At the Feast of Tabernacles

(John vii:37-46.)

I. The Analysis.

(1) The cry of Christ. (See "Heart".)

(2) A theological controversy (verses 40-42).

(3) The usual result of theological controversy (verses 43-44).

(4) A great truth (verse 46).

II. The Heart of the Lesson.

The cry of the Lord is, of course, the open heart of this lesson. "If any man thirst." All of the invitations of Scripture are addressed to states of soul. "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden." "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." There is a cry in this lesson which should find many a heart in this day.

Note the time of the cry: "In the last day, that great day of the feast." Do you see? Jesus waited till all the ceremonial was over; till all the sacrifices had been offered; till all the elaborate ritual had been performed; till all the processionals, and recessionals, and antiphonies had been sung and chanted--then He stood forth and lifted up His cry, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." He said, in effect: "If among you there is one whose soul cannot be satisfied with ceremonials, and pretty religiosities; with that which at its freshest and best is but the shell and outer garmenture of faith, and at its worst is faith's shroud and coffin; if there are any among you who want realities and not shows and shadows, "let him come unto me and drink." "Out of his inmost being shall flow rivers of living water."

Our Lord was speaking of the Spirit "whom they that believe on Him should receive." In due time the Spirit came, and now every believer has the Spirit, for the Spirit is given upon the alone condition of faith, but who would say that all believers give evidence of the outflowing rivers of spiritual power and blessing? The difficulty is that, having the Spirit, believers are not filled with the Spirit (Eph. V. 18). And they are not filled with the Spirit because, satisfied with the externalities of religion, with church membership, church going, and formal and mechanical service, they do not meet the Saviour's condition--they do not "thirst."

There are three conditions which we must meet if we are to know the "rivers." The first is "thirst." It is to be divinely discontented with any life but the highest and best. It is to turn away from forms to realities. The second condition is, "come." Not a sinner's coming for salvation, but a saint's coming for power and blessing. It is just going back to Jesus to fall at His blessed feet in confession of powerlessness, uselessness. And the third condition is, "drink." Very many meet the first and second conditions who draw back in unbelief at the third. To "drink" is to receive by faith. The snare of ''feeling" is doubtless the great hindrance to faith in this vital matter. Athirst for the deeper, more vital things of the life in Christ, we come to Him for "help." There is no definiteness in our quest. We go away comforted, but we do not definitely receive the filling with the Spirit by that same simple act of faith through which we received Christ. Or, better instructed, we go to Him definitely for the filling, and then wait for feeling. Filling and feeling are not the same words, do not mean the same thing. We have heard or read some thrilling experience which was accompanied with great emotion, and we seek the emotion instead of the Spirit. Not feeling it, we conclude that we have somehow missed the way. Take the filling by naked faith, thank God that you are filled, and expect the power to be manifested, as you touch other lives.