GET TOGETHER- The King’s River
Mt 23:33 “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (NKJV)Re 22:1 ¶ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Re 22:2 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. (NKJV)
God often uses things that we see to speak to our heart. Last week as J.J. and I were traveling through Arkansas on our way to Missouri there were a couple of things that I saw that I felt like the Holy Spirit wanted me to use in this message today. We were traveling somewhere either on I-555, or when it becomes US 63 on the western side of Jonesboro Arkansas. I can’t remember if it was before we got to Jonesboro or after, but here is what I do remember.
We passed over a creek and the name of that creek was Hell’s Creek. I found that to be a strange name for a creek. I don’t know how the creek got that name, but here is what it made me think about. Hell is a real place. Jesus spoke quiet often about Hell. The Greek term Gehenna for Hell in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost. It is a place of eternal torment.
Sometimes the devil has convinced some of us when we were lost that there either is no such place as Hell, or that perhaps the devil would give us a good position in Hell if we would serve him. Hell is a real place. And the devil will not be in a position to be handing out good positions in Hell as we are told in Re 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
There will be no good positions in Hell. And it sure doesn’t sound like there will be any creeks there, or places to get a sip of water. This passage in the Gospel of Luke reminds me of the agony of eternal torment: Lu 16:23 ,24″And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ There is certainly not a creek in that place.
Then a few miles down the road we crossed another creek. The name of that creek was King’s Creek. That made me think about the only One that can keep us from the torment of Hell. His Name is King Jesus. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came as we are told in Mt 9:13 to save sinners “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” He came to save us from the everlasting torment of Hell and to give us eternal life. The Apostle John wrote in Joh 3:16 -18″For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I assume that it is possible that people from time to time go swimming, or wading in the two creeks that we passed by. But for those of us who have repented of our sins and put our faith in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ there is a River waiting for us. We are told in Re 22:1 ¶ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in Re 22:2 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.(NKJV)
And praise God that there is a River that flows in us, through us and around us now. I am talking about the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Joh 7:38,”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, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
This King isn’t in the creek business. He is in the River business. Ask Him to fill you with that living water today. When He does you will want to point others to the King who will rescue them from the place where there is no creeks. And one day we will see that King. the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who sits on the throne where the river of life flows from throughout eternity. Have you repented of your sins and put your faith in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins? If you have done that then give Him the praise that He deserves. If you haven’t there is no better time to do that than today.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus we thank you for Your shed Blood on the cross. We thank You that You have made a way for humanity to escape the everlasting torment of Hell and to live with You throughout eternity. So fill us with Holy Spirit that rivers of living water flow out of us and help us to point those who do not know You to the blood stained cross of Calvary. Thank you that You have paid the price for our forgiveness of sins and for life eternal and life abundant.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Pray for the service at New Life Fellowship in Winfield on Sunday Morning October 18th.
Pray for Evening Service at the Home of Lea and Butch Benton in Haleyville October 18th 5:30 P.M. If your church doesn’t have an Evening Service, we hope that you can come.
Love You All
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
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