THE RIVER OF GOD – Dedication Service
Revelation 22:1-2
INTRODUCTION:
God is like a river. Imagine a river that begins high up in the mountains. The water sparkles as it makes its way down to the valley below. As the river flows through the valley it is strong and mighty; the river gives life to everything.
A city is built along the river. The people living in the city are thankful for the river; it satisfies their thirst and waters their crops giving them an abundance of food. Gradually the city grew and developed. People built docks and parks along the river. Some people developed a waterwheel to harness the power of the river. Bridges were built to expand the city to both sides of the river.
In time an engineer presented a plan to build a dam. The people of the city were convinced that the dam would provide them with an even greater supply of water and from the flow of water through the dam they would have an unlimited supply of power. Nothing would be impossible for them if they controlled the river by stopping it up with a great dam; not even the changing of the seasons would effect the power produced by the dam.
And so the dam was built bringing all the promised benefits to the city. The dam not only changed life in the city, but gradually it also changed the river. Little by little the river became more like a lake and less like the mighty river that had once flowed through the valley. The water no longer had the shimmering sparkled as it had before; unseen by those living in the city sediment was filling the bottom of the lake.
Another change was happening too. The people believed they had controlled the flow of water, but each day as the waters flowed down from the mountains it refused to be contained by the dam. Gradually at first the water made its way underground and broke out as a fresh water spring further down the valley.
Then several years later on a bright spring morning it happened. As the snows melted from atop the mountains the river started to swell and suddenly the river burst through the earth and formed a new channel for the river. The people were awakened to a sound they had not heard in years: thundering rushing water.
The dam remained undamaged but the waters it had held back flowed down stream in the new river channel; all that remained was a trickle of water surrounded by mud and silt nothing like the river that had once flowed through the valley.
People in the city panicked; what had caused this disaster? Experts discussed the problem and engineers inspected the situation. While nothing could be done to stop the sudden flow of the river, they assured the people that everything would be fine; life would continue in the city despite the sudden change of their lake, that is the river which was now nothing more than a muddy stagnant pond. The city council met and decided that for everyone’s safety they must stay away from the river; its sudden flow could sweep someone away and they would be lost. Laws were past and warnings set in place to stay away from the river.
Time passed and the people in the city did learn to live with the situation. People still worked to maintain the dam, controlling the little bit of water that still made its way through the city in the muddy remains of the former river. Books were written to explain what had happened, and people believed the experts who told them why the mighty river just outside the city was dangerous
Not everyone believed the experts. Some people decided to break the city laws. Despite the objection of friends and family these people would not turn back; they knew what they wanted. They wanted to live along the river and so they followed the river down stream until they came to a place where they built a city.
Life in the new city was great! They built docks and parks along the river; someone even thought to use the waterwheel to harness the power of the river. Bridges were built so people could live on both sides of the river. One day someone had an idea; if they were to build a dam they could control the river. . . and well we know what happened next.
This morning we want to come to the River of God. It is a river that no man can contain or control. Yet it is a river that flows from the very throne of God and brings life to all who come to live by its banks.
How many of you remember this song?
Down the mountain the river flows and it bring refreshing wherever it goes
Through the valleys and over the fields the river is rushing and the river is here.
The river of God sets our feet to dancing the river of God fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter and we rejoice for the river is here.
The river of God is teeming with life and all who touch it can be revived and all who linger on this river’s shore will come back thirsting for more of the Lord.
The river of God sets our feet to dancing the river of God fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter and we rejoice for the river is here.
Some of you may remember this old chorus:
There is a river that flows from deep within
There is a fountain that frees the soul from sin
Come to this water there is a vast supply
Come to the river that never shall run dry.
Is the river of God just something we sing about? just something we imagine? Or is the river of God real? John saw the river of God and described it for us in Revelation 22
• Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
[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.
The river of God is not simply a natural river. The river of God is the divine recourses of God, an inexhaustible supply of everything we need for this life and the next. God invite us to come to His river and receive from Him. This morning we want to discover seven wonders of the river of God.
1. The River of God Gives Life
• Revelation 22:1 (NIV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life . . .
The river of God is not a stagnate lifeless pond, nor The Dead Sea that is barren of life. This is a river flowing with the water of life
ILLUSTRATION: Can you imagine a river of death? I remember hearing stories about the Cuyahoga River; it earned the nickname ‘the river that burns.’ Oil spills on the river would catch fire like this one in November of 1952. The Cuyahoga River was so polluted that fish would die. The pollution and the dead fish made the air along its banks in Cleveland foul smelling. Only in the last 5 to 10 years has the Cuyahoga River come back to life.
The river of God gives life! Look what Jesus said.
• John 4:14 (NIV)
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.
Jesus does not give an ordinary drink. He gives water from the river of God, a river of life. God invites us to come and drink!
• Revelation 22:17 (NIV)
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
2. The River of God is Pure
• Revelation 22:1 (NIV)
[1] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal . . .
The river of God is not polluted and dirty. The water is crystal clear; the river of God is pure.
ILLUSTRATION: As Americans we give little thought to the purity of our water; we take it for granted. We turn on the faucet and out comes clean water. Whether we want to get a drink, clean the dishes, do laundry, take a shower or wash the car we expect the water to be clean. But where does that water come from? The source, whether it be a well or from a city water line, determines if the water is pure. Have you ever had water that smelled like rotten eggs? Or have you ever had brown water come out of the tap? Have you ever had to boil your water to kill unseen bacteria in your water? In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita people in the Gulf regions understand the importance of having pure water. When there is an impurity within the water we take the necessary steps to remove it; we want our water to be pure.
Why is pure water so important? First, impure water won’t promote life; instead impurities can bring sickness, disease and even death. Second, pure water has cleansing power!
• Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)
[25] . . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
God will use the water of His Word to cleanse us from every sin. God is not satisfied with just having the water give us life; God wants us to live clean lives. So the river of God flows through His Word to purify our hearts from every sin.
• Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)
[9] How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. [10] I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. [11] I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Let the river of God give you life. Let the river of God which is pure keep you from all sin as you are washed by the water of God’s Word.
3. The River of God Cannot be Stopped
• Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
[1] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing . . .
4. The River of God is of GOD
• Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
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.
5. The River of God is Eternal
• Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
[1] Then the angel showed me the river . . . flowing . . .[2] down the middle of the great street of the city.
6. The River of God Satisfies
• Revelation 22:2 (NIV)
On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.
7. The River of God is Growing
• Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
[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] . . . 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.
Psalm 65:9 (NIV)
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
