Series: Let the River Flow
Slide 1: Series: Let the river flow!
• The Introduction to this series: I received the idea for this message during my spiritual retreat at IHOP – it just hit me during my prayer time and listening to the group sing about Healing Waters!
• I honestly feel in my heart that Christian Hills Church is to become a place which flows with God’s healing waters!
Slide 2: Video Clip: From Blue Fish Tv called “Water”
• The symbolism of water.
Slide 3: The Biblical symbolism of “Water”
• The Bible uses the symbolism of water repeatedly to make the point about spiritual life giving water which comes only from Jesus and Father God.
• This healing water is designed by God to bring life and healing to the nations and to the people of the world.
• This symbolism is attached to water which is representative of the Holy Spirit.
Slide 4: John 7:37-39 “Jesus has it!”
• 37…Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive…
• John 7:37-44: 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
• To drink this water you must go to Jesus!
• 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
• Those who believe in Jesus go to Him and he hands them living water, this water enters them and then begins to flow out from within to others around them.
• 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
• This symbolism of water is a direct link to the Holy Spirit and His empowerment spoken about in Acts chapter 2. The Spirit is a flowing river of life bringing healing and everlasting life to those who drink of it.
• John 4:10: 10Jesus 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.”
• Once again to receive this life giving water requires you to ask Jesus for it.
• To get the water of life we have to go to Jesus – because he has it, he possess it, he creates it, and He wants to give it to you and remember it is attached to the Holy Spirit – this water is a symbolism of the Holy Spirit!
Slide 5: Revelation 21:6 “It cost nothing”
• 6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.”
• We all know how much we have to pay for good water today, good water costs. Jesus is offering us the purest and the most enriched water because it has healing and life altering properties.
• Yet it cost us nothing!
• Revelation 21:5-7: 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
• This ability to drink from this river is a promise to all who overcome this world – it’s your inheritance!
• This eternal water of life costs us nothing in the physical realm, you don’t have enough money to buy it – it’s not for sale – this water is given to those who are willing to surrender their heart and life to Jesus – you cannot buy this water!
• Acts 8:18-23: 18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
• Simon learned that you cannot buy this life giving water – it’s not for sale or for personal gain or profit! It’s a gift from God!
Slide 6: Revelation 22:1-2 “It’s from God and the Lamb for life and for healing.”
• 1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
• Revelation 22:1-7: 1: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” 7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
• The river – the water flows from the throne of God and the Lamb.
• The Tree of Life is on each side of this life giving river and they grow from the nutrients and the power of the water of life and it produces a fruit that heals the nations and gives eternal life.
• This living water is for those who have a right relationship with God and the Lamb.
• Those who drink of it will see His face!
• Zech 14:5b - 9: Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.
7It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime—a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.
8On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.
9The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
• The River of life will flow powerfully on the day the Lord returns – Jerusalem will be a part of the flood of the Spirit upon Christ’s return. She will be restored! The water will flow again!
• Where is the original source of this life giving water found? – In Heaven! – In the Holy City! – Inside of you if you are A believer! It starts and flows out of the throne of God and the Lamb and it flows from His throne and it brings eternal life and healing to all who drink it and soak in it.
• How thirsty are you for this water of life?
Slide 7: Sermon 1: Dam busters!
• So what holds back this life giving water today? How are spiritual dams erected? These dams are manmade structures which hinder or even stop the flow of this life giving water.
o Paul warns us in 1 Thessalonians not to block the flow of the river of the Spirit!
o I Thess. 5:19: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”
1Thess. 5: 12-28: Final Instructions
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16Be joyful always;
17pray continually;
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;
20do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21Test everything. Hold on to the good.
22Avoid every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25Brothers, pray for us.
26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
• The Apostle Paul lists several things here which will block –hinder or even stop the flow of the water of life into a church, a community, a family or even a person’s life.
• Remember – the water of life represents the Spirit of the Lord- the Holy Spirit!
o Maybe I could say, “Don’t dam up the flow of the Holy Spirit’s life giving healing water with your man made obstacles! Don’t erect obstacles to the move of the Holy Spirit!” Instead break them down!
Slide 8: The dream
• Share the repeated dream you had and the vision from the Lord for Christian Hills and the community.
o The dam represents what man does to flowing water -- they dam it up and stop the flow of the river and in so doing it causes things to die because of the lack of water. The nutrients which sustain life are blocked from parts of the river bed.
o Mankind is known for building dams to stop or hinder the flow of water – now the same is true spiritually – when men or women start adding to the Word of God or taking away from the Word of God or create man made rules and regulations we in essence erect a dam that hinders the flow of the Spirit into our churches, our community and our own lives.
o We actually can block the flow of the water which sustains our spiritual lives and therefore we slowly dry up and eventually die spiritually.
