to build up the fabric of our body.  So, we must receive Jesus Christ into our innermost self, not professing to believe with the creed of the head while the heart remains in unbelief.  We cannot give our Lord the empty compliment of praising His character while we reject His mission.  True religion is trusting Him, depending upon Him, loving Him, following Him, yielding ourselves to Him, living upon Him, living in Him …that it may be clear that He has entered into and become one with us forever.  We need Christ in us:  Christ in the secret fountain of our being.

What we want is not Jesus Christ pictured on the wall nor His name on the lip nor words about Him from pious books.  We want the Lord HIMSELF received into our heart:  “Christ in you, the hope of glory”  (Colossians 1:27).  Oh, would Christ live, dwell, and reign within our entire nature, looking out from our eyes, speaking by our lips, blessing the poor by our hands, going about doing good with our feet, and magnifying God in these mortal bodies as once He did on earth in His own body.

This is true religion:  Jesus Christ received by an act of faith into our innermost soul.  Dear friend, have you got this?  Before we go an inch further, let every man and woman press this question home: 

Do I  REALLY know what it is to drink of the life-giving stream which Jesus Christ bestows?

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Acts 17:28

“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 1:31

that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Colossians 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 3:4

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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