BIBLE NATURE (No. 1) introduces us
to Rivers ….
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BIBLE RIVERS
No. 1
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“Rivers were made for wise men to contemplate” says a Spanish proverb, “and for fools to pass by without consideration…”
So let’s consider the lesson that comes to us from
four Bible rivers!
1. THE
RIVER OF SALVATION
Hindus bathe in the ‘sacred’ Ganges … but to no
avail. Water does not wash away
sin. Rudyard Kipling’s lama in the
famous novel, “Kim”, searches throughout the book for that river that will lead
him to eternal life. To no avail.
But the Word of God tells of a ‘blood-stream from
Calvary’ that washes the sinner as white as snow and restores him to fellowship
with his God.
In a Messianic prophecy, Isaiah compares the Lord
Himself to a life-giving river (Isaiah 32:1-2).
In the next chapter the prophet again speaks of the
Lord in this manner, vs. 21-22, as He delivers His people from the Assyrians,
the “fierce people” with a foreign tongue (33:19).
The Lord is our River of Salvation, and in
particular we look to that precious blood that flowed from His wounded side…
2. THE
RIVER OF CONFESSION
Lydia heard the gospel from the lips of Paul, believed
and was baptised in the River Gangites (Acts 16:13).
The Ethiopian believed the gospel after it had been
presented to him by Philip … and was baptised, possibly in the Wady-Surar.
Thousands of Jews flocked to hear John the Baptist
and publicly confessed their faith in the River Jordan.
Spurgeon, who later became the Prince of Preachers,
tells how he walked 8 miles (he was 15 years of age at the time – May 3, 1850)
to the River Lark to obey the command of his new-found Lord and Saviour.
Baptism is a public act whereby we confess that we
are on the Lord’s side!! (Acts
8:35-40).
Philip’s reply to the question, “See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be
baptised?” “If thou believest, thou mayest” (v. 37), indicates that baptism is
not for infants but for those old enough to understand the implications of the
act.
3. THE
RIVER OF BLESSING
As a life-giving stream brings refreshment and cleansing to the lost and thirsty traveller, so Christians are called to bring life … life and cleansing … to this sin-weary world.
Yet it is not of our doing … but allowing the Holy
Spirit to work through us (John 7:37-39).
Achsah asked for a wedding present from her father,
Caleb. Her new husband, Othniel, makes
the request (Joshua 15:18a). Caleb
gives her some land … “a field” (v. 18).
Then comes a further request … “springs of water” (v. 19). It is no use having the field without the
water to irrigate it. And it is no use
us being given a “field of service” unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit!
Not only do we need to ask our Father, but we need
to meet the conditions He lays down in His Word.
“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a
father, will he give him a stone? Or if
he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children: how
much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:11-13)
Here is the Father’s promise … but a life out of His
will can receive no answer – see James 1:7.
4. THE
RIVER OF LIFE
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).
We are accustomed to thinking of ‘one more River to cross’ … the River of Death. The Word of God calls it The River of LIFE!, for it ushers those who know the Saviour into His presence where sickness, sadness and death will never come.
Even Bunyan’s Pilgrim may give us the wrong
impression as his faith grows faint in the midst of the final river…
As Elijah crossed over Jordan “on dry ground” (II
Kings 2:8) and saw the chariots of fire awaiting his entrance into the courts
above, so the child of God can be assured that the “chilly Jordan” (as the
Negro spirituals express it), is in reality the River of Life Eternal.
Rest in His
promise … Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee
by name; thou are mine.
And fear not
… When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee” (Isaiah 43:2).
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BIBLE
RIVERS
No. 2
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Numerous rivers are mentioned in the Bible story …
each with a story to tell.
1. RIVERS
OF HISTORY
Genesis 2:10-14 places the Garden of Eden at the
mouth of four rivers: the Pison, Gihon,
Euphrates and Hiddekel (Tigris).
Whilst the first two mentioned are difficult to
identify, this geographic location shows that the writer expected us to look
upon Eden as an historic place. Adam
and Eve literally existed in a literal Eden.
