The Water You Hold in Your Hand
When we get a glass of water, we want it to be clear and clean, so we can drink it. So we can be refreshed. Having lived in rural Alaska for eight years, I have lived in and visited a few villages where fresh, clean drinking water is a problem for many. In one village, the water distribution system often broke down. I was told, "Wait a few hours, it will come back on." A day or so later we had water again.
In another village, the drinking water was laced with arsenic and those who used the water needed a special purifying system. My thought? "Can I trust anything mechanical in rural Alaska?"
In many villages the water contained large amounts of rust that left everything that was washed in it brown. And still in another, the village water became contaminated by Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that were used to de-ice planes. The run-off of these chemicals from the airport made the nearby wells to have undrinkable water.
Jesus says that he offers us clear, clean, living water. Jesus also gives us a command to go and deliver this living water to people who have not heard. But with that strong, consistent delivery of the water often comes attacks of the enemy. He is out to contaminate and destroy Christian lives.
I. God is Pleased when You Deliver Water
One time I was struggling with whether I was doing what the Lord had wanted me to do. I had followed every idea and step that God had given me, yet the attacks from the enemy were so strong I could hardly ignore them. I continued to work hard for Jesus. One week the organization I was leading saw over 100 people come to Christ.
When the evil one couldn’t break my will to continue working for Jesus, he began to have people attack my character and my employment. I was feeling a huge struggle. I called on God to come to my rescue and encourage my heart. God did come to my rescue, and he did send me encouragement in many ways. Two of them I want to share with you today.
The ministry I led was called “We Care.” We called it this because we cared for people with various needs throughout the city. We went into local nursing homes and prisons. We also provided group counseling to those who were divorced, addicted to drugs, and for those living in grief after a loved one's death.
But the emotional and mental attacks were so heavy, I began to doubt the work I was doing. I could not see clearly how much God loved me and loved the people this organization was reaching. I was very tired.
One day I went into the nursing home to preach. I presented the word from God. When I finished a woman setting in a wheelchair motioned for me to come over to her. This woman could not speak coherently. She seldom seemed to say anything at all. It seemed strange that she would motion to me. When I came close, she said very clearly. “Keep doing what you are doing, for I am pleased with you.”
I had never received such a direct message from the Lord. I began to rejoice. Then I knew also that this message was for all the people at that service—about 30 of them. I knew they all felt that from their wheelchairs they could not serve God well. I knew they needed encouragement. So, I talked with them about how the water—the Word of God, the words of exhortation, the acts of mercy—that they did daily was important. That God saw them and was saying “Keep doing what you are doing, for I am pleased with you.”
Today, if you are discouraged, if you are experiencing attacks from the evil one, “Keep doing what you are doing, for God is pleased with your work for him.”
II. You are called to deliver the Water
About the same time as this Word from the Lord through the lady, I went to bed discouraged and tired. I asked God what am I doing for you and why. I should not have had to ask this question, but I was so tired. When I woke up the next morning, very clearly I heard the Lord say in my mind, “You are a purveyor.”
I asked God “What is a purveyor?” I had never heard this word before? I went to the internet and searched the dictionary. The first definition I found said that a “purveyor is a distributor of water to a region.” God was telling me that He was using me to distribute spiritual water to a region of people who would otherwise be very dry.
At that time, we held 18 services a month in the nursing homes and prisons and conducted 18 Bible studies across my city. I had the privilege of directing these services and studies where people were receiving fresh water that would otherwise not receive.
Currently my husband and I pastor a church in Bristol Bay. The Alaska Assemblies of God Network asked us to be point people for ministry in the Bristol Bay area which includes 32 small villages. The Central Yupik villages are considered part of the unreached people groups list as 2% or less are associated with evangelical Christianity.
God calls us all to be purveyors or distributors of his His ministering, restoring, life-giving, miraculous water wherever we live and work.
III. Ministering Water
In First Kings 19:21, we learn that Elisha left his work to be a servant or minister to Elijah. In II Kings 3:11, we are told that Elisha is the one who poured water on the hands of Ellijah. He used water to minister to the prophet. Perhaps the water you are distributing is serving the residents in a nursing home or a childcare facility. Perhaps you’ve been asked to serve people in your office. The Bible says in Matthew 20:26 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
Be a distributor of water as a servant—because God honors servant leadership. People need the water of the Lord.
IV. Life-giving Water
Jesus' water moves people from death to life.
In Numbers 20 the Israelites were wandering in the desert but had not found water for days. They began to oppose Moses, saying “Why had we not died with our brothers. There is no water to drink.”
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. "The Lord said to Moses, 'Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
God provided lifegiving water in a miraculous way. People crying out for the water that only God can give. God wants us to be the purveyor of miraculous water that will bring people from death to life.
V. Miraculous Water--the Good News of Jesus
Proverbs 25:25 reminds us “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”
We know that the Gospel message is Good News from heaven. It’s available for distribution to co-workers, friends and family. God has said in Deuteronomy and in Joshua, "Do not be discouraged." Take the land that God has given to you. Bring the gospel message to people in your area, your nation, your land that need the Lord.
VI. God’s water is a restoring water
Water represents the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives a water that will never run dry. John 7:38 says, "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
VII. The Drink Offering
You are a purveyor of living water; do not be discouraged. If you are facing troubles and difficulties because of the gospel message, because of the miraculous waters you are distributing, because the ministering waters, remember that you are being poured out for Jesus. In Psalm 22 :14, a discouraged David said, “I am poured out like water.”
His whole body and soul had been spent. He was being poured out like a drink offering. For the sins of people, the priests in the temple would offer a “drink offering.” They would take water and pour it out on the ground. Water is precious in the Israelite society. To pour it out was like pouring out your entire life before the Lord. Be willing to offer yourself as a drink offering poured out before the Lord.
Your distribution of the Water of God to a dry and thirsty people is essential.
Don’t be discouraged. God is pleased with what you are doing. Keep bringing the water to the nations, the peoples, the friends, and the co-workers in your ministering circle. People need Jesus.
Chronological Bible Daily Reading Schedule
Our One Year Bibles finally arrived at Bristol Bay Church, Dillingham, AK. We have decided to start on March 17, 2024, which means it will take until next March 17, 2025, to finish reading all the way through. If you asked for a soft cover copy or would like one, please see me on anytime this week or on Sunday. I have about 10 of these. You can also purchase the electronic copy on Christianbook.com The One Year Chronological Bible NLT - eBook: 9781414361628 - Christianbook.com I will have a few journals and notebooks as well in case you want one to keep your answers in to the questions below in a notebook. And/or send them to me and we can stay in contact: pastorval@bristolbay.church
For those who want to read along in your own Bible, I will publish the passages for the week in a special column to check off. I look forward to reading with you. Each week I will also send some study questions to go with your reading if you choose to use them. Reply with questions and answers. I look forward to reading God's Word with you daily.
June 17
2 Chronicles 21:8-22:9
2 Kings 8:23-10:31
June 18
2 Kings 11:1-12:16
2 Kings 10:32-36
2 Chronicles 22:10-24:22
June 19
2 Kings 12:17-13:25
2 Chronicles 24:23-27
June 20
2 Kings 13:12-15:5
2 Chronicles 25:1-26:21
Jonah 1:1-4:11
June 21
Amos 1:1-6:14
June 22
Amos 7:1-9:15
2 Kings 14:28-15:29
2 Chronicles 26:22-23
Isaiah 6:1-13
June 23
2 Kings 15:32-16:9
2 Chronicles 27-28:15
Micah 1:1-16
Isaiah 7:1-25
