I Can’t Do It On My Own– John 15:5

The Lies We Tell Ourselves and the World Tells Us:

-I Can Do It By Myself

-I Am Good Enough

-I Don’t Need Anyone Else

-I Can Do Enough On My Own

The Truth: 

-I Can’t Do It By Myself, But That’s Okay…Jesus Does It For Us

Lie 1: I Am Good Enough

-At Least I’m Not as Bad As…

–Luke 18:9-14– Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Comparison is Pride Talking. We are Called to Be Humble

-God Loves Me No Matter What

-True, but… then why did God send Jesus?

-John 3:16-18- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

God loves us enough to let us choose to be with Him. It would be evil to be forced to be with someone we did not want. 

Truth 1: Only Jesus Can Save Me

-Jesus Does It:

–Romans 5:6-10– 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Jesus’ death pays the price for our sins, but his resurrection gives us a new life to live.

Lie 2: I Can Do Enough on My Own

-I Can Do More and Make It… (My Rights Outweigh My Wrongs)

-Ephesians 2:8-9– 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Truth: I Can Only Have Faith in Him and Obey

–Romans 3:23-26 – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

-1 Peter 2:24– and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.

-Proverbs 3:5-6– 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

-Ecclesiastes 12:13-14– 13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. 

Lie 3: I Don’t Need Anyone Else…Especially the Church

-People are Hypocrital and Judgemental

–1 John 4:19-21– 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

-James 4:11-12– 11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?

As God’s church, we are called to love each other.

Truth 2: Only the Church Can Encourage, Challenge, and Support Me

-I Can’t Be a Part of Christ without Being Part of the Body

–Proverbs 16:1– One who separates himself seeks his own desire; He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

-Romans 12:3-5- 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.

It comes back to pride.

-The Church Should Encourage, Challenge, and Support Each Other:

-Hebrews 10:23-25– 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

-James 5:19-20– 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

-Offer Grace, Forgiveness, and Correction when the Church Isn’t Perfect

Ephesians 4:1-3, 15-16, 25, 29-32 – 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.

29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Summary: The Truth- “I Can’t Do It All By Myself… But With Jesus, All Things Are Possible”

-Mark 10:25-27– 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

It doesn’t matter how much you have. Only God makes it possible.

We must be connected to the source of life.

-John 15:4-12– 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

As Christians, we must abide in Christ and let Him abide in us.

We must obey His command to love others as He has loved us.

1 Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

• YOU ARE BLESSED. ACT THAT WAY!
• THE CHURCH IS GOOD. INVEST IN IT!
• YOU NEED OTHERS, SO LOVE THEM!

Psalm 26:1– Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have walked in my integrity,

• RAGING
• PARANOID
• MURDEROUS
• SELF-PROTECTING

• It is contagious like sin with a painful master.
• It can’t be healed & creates instant separation.
• Unless cured, eventually it ends in death.

• Exodus 4:6-7
• Num. 5:3, 12:10
• 2 Kings 5
• Luke 17:12-14

• Jesus did not bypass Moses’ Law!
• Our HIGH PRIEST has the prerogative to make us clean. (Mk. 16:15-16)
• When we go to our High Priest we can be truly healed. (Heb. 5:9)

• Where does your JOY lead you today?
• DO YOU TELL EVERYONE GOOD NEWS? (Acts 8:35)
• YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TELL THE STORY!

• There is healing in Jesus for all problems we face.
• Mark 1:40-41

• A humble leper humbled let Jesus touch His life & was changed IMMEDIATELY.
• Right now, Jesus wants to save you.
• Come to Him and be made clean!

Today, I want to share a tool (or mindset) that can help us focus on how to accomplish our mission and vision.

Credit to Kyle Idleman and his book, One at a Time, whose ideas he shares in the book shape this lesson.

Resources links:

• Book: One at a Time
• Bible Study for Families: SEKIDS_1XFG.pdf (squarespace.com)
• Bible Study for Groups: OAAT-Study-Guide-Final.pdf (squarespace.com)
• Youtube Video Series

Intro- 

Jesus was one man who changed the world. How did he do it?

We are to be imitators of God and Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

So how can I imitate Christ and make as much of a difference as he did? 

By loving one at a time.

Zoom Lens- 

While Jesus loved everyone in the crowds, he loved them one at a time.

Example 1: Mark 5:21-43, Jairus and the woman with a bleed

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?'” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Jesus loved one at a time.

Example 2: The man by the pool of Bethesda, John 5:2-9, 13-14

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (skip to 13)

13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.

Jesus loved one at a time. 

In then Through–

To make a difference, we must first let God work in us, then through us.

Paul said in Galatians 2:20,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Is your soil being tended? Mark 4:1-9, Parable of the Sower

1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explains this parable in verses 10-20. Let’s focus on verses 18-20.

18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Just like with plants, before fruit (a result) can be born, growth must start in the soil (the heart). 

Example: Moses (80 years of preparation)

40 years in Egypt, 40 years as a shepherd, until finally 40 years as God’s leader.

We must first be willing to let God work in us, before he works through us.

Proximity-

Loving one at a time will take us to places and people we are uncomfortable.

Mark 4:1,35; 5:1-20, Jesus and the demon-possessed man

1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. … (skip to 35)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Jesus loved one at a time, even when it was uncomfortable. But look at the result. 

Loving one at a time is going to take us to people and places that are uncomfortable, but it is there that God is glorified.

