The Cure For Spiritual Dehydration REPEAT | Pastor Shane Idleman

the cure for spiritual dehydration. And many Christians are dehydrated. I brought an example, I hid so nobody could see it early. This is many, this is many believers, is it not? Well, there might be, let's see, there might be a little something, let's see. Oh, yeah, okay. I come to church now and then. There's no overflow, that's not gonna satisfy anybody. Spiritual dehydration, many believers are dehydrated spiritually. There's no spiritual life, so they can't pour into their family. They can't pour into others, they can't make a difference. They're dehydrated spiritually, and the word of, of course we know what it means, when the fluid level exit is greater than the fluid level entering, we are spiritually dehydrated, or physically dehydrated I should say. But isn't that ironic? Maybe I'll keep right here as a good reminder. Is that ironic and parallels the spiritual realm? Or when we have less of God that's exiting, too busy, there should be tears. If it is, well, it's not my house. I mean, guys, check your heart. And when that, that, that exit of, of God's presence, and his power and the quenching and grieving of the Spirit, when that happens, when, when it exits, we become spiritually dehydrated because we need that spiritual hydration. That's what happened. That's what's happening in the lives of many Christians. And I know it can happen to me, too. No doubt, no doubt. There are many, many here this morning, or listening later, who are dehydrated spiritually. Basically, it's no thirst for God. No desire, really. You know the difference between, there's a passion, like there's a movie that you can't wait to see. Oh, it's going to be here Friday. And I remember, I was running to people like, there's, they're like jumping up, but I can't believe the new Spider-Man's coming out Friday. Why are you there excited about church? Or about God?

Can you imagine churches coming up Sunday? I can't wait. Now, many churches are not on fire. I got it. But there should be an expect, expecting God to move in it and a desire because you're hungry for Sunday because of what you're feeding all week. And most, and I was, this is my 20s, the spiritual dehydration. There's, there's no passion. There's no zeal. The Bible is boring. Worship, we're yawning. And we are, many are dehydrated spiritually. And so I'm hoping John 4 can really, really challenge our hearts, challenge our hearts this morning. And so this is an incredible story when Jesus knew that the Pharisees knew about him and knew that he was baptizing people. Actually, he didn't baptize people. His disciples baptized people. He left. He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But he needed to go through Samaria. He needed to go through Samaria. Who has King James here? All right, probably says, I must need go to Samaria. There's a, there's a, just a desire. There's a change of plans. And the reason you don't have a handout is I don't want you reading ahead. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and so are his stops. Amen to that? The Lord will stop you. He will redirect you. But you got to be full in order to pour out into others and be, why does he redirect you sometimes for your comfort? For your convenience so he can relax, take a long nap and vacation. Sometimes all those things are good, but he redirects often for others. Redirects your course for others. And so he said, I have to go to Samaria. And so he came to Samaria. And he actually went to the plot of ground that Jacob gave his son, Joseph. Remember the story in Genesis where Jacob gave the plot of ground to Joseph?

And they actually built Jacob's well there. And what they did is they dig way down and they find the water table. And the water actually rises up a little bit. And they're able to just keep, because that water table pours in. Before I did this, I would run heavy equipment and I would come find that water table. There's always about 15, 16 feet depending on where the location here. Sometimes wells go down, you know, 150 feet and you'll see those wells are looking for water. Sometimes they'll go from place to place on a piece of property and can't find the water. And so they happen to find this incredible spring of water. It was still from Jesus' day. Gosh, you're going. How many years? Some of you mathematicians. Are we well over 1200 years? Maybe from when? Dave Donny, you guys know? Doing your head real quick. Let's say I'm well over. Was I close? 1200 years? 1500 years? It's an old well and we'll figure out that number soon. So it's a very old well and this lady is there and Jesus is very tired from his journey. And so he's set by the well, possibly on top the well on the on the bricks that surround it. He sits by the well and he's tired and it's a good reminder for us that if we go to the next screen here that he was tempted, Jesus was tempted in all points like you. Are you aware of that? Isn't that weird? Well, how could he be tempted with this? He wasn't ever married. Well, when Hebrews talks about tempted in all points, it basically means the less of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. So he even satan tempted him with the pride of life. Show off. Show off Lord. Show them that you're the son of God. And if you do this, you bow to me. I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth and lust of the flesh. Turn this rock into stone. I'm sorry. Turn this stone into a bread. And so he was tempted. Meaning, here's what it means, his flesh, how he was tempted by those things, but he never sinned. Sin was perfect. Amazing. And that's why he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. So he's tired. He's sitting on a well. Picture this, a well sitting on a well. You'll get it on your drive home, maybe. That's rich. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. So here's this woman. Probably not that. Not the five gallon. Probably, you know, you see pictures on their shoulders and they're carrying as much water as they can up and down to get. That's how they would get water. So anytime you don't know what to pray for, thank God for running water. Electricity. There's lots of things to pray. Can you imagine living back in this time?

