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Drinking from the Well of Living Water



Dear Storm-tossed, Worn and Weary Traveler,

The seas are raging, and the waters are rough. There is scant assurance from both history and the near horizon that the world is getting more peaceful; on the contrary, it continues to churn and convulse without end. Yes, there will be peace on earth, but not before the perfect storm is over. Even so, I pray that your soul is well. Many of us have ventured into uncharted waters these past few years, following the starry signals overhead given by the Captain Himself.

While the coast isn't clear just yet, we know we are so close to harbor. So close to home.

What you and I need right now is endurance. Knowing what we know about the Master's plan can be a burden at times, especially when no one else shares our joy and understanding (Eccl. 1:18). Nevertheless, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Captain and trust that His gracious Word is sufficient. His word is the fuel to our faith, a nourishing fire that can cause the frigid heart to burn again with a sustaining passion and fervor.

Fellow traveler, have the winds of change and unmet expectations blown you off course? Are you in dire need of an anchor to keep you steady in these days of testing? Have you forgotten that your soul is thirsty for so much more than anything you could ever hope to find in this world, yes, even if you were to sail the seven seas seven times over?

Listen to the heart-cry of someone who is keenly aware of their thirst:

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (Psalm 42:1-2, NLT).

We learn from God's word that we are thirsty people who thirst for the source of life. We are longing and looking for, not an elusive or perishable fountain of youth, but the fountain of truth—the eternal spring of living water sent from heaven above (Jn. 4:13-14; cf. Ps. 87:7). Nothing and no one else will satisfy.

If you are experiencing deep disappointment and disillusionment right now, then please take note. If you are angry and bitter toward another brother or sister, a pastor or church leader for letting you down, then please understand that there is a better way forward.

Listen to these wise words from a well-traveled Christian counselor who has encountered many hurting and thirsty people along the way:

...when we acknowledge the deep ache in our soul which would not be there had our parents loved us perfectly, we begin to see how thirsty we are for what no one has provided. We can recognize our demanding dependence on people, our sinful insistence that others do for us what they cannot do (a form of idolatry). When we learn to accept people who disappoint us by no longer requiring them to satisfy us, then we're free to love them, to reach toward them for their sake without having to protect ourselves from feeling disappointed by their response to us (Dr. Larry Crabb, Inside Out, pg. 117).

At the end of the day and when all is said and done, there is no one else to blame but ourselves if we choose to ignore the truth about our thirst and the foolish ways we have searched for healing and wholeness apart from God.

And since we are all human, none of us are immune to the error of self-protective schemes. We've all developed some form of defense mechanism to protect ourselves from guaranteed pain, rejection, and confusion in life, but there are some reading this today who know better. Your manufactured safeguards aren't working for you anymore, and deep down you know it.

Listen again to a few words of wisdom:

Feeling our disappointment puts us in touch with a part of our soul that longs for much more than anyone in this life will ever provide. As we ache over the reality of wanting what we do not have, we can begin to understand Paul's eager anticipation of the Lord Jesus' return (cf. Rom. 8:15-25). Keenly felt disappointment in the present supplies the energy for passionate hope for the future (Ibid., 118).

You see, nothing strange about longing for the Lord's return. It's not weird or kooky or fringe. Sadly, it is abnormal and strange to see a Christian who doesn't long for Christ. When the talk turns to the end-times (ahem, the times that we're living in now), well it always seems like these folks have something more important to do and someplace better to be.

But what could be more important than your relationship to God, and what place could possibly be better than the courts of heaven (Ps. 84:10)?

No sense in pretending or remaining in denial: We want the pain in our hearts to be relieved and God's promises to be fulfilled. Ain't nothing wrong with acknowledging the ache in our soul that won't be fully healed until we see Jesus face to face. It's okay to hurt. It's okay to groan (something very different from grumbling and complaining, by the way—Php. 2:14).

But then again, someone might chime in, "Moaning and groaning doesn't sound very Christian...you know, the blessed life." My response: Are you holier than the Holy Spirit? Are you too good for groaning? You might want to rethink your approach to trials, setbacks, and failures (see Romans 8:26).

In short, if we're honest with ourselves, then we'll acknowledge the deep disappointment in our hearts, humble ourselves, and cast our cares upon our Almighty Father (1 Pet. 5:6-7). When no one else understands, He does. When no one else is available, He is. When the pain becomes unbearable and you're tired of faking it, He still cares and has provided a Mediator to lift your burden and take on the weight (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16).

And even though the body of Christ can help carry your burdens and stand shoulder to shoulder with you from time to time, each one of us will still have our own load to bear (Gal. 6:5). But don't let that discourage you—we should always press on and refuse to give up (Gal. 6:9). Furthermore, among the body there are those whom you share a kindred interest: such as a love for studying prophecy and searching out the deep things of God. However, there are some things that you can't share, because they are too deep for words—both pain and joy inexpressible:

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy (Proverbs 14:10, NIV).