2. RIVERS
OF PROPHECY
(a) The
River of Egypt
In Genesis 15:1Abraham is told that his seed would occupy the land from this river to the Euphrates.
Dispensationalists believe this has never yet been
fulfilled but will be during the millennium.
Others teach Israel possessed this land during
Solomon’s reign … and lost it again because of disobedience (I Kings 4:21,
8:65; II Chronicles 9:26).
(b) The
Tigris River flooded and broke down the walls of ancient Nineveh, thus enabling the
Babylonians to conquer the city (Nahum 1:8).
(c) The
Euphrates River was diverted by the Medes and Persians to enable their warriors to
enter Babylon on the dry river bed and thus conquer the city (Isaiah 40:27).
3. RIVERS
OF FUTILITY
Micah 6:6-7 tells us that “rivers of oil” will not
suffice for an offering if the heart of the offerer is not right with God.
4. RIVERS
OF PURITY
The Jordan River became the site of thousands of
Jews being baptised by John the Baptist … “confessing their sins”. The water symbolized (not effected) the
cleansing of their soul (Mark 1:5).
5. RIVERS
OF SPIRITUALITY
John 7:38-39 … the indwelling Holy Spirit.
6. RIVERS
OF GLORY
Revelation 22:1-2 … from the Throne of God!
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There is a River …..
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INTRODUCTION …
The Scriptures have much to say about rivers … Euphrates which flowed through
ancient Babylon; the Tigris which bordered mighty Nineveh , the Nile of Egypt (
although not mentioned by name ) ; Jabbok where Jacob wrestled … Cherith where
Elijah hid; Elah where David picked up 5 smooth stones … Kishon where the
Canaanite army came to grief … and so it goes.
We will look at three rivers and learn some lessons therefrom.
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(1) A RIVER OF
SALVATION
The hymn writer, Fanny Crosby,
spoke of it …
“Free to all a healing stream
flows from Calvary’s mountain”
And Isaiah foretold the day …
Isaiah
32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness,
and princes shall rule in judgment.
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the
wind, and a covert from the tempest;
as rivers of water in a dry place, as the
shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
It was a Messianic prophecy …fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. And
all who place their trust in Him find Him to be “a hiding place” from judgment
to come, a “covert” ( refuge) during the storms of life and as refreshing and
life-giving “ as rivers of water in a dry place”.
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(2) A RIVER OF
CONFESSION
It was on the outskirts
of Philippi that the Apostle Paul
encountered Lydia and some other women … by the river Gangites.
Acts
16: 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the
chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city
abiding certain days. 13 And
on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont
to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted
thither. 14 And
a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which
worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto
the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And ….
she was baptized …..
Thus it was Lydia became the first convert to Christianity in
Europe. And her baptism was a public confession of that commitment to Jesus as
Saviour and Lord. Every New Testament
convert follows up that decision by
being baptized. It is not a matter of how old a person is, it is a matter
of whether that one has accepted Christ
as Saviour.
The New Testament knows nothing of baptizing babies. Belief in
Christ is the pre-requisite, and the Lord’s own command ( Matthew 28:19-20) is
the reason for such a public confession of one’s faith.
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(3) A RIVER OF
BLESSING
John 7: 37 In
the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they
that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;
because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
It is the Feast of Dedication.
And our Lord makes an astonishing claim …that those who come to Him
shall receive the Holy Spirit , and that Holy Spirit will be in them
as a river of blessing to others.
Any service we might
do for the Lord Jesus will only be
effective as the Holy Spirit flows through us. And the Holy Spirit will only
flow through us in proportion to our surrender to Him. Our life is like a channel , and if it be clogged with pride or covetousness or
worldliness or any other sin it will
hinder our work for the Saviour.
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CONCLUSION
Have you trusted the Lord Jesus and found Him to be like a
refreshing, life-giving river ?
Have you confessed Him , as He commanded, in the waters of baptism
?
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to ‘flow’ through you as you live
a life obedient to Him?
( And, come to think of it , isn’t a refusal to be baptized an act
of disobedience ?
Why not speak to one of the
Church officers about it …. ?)
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