Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

The Word on the Mountain
(Lesson 11)

The Hungry and the Thirsty (Part 4 of 5)

The Study of Water (continued)

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 AV)

“A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the LORD [is] upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD [is] upon many waters.” (Psalms 29:1-3 AV)

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1 AV)

To establish and ensure longevity in the works that the LORD GOD Wills, the faithful Christian must cast these righteous teachings upon the living waters of the LORD GOD. It is through this moving of His Will and Ways, that brings His Works to perfect completion, and establishes them firmly in His time.

“[When] the poor and needy seek water, and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, [and] the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.” (Isaiah 41:17-20 av)

The abundant waters provided by the LORD GOD are apparent in recognizing the places of His provision. Not only are His living waters available in the high places of spiritual realm, but also in the midst of the low valleys of natural realm that only have the spiritual realm shadows casting over it. Even deeper into the natural realm, in the places of the dry and desolate wilderness where no hints of spiritual realm are present, the LORD GOD provides springs and pools of His living water to give His people drink.

Trees represent the spiritual lives of men walking toward the LORD GOD. The different trees represent different types of spiritual life in different places that are planted by Him.

“A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalms 23:1-3 AV)

Many interpret the "still waters" to be a place of peaceful contemplation but it instead represents a place of confusion for faithful Christians. When the water is still, the Will of God is not apparent. It is the flowing, moving, living waters of the LORD GOD that gives us drink, and moves us along the path He has chosen for us. When the waters are still, our spiritual bearings could easily become disorientated and lost. The LORD GOD is our shepherd, and leads us BESIDE the still waters, not in them nor does he give drink from them. It is His Will that His people walk on the path of righteousness...and He leads them to that place. It is, in fact, not the still waters, but rather His leading that restores our souls.

“Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness; And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [and] of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.” (Ezekiel 12:18-19 AV)

The Word (bread) of the LORD GOD should be consumed in awe, and the handling of His Will (water) with carefulness and trembling, with a fearful awareness of adverse consequences should His Word or Will be misused.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence [against] the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood [that] I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.” (Joel 3:18-21 AV)

“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41 AV)

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17 AV)

There is much confusion among Christians as to why Jesus Christ needed to be baptized if he was without sin. We know that the Baptism of Jesus Christ brings death to a believer as he goes under the baptismal waters, thus causing sin to release it's hold within the body and dying also. It is through this death, and the resulting resurrection birth by faith and knowledge of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, that completes the process of new birth into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ did not receive his own baptism. That baptism did not become a reality, until after Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried, and then resurrected three days later. It was his sacrifice on the cross that brought death to sin once and for all, and it was his resurrection that brought life to those who believed in him. It was then that the Baptism of Jesus Christ was made available to believers to bring death to sin once and for all, in the name and remembrance of the sacrifice and resurrection of their savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ did not receive the Baptism of John either. He had no need to repent of sin, because Jesus Christ never, ever sinned.

The Baptism that Jesus Christ received was a special Baptism that declared his intention of doing the Will of the LORD GOD completely, and giving his life totally to the control of His Father. Before his baptism, Jesus Christ was in control of his life and could choose the directions he journeyed. At the moment of his total submersion into the waters of His Father's Will, he gave up his own will, and immersed himself completely into the Will of the LORD GOD, a sacrifice which would one day bring his death. This great act of love and faith in his Father in accepting His Will rather than the leadings of his own will, caused great pride to come to the LORD GOD, and He declared “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.” (Isaiah 55:1-5 AV)

For Christians, the purchase price was paid by the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and as a result, the water and bread of the LORD GOD are given through him to his followers.

“In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37)

When Christians drink of the water, milk, and wine provided through Jesus Christ, their souls delight in the richness of His nourishments. This allows the believers to come to the LORD GOD with their complete beings.

“Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he].” (John 4:5-26 AV)

Their conversation concerning water gives great depth to our knowledge of the waters brought by Jesus Christ...

The living water provided by Jesus Christ has vital power in substance that brings vigorous and active life to the souls of those who drink.

“In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 av)

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:32-34 AV)

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And [having] an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:19-23 av)

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:24-27 av)

In fact, it is the Word of God that brings the water to all thirsty believers...remember John 1:1-4...

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and the Word of God brings the living waters of the LORD GOD's Will to those who believe in him. Those waters cleanse the believers and make them holy and without blemish.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:1-13 AV)

There cannot be Works, without both the Word (Bread) and Will (Water) of the LORD GOD combined. It is these two key ingredients together that bring forth His Works.

“This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” (1 John 5:6-9 AV)

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” (Revelation 22:1-3 AV)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7 AV)

Jesus Christ gives the thirsty the water of the LORD GOD according to His expressed Will. Those who drink of His Waters receive restoration, cleansing, and knowledge of His Will. When this knowledge and doing of His Will are combined with the eating of bread through the Word of God, then His Works are established and made fruitful and plentiful.

The deepness of the Water of God does not stop there, as we are led on even a deeper understanding of the drinks provided to the thirsty, through the events that began at the start of Jesus Christ's ministry...The changing of water into wine...the subject of our next study!

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. "The Hungry and the Thirsty (The Study of Water continued)." The Word on the Mountain Jan 2007.   <http://guidedbiblestudies.com/sermon/11mountain.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2007, January) "The Hungry and the Thirsty (The Study of Water continued)." The Word on the Mountain Retrieved   from http://guidedbiblestudies.com/sermon/11mountain.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L.(2007) "The Hungry and the Thirsty (The Study of Water continued)." The Word on the Mountain (January), http://guidedbiblestudies.com/sermon/11mountain.htm (accessed )

About the Author

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

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