Danger of Dryness

A few weeks ago I built a message on the problem with worms. When I finished teaching that lesson about spiritual battles and the enemy the Lord opened my eyes to several other areas that are very similar. So many people seemed to make a connection with the ay that was related. So, here's another attempt in helping us understand a serious need in our life. 

That need is to stay fresh with our relationship with Jesus. We have way to many people that claim to be followers of the Lord and yet live their lives with a dryness. They are dry because they are dehydrated spiritually. 

We need a revival in the church. A fresh touch from the Lord. We see the conditions in our world and unfortunately we have no behavioral difference in the house of God. Let's admit it - we are are dry. 

I know that some will read these words and find that I've not gone far enough with my connections and applications. True, I didn't do a lot of research on the physical issue of dryness. I did do a little and just simply want to give you a challenge to consider. 

We are dry and need to get a cool refreshing drink. Physically we must have water. And spiritually we must have the Word of God - this is our spiritual drink. 

Luke 23: 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green,

what will happen when it is dry?

 

Danger of dryness

·         By the time you are thirsty you are already dehydrated

 (When you become thirsty for the things of God it is way. You are spiritually dehydrated when you have not continued to drink deep from his Word. Jesus reminds us that those who thirst must come to him.)

·         You can begin to forget that you need to drink water

(When you get dehydrated you can create a habit that says that you can handle things in your daily life without the help of Jesus. Truth is that we must have Jesus in every area of our lives.) 

·         You can begin to think other things can quench your thirst 

(Nothing substitutes for personal study of the Word of God.  To many people are satisfied with a devotional or hearing what someone heard from God. When God invited Moses up on the mountain to hear his law He also invited the people of Israel. However, they begged Moses to go and just tell them what God said. We still have people today that would rather hear from the Man who heard from God when they can go themselves and hear from God.)

·         Creates confusion, weakness, and poor decisions 

(Spiritual confusion is a serious problem. This leads to weakness in our life opening us to the attacks of the enemy.) 

Luke 23: 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green,

what will happen when it is dry?

Ezekiel 37: 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

What to do when you find that you are dry spiritually

You must stay hydrated to stay healthy

·         Drink enough water (I found a calculation web page that said at my weight I needed to consume 4.5 liters of water a day) How much of the word of God should you consume a day? Ezekiel 37: 4b  ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

·         Get plenty of exercise (practice your faith through prayer, trust, availability) Ezekiel 37: 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

·         Get plenty of rest (to me this is a picture of the spirit filled life – when we are so fully resting in the Lord that He has begun to live through our lives) Ezekiel 37: 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’

What Easter Brings in Your Life

What Easter brings in your life?

Mark 16:1-7

The question of the Ladies that morning is powerful! Who will roll the stone away for us? The stone presented a major problem to them that they could not physically, emotionally, economically, or emotionally solve.

Ever know anyone with a huge problem? Huh? Ever know anyone who had a problem and did not know it?

So, what does Easter bring in your life? (Here’s a fact today that I wish to establish: Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father! And, He knows exactly where you are today)

So, what does Easter bring in your life?

Easter brings Redemption – Jesus wants to be my Savior

V.6 (a)  "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified… 

John Maxwell Wrote: In Creation God showed us his Hand! 

In Redemption God showed us his heart!

You have been bought with a great price – that’s how much Jesus Loves You!

The one bought cannot pay the price. The one bought can only be bought – it’s that simple!

 {Historically the Betty Crocker Company almost stayed with a major mistake – When their box cake mix first hit the store shelves the instructions had these words: “Just add Water.” They did not sell. The marketing department came up with a plan. They altered the instructions to include adding eggs, oil and milk. The rest is history.}

We think personal salvation is too simple. But we do not spell Christianity DO it is spelled DONE! – Jesus paid it all.

Easter brings Resurrection – Jesus alone can be my Savior

v. 6 (b) …He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

We know Jesus is divine because of the resurrection

Romans 1:3-4 - The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT)

Our personal salvation depends upon Christ’s resurrection

Romans 4:25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. (NLT)

Our personal resurrection is possible because of Christ

Romans 8:10-11 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (NLT)

Easter brings Relationship – Jesus wants to be my Restorer

V. 7 (a) But go, tell his disciples and Peter…

This relationship begins with restoration –

                Peter had failed deliberately and was restored…

I want you to also consider the story of a woman in Mark 5. She had a major medical issue occurring in her life. She was bleeding uncontrollably.

This is a private matter (Confidential – she kept this a secret. If she had told anyone even a prayer request she would have been removed from the community. Some of us have a secret that if we shared in the faith community we would not be welcomed anymore.)

This is a personal matter (Conflict – she had to not only hold this secret she had to act as if she had no problem. So many of us have become so accustom to our troubles, that we ignore them, and act as if we have no problems.)

This is a permit matter. (Crisis – She was desperate because there was no end in sight for the problem. This is what drove her to seek out Jesus. She did the unheard of in her day. She touched the hem of the clothes of a man that was not her husband and was a Rabbi.)

I love this part of the story! Jesus asked his disciples, “Who touched me?” And this same Peter responded, “In this crowd, you want to know who touched you?”  Jesus said, “I felt power leave my body! There’s been a healing and it needs to be celebrated.”

You may be asking how can I go to Jesus and touch him my problem is great? What has Easter brought to your life?

Jesus is alive! Jesus knows where you are! Jesus wants to come to you and touch you! He wants his power to flow out into your life. What no one else is able to do He can do. What no one else is willing to do He will do.

Pray this – Dear Jesus, you are the Christ that died for our sins and has risen from the dead. You are the living one who has no limit to your power and reach. I ask you to enter my life as Savior and Lord. I ask you to reach out to me and give me the faith to believe your promises. I know that you know where I am. I know you know what no one else knows and you know how to restore me. I ask you to restore me in this area….(now you tell him what area of your life you need him to show his power.) AMEN