Sermon Central
-
The River Of God I
Contributed by Mike Gill on Apr 5, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: The River of God which flows from the throne [Rev. 22:1 is thought to be something we will experience in the hear-after. It’s to our advantage, however to access this river of blessings today. Jesus is the living water, he provides all we need today. T
THE RIVER OF GOD I
REVELATION 22:1 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.
THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE! YES! THAT’S WHAT WE WANT! VERSE ONE INVOKES A VISION OF A HEAVENLY CITY, THE NEW JERUSALEM. A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH IN FACT.
JUST OVER THE MOUNTAIN IN THE PROMISED LAND, IS A HOLY CITY BUILT BY GOD’S WON HAND.
-WE’RE NEARING HOME.
BETTER KNOWN WOULD BE THE SONG
"SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER.
WHERE BRIGHT ANGEL FEET HAVE TROD,
WITH ITS CRYSTAL TIDE FOREVER,
FLOWING BY THE THRONE OF GOD.
ON THE MARGIN OF THE RIVER, WASHING UP IT’S SILVER SPRAY,
WE WILL WALK AND WORSHIP EVER, ALL THE HAPPY GOLDEN DAY.
ERE WE REACH THE SHINNING RIVER, LAY WE EVERY BURDEN DOWN, GRACE OUR SPIRITS WILL DELIVER, AND PROVIDE A ROBE AND A CROWN.
YES, WE’LL GATHER AT THE RIVER, THE BEAUTIFUL, THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER; GATHER WITH THE SAINTS AT THE RIVER
THAT FLOWS BY THE THRONE OF GOD.
THE LAST VERSE SAYS.
SOON WE’LL REACH THE SHINNING RIVER
SOON OUR PILGRIMAGE WILL CEASE,
BUT DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL WE REACH THE BANKS OF THAT SHINNING RIVER,
DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL OUR PILGRIMAGE WILL CEASE TO HAVE HAPPY HEARTS THAT QUIVER WITH THE MELODY OF PEACE?
READ AGAIN
REVELATION 22:1 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.
REVELATION 22:17 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.
FRIENDS, THIS WATER IS AVAILABLE TODAY. NOW
IN FACT, DRINKING THE WATER OF LIFE HERE AND NOW IS A PREREQUISITE FOR DRINKING IT IN THE HEAR-AFTER.
FOR IF THE WATER OF LIFE WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, -THEN NONE OF US WOULD .
TOO MANY PROFESSED CHRISTIANS LIVE FOR THE HEAR AND NOW.
YET, THERE ARE MANY THAT LIVE FOR THE HEAR-AFTER.
LETS DETERMINE THAT WE WILL BE A PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE HEAR-AFTER, BEGINNING TODAY!
JOHN 7:37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,
38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ’Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’" 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
SDA COMMENTARY: VOL. 5 P.982
RIVERS OF LIVING WATER:
The one in living communion with Christ becomes himself a center of spiritual influence. There is in him a power of life which, when quickened by faith, flows forth as a river, carrying life and refreshment to others.
The true Christian who grasps a great truth that satisfies his own yearnings cannot long refrain from giving expression to it. There is formed within him a river of waters that no dam can wholly confine.
CONSIDER A PARABLE,
DAVID COX, -FUTURE CHURCH PERSONAL MINISTERIES DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN ENGLAND CONF
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A RIVER.
FROM HIGH UP IN THE MOUNTAINS IT CAME, COURSING DOWN OVER THE ROCKS AND STONES -AND BETWEEN THE WOODED SLOPES UNTIL IT REACHED HE PLAIN.
THERE IT FLOWED WIDE AND STRONG, GIVING LIFE TO THE CITY THAT HAD GROWN UP BESIDE IT.
IT SATISFIED THE CITY’S THIRST. WATERED IT’S CROPS, AND PROVIDED FOOD.
CHILDREN PLAYED ALONG IT’S BANKS.
THERE WAS PROSPERITY AND HEALTH FOR ALL.
GRADUALLY THE CITY GREW AND DEVELOPED.
THE PEOPLE BUILT DOCKS AND PARKS AND BRIDGES, AND ADDED WATERWHEELS TO HARNESS THE RIVERS FORCE.
ONE IDEA LED TO ANOTHER, AND EVENTUALLY THE IDEA OF A DAM CAME UP.
HOW MUCH MORE COULD BE ACHIEVED BY A GREAT DAM, WHICH WOULD STORE THE RIVERS MIGHTY POWER AND GIVE CONSTANT ENERGY THAT DIDN’T VARY WITH THE SEASONS.
AND SO A DAM WAS BUILT, BRINGING NEW BENEFITS TO THE CITY - AT FIRST.
BUT LITTLE BY LITTLE, THE DAM BROUGHT CHANGES. AS TIME PASSED, THERE WAS LESS AND LESS A OF A RIVER AND MORE AND MORE OF A LAKE.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE WATER DIDN’T SEEM TO SPARKLE ANY MORE.
IN FACT, SOMETIMES SICKNESS AND DISEASE CAME TO THE CITY, BUT THE CHANGES IN THE WATER HAPPENED SO GRADUALLY THAT NO ONE CONNECTED THEM WITH THE PROBLEMS THEY NOW BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE.
