#420 The Jesus Trip, There Is A River

#420 The Jesus Trip, There Is A River
By: D. Karl Thomas

(Sermon notes & PowerPoint Slides links are at the bottom of the page to print or review)

Ezekiel 47 1-12 “In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. 2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. 3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet[a] and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. 4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. 5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through. 6 He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. 7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. 8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea.[b] The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. 9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.[c] Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.[d] 11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Revelation 22:1-2 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Psalm 36:7-9 “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”

Psalm 46:4-7 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

**************** PICTURES RODNEY MISSISSIPPI *****************

RodneyMississippi Largest town on the Mississippi river between St Louis and New Orleans.1860’s

1870 River Moved —NOW its a Ghost town [sustaining two banks, two newspapers, four churches, 53 stores, and the state’s first opera house. it was only three votes away from becoming the capital of the Mississippi Territory.]

A sandbar caused the river to shift 2 miles. No river No life!!! What are the sandbars in our lives???

1. _________ 2. _________ 3. _________ 4. _________

The sandbar is any religious lie that separates you form God’s love.
The river that flows to your recreated clean heart and new spirit is so powerful it can not be resisted by you or anything else!!!

Ezekiel 36:25-27 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you …

…I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”
Philippians 1:6“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Romans 8:38 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”

Hebrews 13:5b (AMP) “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

Mankind had a birth problem… God had a new birth solution!!!

John 3:7“So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ (NLT)
“Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).” (AMP)

John 1:13 (AMP) “Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]”

Righteous by birth not by behaviour… 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Romans 6:17-18 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 (AMP)“For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.”

John 7:37-39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit”

God’s will is to place everyone in Christ and to have Christ flow through everyone!
God’s will is to have everyone in the river and to have the river flowing through everyone!!!

You DRINK    —    River Will Flow!!!
1. Rivers Of Worship   “…must worship him in spirit and in truth.”   John 4:24
2. Rivers Of Witness “…and you shall be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8
3. Rivers Of Ministry “…and these signs shall follow…” Mark 16:17-18
4. Rivers Of Gifts “…manifesting His presence by the distribution of gifts…”   1 Cor 12:7-11
5. Rivers Of Intercession “…the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us.” Ro 8:26-27
6. Rivers Of Strength “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Acts 1:8
7. Rivers Of Fruitfulness   “But the fruit of the Spirit is…” Galatians 5:22-23
8. Rivers Of Revelation “…the spirit of wisdom and revelation…”  Ephesians 1:17-18

Problem— Born in sin Solution— Righteous by birth not by behaviour…
2 Corinthians 5:21“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Mankind had a birth problem… God had a new birth solution!!!
John 3:7“So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ (NLT)
“Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).” (AMP)

Ezekiel 48:35 (Last Verse)
“… and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” (Jehovah Shammah)

The Jesus Trip, There Is A River, Sermon notes to print, PDF

The Jesus Trip, There Is A River, PowerPoint Slides, PDF