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October 23, 2020 8:00 am
We all can use some encouragement. I will find it together today in the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton here on the Friday edition we continue in the book of John chapter 4 opening God's word discover the answer to this particular query. Once the greatest drinking ever taken. That's the message today.
The greatest drink ever taken will find out more from Dr. Wilton on that in just a moment again were headed to John chapter 4 as we study the word together for also had the phones in online to connect like to connect keyboard keyboard. We do that in GW online.org that's TE W online.org or on the phone at 866899 word Chinatown stored in your cell 866-899-9673. We would love to connect with you. You going to need your Bibles today and we going to be in John's gospel in chapter full so just get your Bibles ready.
I'll be reading from God's word in just a moment I'm going to Australia.
Somewhat raw.
The silly question.
So, if you will beg my pardon. I'm going to Austin anyway. Are you ready is anybody within the sound of my voice ever really been thirsty.
Now some of you going to say. Of course I've been thirsty and I'm going to tell you trounces that you don't know what it means to be really thirsty, not in America now that doesn't mean to say that you are not die of thirst every now and again we have so much at our fingertips darkly. We been blessed to know you guys read stories about what is happening.
Some of the atrocities in Africa you think about the refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan stories about boys and goes fleeing for their lives. People getting butchered traveling long hard distances across Barrington arid lands with literally nothing. Those people know what it means to be thirsty. Well I'm going to be a little somewhat forward today and I'm going to tell you that I really believe I know what it means to be really thirsty. I found myself in a raw the interesting part of Africa, I became involved in the Angolan Civil War was raging in Africa many years ago, but I have vivid memories of those days and I remember on one occasion, being dropped by helicopter, and I place right between the Kalahari and the nonliberal deserts of central Southwest Africa and I don't want to give you a lessening geography. But if you can picture the lower portion of Africa like that coming down to southern Africa, the nation of Angola sits here on the Atlantic seaboard side. A very large country and then right next to it is what was known as the Belgian Congo and off to the decolonization of Africa. Pres. Mobutu says the sacred took power there while I lived in that region and set up a tyrannical regime.
They became known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commonly known as Zaire. Some of you will remember the rumble in the jungle with Mohammed Ali and George Foreman many years ago in Kinshasa, the capital city of Zaire and then over to the right-hand side the upper portion of the right hand side of Zambia man by the name of Kenneth Cohen was the president there for many many years and right now, just below Zambia get Zimbabwe formally known as Southern Rhodesia. Some of you remember UDI the unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 and the uprising there in the major war that broke out that we were all involved in the cracks and loose Scots and all the things that went on during that time. Prime Minister Ian Smith and all the negotiations that were going on with Great Britain at that time. Prime Minister Harold Wilson and then to the right side of Zimbabwe, a country that today's room with a tyrannical regime under the leadership of a man by the name of Robert Gabi and Zambia to Zimbabwe with that week-old zoom is is in probably the worst condition what is going on there.
Today is just terrific.
In other to the right side you get Mozambique with its capital at Maputo and I've spent a lot of time there and there was a massive war that was raging there with the Friday Nemo terrorist organization under a man by the name of Samora Michelle, then you get South Africa with its independent republics of Swaziland, Lesotho land which became Lesotho. When it became independent and then to the north of that little kingdom will country Republic of Botswana. The leader there for many years was a man by the name of service ritzy, room Botswana for many years. Massive game reserves the want to go. Some of the best game reserves in the world you go to Botswana today and then over to the extreme left to get the nation of Namibia back in my day. It was called South West Africa and really is a barren and desolate land, mostly desert and I remember the day when six of us in one squadron would drop by helicopter, and we had full pack. I had about 100 pounds on my back carrying machine gun and various other things and we landed in a remote place and they dropped us off and basically what they said to us gentlemen, you run your own.
We had to teach you how to survive in a place where you cannot survive the one thing that we didn't have we didn't have very much food and we had no water and I tell you that was the biggest challenge of my life.
I remember one time going for seven days without one drop of water and Italy and it'll drive you insane. You can't imagine what you begin to think about and how your body begins to react and so we were forced by necessity to try to find water and we became we struck up a relationship with a clan of Cushman bushman little indigenous people, great hunters, or they can hunt with a bow and arrow like you can't imagine they can hit a buck running at 60 miles an hour. Give me a shotgun undertake me old lady hitting one time and they hit him with this little rustic bow and arrow that they might convey my poisons out of some of the roots that they get out of some of the trees and they mix them up and I shoot these animals at full run and they know how to spoken they know how to live off the land.
I remember them showing us a little cactus plot you get it and you need it in your hand like that and eventually one time he keeping with the little drop of water will run down your thumb of folks. I know this sounds somewhat desperate but I I can remember standing there like that that one drop was like I was going to the beacon for a whole gallon of sweetened iced tea.
I mean this was my whole life painted on it in just one drop on my tongue in an entire day felt like I'd drink a gallon of that's how desperate I was for something to satisfy my first bushman told us a lot of things you see out there in Africa. Folks there are thousands above being a baboon is a very vicious and wild creature. They were everywhere. They won't ever attack you.