Some of you might have liked that, but I'm not sure I would have. So he's tired. Here comes this woman to draw water. And Jesus said, "Give me a drink. Give me a drink." Because his disciples had gone away into a city to buy food. So here's something that really stood out to me. Often we must give in order to receive. So Jesus starts a conversation with, "Give me." And I'm about ready to tell you what you'll get. He didn't go right into, hey, by the way, I'm the Messiah. I don't know if it's a test or heart. I don't know. But we know the principle of reaping and sowing. "Give me." And did you know that God still asks for something? Wait a minute, Shane. I don't know about this. Well, it's not a study on this topic, but God actually asks for something before He'll do something. Present your bodies as you present your bodies as living sacrifice. What do I desire? I desire a contrite and broken heart. See, you've got to come to God with that first. Some translations despise, cast away, throw away, discard. I will not do that. But so you have to come to Him with the contr- that's why many people never receive from God, folks. It's, "Give me, give me, give me, give me, give me, fix this, fix this, fix this, do this, do this, do this." And He's not a butler in heaven at your every whim. He's not a genie in a bottle. This is the Lord Jesus Christ, sovereign God of the earth. We don't, He doesn't bow to And she could have said, "No, you get your own." Because remember, we don't know the setup, but it's probably down there and bringing the water back up or it's a process to give him a drink. She probably wants every ounce that she can have, but we have to give an order to receive. Let me tell you a verse that stood out to me earlier this year, Psalm 41. I think we have it up there. Blessed is he who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in his time of trouble. The Lord will persevere him and keep him alive. Oh, preserve, I should say. And he will be blessed on earth. You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness. You will sustain him on his sick bed. If you care for others, if you care for the poor, if you are consider of others, and often we want to do the opposite when we're sick. Self-preservation, isolation, fear, anxiety, worship. I mean, worship, worry. That's how your place worship is with worry. But he says, no, if you are considered to others, if you do this, then I will do this. The principle of reaping and sowing is huge, especially in this area of spiritual dehydration. And maybe for some of you that are spiritually dehydrated and you kind of like it, you need to ask God to give you that desire to break out of it. Then the woman of Samaria said to him, how is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me,

a Samaritan woman, for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. So normally what would happen is on the well, the lady would either see or she knew he was a Jew would not go up there or he would see her and not talk and turn because it unclean. There's no fellowship. There's no talking. The Samaritans were, you know, like you get into half, half Jew, half, basically marrying the world with the Jewish religion. And there was no respect for them. And so Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. A Jew would not be dealing with this woman. But it's a good reminder that Jesus did not break the law. He broke legalism. Jesus never broke the law. He fulfilled the law. But he broke legalism. In other words, God's word says to reach out to the sojourner and those who are your enemies. And so the legalism can get us trapped into a mindset to where we obey, we think we're obeying God, but it's not from the right heart. We're very legalistic about things. And what happens is you become critical, angry. You develop a certain critical spirit. You're there picking apart worship. You're picking apart what translation of the Bible. You're picking apart this and picking apart that. You've got friends that you're picking apart and you can't, you know, this and that and people were coming into October and you're going to, you know, legalistic against people who celebrate Halloween. You know, things that I don't celebrate, I don't think people should, but I'm not going to be mean-spirited and, and, and, and things like, but that's what a legalistic mindset is. It's a, it's a self-exalted position of the heart, minus it's got some, got some obedience in there, but it minus the grace and the mercy and the love. That, that's what it, it's, it's minus from that. And that's many people, many Christians. What happens is the more they read the Bible, the more you'll, you'll see most legalists are very well educated in the Bible. Those who are not well educated in the Bible are usually not legalists. They're lukewarm. Is that interesting how that works? Lukewarm, carnal, I don't want to read the Bible. I don't want to be convict. I want to live my life. But then the legalist, I've read my Bible all week. I got through it. And one year, how about you? I'm most spiritual than you. Let listen to me. You can learn from me. He broke legalism, not the law. Jesus answered, said to her, oh woman, if you knew. He didn't even, he, he didn't even answer her question. Don't you love that about Jesus? A lot of times he doesn't even answer a person's question. Jesus are there a few who are saved you enter by the narrow gate wait when are there fewer not I mean and

