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Sermon of the Week 
Monday, February 22 2021

A spring is a point where underground streams, which flow below the surface of everything, suddenly bursts forth and provides the weary traveler a refreshing drink. The ground may be parched on the surface, and it may be hot and dry, but right there, waiting for the right place to burst forth, is the supply of reinvigorating and refreshing water which is needed.                                                                                                                    Isaiah 41:17&18 “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst but I the LORD have answered them. I the God of Israel, have not forsaken them. v18 I will make rivers flow from the high placesand springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs”.

Lance Armstrong became the US Amateur Cycling champion at 20 and by 25 was one of the best professional cyclists in the world. That same year he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He was given a 40 percent chance to live. He had two surgeries including brain surgery but by 1998 his cancer went into remission. Not only did he survive cancer he went on to win seven straight Tour de France races. He also founded the    LiveStrong Foundation that has raised over 325 million dollars for cancer research.

Isaiah tells us that in all of life, we can find ourselves in places where we may be spiritually dry, with little that we can see which might bring relief to the situation we find ourselves in. But he draws our attention away from our circumstances or the hand we’ve been dealt, and calls us to look to the source of those underground springs, for our source is the high places.

Revelation 22:1 ”Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

All the forces which may come against you combined, cannot touch or in any way affect the source of that river, which is ever flowing, with an abundant supply, and it is usually out of sight, until it bursts forth in the most unlikely places in our lives.                                                                           The Boston Red Sox won the very first World Series and won four more by 1918. However, they did not win another world championship for 86 years.                                                                                                                     In 2004, the Sox played their hated rival, the New York Yankees, in the American League Championship series. The Red Sox began the series by losing the first three games. No team in Major League Baseball history had ever comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series. Yet, the Sox won four straight games to win the series and then won four straight against the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in 86 years.

Well, Israel had not had a win in 400 years of captivity in Egypt, and now they are in a desert wilderness…

Numbers 20:2 “Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. v4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” v6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. v7 The Lord said to Moses, v8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

First, notice that they had found themselves in a place where there were no resources to meet their needs. They began to speak the wrong things and try to find something or someone to blame for their situation. But God told them to speak to the very thing that seemed to be trying to destroy them, and IT WOULD RELEASE WHAT IT WAS THEY NEEDED for the time and season they were in. 

The water was there, waiting to be released, but because it was hidden behind what they were complaining about, they failed to discern that it was up to them to release it, and let it flow. 

God said “SPEAK TO IT”…. “RELEASE IT” and it shall obey you….

I want you to see something important about this account we are given to learn from… 1 Corinthians 10:3 “They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.

The Father wants us to see here, that their source was not the rock that brought forth the water but it was and is Christ, the fulfillment of the word of covenant. You get a picture here, of so much water gushing forth that it formed a river and the river followed them on their journey so that they would never lack water again!

Isn’t that what Jesus told the woman at the well who had come to draw water for her family’s needs…But God had a divine appointment scheduled for her….

John 4:13 “Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water flowing up into eternal life.”

When I was a boy of around 10, my mom had opened a country store which was located on the main highway. It had no running water and the restroom facility, was an outhouse in back of the store. It was my job each day after school, to go to the spring, which was about half a mile from across the highway, then across the train tracks, and a stretch of barren ground to the small pool where the water flowed up from an underground spring. I would carry those buckets to the store, where folks could us a dipper and get a refreshing drink of spring water.

I say that because it was my job to be the water bringer every day. And on hot summer days, that spring water was greatly appreciated, and mom would put ice in it from her ice delivery, to keep it cool and refreshing. 

Folks are thirsty, like the woman at the well, they need someone to bring water into their dry, barren places, until they learn how to draw it for themselves.

Jesus told the disciples at the wedding of Cana of Galilee to fill the pots with water and bring them in to where the feast was. They brought the pots full of water, and Jesus did a miracle! 

Those who are water bringers, will never cease to see miracles, signs and wonders. We can be water bringers because in every place of life we can provide the containers with which God canpour it out…

John 7:38 “Whoever believes in Me, 'Streams of living water will flow out from within him.” This is what Jesus promised. Another version says it this way….                                           

John 7:38 “He that believes on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”…

The Samaritan woman shows us that there are no exceptions to who God can uses as water bringers….This nameless woman from an obscure village, brought the living water to her entire area. Jesus ended up spending two days there, instead of just passing through, because He found a container to pour into, that would in turn pour into others. 

