Water, Water Everywhere
Notes
Transcript
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
What better place to start a story then at the beginning-
So...In the Beginning...
God Created...
Notice He created...What?
The Heavens and the Earth… BUT the Earth was without form and void and dark.
But with lots of water.
How many days can a person go without solid food? (1-3 months)
How long can a person go without interaction with another human? (: A notable case involved a professional poker player who attempted to stay in total darkness for 30 days but could not last beyond 20 days due to the psychological toll.
How long can a person go without sleep? (record is 11 days)
Why so much water? What is so important about water? (3-5 days)
So when God started the Creation process, why did He start with water?
The Earth was void and dark- AND God hovered over the water.
In spite of the darkness, the emptiness and the chaos… God was still there.
In the desert, water is a precious commodity. Historical records show that caravans often traveled great distances to find oases. Similarly, Jesus referred to Himself as the 'water of life' in a place where people were desperate for physical sustenance and spiritual hope.
In John 7:37, He called out, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.' This call was not just for physical experience, but a profound invitation to experience God’s sustaining grace in our most barren moments.
For everyone that went camping in June, How many got at least one shower, while we were there?
It was nice to be able to wash off the dust and sweat from the days activities, right?
When Jesus began His ministry, He headed for a river.
The Jordan River, where John the Baptist was baptizing people in the water.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Today, we believe water baptism is the Outward sign of the inward commitment to live for Jesus Christ for the rest of our lives.
Just as God took all of that darkness and nothingness and Turned it into everything we have on our planet, today,
God can also bring quite refreshment and peace in what we may see as only strife and confusion.
The presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, works in the middle of our chaos and turmoil, to restore peace of mind for each of us.
Consider Gen 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
We must always remember that while exploring the majesty and sovereignty of God, we have to recognize that God’s power is infinite and intentional. There are no mistakes in God’s world.
Even when it may seem that the tossing of the waves, the rolling of the tides and even the chaotic actions of hurricane force wind and rain… God is still in control.
When God started creating, He just didn’t start by throwing lumps of clay on the wall to see what would stick…
No, He was intentional in every part of the creation design.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Water can be as refreshing as it can be dangerous. How so?
Far to many people around the world drown in water every year.
Fish can breathe under water, but people can’t. Humans can hold their breath under water for only a few minutes.
The best that I have ever seen are the pearl divers of SE Asia, who can hold their breath for 5-6 minutes while harvesting pearls. They are trained from an early age how to control their breathing and to not panic when their lungs want to burst.
In ancient biblical times, the wells symbolized life-giving resources, often representing God’s provision. When Isaac dug wells in Gerar, he was following in his father Abraham's footsteps.
Each well signified God's faithfulness. This reiterates that just as water gives life, so does a relationship with God.
In John 4, Jesus engages the woman at the well, revealing that true refreshment is found in Him—our source of everlasting life. When we are spiritually thirsty, turning to Christ means tapping into an endless supply of living water.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Questions:
In what ways have you experienced God's refreshing presence during difficult times?
What does Genesis 1:1-2 reveal about God's creative power and the nature of chaos?
What is the significance of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in the context of creation?
How can you encourage someone to trust in God’s renewal amidst their struggles?
Final Thoughts:
God has made every person here to be unique and wonderfully made.
We are each created individually, knitted together by God’s miracle of Life, each of you made specially to be you.
If it’s been a while since you’ve heard that from anyone, know this-
The men of Calvary Chapel Aiken KOZ believe each of you young men are special and unique individuals, created by God to be amazing Men of God.