But don't ever miss within Doug get on later like vicious leg. What things as long as that and I'll be looking creatures. Some of you say I know I'm married to what God inside Folks let me tell you about balloons, but beans love to drink water. So guess what the bushman told us to do. Find yourself a baboon capture him and follow him and he will take you to what water doesn't matter where you are. So now we've got a problem on our hands on.
Have you ever try to capture a baboon anyone here not function as what we did in the Army we were given on the issue of bully beef. I don't even know how to describe it but it was probably packed 25 years before we actually ate it and it was a can of something that you hate, and if you didn't eat it. You could take it out and throw it at someone, it would kill them anyway so it had a kind of a dual purpose some of the men looking at me saying I remember is that right Janice ought to, so we took one count of bully beef and we cut a little hole in the top and we tied it to something and we waited about 3 o'clock in the morning we heard him come biggest baboon I've ever seen in my life and he came along he smelt that food folks but beans will find truth doesn't matter where they and he came along first thing he did stockings all hand inside that can guess what he wouldn't let it go and he's hand was stuck only had to do was let go. It's only after Billy was a free man. He held on all the issue tarpaulins that we all carried in the desert because of the scorpions. The scorpions were deadly and we knew how to counter these in the pop matters in the cobras and all the other animals and reptiles that were rather interesting and so we took two of these little tarpaulins and the six of us pounced on this baboon. It was an interesting time but I wish they had video cameras back then I didn't even know what they were and we pounced on him and we took him into captivity Army. We had us a hostage folks. We tried that puppy up.
He was growling and snarling, sprinting, carrying on. We tidy my patties hands behind his back and Barry was just looking at me. He's reciting his eyes. The same boy if I get out of this, you're in trouble. Big bore you know, we gave them for the rest of the night salt tablets all me issue salt tablets later about that big and we just every now and again pop assault tablet down needed mind what it was they need anything folks doesn't matter what it he never said that salt on the money that he saw. By the time the sun came up. At 415 in the morning that puppies was the size of his entire head.
I mean, he had a thirst on him, something horrible. Not even have any Gatorade to give it. I mean, he was sitting there. He's tongue was out of his mouth and he had Walter written all over his face.
Well, here comes the next day we untied them but we stationed ourselves strategically across the desert. Guess what that baboon did when we untied, he took off like you can't imagine folks like a beamline and we want we followed off him. It was one of the most difficult runs I've ever made with steel helmets and all the stuff wrapped around us and we went over the hill and down Dale finally came over this big dude man there.
It was the smallest little oasis in the middle of the days can't explain. There was a little bubble of water that came up from wherever it came up from and that Bob Moon boy. He would going 100%. I mean he's tongue was hanging out. He said I don't care who's a line what's in line I'm gonna drink, and as he got to the water. We shot folks, I'm trying to tell you we would desperate. You never shot a baboon before we were so desperate we couldn't allow that baboon to drink the water and pollute the water and end up with what we knew we would get if he drank the water. Now where the other animals that come off course, but we went concerned about other animals and so folks, I had a drink of water very carefully, one by the way from that little oasis to satisfy my dying thirst and it came at great cost but you know something in that desert. I drink that water in one hour later, I was thirsty again and we were not allowed to stay in the same place. So the search began all over. I want to speak to you this morning for just a moment on the greatest drink that you will ever take. I want to make an announcement to you today my friend, I'm going to give you a guarantee, you drink from this, will that I present to you today. You'll never thirst again.
The Bible tells us in John chapter 4, you might want to look at it with me that the Lord Jesus in verse four, had to go to Samaria so he came to town in Samaria called Sarkar by the way, I just happened to be the I'm talking about a place that I've been to his will. I'm going back in November and a lot of you have an empty or going with me.
I'm going to tell you Sarkar in Samaria is a very desolate place. There is nothing they and the Bible says it was near the plot of ground Jacob given to his son Joseph and Jacob's well was there, and Jesus tied as he was from the journey set down by the will. When the Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to will you give me something to drink.
It sent these disciples into the little Bedouin village to pick up some food. The Samaritan woman said to him you're a Jew and I'm a Samaritan woman. How can you cost me for something to drink because Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus also to if you knew the gift of God and who it is that Austin for a drink. You are the boss statement he would've given you living water, so the woman said you've nothing to draw within the well is deep where can you get this living water on you telling me that you are greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as it also his sons and his flocks in these words and Jesus understood everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again but who drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst in the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. I want to present to you the giver.
This Walter to do that with Dr. Dunn insisted I remind you this is not just a presentation of his message, but it's an opportunity to ask God to take the living word of God, the Bible itself, and continually move into our spirits and our hearts and our minds and help change the way we live and respond to the world which we live.
God's word is not just some theological discussion that your hearing Dr. Don, but you're seeing that God wants to use his word to make us the men and women of God is called us to be as we study the word together know were available for you were connecting online@tbwonline.org that's TE W online.org so if you taken a peek behind the curtain seeing the new website is coming up in just a few weeks, but new or old.