 Another wise man agrees and testifies elsewhere:

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11, ESV).

Since the LORD alone is the only One who knows us more than we know ourselves (1 Kgs. 8:39), isn't it better to allow the Word of God to dismantle our foolish thoughts and ideas now, rather than suffer a great loss later, at the time when "all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account" (Heb. 4:13)?

Yes, an honest look inside is the best way forward. Today is the day when someone can experience a breakthrough by breaking down a stronghold in their life (2 Cor. 6:1-2; 10:3-5). When our way isn't working for us anymore, it's time to ask the LORD to expose our faulty thinking and lead us in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

In closing, I want to encourage those who are struggling to endure. For those of you who aren't sure if you can make it one more day, let me tell you what the Spirit of God spoke into the heart of a fellow brother and traveler. I'll call him Nelson to protect his identity.

Nelson and I talk infrequently, probably about three to four times a year. He lives in poverty and has struggled with a mental illness all of his adult life. From the standpoint of worldly success and accomplishment, he doesn't have much to brag about. However, he does know the Lord, and I have undeniably witnessed the Spirit confirm things to him over and over. In other words, I have no doubt that he is my brother in Christ, occasional paranoia and delusional thoughts, notwithstanding.

A few days ago Nelson called me. He wasn't doing well, and I could tell by his voice that he was anxious and afraid. He told me that he didn't think he could go on another day. Apparently, this was one of those bad days when the pernicious thoughts of self-harm were overwhelming his senses and strength.

After listening for a while and letting him express his concerns, I asked Nelson to tell me what he knows about the Lord. I read a few passages of Scripture and suspected that he might counter with another anxious thought or rebuttal.

To my surprise and with a sudden change of tone, Nelson said to me boldly, "You know what, I didn't swim across an ocean only to drown in a puddle right now." 

Then came those familiar chill bumps. I knew the Holy Spirit had just downloaded this piece of wisdom and brilliance into his soul, and we were both blessed and encouraged by what the Lord did in his heart at that moment.

Fellow traveler, be encouraged. God only knows what you're really going through right now. Keep going, and don't judge yourself by the standards of men. For it is written:

Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV).

We long for your return, Lord Jesus.
Post A Comment

41 comments:

  1. Thank you, Jeff. I definitely needed this today (and most days!). The battle rages and we're bruised and bloodied, but we press on. I often feel like Nelson, but God gives me strength for just one more day... and then one more day...

    "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near." - 2 Timothy 4:6

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  2. Thank you for this timely article. I needed it so much. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. Thank you brothers and sisters.

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  3. Quoting from Jeff ...

    "We learn from God's word that we are thirsty people who thirst for the source of life. We are longing and looking for, not an elusive or perishable fountain of youth, but the fountain of truth—the eternal spring of living water sent from heaven above (Jn. 4:13-14; cf. Ps. 87:7). Nothing and no one else will satisfy."

    This eternal water of life that John speaks of comes from the rock, speaking of Jesus. This is an amazing and quite symbolic picture that God was painting for the Israelites way back in the days of the Exodus during their wandering in the wilderness when Moses was told to speak to the rock and water would come forth. It is most certainly a picture for us today. The symbolism of the water and the rock go hand in hand. Jesus is the rock from which the well-spring of eternal life will flow. Seek not your comfort from the sinking ship of this quickly perishing world. In the end, the rock from which the water of eternal life flows, the water that the soul of all men thirst for, will ultimately fill the whole earth and that is all that there will be ... and rather soon:

    “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34-35).

    Seek the stone which holds the fountain of living water springing up into eternal life ...

    "... but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

    This is the thirst that God has put into the soul of every single human being whether they know what it is or not. In the end, it is this water that flows from this rock that will be the final reckoning for every man and woman who has ever drawn breath. Seek him while he may be found ...

    "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" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

    It is he that has put the unquenchable thirst in the soul of all men ... a thirst that only he can quench.

    PROPHECY IN ROCK, STONE AND CLAY
    https://endtimesdarknessdescending.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/prophecy-in-rock-stone-and-clay/#more-2895

    It's coming.






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    1. I love your articles on endtimesdarknessdescending and thank you for posting the links in your comments. I look forward to reading this latest link.

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    2. Thank you. Glad you're enjoying them. I've spent many a late night in front of the computer.

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  4. You guys are the absolute best!!! I searched daily for your articles here and always find hope and inspiration to continue on in this daily walk with Christ. Thank you for being so diligent, responsible and faithful in your testimony to the Holy Spirit's working in each of your lives. You are all a true blessing to everyone he finds their way wonderful site!!! May God bless you each and every one!!!

