“THE RIVER OF GOD - THE ULTIMATE SUPPLY OF LIFE”

Mary Lindow

Psalm 46: 1- 7
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the
mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though it’s waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with
their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice,
the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

THERE IS A RIVER THAT IS THE ULTIMATE SUPPLY OF LIFE!
A river is made up of flowing water.
The places the river touches...are made glad.
The cities on their shores are happy.
There is plenty of water available to them.

WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE.
If that water is clean water, it is a great blessing.
But here the Bible speaks of another river, the streams there of make glad
the people of the city of God.

There is a river that makes glad the city of God.
Where does it have it starting place?

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."
Rev.22: 1

WHERE DOES THIS RIVER START?
It starts at the throne of God.
The river is Jesus. The citizens of this city are those born of the Spirit. Some
of them are on the earth and some are in heaven. Jesus who was broken for
us became a river. Those that love Jesus belong to that city and will one day
be lifted up when the trumpet of the Lord is sounded.

IF YOU ARE LIVING IN THAT CITY YOU KNOW IT.
It is a holy city.
It makes you happy if you belong to that city.

"The King desires in you the beauty of holiness."
Psalm 45:7

THOSE THAT WASH IN THIS RIVER ARE BEAUTIFUL.
This river was flowing even from ancient times. Abraham drank of it and
the prophets drank of it. It was in the beginning with God. Those that fear
God accept this truth. You can dig a channel from this river to run by your
house. Your house can be cleansed by this river. The fruit of the Spirit will
be seen in those that live by the river. There is great peace in their heart and
homes. God knows who belong to this city.

WHEN JESUS RETURNS TO THIS EARTH HIS PEOPLE WILL
NATURALLY BE LIFTED UP TO HIM. This river is flowing today. It
reaches you every time you think of His Name. When you are in a constant
pattern of drinking for the River, This life Source, you cannot come under
the grip of evil thoughts. Does this river flow by you?

The river of God is full of water . . ."
Psalm 65

HOW MAY WE KEEP THE RIVERS OF OUR SOULS FILLED WITH
GOD'S WATER OF LIFE AND BLESSING?
How can we keep “our streams” full?

WE CAN DETERMINE: NOT JUST TO LIVE ON THE RUN-OFF.
We can begin to keep our soul's life-streams filled when we determine that
we will not be satisfied with a spasmodic flow of grace.

PERHAPS "DETERMINATION" IS THE KEY IN STARTING.
To say:

"As much as it is possible for me to do,
I will tap into the great and permanent sources of God's grace."

RIVERS CANNOT HELP WHAT THEY ARE,
nor can they determine their 'character.' But people can choose how they
shall be filled. People can simply move to higher ground, or go to where the
water is flowing. People have the privilege of tapping into God's resources.

SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT “TAPPING” INTO THE DEEP SPRINGS?
I want to talk about keeping our souls filled with God in these minutes we
have together.

Perhaps there is one sense in which this is a process that cannot be taught.
Our relationship to God is intensely private, and each of us must learn the
deep lessons for ourselves. But in another sense we can guide and help
each other. That is what fellowship is for, and
Meeting with others in gatherings big or small, and fellowship in the Holy
Spirit.

SOMETIMES WORD PICTURES ARE HELPFUL.
When we talk about rivers that are full and rivers that are half-full or less,
we get a picture in our minds.

BUT PICTURES CANNOT NOURISH THE TOTAL TRUTH.
They aren't the whole representation. And the goal of all these and many
other little streams (or tributaries) to our stream of life is,
an increasing awareness that God is with us, and wants to share all areas of
our life with us.

THERE IS REALLY BUT ONE SOURCE OF LIFE!
And that Source, of course, is God Himself!
God is the Source of spiritual fullness.

ALL THAT WE DO, ALL THAT WE ARE,
COMES TO THIS ONE POINT:
We were made to know GOD…
… in a very real and intimate and personal way!

GOD IS THE ONLY SOURCE INTO THE DEEP SPRINGS OF JOY AND
BLESSING IN OUR LIVES.
But He has provided what we call " the way of grace" for us to get there!

OUR GOAL IS GOD HIMSELF. NOT WHAT GOD CAN GIVE,
or what He can do for us: God Himself! But in finding God Himself, we
still see that God has provided (what we call) the way of grace that brings
us into contact with Him. Some of these paths of grace are gatherings with
other worshippers, reading and meditating on the scriptures, and daily
communion, and fellowship with God's people.

We look to meet GOD when we come together to worship!
It may seem so elementary-- but often people come together and meet because they
know they should; or they come because vaguely they want to 'receive help.'
But we must come honestly to meet God, and be filled anew with His Presence.

We read the scriptures to meet GOD.
Once again, it is so simple I hardly dare say it-- but many of us learned to read the
Bible because we know we SHOULD. Let’s read it because we see it as a love letter
from the Father. The source of all life!

We PRAY in order to be filled with God's Presence.
It is one of the things that will make a river of you instead of a dry streambed.
God's Source channel is ALWAYS full of water! We do not need to be gushing full
and then empty and dry. We can tap into the deep wells of God and stay filled with
Him!

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Thank You
Copyright © 2009 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow