PREACHING ON AUGUST 25, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY

In this content, we will reflect together on how God works, focusing on the theme titled: "Give Drink to the Thirsty." The "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. "This water will fully quench our thirst, to the point where we no longer need to seek anything else, for the water He offers leads to eternal life." In our city, in our neighborhoods, there are people who are thirsty, and God has equipped us, as a church, to bring this water to the thirsty. We need to understand how God works, because sometimes we take for granted that certain things should be done by God, when in reality it is up to us to accomplish them. Last time, we discussed the promises and covenants through which God operates, and today we will delve deeper into this aspect, remembering that the Bible teaches us how God is always at work, always in motion.

John 5:17; 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

So, God continues to carry out His work and fulfill His will among us at all times.

John 6:28; 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

The works of God, as explained by Jesus, consist in believing in the One He has sent, namely Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to perform works, but to fulfill the will of God, and our faith in Him is fundamental. While people seek works, Jesus seeks faith, as indicated in Hebrews, where it is stated that the righteous shall live by faith. Works are the fruit of faith, not the means to obtain salvation, which we receive by grace through faith. After salvation, God has prepared works for us, which we carry out as a result of our faith in Him.

Ephesians 2:8; 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We are not saved by works, but by grace through faith; likewise, people outside the Church who do not know Jesus will not obtain salvation through their works, because grace is offered to all, and faith is the means to receive it. Our spiritual journey, which begins and continues by grace through faith, includes the good works that God has prepared for us; these works, though they do not grant us salvation, are the fruit of God's grace in us, and one of the most important is proclaiming the Gospel every day to those who do not know Jesus. Now, we will seek to understand how God works in all of this.

Philippians 2:13; 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God works primarily in two ways: through His sovereignty and by grace through faith. The sovereignty of God means that the initiative is entirely His, and in these cases, we cannot pray for things to change; God determines what must happen, such as the day of Jesus' return, which only the Father knows. However, many confuse sovereignty with other areas where God calls us to exercise faith, such as healing or salvation, and in these divine works, accomplished by grace through faith, we have an active role. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between what God does sovereignly and what He has already done, leaving us the task of receiving it by faith. For example, in the Bible, in 1°Corinthians chapter 12, it speaks of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which God distributes according to His will, demonstrating His sovereignty. However, we are encouraged to desire the greater gifts, because to manifest them, we must believe, and these are manifested by grace through faith, so our part is to receive with faith what God has already offered us. Everything that God has accomplished by grace, such as redemption through the cross, is a historical fact already fulfilled; there is nothing more that God needs to do to save us because the necessary work has already been completed. Therefore, now people simply need to follow what is written in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:21; 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So, we don't need to convince God to do something; rather, we need to help people believe and call upon the name of the Lord, as everyone has the right to do so in order to receive salvation. There is no one on earth, past, present, or future, who cannot call on the name of Jesus to be saved. However, some prayers that many people make will not be answered because what they are asking for has already been accomplished by God through the work of Jesus. For example, when we pray, "Lord, save my husband" or "Heal my wife", these prayers will not be heard because God has already provided salvation and healing through Christ's sacrifice. God has already given us everything necessary through redemption, and our task now is to let people know how they can receive salvation. In salvation, there is no divine sovereignty that imposes something; rather, there is the free will of every person. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved because the work of redemption has already been perfectly completed.

Romans 10:14; 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Our responsibility as children of God is to exercise the ministry of reconciliation, preaching the Gospel so that people can believe and call on the name of the Lord to be saved. It is through our testimony and sharing the message of salvation that our family members, friends, and our neighborhood can find salvation. No one is too difficult for God to save; if we do not preach, how will they believe and call on the name of the Lord? Salvation is not automatic; it requires our active participation in sharing what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Prayer and preaching are the two powerful weapons given to us to carry out this task. We cannot expect people to receive salvation without us telling them about God’s gift, which is not something to be earned but simply received. Even spiritual gifts, such as the baptism in the Holy Spirit, justification, and healing, are "Dorea", meaning free gifts, like a testamentary legacy that has been granted to us by God. These gifts, like the new birth and healing, are not earned but are offered freely to anyone who receives them by faith.

Acts 2:38-39; 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Even in this context, the word “Dorea” is used to refer to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which represents a testamentary legacy. Our only responsibility in a testamentary legacy is to accept it, and this is not about merit but simply about receiving what has been offered to us. The "Dorea" gifts are different from an inheritance because the latter can be accepted or rejected, especially if it involves debts, and it can be either positive or negative, bringing benefits or losses. In contrast, the "Dorea" gifts are purely beneficial, without any loss or risk to our salvation; they are, in other words, a pure testamentary legacy.

Revelation 21:6; 6 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.

Revelation 22:17; 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

When we receive this water of life, represented by the Holy Spirit and the presence of God, our sole satisfaction becomes Him. We are commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature because every person needs to know that someone has left them a testamentary legacy, an invaluable inheritance. Preaching the Gospel means revealing to those who do not yet know that Jesus, by dying and rising again, has left precious gifts such as salvation, healing, and the opportunity to walk in God’s blessing. As the Bible says, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and we have the responsibility to let those who do not know it be aware, because the devil seeks to steal and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life abundantly. For this reason, the Gospel, called "Good News", offers only benefits; being simple yet powerful, we must preach it in its original and authentic form, without alterations. God has taught us that we should not focus exclusively on repentance, since salvation does not occur solely through it, but when we receive the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23; 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have the responsibility to share the gift of eternal life that God has offered to everyone through Jesus. We should not focus on people's flaws when preaching the Gospel, as it is the Holy Spirit who convicts them; our task is to tell them about the gift of salvation. Jesus has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation, healing, and deliverance; our role is to help others understand and receive what has already been done for them. It is crucial that we share this message because, without someone preaching, people will not be able to believe and receive the gift of salvation, and our testimony and personal example are an integral part of this process. Additionally, we must be ready to pray, intercede, and share our faith with those around us, showing them how to access the benefits of the testamentary legacy that God has prepared for everyone. Finally, our faith must be based on what God has already done, and not on what we think He still needs to do. The strategy to bring salvation to our city begins with prayer and the sharing of the Gospel, inviting others to experience God's presence and His love.