Just A River Of Water?

   There are thousands of streams in the world that are called rivers. Of these thousands there are 165 major rivers in the world. There are some very large and very long rivers. The longest is the Nile River in Africa; it flows for 4,160 miles. The Amazon in South America is 4,000 miles long. The mouth of the Amazon can reach over 200 miles in width. The Mississippi River in the United States is 2,340 miles in length. This makes the Mississippi the 14th longest river in the world. The word "River" is in our King James Bible 148 times. Additionally the word "Rivers" is found 71 times. We even find the term "River of God" in Psalms 65:9. "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it." The "River of God" refers to God's exhaustless resource of rain. The rain is called a river because of its plentiful nature and it is called the river of God because He provided it for the inhabitants of the earth. Rain is proof of God mercy and care for the earth. God, who made the earth, waters it with His River so that it will continue fruitful. The River of God which makes the earth fruitful should increase our love for God and our appreciation of Him. We have a great abundance because God has provided so well for us. The River of God has made this abundance possible! Is this just a river of water? No! This is the handy work of God in preserving life.

   It was not just a river of water it was a river that watered the Garden of Eden. You do not have to read long in your Bible until you see a river of water. But it was not just a river of water, it was the river that watered the Garden of Eden. "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads." (Genesis 2:10) Man was created by God as a living soul. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) Man has both a temporary physical body and an eternal living soul. God placed the man whom he had made in an amazing paradise called the Garden of Eden. There was a river of water that watered the garden. This garden and the river that water it reminds us of: (1) The creative power of God, (2) The beauty of what God has made, (3) That mankind is the handiwork of God, (4) That man is accountable to his Maker, (5) That man has a living soul, (6) That man is always better off when he obeys God, and (7) That there are many horrible consequences that come as a result of sin. Was this just a river of water? No! This was a river that watered the Garden of Eden.

   It was not just a river of water it was a river that was to be a place of death, but instead it became a place of life. Joseph was in Egypt as a slave at first. Later he became lord of Pharaoh's house. "So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45:8) This led to Joseph's father and extended family coming to live at Goshen in Egypt. When they came to live in Egypt they were just a small company of people. "All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six." (Genesis 46:26) The children of Israel grew into a strong nation of people. "Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." (Exodus 1:8-10) It was the intent of the Pharaoh that the Nile River be a place of death for Jewish boy babies when they were born. He "charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." (Exodus 1:22) Moses was placed in a little ark and left in the flags or reeds near the shore. The flags would keep him from floating away down stream. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and raised in the royal place. God needed Moses to be the great leader of the Jews. God needs men today to be leaders in the home (Ephesians 5) and leaders in the church. (1 Timothy 3) Was the Nile just a river of water? No! It was meant to be a place of death for Jewish baby boys, but it was a place of life for a little baby boy who became the great law giver for the Jews!

            It was not just a river of water it was the place where Jesus was baptized. Jesus came to John at the Jordan River to be baptized. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” (Matthew 3:13) At first John was reluctant to baptize Jesus. Jesus told John that He must be baptized because that was to "fulfill all righteousness." “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” (Matthew 3:14-15) We should be baptized because it is the right thing to do. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16) Baptism is the right thing to do because it is a command of Jesus. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16) Was the Jordan just a river of water? No! It was the place where Jesus was baptized because that was the right thing to do.

   It was not just a river of water but it was a river that helped to provide a beautiful picture of Heaven itself. John wrote, "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:1-2) Just as in Eden there was a river to water the garden, so also in the New Jerusalem (Heaven) there will be a River of life. This river will begin at the throne of God. This crystal river flowing through our eternal home will be of sparkling beauty and of clarity beyond the purest water man has ever seen. Is this just a river of water? No! This is an amazing picture of heaven itself. Let us become a new person inside and out and find a destiny of never ending hope.

   Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) To become a Christian hear the word (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (2 Peter 3:9), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32-33) and be baptized to be saved. (Mark 16:16) Come to Jesus today if you are lost in your sins! The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Obey Him now! Those who meditate upon the word of God will be "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalms 1:3)