Deferacies and that he would just he would just because he's answering actually with a powerful statement So he said to her woman if you knew the gift of God if you knew I'm I am a gift from God I am the Messiah if you knew if you knew what I could do for you And who it was it says to you give me a drink you would have asked him and he would have given you living water So a couple things if you knew the gift of God If you knew the gift of God people need to know that's the power of your testimony The middle point right here. I'm not gonna skip the others just want to focus on this for a minute You don't and I run chain. I don't know what to tell them. I don't have it. I don't I don't I don't know a lot theology You know you guys use big words and I you don't I don't when I talk to people I don't say you know based on propitiation and the laws of first mentioned the Bible and looking at the Hebrew breakdown of that verse and the present part of the simple of That and then you know if you if you take in new mythology and then the eschatology and your soteriology or your salvation You just tell them what God did for you Well, I don't know about you, but here's what God's doing for me. Here's how he says and that's what draws them in That's what draws them in. Oh, if he did that for them He can do and then what happens though as you're talking the Holy Spirit begins to convict them and They feel like why am I feeling this way why I need to repent? I need to believe so you're just sharing You're just sharing what God has done for you or Is doing for you? You know, it's it's one thing. That's what I talked about earlier with healing. It's so it's so great, but it's it's it's also very encouraging to tell people Hey, God hasn't healed But here's how he sustains Here's how he gets us through even when he doesn't do those things or he may you just keep pressing and you don't know But God's God sustains in both environments Actually one keeps you a little bit closer to him And it's incredible but people need to know the power of your testimony and you even though they don't listen or they're Anybody because are you being cussed out? Or don't talk to me about that. That's okay. At least at least they know and you can share when those moments present themselves

But look at this living water living water what is living water it nourishes It sustains it gives life and it restores it refreshes and it renews That's what this living water that Jesus spoke of There's it nourishes you it sustains you guys you were not designed to go a long time without the Just the the presence of God and the fullness of the Spirit and and seeking him you you will wither and die spiritually you will become spiritually dehydrated and That's what living water supposed to do it that same thing as as normal water does it nourishes and it sustains It gives life and it restores it refreshes and renews Put a water hose a slow drip on a dead piece of grass come back a week later It's going to be the greenest spot and The highest blades Because it's soaked in that water It's soaked in that the presence of God and worship and prayer and all and I that word soaking There's a lot of negative connotations, but it's it's also biblical Because what it means is you're you're you're soaking in more of God through prayer and worship and reading and studying Keeping at leash on a short Elishan and getting your heart right in and getting your attitudes right in and you're just you're just soaking in the presence and power of God That living water This is not water of which you drink and then you forget about it's a constant nourishment and I love with this part two Give me a drink Give me a drink and You would have asked him and he would have given you living water and as we're talking about this ask she asked as We go through that word asked actually has a richer meaning. It doesn't mean what we think it Remember how I talked about that word often if you would have if you would have asked if you would have begged for if you would have sought if you would have been fully surrendered to to to my will I

Would answer that cry? How are you going to get this water? The well is very deep. And then while you're at it, where do you get the living water?" So she did the mistake that many of us do. We try to view the supernatural with the lens of the natural. How many of you look at, try to figure out what God is doing in advance? Oh, there's a lot more. As we look through the natural lens, how I feel, my touch, feel, and taste. We don't see what God is talking about. Even this topic, even this topic of living water, she's not understanding what do you mean by living water? Maybe it's the type of water that will flow down the mountain and always be at my house. Is there a lot of algae? So she's looking through the lens of naturally what she sees, but Jesus is going to talk to her about the spiritual realm. "Sir, you have nothing to draw from, and she's interested, it looks like, where do you get that living water?" That should be your question this morning. "God, I want the living water. I want this water. Where do I get it? How do I get it?" and that desperation fuels desire, a desire for more of Him, and you begin to pursue Him. Lord, I need to find this living water. Where is it? I desire it. And now you're fulfilling the verse. If you seek Me, you will find Me. If you seek with Me with all of your heart, you will find Me.

I'm not hiding up by Saturn. I'm here. The Bible says, "And ever present, help in time of need. And ever present, help means right now. Right now I look to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord right now, and ever present, help in time of need. Who can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus in His present, now and available now. What can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus? Nothing can separate me." Where how? Can you imagine if we got back to that desperation? Because let's be honest, this topic is not like you turn on a light switch. Oh, I'll just do this and, oh, I'm so full of the Spirit. I went from upset and a mean center and a mean husband to now, I'm just walking on the water. I turned on the light switch. Sometimes that happens, but more than often it's a pursuit. It's pulling up that living water. Man, it's way down there. It's way down there, but I'm not giving up, I'm persevering. I need that living water. Where is it? And it talks about that in all consuming passion and all consuming fire. And then so living water, he says, but then she says, "Well, are you greater than our Father Jacob? Are you greater?" She's asking Jesus if he's greater than Jacob. And that's who gave us this well to drink from. And I appreciate her heart because she's got good questions.

