(6 Water From The Rock

1. Throughout the wilderness journey the LORD was teaching the Israelites the importance of living by faith.

2. Soon after the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea the LORD started feeding them manna (bread from Heaven).

3. Next the LORD started giving the Israelites water from a rock in the wilderness.

(Exodus 17:1–7, NIV) The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

I. There Is Much To Learn From The Provision Of Water From The Rock

A. The Israelite’s Situation Once Again Looked Grave

1. (Exodus 17:1, NIV) ... They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

2. The LORD had led the Israelites through many difficult situations and He always brought them through victoriously!

a. Deliverance out of Egypt / Victory at the Red Sea / Water at Marah / Manna in the desert

3. Through each test the LORD was revealing Himself and teaching the Israelites that they could trust Him (Faith!)

a. Redeemer (Egypt) / Deliverer (Red Sea) / Healer (Healed the bitter waters of Marah) / Provider (Manna)

4. In this test the Israelites once again failed to trust the LORD; they grumbled.

B. Instead Of Grumbling The Israelites Should Have Been Asking, “What Is The LORD Teaching Us?”

1. The LORD was teaching them to live by faith.

2. The LORD was teaching them that He would provide.

3. But the LORD was also giving the Israelites a powerful revelation of Jesus. and the life-giving power of His resurrection!

a. The rock represented Jesus!

(1) (1 Corinthians 10:3–4, NIV) They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

b. Striking the Rock represented the crucifixion of Jesus.

(1) (Exodus 17:6, NIV) I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

c. The water that flowed out represented the life-giving power of Christ’s resurrection!

4. The resurrection of Jesus has released the power of His life upon a world held captive to sin and darkness!

a. (Romans 8:11, NIV) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

b. Because of the resurrection of Jesus life will flow to the wilderness and bring life!

(1) Ezekiel’s vision of the river in Ezekiel 47 (ankle-deep; knee-deep; waist; deep river)

(2) (Ezekiel 47:8–9) “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah (the wilderness), where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

c. You can experience the life of Jesus even in the wilderness!

(1) (John 11:25, NIV) “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, ...

II. Jesus Wants Us To Do More Than Receive His Life (Resurrection Power) ... He Wants It To Flow Through Us!

A. The Cross Makes Us Vessels That Flow With Christ’s Resurrection LIFE

1. (Luke 9:23, NIV) Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

2. The cross will start removing all hindrances in your life so that the life of Jesus can flow through you!

B. Flowing With Christ’s Life Requires Two Things: Faith & Death To Self

1. (Galatians 2:20, NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. (Philippians 3:10, NIV) I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

C. When The Rock Was Struck ... Water Was Released

1. When Jesus was crucified ... resurrection power (LIFE) was released

2. When you are crucified (death to self) ... the resurrection power (LIFE OF JESUS) will flow through you!

D. Jesus Is Alive ... Receive His Life & Let It Flow Through You!