Yokes & Rest | Lesson 10

 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  -John 7:38

Living Water pt2 | Lesson 10

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As we continue learning the properties of the Living Water that flows from the heart that fears God, we'll pick up with page 34 in the text.   

Fourth:  There flows from this fear of God GREAT REVERENCE of HIS Majesty, in and under the use and enjoyment of God's holy ordinances.   PURIFYING WATER 

  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Act 9:31

"And walking" -- that word intendeth their use of the ordinances of God.  They walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the LORD blameless.  This, in Old Testament language, is called, treading God's courts, and walking in his paths.

Whoa! Wait a minute...are you saying that we should DO the Old Testament??  YES.  You see, Dear Reader, the Old Testament is still part of God's Word and God has established HIS Word forever. (Read Psalm 119:89)  When it comes to the way that leads to salvation, redemption, and restoration to the Father God -- Jesus paid that price as our sinless Lamb.  When it comes to living for God, the Old Testament was never abolished; but fulfilled. It remains our guideline to a life that belongs to God.  

Oh dear...some may balk about "works".   Well, honestly, if the attitude of the heart is looking continually for a way that the Holy Word of God doesn't have to apply -- then that heart has not yet learned to fear God.  

Jesus said in  Matthew 11:27-30  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Our perfect example is always Jesus.  He lived as a man on this earth to show us the way to live a life pleasing to God the Father.  Jesus did live a life without any sin.  He set the standard and we are to copy, aka..BE LIKE Jesus.  We may not always make the right choices, we may fall and stumble; but we ENDEAVOR to do our best to obey God.  If we don't even try...well, there's no fear of God.  If we look for a reason to excuse our missteps, foolishness, and rebellion .. well.. there's not fear of God.  

• Open your Bible to Psalm 119 and read that entire chapter.  
• Write a synopsis of this chapter 
• What is the main point?

Number 4 flows nicely to the Fifth:  There flows from this godly fear of God, self-denial.  That is, a holy abstaining from those things that are either unlawful or inexpedient.  YIELDING WATER (water that has increase of flow rate and quantity)

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

Luke 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

When we are in the fear of God, it is EASY to obey.  It's easy to deny our flesh the pleasures of the flesh, carnal living: the lust of the flesh, the cares of this world, and the temporal things of this earth.  The .. I'll use the word "practice" of self-denial is hard for us Americans.  We are pretty spoiled and think a lot of things we have are necessities when the truth is they are luxuries.  

We can see that we are truly in the last days as by observing the state of the Church.  You should check out Revelation 3:14-22.  A Christian that has need of nothing is in serious danger!  

The LORD is our sufficiency, not stuff.   

LOOK UP:

• Philippians 4:11
• 1 Timothy 6:8
• Hebrews 13:5 
• Define CONTENT
• Define SUFFICIENT
• Define SATISFACTION

 Remember, what you just read in Psalm 119?  The "ease" is not defined by society, culture, religion, family; the easy or light weight is defined by the word of God.  It is the grace of God at work in our life, it is God that gives us the ability and the 'want' to obey...living water that flows :)

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 

-Psalm 86:11  This verse is awesome!  I pray this for myself if I feel that I'm growing weary or giving way to the flesh.  Jesus said that we are to come to him.  He is the Word of God.  So we know we can go to the written scriptures to find strength, solace, help, encouragement -- all the work of God in us. 

Next comes the Sixth:  There flows from this godly fear of God "singleness of heart".  STILL WATERS

LOOK UP:

• Col 3:22-24 
• Ephesians 6:6
• Zechariah 7:5-13 
• Isaiah 29:13
• Mark 7:6 

--List what is expected of us:

When we've purposed to fear God, when we yield to his ways, do you see how then obedience and singleness of heart flows?  

--Write that out in your own words.

-- Now read Psalm 23

Let's stop here for now. There's a good amount to look up, define, and consider in this lesson.  

I pray that the LORD God give you peace in your study and grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen 2 Peter 3:18

hugs,

~Cristina