Those are normal questions. But maybe we need to take a greatness break or a break focused on greatness. How great is our God? You know that worship song? How great is our God? And you think about everything and it's just, that's who we're praying to. I know I bring this up a lot, but it just blows my mind that the scale and size of the universe, you know how big a galaxy is, how many galaxies are inside the universe? I don't know if they know, how many stars they ran, I don't know if you can count that high anymore. That God is who we're here worshiping. That God is who we're here praying to, He's not in some far away galaxy. We're two or three together. He is there. He is there. I inhabit the praises of my people. That will change your perspective. That will change your prayer life. and different things this morning in your marriage or court cases or financial, that God hears. Now whether something happens right away is another thing. And here's why God knows the future. He's got, we always want things quickly, but he knows there's often there's a delayed process that could be a blessing. And so when she said, are you greater? Jesus answered and said, whoever, again, he doesn't even answer her. Oh, by the way, I am.

Now he just says, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again. In other words, this water that you're drinking of, you will thirst again. And so many people, even Christians, you keep drinking from a well that will never satisfy. Maybe a habit, a relationship, an addiction, something you keep running to, it will never satisfy. The goal of sin is to take you out. It takes you farther than you want to go. Keeps you longer than you want to stay and costs you more than you want to pay. Nothing satisfies. That's why you'll see people go from, even people have huge issues with shopping. Right, they feel so great. And then the next day they're taking stuff back. That new car smell. How long does that last? And then they're regretting they bought it and they have to pay them in. You get into the relationship and you're excited about it and then months in you're like, this is not satisfied. And he said, whoever drinks in this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks in the water that I shall give him, notice this. Again, we could get into how they break down the scriptures, but I give him, it's a voluntary, it's what Jesus will offer, what he's going to give in exchange for something.

Whoever drinks in this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks in the water that I shall give him will never thirst. In other words, once you drink of his will, once you have that relationship and you're saved and you're forgiven, you have the Holy Spirit, there's nothing that even, what's a close second? What's a close, well, that's a close second to my relationship with the Lord. Nothing, there's no second. Now, of course, doubt comes into our minds and things, and we struggle because the mind is enmity. It can't make a truce with God, is it war with God? The flesh we live with is a war with God. So I have that war within, as do you. But if we're honest and we get our hearts right, we realize there's nothing that will satisfy. I can turn to him in times of darkness and he brings the light. I can turn to him in times of confusion. He brings the clarity. I don't want anything out. That's why people tell me this before. Maybe, I don't know if it was in the prayer room, but okay, Shane, you're Christian, the Bible. Why don't you at least open to reading about other religions? Because I have no desire. Well, that's pretty arrogant. You have the truth, but nobody else does. I've drank of the living water, and I'm never thirsty again. I don't know about you.

See, that's why you keep looking. You're still thirsty. Maybe Buddha will offer it. Maybe Harry Krishna will offer him. Maybe Joseph Smith will bring him young and the papacy, and Muhammad, and this type of movement. My inner self, my inner being, this chi, and yoga, and all these, you just keep going. I've sought all these different things, all this different spirituality, and you are still thirsty. You are still thirsty until you die, unless you turn to the living water, and you drink deeply of that well in which you will never thirsty again. That's why so many people come to him and they say, Christ, I'm glad I found you. My journey is over. I found the living God. Oh, I rest in his presence and in his mercy. I will never drink again of another living water. That's why all this deconstructionism is a joke. When I watch these guys on YouTube, you never drink deeply of the living water. You never even had a relationship. You had religion. That's a big term. Have you seen those deconstructionism? Realized that the Bible had a lot of errors. Okay. Can you name one? Of course, he didn't that's what they always do Tell me tell him to name one and then you can find the answer is pretty easy Now there's things I don't understand When I read Genesis Yeah

But I'm not going to hell over a mystery Because I know with certainty that Jesus is the only way the only truth the only light That's that's that's what we need to know And that's why they keep searching and keep looking because they do not they've not been satisfied That's what it does. It satisfies the deepest desires of our heart the longing But the water that I give him will be coming him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life So it's interesting and I don't want to get too technical here But it could just say but the water that I give him will lead to everlasting life But I don't think it's an accident of language Why is it a fountain of water a Fountain of water And that springs up So it's not the fountain it Jesus is everlasting life, but there's a fountain of water springing up life giving water into us and yes that that eventually leads to everlasting life because you're but Where where Can we just be honest? Well, I always say I'm a guest one for you, but and I and I've talked about this before but I don't recognize half of you Sometimes so it's good to repeat Where is this fountain of living water in most of you? Where's this bubbling over of joy and love and I can't wait to get to worship. I love it No, there's a lot of Critical spirits gossiping slander where where's this living? Where's this fountain of living water? Now I'm not up here like how could you because I have I have the enemy wants to put a plug in mind too often But you pull that plug out by repentance and Worship and doing what you know is you need to do, but you don't want to do it That's just pride and you keep that fountain open So think about no I'm serious this morning. Where is this living want? Where's this fountain of living water?

