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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday, March
7, 2023
A
view of the
Susquehanna
River from
Marietta, PA
Click on
photo to enlarge
"There
Is A River!"
Message
summary:
The
full life
doesn’t depend
on our being
young, strong,
or physically
healthy. No
matter our
physical
condition our
lives can be
like “rivers
of flowing
water” as we
invite the
surging power
of the Holy
Spirit to
channel
through us as
we exercise
the spiritual
gifts God has
dispensed for
all His
people.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“There
is a river
whose streams
make glad the
city of God,
the holy
dwelling
places of the
Most High”
(Psalm 46:4).
“He who
believes in
Me, as the
Scripture
said, ‘From
his innermost
being will
flow rivers of
living water’”
(John 7:38).
Yesterday
I rode my bike
on the
Northwest
Lancaster rail
trail along
the
Susquehanna
River from
Riverfront
Park above
Marietta, PA
to south of
Columbia and
back, some 15
miles. It was
a beautiful
sunny day for
a bike ride,
although in
the low 50's,
I sure felt
the chill.
The
Susquehanna
River
meanders 444
miles from its
origin at
Otsego Lake
near
Cooperstown,
New York,
until it
empties into
the Chesapeake
Bay at Havre
de Grace,
Maryland. I've
been to both
the starting
and ending
points. The
Susquehanna is
comparatively
short compared
to huge rivers
like the Nile
at 4,132 miles
or the Amazon
at 3,977
miles.
Jerusalem
has no rivers
running
through it
though just to
the east is
the Biblically
famous Jordan
River which is
only 156 miles
long. The
first
reference to
the Jordan is
found in
Genesis and
then in the
book of Joshua
when he led
the Israelites
across to the
Promised Land.
Perhaps most
famously Jesus
was baptized
in the Jordan
River. To this
day it's a
must see on
any Holy Land
trip.
But
the Scripture
also uses the
image of the
river to
communicate
spiritual
truth.
In our first daily text the Psalmist wrote, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High.” Streams and rivers are common symbols of abundance: a source which perpetually flows. The imagery here resembles that of the river which Ezekiel 47 describes, gushing forth from the temple in the millennium when Christ rules the earth. Revelation 22:1–2 depicts a "river of the water of life" flowing in the New Jerusalem. (BibleRef commentary)
In our first daily text the Psalmist wrote, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High.” Streams and rivers are common symbols of abundance: a source which perpetually flows. The imagery here resembles that of the river which Ezekiel 47 describes, gushing forth from the temple in the millennium when Christ rules the earth. Revelation 22:1–2 depicts a "river of the water of life" flowing in the New Jerusalem. (BibleRef commentary)
Spurgeon
comments
concerning
this text,
“Divine grace,
like a
smoothly
flowing,
fertilizing,
full, and
never failing
river, yields
refreshment
and
consolation to
believers.
This is the
river of the
water of life,
of which the
church above
as well as the
church below
partakes
evermore.”
In our second verse Christ is speaking: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’.” The rivers of living water refer to the life-giving Spirit flowing from within as a result of belief in Jesus Christ.
In our second verse Christ is speaking: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’.” The rivers of living water refer to the life-giving Spirit flowing from within as a result of belief in Jesus Christ.
Matthew
Poole
comments, “The
flowing of
rivers of
water,
signifieth the
plenty of
spiritual
influences
with which
believers
shall be
supplied;
whether joy,
knowledge,
spiritual
gifts, or
graces. If any
ask, where the
Scripture
speaketh this?
I answer, in
all those
promises we
meet with in
the Old
Testament,
about pouring
out the
Spirit.”
This full life doesn’t depend on our being young, strong, or physically healthy. No matter our physical condition our lives can be like “rivers of flowing water” as we invite the surging power of the Holy Spirit to channel through us as we exercise the spiritual gifts God has dispensed for all His people.
You might feel beat down due to long work hours, physical pain, or a longstanding struggle that has squeezed out the vibrancy you once had in your walk with Christ. We encourage you to exercise today. Sure, we encourage you to physically exercise if you’re able (1 Timothy 4:7-9), but far more importantly we challenge you to exercise the spiritual gifts available to all who follow Christ which will be a spiritual influence to those around you and will give you a strength and vibrancy in Your walk with Christ.
Some of our older readers may recall this chorus:
This full life doesn’t depend on our being young, strong, or physically healthy. No matter our physical condition our lives can be like “rivers of flowing water” as we invite the surging power of the Holy Spirit to channel through us as we exercise the spiritual gifts God has dispensed for all His people.
You might feel beat down due to long work hours, physical pain, or a longstanding struggle that has squeezed out the vibrancy you once had in your walk with Christ. We encourage you to exercise today. Sure, we encourage you to physically exercise if you’re able (1 Timothy 4:7-9), but far more importantly we challenge you to exercise the spiritual gifts available to all who follow Christ which will be a spiritual influence to those around you and will give you a strength and vibrancy in Your walk with Christ.
Some of our older readers may recall this chorus:
There
is a river,
and it flows from deep within
There is a fountain,
that frees the soul from sin.
and it flows from deep within
There is a fountain,
that frees the soul from sin.
Come
to this water;
there is a vast supply
There is a river,
that never shall run dry.
there is a vast supply
There is a river,
that never shall run dry.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
You want us to
do more than
just survive.
You want us to
thrive and
therefore You
provide, from
our inmost
being, flowing
rivers of
living water.
The world
seems to be
filled with
stagnant or
dried up holes
of water as we
witness the
rising surge
of immorality,
dishonesty,
suicide,
corruption and
crime. But
even as we
journey
through this
troubled world
rivers of
living water
can flow
through us as
we exercise
the fruit of
the spirit in
our daily
lives showing
to others
love, joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness and
self-control.
We want to
walk in the
wisdom and
knowledge of
the Holy
Spirit and
joyfully
declare that
we believe in
the Lord Jesus
Christ which
gives us
surging,
endless hope
now and
forevermore.
It is in His
name that we
pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"There
Is A River "
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Gaither
Vocal Band
The
recreational
trail goes
through this
long abandoned
railroad
tunnel.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
These
are the ruins
from an iron
furnace from
the 1800's.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Chickies
Rock is a
large
outcropping
and a popular
rock climbing
spot.
It
is visible
from a
distance in
our lead
photo. See my
bike in the
foreground for
perspective in
size.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Along
Front Street
in Marietta
the houses
date back to
the early
1800's.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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