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  5. Very nice. I have a Nelson in my family so can relate. My Nelson also has truly brilliant moments that can only be given by the Holy Spirit. Thanks.

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  6. thanks jeff i needed the words you spoke, i am facing the possibility of losing my job due to the length it is going to take me to recover and with losing the job i will be uninsured . i do get discouraged sometimes facing these possibilities and i am having to walk by faith and it can be a difficult thing to do. it is human nature to want to try to steer our lives as we think they ought to go when our savior is telling us to keep our hands off of the wheel when GOD is trying to tell us be still and know that i am GOD.

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    1. Watso911, regarding your illness and insurance, have you looked into your "Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)" rights? It covers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave without losing your medical coverage. Also check into short and long term disability which your employer may provide. I pray that the Great Physician will heal you. May your faith grow during this trial as you lean on Him. God bless you!

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    2. Watso911, Jehovah Jurah, God is my provider, Jehovah Rappha, God is my healer. Trust Him even when it's the hardest thing to do. God didnt come to drop us in our time of need. He is compassionate, loving, and He and He alone will see you through. Your right, Be still and know that He is God. One of my favorite Scriptures. Be encouraged

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  7. Powerfully encouraging dear brother!
    Thank you Lord Jesus for blessing us here on earth with loving, encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ!

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  8. Thank you, your message is timely in such difficult times when all hope is gone.

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  9. God has taken this piece and dropped comfort into my heart. You could not have known the pain my heart has endured these past few weeks, culminating tonight in a meltdown of emotion that still has me reaching for tissues. How long, Lord? How long? How. I. Long. Thank-you for this prophetic and edifying word.

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  10. Greetings Watso911 - I am adding you to my prayer list. May our Lord Jesus guide you through this difficult time and bring healing and peace to you as He sculpts your future. Rest assure that no matter what life brings at you, we have victory in Jesus Christ whom did the impossible on the cross so we may the gift of eternity made possible to us. He loves more than we can truly know.

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  11. "But what could be more important than your relationship to God, and what place could possibly be better than the courts of heaven (Ps. 84:10)?"
    So true. This is uplifting to the mind and spirit. Even those physical ills we may have, seem forgotten.
    I am sure there are those who feel that coldness of heart and can't, couldn't or would't acknowledge this at some point ... But, Jesus says, Come to the waters,
    "For Those Tears I Died"
    Verse 1
    You said You'd come
    And share all my sorrows
    You said You'd be there
    For all my tomorrows
    I came so close to sending You away
    But just like You promised
    You came there to stay
    I just had to pray
    Verse 2
    Your goodness so great
    I can't understand
    And dear Lord I know
    That all this was planned
    I know You're here now
    And always will be
    Your love loosed my chains
    And in You I'm free
    But Jesus why me
    Verse 3
    Jesus I give You
    My heart and my soul
    I know that without God
    I'd never be whole
    Savior You opened
    All the right doors
    And I thank You and praise You
    From earth's humble shores
    Take me I'm Yours

    Very nice,Jeff!

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  12. Thank you, Jeff. What a timely and encouraging post!!

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  13. Most encouraging and edifying Jeff, Thank you!!

    Whenever I wrestle with God to overcome uncertainty, difficulties and bad feelings there's Peters word from John 6:68-69 on my mind which again gives me a new push forward. WHERE SHOULD I GO ELSE?

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  14. Very Good encouragement. thanks Jeff.

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  15. Thank you Jeff! Very timely post!

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  16. Jeff, spot on as always. There is nothing more important than to realize the source of the Living Water which should be our primary source of replenishing, uplifting and comfort. Thank you for this. This might add a bit to your worship collection.
    CLICK HERE FOR WATER Blessings - Sherry

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  17. It is clear from reading this encouragement that you have dwelled upon writing it and that seemingly springing from a love of Our Lord and a desire to uphold us all, thank you. Your patience, woven throughout the message, here, models well for us a detail we do well to add to our Watch, amen.

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  18. Beautiful, just beautiful! Thank you for sharing such encouraging words! I shared to Facebook as one never knows just who needs to hear this message at such a time as this. Thank you and God bless!

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  19. Jeff, your words are "like apples of gold in settings of silver" brother...thank you for that cool drink of water on a parched soul! There's nothing like the encouragement of the word - what a day it will be when we are all there together remembering back on these days and how we longed and waited for our coming King! Thanks again!

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  20. That there seems to be a holy bulls eye! Well received brother.

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  21. How very encouraging and comforting at the same time at this late hour to read these words from you, Jeff! Thank you for this compilation of such special words for us to read when many of us are at the end of our ropes and wonder what to do next while we wait for our blessed hope to appear and show us what He has prepared for those who wait, have developed patience and endurance, and not only love for our so awesome God but fear, reverence and respect for Him, as well. Again, thank you for these insights!