The website gives you all the information, especially in signing up for the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don.
They could beat it is the most popular resource we have, whether you get the hard copy we sent out to you in the quarterly fashion we sign up for the email. Any of you, me and my hand in the air. First, I like both of them. My bride uses the hard copy and I love the email. You can sign up online for the daily Encouraging Word email actually free right now@tewonline.org that's TE W online.org also called ask your hard copy if you like that quarterly version like my bride likes@866-899-WORD 866899673. Now back to today's message with Dr. Don Wilton that when you drink it, it will be the greatest drink ever take that you never thirst again. You see, my friend.
Again this is that the Bible talks about the reason why I'm so delighted to present him to you today is that this give this Walter will do something for you that you cannot do for yourself that this water will ask you the most searching question that you could ever be lost. Now look what he seen here in this passage, folks, this is what he said in verse seven comes this lady, the Samaritan woman and Jesus asks a searching question that is very interesting.
He doesn't say to her. Let me give you something to drink and you is that what's wrong with this picture.
Jesus didn't win. This lady came there, and Jesus is who he says he is and she walks in there and there he is seated at the well of Jacob.
Jesus didn't turn to her and say to her lady. Let me give you something to drink.
Interesting.
Jesus knew what she needed me because he was God, but to listen let me give you something that will cause you to never thirst again. The first thing that he did was he cost her a most searching question.
Garrett was lady, will you give me something to drink. Let me interpret that for you folks.
What are you going to do about me here. I he was about to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but he confronted her at that initial confrontation with the same question that all of us all being confronted with you now deep and dying first walked we going to do about Jesus Christ because he say you know he is, you know, folks. You can go to look at the lives of people all across America, people live and people die. We read about stories like that all the time. Jesus said, would you give me something to drink.
In other words, would you say to me when you play attention to me. Folks we've got it wrong. We walk around saying excuse me and give me something God do something for me, God, and God looks at us and said excuse me I am the creator made you and the purpose with which I made you was to have ownership in the worship of me. It's not about what I do for you what are you going to do about me is I'm the only one that's got the key to kingdom living on the only one who can give you water to drink from. That will mean that you will never thirst again.
I want to present to you the giver of this water folks, not only because he lost your most searching question. But secondly, because he will challenge your sense of comfort right there in verse nine, the Bible says her comfort zone was challenged.
Well I tell you, even today. It's true. Folks there is such tremendous racial tension in the Middle East back in the time of the Lord Jesus Samaritans and Jews just kind of didn't get along together they hated each other. I mean, they wouldn't even talk folks there were major problems in the society in which Jesus walked and talked.
Women were treated like scumbags they were not things they were divisions between gender, they were divisions between race groups and ethnic groups in this group and that group and people hated one another and when you position your self to take the greatest drink that you've ever taken. Just what's gonna happen you to be challenged in the centerpiece of your own comfort zone. In other words, God is going to turn your world upside down. 30.
I had a conversation with a wonderful friend of Davey's walking life to Jesus Christ and he said these exact words to me. He said to me pasta.
I have given my heart to Jesus because I've made the greatest decision that could possibly be made and to summarize what he said to me he said my whole life was different. Everything that I have everything that I am belongs to God.
Some things happen. My comfort zone.
Everything's been turned upside down because I've taken a drink of the water by which I will never thirst again some interesting dynamic that takes place here in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus, the giver of this water number three will present you with an absolute truth is what the Bible says folks in John chapter 4 verse 13 has the absolute truth.
Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again but you drink of the life-giving water that I give you. Jesus said it will be coming here my a spring of water welling up to eternal life. This is the kind of drink that you take that will be the greatest drink that you've ever taken, because you'll never have to go back. Your life will be turned on its head. You see my friends. People like you and me. We will searching we spend our lives searching to quench our thirst. By the way, not all the things that we search to quench our thirst are necessarily bad things, but you and I know that so many people searching in affluence, money and materialism. Nothing wrong with being blessed. Some of the most wonderful godly giving people I've ever made on people moving blasted. They know they blast and they use the blessings to be a blessing to others.
That's not the point.
You what is the point you will never find the quenching of your first annual materialistic happen.
There's a search going on. Folks people are just people you could be the most famous Hollywood star you could win an Oscar but you need not going to have you first cringed and Jesus looked at this lady and he said to present you with absolute truth because I'm day to tell you something that I give turn your world upside down. You never thirst again great teaching from Dr. Don Wilton. That's what you been listening to here on The Encouraging Word. And don't we all pray for God to turn our world upside down so that we would never thirst again spiritually pray that you would open your heart to the change that God's calling and perhaps the very first change to say yes to Jesus. We did take a moment's closing talk to my pastor Dr. Don Wilton ready to give you life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer right. Dear God, I know that on the seventh and I know that Jesus died for cross today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my awful Jesus and I my friend. I would welcome you today into the family of God.
This is exciting new.
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