The woman wasn’t responsible for the results, she was responsible for pouring out the water. When she was willing, Jesus showed up! Be a water bringer and watch Jesus show up!!!

When you’re willing to be a water bringer, God will make sure there are plenty of drinkers who will seek you out….

Isaiah 35:1-7 “The wilderness and the parched land (places which have not received the truth) shall be glad for them, and the desert (to toil and bring forth nothing) shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, even with rejoicing and singing. The glory of Lebanon (mountains that pierce the heavens) shall been given unto it, the honor of Carmel (fruitful and plentiful places) and Sharon (the fertile valley) they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the honor of our God. Make firm the feeble hands, (in praise and service) and strengthen the week knees (in prayer and repentance). The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert and the dry place shall become a pool, and upon the thirsty ground shall be springs of waters”. HOW POWERFUL IS THAT!

We receive from wells we did not dig, so we can give to those who do not have…. We all benefit by working together. We all benefit from the labor of people we do not know.                                                                        A man walks out to the street and catches a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi, and the cabbie says, "Perfect timing. You're just like Frank."…."Who, asked the passenger?"                                                                    "Oh, Frank,... he's a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happened like that to Frank every single time." Well, said the Passenger: "There are always a few clouds over everybody."…. "Nope, Not Frank…. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand-Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone, and danced like a Broadway star. And you should have heard him play the piano! He was an amazing guy." "Sounds like he was something really special." Said the passenger…    "Oh,  believe me, there's more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order, and which fork to eat them with. And he could fix anything. Not like me, I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Frank, oh, he could do everything right." "Wow, that’s quite a guy." The passenger replied… “Oh, and Frank really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back, even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Frank."…. So, said the passenger, "This Frank is really an amazing fellow. How did you meet him?" …Oh, said the cabbie,actually, I never actually met Frank. He died, and I married his bloody, impossible to please widow..." (lighten up, it’s a joke!)                                                                                                                       Water bringers may give and receive nothing in return for all their effort. But hey, We pay taxes to build roads we’ll never drive upon. We pay for schools we do not attend. We to build bridges we may never cross. My taxes pay the salaries of firemen and policemen I hope to NEVER have need of.

However, I know that someone else’s taxes helped pay for the roads I DO drive on, the bridges I DO cross, The schools I Did attend and the police and fire department that is keeping me safe and secure. I know that My taxes alone would never pay for all the benefits of the society that I live in and benefit from. That’s what community is supposed to be.. That’s what water bringers do, they bring water they may never get to the chance drinkthemselves….                                                                            A minister was standing on the side of the road, holding a sign that said, "The end is near! Turn around before it's too late!" A man drove up to the minister in his car, rolled down his window, and said, "Leave us alone, you religious nut!" He rolled the window back up and drove off in anger as he disappeared over the cliff.Another driver came up and yelled at the minister…. Leave us alone, I know I’m going to hell, but I’ll have plenty of company, as he drove off and disappeared over the cliff.  

The minister was shocked, he looked at his sign which said, “The end is near, turn around before it’s too late, and thought to himself, "I knew It should have only said 'The Bridge is Out'."

You may serve and meet the needs of others who may never serve you or meet your needs, but in the bigger picture of everything, someone else will serve you and meet your needs as well. It’s how the water bringer’s ministry works. 

Those who work with children, may not get much back personally from it, but God makes sure that when we cast our bread upon the water, it will come back to us in many ways!

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. v7 So it’s not all about the one who plants nor the one who waters, but it’s about God, who makes all things grow. v8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to theirown faithfulness”.…

We drink from wells we did not dig, and we are warmed by fires we did not kindle”. We all benefit from those who came before us, and our goal is to benefit from all who came before us so that we can then benefit all who will come after us.” “If we have seen any degree of success, it is because we stand on the shoulders of GIANTS…                                      For thousands of years, wells were always COMMUNITY property. It was only recently in a historic sense, that people began to dig their own private wells and refuse to share them with others. We are told that Abraham shared his wells, and Jacob shared his wells….