• In the prop: I have a symbol of the vision and the dream –The dam – the water - The sledge hammers -The trickles from the cracks - the breaking down of the wall- the move of the Holy Spirit and the River of Life flowing over our community, lives and church.
• Unveil the Dam in the sanctuary and walk over to it.
o Go over to the dam and write on the bricks, the blocks which stop and hinder the life giving water of life.
Blocks which hinder the flow from the Bible and I Thess. 5: lack of respect for leadership, pride, division, dissension, revenge, idleness – apathy, not thankful –grumpy –critical, un-forgiveness, spirit of offense, sin, rebellion, idol worship, legalism, selfishness, arrogance, greed and others!
o Too many are erecting dams rather than busting down the dam and allowing the River of Life to flow!
Slide 9: Some attempts at spiritual dam busting
• People throughout history have tried various things to break down the spiritual dam. (note) For this point I will go over to the dam and throw things at it.
o They have thrown money at it! It does not work!
o They have hit it over and over with tradition! That does not work!
o They have thrown idols at it! That has not worked either!
o They have thrown programs at it! That does not work without a spiritual connection to the Holy Spirit either!
o They have tried to hit it and bust it open with their own strength. It does not work either!
Usually you just hurt yourself more!
Slide 10: What will work to bust open the spiritual dam and let the water of life flow?
• None of these worked?
• So what else can we do to open the spiritual dam and let the river of life flow into our lives, our church and our community?
Slide 11: Spiritual Dam busting tools!
• What are some spiritual dam busting tools church people have used? (note) I will pick up the small hammer and small mall and hit the dam for each point!
• Good Works? Bam!
o Like going to Church? Bam!
I go to church at least once a month! I go on holidays!
o Helping people in need? Bam!
Helping people out who are in need.
Doing good things.
Serving in the ministries of the church.
ILLUSTRATION: Research Shows What One Church
References: Jeremiah 29:4-7 Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 16:18 Acts 2:47 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 2:19-22 Philippians 1:27-28 Philippians 2:15 Colossians 1:6 Colossians 4:5 1 Thessalonians 1:8 Titus 2:14 Titus 3:8 James 2:14-16 1 Peter 2:9-10
What kind of contribution does one church make to its local community? More specifically, what’s one church worth—in purely financial terms? According to a 2009 survey, on average, every year one inner-city church contributed $476,663.24 to the local economy. That’s based on research by Ram Cnaan, a University of Pennsylvania professor who considers himself nonreligious. His 2011 survey concluded that one church alone, First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, contributed over $6,000,000 a year to the local economy (more than ten times its annual budget). Based on Cnaan’s research, some of First Baptist’s financial contributions include:
• Volunteer hours worked: $94,770 (weekly hours x 52 weeks x $20.25)
• Reduced crime rate: a reduction of $64,416 (crimes within neighborhood compared with surrounding neighborhoods x $2,210)
• Getting people off drugs and alcohol: $78,750 ($15,750 per person helped)
• Building enhancements/Capital campaign: $60,000 (estimates that half of expenses are spent locally)
• Helping people gain employment: $725,000 ($14,500 per arranged employment)
• Suicide prevention: $58,800 ($19,600 per person saved through clergy intervention)
• Divorces prevented: $22,500 ($900 per couple)
• K-12 School: $3,489,926 (# of students x $9,666)
Briefing: What’s a Congregation Worth? Christianity Today (April, 2011)
o ILLUSTRATION: Secular Reporter Praises the Work of Evangelical
References: Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 25:31-40 John 15:8 Romans 15:9 Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 4:1 Ephesians 5:8 Philippians 2:14-15 Colossians 1:6 Colossians 1:10 Colossians 4:5-6 Titus 2:14 James 1:27 James 2:14-20 1 Peter 2:9 1 Peter 2:12 1 Peter 3:16
In 2011 New York Times editorialist Nicholas Kristof wrote a column praising the work of many evangelical Christians. Kristof begins by noting that at times evangelical leaders act hypocritically and don’t reflect Christ. However, he also goes on to write: But in reporting on poverty, disease and oppression, I’ve seen so many others. Evangelicals are disproportionately likely to donate 10 percent of their incomes to charities, mostly church-related. More important, go to the front lines, at home or abroad, in the battles against hunger, malaria, prison rape, obstetric fistula, human trafficking or genocide, and some of the bravest people you meet are evangelical Christians (or conservative Catholics, similar in many ways) who truly live their faith. I’m not particularly religious myself, but I stand in awe of those I’ve seen risking their lives in this way—and it sickens me to see that faith mocked at New York cocktail parties. Nicholas D. Kristof, "Evangelicals Without Blowhards," The New York Times (7-30-11)
o Being good! Following the rules! Bam!
