Come to the Waters: Respond to God, Embrace the Process, and Let Your Soul Live

This Thursday Night Deliverance sermon by Apostle Allison Smith Conliff is built around Isaiah 55, God’s open invitation to the thirsty to “come to the waters,” receive freely, and find true satisfaction in Him rather than in temporary substitutes. The message stresses that salvation and spiritual renewal are not “quick fixes”; the believer must go through God’s process, willingly cooperate with Him, and apply the Word consistently. The Apostle connects real-life events (storms/disasters, personal and community pressures, schooling/exams, and practical wisdom in life decisions) to show that God wants His people spiritually fed, emotionally healed, and wisely established, so they can endure trouble and live with joy, stability, and discernment. The sermon opens Isaiah 55 as a salvation and restoration call: “everyone who thirsts” is invited, even those with “no money,” because what God gives is a gift. The emphasis is that heaven is offering something real, but people must choose to respond (God will not force anyone). A central theme is that in life people want instant solutions, but in the Kingdom you must go through the process. Whether preacher or congregation, you must be a “willing participant” (free will is real, and many choose darkness over light). The Apostle warns against comparing yourself to others, wanting someone’s house/car/blessing without wanting their trials, pressures, tears, and battles. She reinforces: there is always a story behind the glory, and God trains people through pressure. Using students/exams as a relatable example, the sermon highlights that results come when you apply yourself. The spiritual parallel: you cannot “show up” and expect transformation without obedience, discipline, and engagement with God’s Word. From Isaiah 55’s “eat what is good” and the quote “Your words were found, and I ate them… your words became a joy,” the sermon teaches that the Word is not optional, it is how the soul becomes healthy, delighted, and spiritually alive. Faith requires seeking, listening, and feeding consistently (“faith cometh by hearing”). A striking illustration: the church is an emergency room, but not every patient responds. The warning is sobering, people can sit under ministry and remain unchanged because they’ve “already made up their mind.” The call is: keep your heart responsive to God. The sermon urges believers to carry joy (since “Jesus is joy”) and to be mindful that people may be silently burdened. A smile, encouragement, or a simple “I love you” can bring healing to a wounded heart for an entire week. The message returns to God’s nature: He keeps covenant, preserves what He gives, and His perspective is far beyond ours, “My thoughts are not your thoughts… my ways higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Therefore believers must learn discernment by the Spirit, not merely intellect. The Apostle strongly discourages deception and shortcut mentality (illustrations include misrepresentation and real-world consequences). She also challenges “spiritual foolishness” (e.g., throwing away medication because someone said so), urging believers to use wisdom, verify with the Word, and listen to God, not hype. The close includes a readiness principle: when you come to God, give Him your all, so that in trouble you have already built spiritual reserves (“banked something with the King”). Rec. Date: 4th July, 2024