Water bringers don’t always get to decide who will rejoice because they were faithful at their task. Jesus said sometimes one sows and another reaps but we all rejoice together in the harvest…

DL Moody, the great evangelist, was led to Christ at age 17, by his Sunday School teacher. Because of that one water bringer,Moody went on to win millions world wide to Christ and bring them the living water.                                                Smith Wigglesworth said, “In me is working a power stronger that every other power. The life that is in me is a thousand times bigger than I appear on the outside”. He was led to Christ at the Methodist church in his hometown of Yorkshire, England at the age of eight. Think of the reward that children’s worker will receive. Wigglesworth, raised more people from the dead than any minister on record. Cancers, tumors, and all types of illnesses were healed and millions were brought to Christ by this water bringer. Wigglesworth prophesied that there is coming a move of God, greater than has ever been seen on this planet. And it'll be a combination of healing and miracles and the teaching of the Word. He gave that prophecy in the mid forties… That’s in my lifetime!

Let me close this message with the account in Genesis 21, beginning in verse 14, where Abraham sent Hagar away into the wilderness. “She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.  Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water”.

Now the story goes on to say that Hagar called the well, “God who sees me.” You see, as Hagar wandered in the wilderness, tired, dry, weary, and possibly suffering from sun stroke…. What she didn’t know is that there was an underground supply of water she couldn’t see, but God had put it there. God had to show here that He had already put it there before she started out. And when she reached the place where she couldn’t go on any more. At that very spot, God put a well, where the water under neath was flowing up to supply her need! WELL HALLELUJAH!

Can you see it church, can you receive it….. As you’re moving through your journey, and you feel all alone, you feel that there is no one that can meet your need, and you feel that you have nothing available to help you make it and reach your dream, your goal, your promise…. God knew exactly where you would be this moment in your life and long before you got there….. He put a well!

You’ve got to hear it again….. Isaiah 41:17&18 “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst but I the LORD have answered them. I the God of Israel, have not forsaken them. v18 I will make rivers flow from the high places and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs”.

There are hidden springs which God has strategically placed along your journey so that you can boldly say… “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus.”

Give yourself to Him, and He will give Himself to you. He can do far more with what you have than you can! He fed 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish…. What can He do for you?

He fed 2.4 million people in the wilderness with manna from heaven, and on another occasion with so many quail theycouldn’t take another bite!..... What can He do for you?

He told us that He prepares a banquet table before us in the presence of our enemies, He anoints our head with oil, our cup runs over in the valley of the shadows….. So, what has He got for you?

When you’re going through your ordinary, every day life and suddenly you get sideswiped by a crises, you need to know that God has put a hidden spring there flowing up from a hidden supply, in His perfect timing. 

You’ve heard the siren of an ambulance, a multitude of times, but this time it’s headed for your house…. The telephone rings and you answer, then right after you say "hello," the caller tells you the news, that one of the most cherished people in the world to you is gone. There wasn't even time to say a final goodbye.                                                                          The truth is, when trauma walks right up and tries to pull the rug out from under you, there’s an underground river that has been tracking your every movement, and it will flow up and provide a deep refreshing drink, of unshakeable peace, safety, security, healing, fresh vitality and renewed hope, just when you need it most!

God has gone public with your victory…..Colossians 2:15“Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it”.

The Devil knows you’re coming, and He also knows God has gone ahead of you, to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus…. Your God is well supplied, His timing is perfect, His sovereignty is absolute, His power is undisputed, His plan will not fail concerning you, and that is also true of ever place on which your foot shall tread, He had given it to you!

When you were born, God breathed victory into you…. Before you were born, He knew you intimately…. Yesterday, He took care of your tomorrow…. And tomorrow, He knew where you would be and what you needed when you arrived. 

The Father loves to do come back stories, and the Bible is filled with some phenomenal comebacks. Joseph who went from the pit to the palace, becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt. King David’s comeback after his fall into sin. Job would certainly qualify as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Peter would be at the top of the list, after denying knowing the Lord, yet God allowed him to come back and preach the very first sermon on the opening day of the church, the Day of Pentecost. But none of them would qualify as THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMEBACK.

That’s right. The world’s greatest comeback is still in the future. It’s going to be when Jesus returns for His own. If we believe in the risen Lord and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He’s coming back for us. We will reign with Him for all eternity.                                                          Friend it’s like the old song says…. 
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all trials will erase. So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”

He’s coming for those who are looking for His appearing!!!Keep watching, keep filling up your vessel, keep pouring out, and get ready for underground rivers to burst forth in all the places of your life!

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