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Dot Killingsworth, Jackson Hospital: Dorman Murff. In Need Of Prayer: Haley Acree (sister of Hunter & Hannah Owens and Mack Thomas & Brooklyn Acree), Joe & June Adams, Mike Bagents (Surgery), Dee Barker, Jerry Barr, Brenda Burkett, Bonnie Croley, Tim Croley, Marie Curlee, Jimmy Davis (brother of Eleanor Stabler), Ron Fisher, Betty Gray, Bryan Harville, Billy Heartsill, Dylan Heartsill, Mary Jo Hoffman, Randall Holder, David Jones, Larue Kelsoe, Patrica Kennemore (mother of Trina Croley), Jerry Little, Larry Lucas, Clifford McCarter, Annie McKee, Taylor Merry (auto accident), Jeff Miller, Doris Mosley, Tina Pouncey (niece of Tete Stabler), Jessie Mae Powell, Betty Pruitt, Joan Radcliff, John Reynolds, Olivia Reynolds, Lillie K. Rice, Jimmy Riley, Katie Sanders, Mary Sasser, Paul & Hazel Shoemaker (grandparents of Holly Box), Nathan Simmons, Sarah Stidham, Ronnie Solomon, Otis Taylor, Mary Lou Terrell, Cindy Thomas, Leisha Till, Charlotte Todd, Calvin Webb and Florida Wilson. Crowne Health Care: Helen Autrey, Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Betty Findley, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, Glenn Phillips, and Annie Ruth Tetter. 

2. Requesting Prayers: Wayne Garlock responded to our Lords invitation Sunday morning. Please remember him in your personal, private prayers.

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Donald and Ruth Davis and their families in the death of their nephew, Bobby Vasko.

4. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week are: November 9^th Micah Flowers, November 10^th Pam Till, November 11^th Elease Brown.

5. Thank You: Our thanks to Jason and Ashley Holladay for hosting the Fall Festival/Trunk or Treats. Everyone that attended had a wonderful time.

6. Time Change: Do not forget that time changes November 6^th. Set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed on Saturday night, November 5^th.

7. Thank You Note: Thanks for everything, and all the help you have given to me, in the past and present. Lot of love goes out to you all at the Walnut Street Church of Christ. Calvin & Annie Webb.

8. Church Budget: Our weekly budget for 2011 is $6,699.16. Please give as God has given to you! Give generously and God will bless you.

9. A new baby girl: Congratulations to Tim & Lindsey Croley on the birth of their daughter, Ivey Cates. She was born November 3. She weighed 6 pounds and 11 ounces. Proud Grandparents are Tim and Trina Croley.

10. Congratulations: Congratulations to Amanda Bagents and to Ronnie Solomon. Both have recently completed programs as they work to improve their lives. God Bless you both.

11. Exposure Youth Camp 2011: Exposure Youth Camp is December 27-30, 2011. It takes place in the Embassy Suites Hotel and Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Darrell will take the youth group from Walnut Street. Camp cost will be covered. See Darrell for other details. 

12. You can help: Here are some things we call all do to help around the building. (1) After you finish singing please return the song book to the rack instead of leaving it on the pew. (2) If you see doors unlocked when they should be locked, please lock them. (3) If you see lights or air conditioners on when they should be off please turn them off. Thank you.

 13. Area Event: November 7^th – 9^th – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Amridge University – at Embassy Suites Hotel downtown Montgomery – Theme: Give Me the Bible! “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105) – See the bulletin board for Speakers and Times or See Bobby Terrell.

What Does God Desire?

   The Lord told Saul, “Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have.”  (I Samuel 15:3.)  So Saul went to Amalek and attacked it, but he spared Agag the king, as well as the best of all that the Amalekites had.  It is easy to look at this passage and see the blatant rebellion against, and disregard for God’s command.  As well, it is easy to harshly judge Saul’s actions, thus leaving this record behind.  Truly this condemnation is deserved, but let us not leave it before thoroughly examining our own lives in its light.  Is it possible that you are blinded, as was David when it was necessary for Nathan to declare, “Thou art the man.”?  (II Samuel 12:7.)

   Many souls, possibly with good intentions, may be just as guilty of rebellious sin as was Saul.  Let’s look further into this account of his actions. Saul first asserted that he had performed the commandment of the Lord.  Then Samuel asked him why he had returned with spoils of war. To which Saul replied, “They have brought them…to sacrifice to the Lord your God.”  (I Samuel 15:15.)  But he soon learned that God is never pleased, though intentions may be good, if we act through disobedience. For Samuel said, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”  (I Samuel 15:22.)

   There are many things that men may see fit to offer to God. Some men see fit to offer a sinner’s prayer in exchange for salvation, but I Peter 3:21 tells us that more than a prayer is required.  Some men say that worship in song is best when accompanied by a mechanical instrument, but God simply said to sing.  (Ephesians 5:19.) Some men say faith only is needed for salvation, but God, in His word says, “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”  (James 2:17.) 

   Man will always possess his own ideas as to what God desires, but shouldn’t it be God who commands what we will and will not do?  He desires your obedience. Learn His will and obey it today.                   

- - - - Darrell Powell

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551