Why why why if it was in all of our hearts? Wouldn't we just walk in and and you could just see in our eyes there's joy and there's love and a good to see and they're We leave here we go to bonds or Trader Joe's or sprouts or the restaurant or and it's just It's just flowing out Not I ordered steak not chicken. Oh, there's no parking spots. I got to go park on the dirt But am I just am I being honest? I? Don't want to be here. I like what this guy's saying Why am I here my mom dragged me or my parent or my friend or I had to go to church where? The Christian life is a life of living water He who believes in me as the scripture say Out of his belly will flow Well slime Out of his belly will flow Rivers of living water Guys, where's this living water? Sometimes people like so frumpy and grumpy and mean Like every Sunday like they're never at the altar. They're never prayer Pissed off all the time I say that is okay. No I'll remember for the second service Who don't hear just said that Was it was a bit it was a mega church pastor. I'm like, okay, maybe Jack kids. I don't know Anyway, but you know I'm saying it's like where's the joy folks? Where's the love? You're spiritually dehydrated When Jesus comes he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Luke warmness So where's the fun? will spring the rivers of living water. If you believe on me as a scripture, say out of your belly will flow, rivers of the water. He's going to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Why is the Christian life so lukewarm, so callous, so

cold and most majority people just have no fire or zeal for the Lord. It's because they are spiritually dehydrated and they don't repent. I want the presence of God so much that I will repent. I will own things that I don't think I need to own. Oh, trust me. John 738, Hugh believes in me as a script. Oh remember I read it somewhere. Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Do you nourish others? Here's a good test or do you drain? Now I know sometimes we drain. Well, but overall, do you want to be a nourisher or a drainer? Do you restore things or do you tear them down? You know when you get on some you just tear down, you just tear it down. Just tear it down. Just tear it down. Just tear it down. That's not overflowing with the Spirit. Because the Spirit, you will say some hard things when they need to be said, but ultimately it's to restore. Hey, I know that hurt, but I love you enough to tell you the truth. I want to restore that. Do you refresh others or do you exhaust them? You know the exhaustors. Like you just want to avoid like I don't want to talk to them because you know it's not going to be refreshing. They're not going to be encouragers and I love I don't know why I just love this verse. Sir, you can almost hear her. Sir, give me this water. Give me this water that I might not thirst again. I don't want to come here to draw anymore. Well, you're gonna have to still do that. But give me this water. She still doesn't understand because she still doesn't experience it yet. And so that's what you need to do this morning. Maybe that's why I'm giving this message again is to encourage you. You have to say Lord, give me this water. Give me this living water. I've grown cold. I've grown callous. I've become spiritually dehydrated. I become a legalist. I've become critical. I've become arrogant. I've drifted from you. I sure I can read the Bible now and then but I've lost my passion. I've lost my zeal. I mean church. I don't want to really go to I don't I put you on the back burner not the for not the front burners and Lord I need that back again. Give me this water again Lord. Give me that that that that I want. I want I want that cry of the prophet that says I always word is in my heart like a burning fire. It's shut up in my bones. I'm wary of holding it back. If God's if God's word or power

presence isn't like a burning fire in your heart. You got to ask yourself why the problem isn't with God. It's with us. Because God I love the Old Testament imagery and I don't like taking prescription out of context and I but when he says you prepare the sacrifice and I will light the fire and then the priest their job was to keep the fire burning. There's an interesting parallel there. You got to keep that fire burning in your heart. Give me this water. Give you there's a desperation there. Even though she didn't understand she desired and that's why I want to tell people about the Holy Spirit because I get this off and like I don't know I saw this YouTube video somebody acting weird. Yeah that's to be expected. Don't let that stop you from your relationship with the Lord. The desire that I don't quite understand how it works. The wind blows where it wants. The Holy Spirit does what sometimes this sermon comes alive and it's on fire. I can't wait to preach. Other times it's a grind. It's hard. Sometimes I get up and I just can't wait to worship and read the Bible. Sometimes I get up and I don't want to do any of those things. Well it doesn't matter how you feel. It doesn't matter what you understand there has to be. That desire Lord I want this. Again I need this and so Jesus checked her heart. Call your husband. Call your husband. She kiss it. Okay yeah all right I'm out of here. I have no husband. And again we don't want to read anything but it's I sense brokenness. I do. I sense repentance and brokenness. I have no husband. And Jesus saved her right there. He saved her right there. She didn't happen. I don't know about self. I'm not talking about salvation but just the conversation. You're well said in other words You chose your words wisely. You said that you said that rightly That you have no husband for you have had five husbands and the one whom you have now is not your husband It's in that you have truly spoken I Mean if you just just if you go back jesus said I need to go to Samaria