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  22. Thank you so much for this article. It was perfectly timed for many including myself. I find myself feeling very alone these days as I have nobody to share my faith with in my life. I come here because I feel like this is where I can be with others in the body of Christ/Church. I love reading the articles here and I thank you very much for this article Jeff. It has given me a renewed sense of courage to stay the course regardless of feeling alone in my life. I know that the Lord hears my prayers as your article was an answer to one of my prayers. I had just watched a video recently and when I scrolled down in the video comments there was the typical scoffer who was chastising everyone that he referred to as "you people." He went on to pretty much malign everyone for basically being stupid and that Jesus had already returned and wasn't coming ANYTIME in the future. It was such a downer to read his comment and I must admit it left me feeling angry towards scoffers in general. Why do people feel the need to say such horrendous inaccuracies? All I can say is I prayed for exactly what your article stated. It was a much needed article with backing scriptures to help defray the constant onslaught of scoffers and non-believers. Thank you all at Unsealed.org and Blessed be everyone, :)

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    1. We're glad you're "with us" Joan. Blessings - Sherry

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  23. Thank you, Jeff. That was a very much needed lift...

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  24. Thank you so so much, Jeff. Although you wrote this awhile ago, God's timing is perfect. My, how this resonated with my soul today. I have really been under attack (yet again) and didn't see it. The verses you quoted are among my top 10 and I read Larry Crabb's Inside Out over 20 years ago, early after being saved, and it really opened a practical door to my spiritual transformation. You are right - we are so close. I've been watching for as long as I've been saved and never been this excited. Many blessings to you and Maranatha!

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  25. Thank you so much Jeff for this encouraging article!

    Short testimony: I feel led to share a bit about me as I have been on unsealed & rev12 & links past yr or 2 & never posted. I am a 59 yo grandma & have known the Lord since I was 7. But I feel like I was partly asleep to the world situation as I always tended to bury my head in the sand. Well, I got finally awakened during the 2016 election cycle, started researching more & digging in the Word, found unsealed.com & others and Wow! What an awakening!

    I just want to share with Greg, Gary, Jeff, all of you posters on here, and Jeremiah (how precious all your prayers!) Sheila, Sherry, (how intelligent & spirit-led), Nora (love your devotionals!), Lyn, Jimboni, Alla, etc, all the rest, yes everyone of You! how much your fellowship has meant to me in my walk with our precious Father! I have learned so much Truth delving into his Word & with all of you sharing your insights. My life is more Holy Spirit-led, prayer life stronger, relationships closer.

    I really feel, like all of you, our precious Lord & Savior is finishing gathering us all into his embrace & coming soon for us! Maranatha!

    I just want to say "thank you" to all of you. I know this all takes time & dedication. What a true blessing you all have been!

    GG

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    1. Yes, and I will echo Sherry here: Thank you, GG, for your "thank you." It is encouraging to all of us!

      And thank you to everyone who has commented, and others who lurk but still love the brother/sisterhood in Christ. Peace to you!

      (Heb. 10:24-25)

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  26. GG - You have blessed all of us today with your kindness and testimony that we may, in some small part, have added to your Christian Walk. It is always our prayer we are able to do so. Don't be so shy, visit with us, we welcome you! Blessings - Sherry

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  27. Powerful, Spirit-filled, and beautiful. God bless you, Jeff.

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  28. Psalms 133:1-3, amen. Blessings

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  29. awesome Jeff! Thank you for this.

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  30. Hi Gary,
    I am just wondering if a topic for our next article might be:

    People who say, the HOLY SPIRIT revealed something to them about an upcoming date, or a soon approaching date Window. (like many people on YouTube had Nov 7 - Nov 11 as a significant date in their videos) or people had a vision or dream, that it was revealed to them that the rapture would occur before your "child goes to college" or "before their 14th Birthday".

    We all know that God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit cannot lie, and do not mislead.

    But the messages these people received, does seem to encourage the brethren.

    LUKE 21:8
    “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’

    I can see that the times are close, I have no doubt many of us will see the rapture occurring between now and 2021. (I am more optimistic we will see it before Israel turns 71, and quietly optimistic we will see it within 2018)

    But How do we decipher?
    Are these dreams and vision's that the body of Christ have, Satan's work to add confusion? or
    is God just giving people enough to get through another week?

    Would love to see an article that discusses this!

    Thanks.
    Jordan

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  31. I will echo what GG says above. I rarely comment, but regularly visit. Thanks to all of you for your steadfastness in providing us food for thought. Maranatha!

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  32. Yes i am totally agreed with this article and i just want say that this article is very nice and very informative article.I will make sure to be reading your blog more. You made a good point but I can't help but wonder, what about the other side? !!!!!!Thanks 2 person kayak

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