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REVELATION 22:17

"TO A THIRSTY WORLD"

Intro: Early explorers to this land searched for a fountain of youth. Their search was in vain.
       There is however a fountain of life, once a man drinks he may live forever.

I. THERE IS A BASIC THIRST DEEP WITHIN EVERY MAN.
        A. We have a sense of unfulfilled purpose.
                1. Tombstone epitaph, "Since I was so soon done for I wonder what I was begun
                   for."
                2. There must be more to life than 8-5 routine.
                3. I desire to be or have.
                        a. Ever have a taste for something but you couldn't figure out what?
        B. This thirst is the reason behind:
                1. The alcoholic.
                2. The drug abuse.
                3. The disco craze.
                4. The pleasure mania.
                5. The large followings after religious freaks.
        C. How frustrating and unfulfilling are our substitutes.
                1. Rather than quenching your thirst, it only increases it.
                        a. Nothing can make me thirstier than drinking a coke when I'm thirsty.
                2. Notice the buzz words of the advertisers.
                        a. Satisfy.
                        b. Happy.
                        c. Real.
                        d. New.

II. THERE IS ONLY ONE REAL THIRST QUENCHER.
        A. The sense of unfulfilled purpose is true.
                1. You were created for one basic purpose, fellowship with God, anything less
                   than that will never satisfy.
                        a. No amount of money or material possessions will satisfy your 
                           spiritual thirst.
                        b. Perfect understanding of yourself will not help.
                        c. There is no thrill or experience apart from God that can satisfy.
        B. Jesus made several radical claims. You may not believe them but you can't ignore.
                1. He claimed He was God's Son sent by His Father to this earth.
                        a. "l am the Bread of Life, eat of Me and..."
                        b. "I am the Light of the world, walk with Me and you will never
                           stumble."
                        c. "I am the Door to the sheepfold, if you try to enter any other 
                           way..."
                        d. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
                        e. "I am the Resurrection and the Life."
                        f. "He who drinks of the water that I give will never thirst again.
                           Come unto Me and drink."
        C. This is the basic message of the gospel.
                1. There is much more to life than the physical material things. Your thirst
                   can be quenched, fellowship with God can be a reality. Jesus Christ is the
                   Way, the only way.
                2. You may dispute the claims of Christ.
                        a. You may feel there are other paths to God.
                                1. Can you say that your soul is at peace with God today?
                                2. Can you say you are completely satisfied?
                                3. Can you say you have no fear of death?
                3. Though you may dispute His claims, you can't disprove them.
                        a. You must somehow rationalize the claims of thousands here this
                           morning, who will testify to the joy, peace, satisfaction.

III. TO A THIRSTY WORLD, JESUS SAYS "COME."
        A. And the Spirit and the bridge say come.
        B. Let him that is athirst come.
                1. Whosoever will let him come and drink of the water of life freely.