Is this woman committing adultery And the one you have now is not your husband, I don't know what else that is Possibly I know I'm not going to read too much into this, but he goes to Samaritan For a woman Possibly caught in sexual sin no hope lost I don't know if you've ever been on your six marriage, but There's not a lot of hope there You feel like a failure. I'm sure I'm not my sick, but it's what I've been told Did you know the more the more you trade it in the more the harder it gets? Divorce rates for second marriages are higher than first, and then you get into third. Oh my goodness fourth watch out But praise God if that's you God's got you we're not here that look down. I said it means I'd be on my seventh marriage in a halfway house if it wasn't for The Lord and so many of you so don't look at me that way You know if it had not been for the Lord on your side. Come on. Come on church I I would be I would be I don't know if there's plots available if I be a Lancaster cemetery Years ago years ago And you wonder why some of us can't stop worshiping the Lord Because how many how many of you know if you would have died in your sin you would be in hell That is a wake-up call and Often say my mom's oh shame, but you were saved in your 20s. I'm like I think so. I was a prodigal I was always convicted. I I do think so, but boy. I didn't know I want to find out And so when we come and we worship we thank God for what he's done That worship song what he's done. What he's done Look at what he's done But I just love this he went to this woman and Now we have this story to read for every because what happened is repentance and confession took place and her heart no doubt I don't have a husband and Not one excuse that she make

The woman said to Jesus, but you don't know what I've went through You don't know about the first fight how challenging they were how tough they were you don't know what they did to me How can you say that? Because when you're up to that number you got to take responsibility to to some degree That she said no excuses Let me encourage you this morning if you are an excuse maker blame shifter stop ASAP I Can do it - I love to just shift the blame then I don't have to take responsibility But for the deep work of the spirit to take place we need to own what we need to own Some of you have done all that you can do. I'm not talking to you. I'm assuming you realize that But for the vast majority of people listening to this message We have become really good at shifting blame shifting and not confessing and repenting and that's what cleanses the line Do you know what fuels this back up is repentant? Repentance will fuel will fill that water right back up So much so that it's it's it's that's what I love that word because what you're really doing if you think about this The word means it's not only a change of mind but what are you doing and Now I'm actually walking the way that God wants me to walk you don't think that will restore that relationship as I come on son You're walking my direction now. You're walking with me in accordance to me now. I can lead you now I can guide you now I can do all but if you're if you're walking away from me Continuing in that destructive okay. I can't do much with water. You get that living water. And so I perceive that you are a prophet. Oh, I bet you did. It's kind of funny. Commentators, when you're recommatators, it's hard because many times they don't always agree on things when you're just looking for like, of course, all the essentials. But when it's like, well, here's what I think. What was Paul Thorne, for example, 50 different commentaries will say 50 different things. But she said, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." And what I'm thinking, she's like, "While I have you here, let me ask you an important question." So it looks like doesn't it? You're a prophet. So because of that, I need to know, I need to know about worship. By the way, the worship wars started 2,000 years ago. You guys know what the worship wars are? Good. Maybe we don't know anymore. But many people,

they have their preferences. And then preference becomes the standard. Why are you singing those songs? I like these songs. Those are a little touchy feeling. We need these kind. In my favorite, I've heard over the years, Shane, men don't like a lot of those emotional songs. You need to have some manly songs. And I get it. The reason is, though, your heart's not full of God's spirit. That's the bottom line. Because I remember when I transitioned, I came out of, even my brother just sent me a picture of their own cunning in Idaho. They got 30 out of 6, 30, 30. I came from that. So men and worship, that doesn't make sense. That's for women. That's what women do. We go hunt, we fish, we make bullets and things like that. But then when you have that cry out to God and that living water, what living water worships. And we need the emotional songs. Well, they're too sappy. They're like, "Oh, how I love you?" Yeah. You should be saying in that, "You guys grow up." What are you talking about? It's a Viking song. I mean, but in all cases, it's an excuse to hide their spiritual apathy. And again, we see the worship wars. Old hymns, new hymns. Contemporary, not contemporary. Sitting, standing. Arms up, arms down. My vision is a little skewed because I've experienced a lot of different things. I remember people, they've left here like the worship is too loud, too emotional. And then the wife will say, "What do you mean?" So I've seen it all, the worship. And you do have to be careful with the worship. I got it. There's some songs we don't do anymore. There's things we're careful about. But she said, "Because you're a prophet, you know what's going on." She didn't even say, "Wow, I can't believe that." She goes, "Okay, he knows my business. He's a prophet." So let me ask you this question. I've been dying to know because when it comes to worship, you got to know if you're right. Our father, Samaritan's worship on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place you have to worship at the temple of God or on this mountain. Hey, we're worshiping God. We need to know what is right. And if you're right, why are you right? You worship what you do not know. We know, in other words, Jesus, the disciples, we know what we worship. And even the Jews, even unbelieving Jews, knew who God was intellectually. Salvation

