SPIRITUAL DEHYDRATION

Text: John 7:37-38, John 15:1-7, 1 Cor 10:4

Dehydration (physical) is abnormal loss of water from the body especially from illness or physical exertion. Spiritual dehydration is loss of spiritual life. It is a situation where someone feels dry within. Just as physical dehydration leads to death so also spiritual dehydration leads to spiritual death.

Symptoms of spiritual dehydration

• You become indifferent, lukewarm or cold towards the things of God.
• You are no more interested in studying the word of God
• You are no more interested in fellow-shipping with other believers
• The zeal you had when you first gave your life to Christ is no more there
• Your prayer life is dwindling and the true motive for worship and service is missing
• You become insensitive to sin - backsliding
• You feel comfortable among the ungodly by walking with them and, or sitting with the scornful.

The antidote to Spiritual dehydration- Jesus Christ.

Just as water helps to flush out toxic wastes from the body and makes physical life possible so also Jesus Christ makes spiritual life possible. The Bible says in John 7:37b-38 that, "Jesus stood and cried saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water". For you to be spiritually hydrated you need to be in Christ.

The Bible says in Rev 21:6, "He (God) said to me (John) It is done, I am the Alpa and the Omega, the Beginning and End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." To avoid spiritual thirst, come to the Almighty God through Jesus Christ. Jesus offers drink for eternity and so you have to remain in Him so as to obtain your spiritual nourishment. He said in John 15:5-6, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." You are like a detached branch from the Vine when you become dehydrated. In other words, to avoid being dehydrated you have to be attached to the Vine; the supplier of spiritual living waters to obtain your spiritual nourishment from Him.

Jesus Christ also told the Samaritan woman who came to draw water at the well in John 4:10 and 14, ‘Jesus answered her, “if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water….but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."’

How to avoid  spiritual dehydration

• Remain in Christ. John 15:7
• Drink the living water daily. 1 Cor 10:4
• Seek first the Kingdom of God. Mark 6:33
• Study the word, meditate upon it and live by it. Joshua 1:8
• Turn away from sins and repent of known sins. Acts 3:19
• Do not forsake your first love. Rev 2:4
• Do not forsake the assembly of fellow believers. Heb 10:25
• Stand firm in the faith. 1 Cor 16:13
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17
• Be involved in the Great Commission. Mark 16:15.
• Always do a self-assessment and make amends. 1 Cor 10:12, 2 Cor 13:5.

As you do the aforementioned, you will continually get refreshed; have a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. This is because the living water provides you with spiritual hydration.

Spiritual dehydration is not a situation to be in at all! It is a gradual decline ultimately leading to spiritual death therefore it is essential to be watchful.

Prayer
Oh Father, help me to remain attached to the Vine so that I can obtain the spiritual nourishment and living water I need so as not to be dehydrated spiritually. Also grant me the grace to do all I need to do so as to remain hydrated spiritually in Jesus name I pray. Amen