Compassion and–

Loving one at a time requires compassion and action.

Luke 10:30-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan (summarize, read verse 33)

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Here we see Jesus teaching that to love one at a time, we have to show compassion.

Examples of Compassion and… 

• two blind men who Jesus healed, Matt 20:34
• the leper,who Jesus touched and healed him, Mark 1:41
• the 5000 who Jesus fed, Mark 6:34
• the widow who Jesus raised her son, Luke 7:11-17
• the people who Jesus prayed for, Matt 9:35-38

Extra Mile Mentality-

Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount about what loving one at a time looks like. 

In Matthew 5:38-42, 

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Instead of giving in to evil, we overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:1-11,

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We love one at a time because, in showing that love, God is glorified, souls are saved, and we become more like Christ.

Don’t Be a Prig-

We must humble ourselves, give glory to God, reject our own biases, and consider others before ourselves, because everyone deserves to hear the gospel. None of us are better than another. 

Romans 3:22-24:

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (is) for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Outro-

The “one at a time” principle is that it doesn’t require us to try to be someone we are not, but rather it requires us to trust God and let Him do the work in and through us.

God is calling us to partner with Him in His work, by showing love one at a time.

The True Story of Alfred Lomas 

Adapted from EverybodyWiki, About – Alfred Lomas, and One at a Time

Alfred Lomas was a gang member in South Central Los Angeles. He joined one of the gangs at age 12, and was involved with drugs and violence. Then in 2005, after being released from jail, he came across an elderly lady in a back alley who was lost after being seperated from her mission trip group. The lady saw him and, instead of turning the other way from this scary-looking, tattooed man, walked up to him. She asked if he was hungry. Alfred was confused, but he was also hungry, so he nodded yes. The lady asked him to help her figure out where she was, promising to take him somewhere he could get food. Alfred went with her and got connected with a Christian ministry called the Dream Center. There he was fed, but he also learned about God’s unconditional love and became a Christian. From then, his life changed. Alfred is now the founder of a program called Inner City Visions. It is through his work that 92% of the systems-involved youth who have gone through his training program are now successfully employed, the neighborhood were the program in located has experienced a 43% reduction in violence and murders, as well as many other impacts. 

All because one elderly lady:

• saw someone like Jesus did
• had compassion on him
• trusted God to work in and through her
• overcame her fear
• and went out of her way to talk to him.

We can all love one at a time. 

Welcome to Central Church of Christ.  Show God’s Love. Tell God’s Story, Be God’s Family.

We all need water. It is one of the 3 basic needs.

Specifically, water:

• brings nutrients to cells 
• gets rid of waste
• protects joints and organs 
• maintains body temperature
  • Simply: It cleanses us, sustains us, and maintains us.

God uses water as a powerful symbol of the source of life with Him. 

Cleansing (& New Beginnings)

• • Flood- Gen 6:17-19 

• 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.

• • The Red Sea- Ex. 14:29-31

• 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

• • Purification Rituals
•  
  • Jordan Crossing- Josh. 2 & 3:17 

• 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

• • Naaman- 2 Kings 5:14,17-18 

• 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

• 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”

• • Baptism-
    • Jesus- John 1:29-34

• 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

• • • 3000 souls- Acts 2:40-41, 47b

• 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  

• 47b …And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

God is the Source of that Life (He Sustains and Maintains)

The River of the Water of Life is Eternal and Flows From God’s Presence

• • Tree of Life- Gen. 2:5-6,10

• 5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground–

• 10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.

• • From God’s Throne- Rev. 22:1-3 

• 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

• • God’s Word- Psalm 1:1-4

• 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

• • Ultimately In Jesus- John 4:6-14 

• 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

• • • John 7:37-39– Jesus is the source of living water (the Spirit)

• 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Are You Connected to the Source?

• • Galatians 5:19-23- 

•  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

• • James 3:11-12- 

• 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Conclusion:

God has provided access to the river of the water of life through Jesus.

• • John 19:34–

• 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

Are you connected to the source? Do you have eternal life?

• Have you been made clean from sin and death and made new?
• If you are connected, are you sharing that life with others and connecting them to the source?

What do you hope for? What do you wait for?

1 Cor. 13:13 that the 3 spiritual gifts that will remain are faith, hope, and love.

• Hope: 
  • • Hope is the desire for something good in the future.
    • Hope is the good thing in the future that we are desiring.
    • Hope is the reason why our hope might come to pass.
• Worldly Hope:
  •  
  • Uncertain. 
• Biblical Hope: 
  • It is certain. Like a rope under tension, about to break.
    • Biblical hope is waiting with a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. 
  • Because God is certain.
    • Exodus 34:6-7a-“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth; who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished,” 
    • Heb 6:17-20- In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

What does the Bible say Christians hope?

• In Jesus and His Resurrection
  • Romans 3:23- for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  • Eph 2:12- having no hope and without God in the world.
  • Is 11:10/Romans 15:12- “THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM WILL THE GENTILES HOPE.”
  • Titus 2:11-14- For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.
  • 1 Peter 1:3-5- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• For Our Resurrection:
  • New Life and New Body
    • John 11:25-26- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
    • 1 Cor. 15:42-49- So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
• New Heaven and New Earth
  • Rev. 21:1-5- Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
  • Rev. 21:22- I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

v. 1- “My only hope is you, Jesus. My only hope is you. From early in the 

morning, to late at night, my only hope is you.”