• Reading the Bible? Bam
o Daily?
ILLUSTRATION: How the Bible Differs from a Golf Yardage
References:Psalm 12:6 Psalm 18:30 Psalm 119:18 Psalm 119:105 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 14:12 Proverbs 30:5 Isaiah 40:8 Isaiah 55:10-11 Jeremiah 30:2 Colossians 3:16 2 Timothy 3:16-17 2 Peter 1:20-21
Have you ever watched professional golfers and been awed by their ability to land a shot from two hundred yards away just a few yards from the hole? You wonder how they can judge the distance to the hole with such precision. Do they have an internal GPS system that enables them to guess the distances on the course with uncanny accuracy?
Not really. What they have is a yardage book. A yardage book is a map of each hole on the course that gives distances from various landmarks on the hole to the green. Decades ago Arnold Palmer and his caddy began drawing rough yardage charts with little pictures of trees, fairways, greens, sand traps and such of the various holes on all the courses they played. Jack Nicklaus was the pro who really made yardage books popular. Today along with the maps many pro golfers will keep what essentially is a personal journal of how they have played each hole of the course, what clubs they have used from various distances, what the wind was doing, and so on, and what happened to their shots.
Golfers swear by their yardage books. Zach Johnson, winner of the 2010 Colonial, says, "I feel naked without it out there. It’s my golf bible."
Steve Marino says, "You see what you did in the past, you make sure you have the right number and then trust all of it, because the room for error is nil."
Scott Vail, caddie for Brandt Snedeker, says, "There are huge ramifications if you are just even 1 yard off."
One former caddie, George Lucas, has made a business out of driving the country and charting distances of some 1,000 golf courses and publishing his data in a book that is now available to the public.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have yardage books for the tough decisions we make in life? Should I date this person or not? Should I go to this or that school? Should we buy this house? In our technological age, we want specifics. We want everything mapped out. We want to remove all the uncertainties from life. We want to be able to use our past experiences to predict exactly what will happen in the future. But God hasn’t chosen to work with us in that way. He has given us an essential book of guidance that we can’t do without, but we still have to use judgment in how to apply what it teaches. Most important, we need to be walking with God in prayer and trust.
Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: Steve DiMeglio, "Before ball, they hit book," USA Today (6-1-10), 1C-2C
o Yearly?
ILLUSTRATION: Bishop Tutu Says the Bible Subverts Injustice
• References: Genesis 1:26-28 Exodus 2:23-25 Exodus 3:7-9 Deuteronomy 15:7-8 Isaiah 35 Isaiah 58 Jeremiah 23:29 Amos 2:6-8 Amos 4:1 Matthew 25:31-46 Luke 4:16-19 Acts 2:44-45 James 2:14-16 James 5:1-6 1 John 3:16-18 Revelation 1:16
• "There’s nothing more radical, nothing more revolutionary, nothing more subversive against injustice and oppression than the Bible. If you want to keep people subjugated, the last thing you place in their hands is a Bible." Desmond Tutu, speaking at London’s Jesus House for All Nations Church, in the "Who Is My Neighbor" conference, (9-6-08); submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California. I know how about good works? They always work right? What about reading the Bible? That works right? I will pick up the hammer for good works and try it. Then I will try the small mall. But it will not bust it open.
• Both of these are good things but do they have the power within themselves to bust open the spiritual dam of the River of Life?
o They can chip at it – yes- but what busts it open?
• Let’s look at what Jesus did to break open the life giving water of life in His ministry.
Slide 12: What did Jesus do to let the water of life flow?
• He fought against religious legalism and its proponents.
o Matthew 23
• He died to self.
• He loved others.
• He forgave.
• He prayed
• He gave it the “Water of life” away to others!
o Jesus showed us what has the power to break open the spiritual dam in our lives and in our church life.
o Let’s look at another scenario of Jesus!
Slide 13: John 5:1-5
• 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed…6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
o John 5:1-15: 1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews.
2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty–eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath…
o Have you been in this position? Jesus asked right out do you want to get well?
Good question do you want to get well?
Do you want to be healed?
Do you want to be let down into the water of healing and life?
Do you want His water of life to flow from within you?
Slide 14: John 5: 7-9
• 7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
• We need to get people into the healing waters in our community. We need to help people find the life giving water and then let them drink it and be healed.
Slide 15: Releasing the streams of living water – I will head back to the dam!
• We have to believe He will give it!
• We have to be thirsty enough to ask for it!
• We have to be willing to pray for it!
• We have to be willing to give it away!
o I will move back to the dam in the sanctuary and lay hands on the dam then pray – then pick up the big mall and hit it!
o The dam will bust open the healing water of life will flow over me. I will open my arms to let the river flow over me and even drink it as well.
o Quote: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24
Slide 16: Conclusion: Let the river flow!
• I will move back to the podium. We need to first let the River of Life and the healing waters of life saturate our hearts and minds and then bring others to this life giving water.
• The song: Let the River Flow
o "Let the River Flow" by Darrell Evans:
Let the poor man say,
I am rich in Him
Let the lost man say,
I am found in Him.
Let the river flow.
Let the blind man say,
I can see again.
Let the dead man say,
I’ve been born again.
And let the river flow.
Let the river flow.
Let the river flow.
Let the river flow.
Holy Spirit, come.
Move in power.
Let the river flow
Let the river flow
Let the river flow
Let the river flow!
o Paul from sermoncentral.com has a sermon called “River of Life” he notes:
What River?
-The River of Life (Revelations 22:1-3)
-Living Water (Jesus)
-The River from the Temple (Ezekiel 47)
-The river of delights (Ps 36:8)
-The river whose streams make glad (Ps 46:4)
-Baptism is associated with rivers and new life – Jesus and the Jordan river
Rivers Give Life
-Water quenches thirst and sustains life
-It provides nutrients to keep things alive and growing.
-Rivers are Farms for fish and other marine life
-They bring enrichment (sediment) to its river banks
-They can make desert plains an oasis of life.
* They clean things up (example India and Mexico) - It is used to clean things up that are dirty and unsanitary.
* Scripture references- [Daniel 7:9-10; Eze. 47:1-12; Ps. 46:4; Ps. 36:8]
Slide 17: When the river flows new life will flourish again, people will be healed, God will be glorified, forgiveness will flow, people will become more important than things, short term loses will be offset by long term eternal gains.
• The result of letting the river flow again is shared above. We need to commit to this as a church and as individuals.
o I want the River of Life to flow!
o I want to see people Healed by the power of the Holy Spirit!
o I want to see souls saved and delivered and disciple for Jesus!
o I want to have my thirst for spiritual things quenched with His life giving water.
• Closing thoughts from Paul’s sermon “Let the River Flow”
o What are some barriers to God’s Spirit reigning in your life?
-What can you do to remove them?
Ask God to show you what you should do! Pray!
o When the River Flows
-Short term losses will always be offset by long term gains.
-Life will flourish in and around you
-Others will be impacted
-There will be surprising rewards
-God will be glorified
-People will be more important than things
-Life will be interesting and exciting
o We must let the River flow!
-We have to realize that there are barriers blocking the flow of the Spirit!
-We need to discover the barriers then remove them.
Ask God and then Listen
-Look for yourself with “eyes open”
-Be open to advice from friends & family
-Develop a demolition plan (see above)
-Set to work (Don’t get discouraged!)
-Let God move
[It’s a Joint Effort]
o Dam Busters
-Holy Spirit
-Submission to God
-The Word being empowered by the Spirit
-Prayer with a right heart
-Praise & Worship done for Him not you
Closing – Altar time:
There are three categories of people in life today. There are those that make things happen. Those that watch things happen. Then those that don’t know what is happening. If we want revival in this church, we need more people that will make things happen.
Closing song played after Beth is done:
Michelle Tumes \ Healing Waters
I’ve built a bridge
All of my strength cannot cross over
I stand at the edge
The end of a road that I have followed
Sinking from the weight of my own world
Wanting the waves of Your ways to wash my feet
Healing waters
Healing waters
Solace flows
Through the river of forgiveness to my soul
Oh, I need You
Healing waters
Pour over me
Water to clean all my intentions
Baptising streams
I swim in the freedom of redemption
Floating on the sea of purity
Knowing I can dive in the love that rescues me
Memories are raging high
Floods so deep they touch the sky
All the things I’ve done to You
All the parts of life untrue
Healing comes from outstretched hands
Saving me from what I am
Carry me
Carry me