came from the Jews. It's of the Jews. Jesus is a Messiah. However, but the hour is coming. And check this out. It's now here. He says it. So it's been this way for 2,000 years. That's why true worship is not bound by a physical location or a sacred site or outward rituals. You know that, right? So you can be here, you can just be singing, you can be doing one of these things, and whatever, that's a true worship. They will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. So in spirit means you have the Holy Spirit. You have the Holy Spirit. And actually the Bible says it cries, the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, cries of a Father. You have to worship. So all of those who think they're worshiping God, they are not worshiping God if they do not know Jesus Christ and have a relationship. They are not worshiping God in spirit. They are going through ritual and certain ritual movements and praying at this time, it's all mechanical. There's no true worship because it's not worshiping God in spirit and then in truth. So when you worship God, it's gotta be the true worship of God. You have to know that the true and living God, 'cause I've seen videos, you see me out in the sequoias, or out in these meadows, and it's this new age group, and they're like, you know, humming and holding hands, and worship, you know. And then they interview like, I felt so great after the weekend.

I bet you did. It was just relaxing. But you're not worshiping. You're not worshiping the true God. You are out of sync with the Creator. You need to repent and you need to believe in Jesus. Hollywood is great at this, aren't they? And this message is heard in Hollywood, Monday through Friday in the morning. So hopefully we'll get some of those. People come in on the freeway and challenge them. All this yoga and spirituality and crystals, that's not worship at all. Actually, I should answer this question came in. Should a Christian do yoga? No, I would not do yoga. I would call it Christian stretching. And stretch somehow. Those are all poses to God's. Now, not going to hell. It's just not a good idea to stretch and pose to other gods from that rhythm. I don't know a door that could open. Just stretch. There's plenty of videos online. But these things, oh, see they're poses of worship. Millions and millions of people think they're worshiping God and they're not. They're not worshiping God. In spirit or in truth.

Now, this part. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? For the Father is, God is looking for those who worship Him. I mean, it's one thing if we come and we worship, but God is seeking, is looking for true worshipers. Now, you could, people say, why? I mean, probably to bless, probably to honor, probably to fill with His Spirit, probably to come alongside and build up and strengthen and lead. He's looking. And then you compare a little with the Old Testament. The eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth. What's He doing? Looking for those, looking for those who passionately pursue Him. The eyes of Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him. So God is, I don't know how else you read this. He's looking for the genuine worshipers. So just that, even though you don't feel it, even though you don't see immediate results to your prayers,

anybody ever lived there? I have, many times still living there, still camped out at that campsite. But I will pursue Him and seek Him until the day I die, as will many of you. And He's looking for that. Here's some, but I can go through anything as long as I have the presence of God, as long as I have the power of God and the assurance of His salvation. And I can, you can take a person through a lot of things, as long as they know, the Lord is with me. guys, right here this? Okay, listen. That's your life. That's your life compared to eternity. And you're worried about incredible God's looking. Jesus said it. For the Father seeking such to worship Him, God is spirit. Like I said, you have to have the Holy Spirit. How do you have the Holy Spirit? You repent and you believe. And you are then born again. That's why many people have it intellectually, but they're like, that's why they walk away from the faith. That's why they deconstruct. I knew I was on that deconstruct tangent for a minute. They never had genuine saving faith. They're deconstructing because they had, well, what about can you lose your salvation? Listen, you guys, I'm not going to get. I just know they never had genuine saving faith because you don't walk away from God. You might temporarily as a prodigal son, but you're miserable. You're not all excited about making a video to tell people how God doesn't exist. God forbid intellectual knowledge. God is spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is why we also, not only do we want to be a

church, an RT, RT Kendall, I was listening to a video just yesterday. He talked about with churches that they have the passion and the zeal and they're excited and worship is great, but they need some truth. That's why they're letting all this weird stuff happen and not calling people out and holding people accountable. And it's just like, man, if it's if it's odd, it's God, if it's if it's if it's love, it's God, if it's just man, just like God handle all that. No, you're called the handle is a church. You're called to rightly divide the word of truth. And hey, hey, that's not biblical. We need to call that out. We need to guard the church from things that are not good and God like. And so you have to have the spirit and truth. But then you have other churches all just the truth. And you know it because they look grumpy. Probably the King James no offense, but you know, just just grumpy and mad and angry and pounding the pulpit all the time. And just, you know, don't don't, hey, put your arms down. Don't get too excited, man. We don't do that here. I know if churches the deacons will go and they'll go. Put your arms. You don't we don't do that here? Huh? You know, yeah. From Bible teacher, I respect the church too. But it's like, are you kidding me? Don't get too ma'am. Are you starting to cry? Are you starting? We got a prayer room? Well, they don't have a prayer room usually, but can you go? Can you go out in the lobby? Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. What's that? Don't say ma'am. Was that a tongue I heard? I'm joking. You guys are ready. But that's what it is, the true side. Oh, no, I wasn't done yet. But you can come on come up with them. So that so that's the true side, right? They quench the spirit. They quench the spirit of God. Richard Eames strum quietly might actually work pretty good here. So

