The Springs Of Life

"The Springs Of Life"

Prov 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

There are different type of messages that are preached. Some can be placed under the heading of Expository, Analogy, Textual, Topical, Question Method, etc. There are those messages where the preacher will use a particular verse or phrase like a spring board to launch off into a search through the Bible to seek the truth in a particular subject – that is called Topical. There are some (and I am afraid I have preached to many of these) that no one could even begin to put under any category. In Today’s message I am using Proverbs 4:23 and a spring board – this would be a topical message.

I scratch my head at times and wonder what happened to the Nineties? We all must face the fact that time keeps marching on. Where you and I are concerned LIFE is measured by time.

So I though it would be appropriate to begin this year with a message about LIFE.

Let me share with you 5 great truths about LIFE.

I am not suggesting that these all inclusive. You may in fact think of other great truths that pertain to LIFE but let me share these 5 with you.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Prov 4:23

1. LIFE IS ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT.

You here about people who live in the past (or try to) or about folks who are living for the future. Life only exists in the PRESENT.

The dictionary give the following definition of the word "PRESENT" A moment or period in time intermediate between past and future; now.

Did you get it: Only a Moment of time.

The Apostle Paul said about our salvation:

2 Cor 6:2 “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.

This salvation is speaking of more than just eternity. It is speaking of here and now.

Salvation from Satan

Salvation from Sin – the penalty – the power – the presence

Salvation from Self -

2. LIFE IS ALWAYS MARKED IN SEGMENTS

100 years is a century - 10 years is a decade -12 months make a year - 365 days make a year - 1 week is 7 days 1 day has 24 hours

1 hour has 60 minutes 1 minute has 60 seconds

Psalm 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, ……….. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The only way we can number our days is to live one day at a time and apply our hearts to wisdom.

This is the day the Lord hath made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. In fact, today is the only day you can rejoice and be glad or groan and be sad – it is your choice.

3. LIFE IS JUST ON LOAN

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

Repeat after me: "I own nothing" Everything I have is just on lone.

Over 120,000 people got up this past week – many were on vacation – many were saying, "This is my TIME to take for myself". At that very moment a Tsunami was racing toward them at almost 400 miles an hour. One moment they thought that the life they possessed was theirs – the next moment they were swept into eternity.

The life you have is just on loan to you. What are you doing with it? You had better read the parable of the talents.

4. LIFE IS A ONE WAY STREET

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Through this toilsome world, Alas!

Once and only Once I pass,

If a kindness I may show - If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man, Let me do it while I can,