they must worship in spirit and in truth. God is looking for true worshipers. Why? What's so important with worship? West side. Why do you emphasize it so much? Why? Because worship breaks down the gates of hell. Worship pulls down strongholds. That's what it does. I don't know about you, but this is how I fight my battles on my face before Almighty God and worship bread. Worship breaks the gates of hell. It pulls down strongholds into mantles demons. It annihilates deception. It restores the brokenness of our family and of our lives and of our nation. Church, we got to get back to worshiping. How do you get through what you're going through? I worship. I don't know about you. I love the word. I read the word. I saturate my word. But sometimes I got to put down the word and get on my knees and begin to call out Almighty God to come down to visit your people again. I know that He is coming." And when He comes, He will tell us all things. "Oh, what a statement." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to You, I'm He." That's one of these things, right? If that's a mic drop moment right there. Can you imagine the look on her face? Woman, I am He. "Oh my God, my God," she probably said, "My prayers have been answered. The Messiah is here. I've been restored. I've been whole. He's here." And this way I talked about last week, so I'm not going to go into detail. But this is why it's so important.

She said, "I know that Messiah is coming." She knew intellectually. See, many, many listening, you know intellectually. You know intellectually, you can say the same thing. "Oh, I know Jesus is coming. I heard about in church." That's intellectual knowledge. Intellectual knowledge will not save you. The heart has to break and cry out to God and repent, confess Him as Lord and Savior. There is no other king in my life, but King Jesus, and you have to cry out and ask for Him to restore your life. Do you know Him intimately? Because even the demons know Him. Did you know that? Is that Bible verse below your mind? Even the demons believe in Jesus and they tremble. But they don't know Him. In other words, they're not on His side. They have no relationship. The Bible says, "Return to Me with prayer and fasting. Return to Me with prayer and fasting." That was the cry of God. The cry of God. Do you know that same call goes out today a couple thousand years later? The prophets were about 3,000 years ago, 2,700, 2,500 years ago. And God says, "You've left your first love. You're worshiping by El, Astraeth. You're giving your children, you're putting them on the hot arms of Molek, and you're killing them."

Sound familiar? Man, if I were God, here comes a meteor the size of Denver. But He says, "Return to Me. Return to Me with prayer and fasting and I will return to you." Church, that's why we're in a season of fasting. We need to tell King stomach to shut its mouth for a season. Take it to the Lord and join us in September, October, whatever. Whatever got put on your heart, we can all do something. Return to Me. You've drifted. Maybe that's a message to you, return to Me. I think the final screen, I'll just go through quickly, and this is how you rehydrate. This is how you rehydrate. You ask. You desire it. Say, "Lord, I need that. I've drifted." Or maybe some of you, you've never had it. You've never had the fire of God. Why do you think I do this? Why do you think I get so passionate about it? Because when you drink of that water, of living water, you will never thirst again. And you want to tell other people about it. Hey, have you drunk deeply? Have you fully surrendered? Because God can change that. I see it all the time, marriage problems. Get both of them full of the Spirit. There's no more problems. They'll rip up the divorce papers. Absolutely.

They're both drinking deeply at the living water that Christ gave and they're full of the Spirit. They'll recognize their abusive relationship. And they'll repent and they'll restore. There's no way around it. For that to happen, it takes one to be rejecting God. In order for that union to take place again, they both need to get back on fire with God. And you have to pursue, you have to pursue this. Maybe you won't change this afternoon. Maybe you won't feel what you want to feel. But we don't go by feelings, we go by faith. You pursue and you pursue and you pursue. Let me tell you, I can tell you one thing. The more you seek Him, the more you find Him. And the more you find Him, the more you seek Him. You might not feel like it, but God says, I hear that cry and He might next week pour down His Spirit upon you so strong that you only have tears. And you pray, you pray, you pray, and repent. Repentance restores. Repentance of hard-heartedness, of arrogance, of pride. And then what, Jane? What do I do? You worship. You worship. And that renews that relationship. Isn't that where you get the fire back? You guys know. You guys know. Prayers, I love prayer. But when prayer meets worship, something miraculous takes place. Because Jesus at my house will be called the house of prayer, not preaching. And prayer and worship go together.