(Clip) Choking On The Water Of Life
Leonard Ravenhill challenges complacent believers to embrace a spirit-filled life that flows with rivers of living water, mercy, and compassion to truly impact the lost and broken.
This sermon challenges the need for churches to shut down for self-reflection and renewal. It questions the effectiveness of preaching without genuine compassion and love, emphasizing the importance of a spirit-filled life that overflows with mercy and compassion. The speaker highlights the tragic reality of spiritual famine and the desperate need for authentic, heartfelt ministry that reaches the broken and lost.
Full Transcript
I'd like to see every church in the nation shut down for a week at least. Why should I preach to you? God knows I'm not in condemnation to you tonight. You can't handle the truth you've already got.
You've had it for five or ten years, you can't handle it. Why should I bring you more truth? Why should I give you the challenge of having a spirit-filled life? Out of his inmost being, when he is resident, out of my inmost being will flow rivers, not trickles, rivers of living water. What kind of rivers? Rivers of mercy, rivers of compassion, that will melt my eyes to tears.
Rivers of love that will let me go to the most perverted and wicked and crooked people. That helps me to look at the TV and not see a bunch of skeletons. The lady here said the other day, she was tremendously moved, I was, it was on last night again.
Those million people in Ethiopia, somebody says that's a contrived famine. I could give you names of men who contrived it too. A million people may die in Ethiopia and more than a million in Africa.
There's a woman with a withered breast and little things sucking, sucking, getting nothing. She gets some water and that kid's glands are so swollen, when she pours the water it goes all over him, down his body, he can't even take it. Well I want to tell you tonight, I believe the same thing happens in our churches every Sunday.
People are choking and we're trying to pour the water of life into them and the poor souls are so damned and lost they can't take it. They've listened to the same preacher year after year, says the same things in the same way. He hasn't shed a tear since he left his mother's womb.
He went to the seminary and got a big fat head and a shrunken soul.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Challenge to shut down churches for reflection
- Critique of spiritual complacency
- Call for deeper truth and challenge
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II
- Description of rivers of living water flowing from within
- Rivers symbolize mercy, compassion, and love
- The impact of such a life on the lost and wicked
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III
- Illustration of famine and spiritual hunger
- Comparison of physical and spiritual thirst
- Warning about ineffective preaching and hardened hearts
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IV
- Criticism of dry, uninspired preaching
- Call to genuine spiritual renewal
- The need for preachers with softened hearts and tears
Key Quotes
“Out of his inmost being, when he is resident, out of my inmost being will flow rivers, not trickles, rivers of living water.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“People are choking and we're trying to pour the water of life into them and the poor souls are so damned and lost they can't take it.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“He went to the seminary and got a big fat head and a shrunken soul.” — Leonard Ravenhill
Application Points
- Examine your own spiritual life to ensure it flows with compassion and mercy toward others.
- Avoid complacency by seeking continual renewal and deeper truth in your faith journey.
- Encourage and support preaching and teaching that challenges and moves hearts rather than merely informing minds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leonard Ravenhill mean by 'rivers of living water'?
He refers to the abundant flow of the Holy Spirit's mercy, compassion, and love that should naturally flow from a believer's life.
Why does Ravenhill suggest shutting down churches for a week?
To provoke reflection on spiritual complacency and to challenge believers to seek deeper truth and revival.
What is the significance of the famine illustration?
It symbolizes the spiritual starvation and inability of many to receive the life-giving message due to hardened hearts.
What critique does Ravenhill offer about many preachers?
He criticizes them for being spiritually dry, lacking compassion, and failing to truly impact their congregations.
How can listeners apply this sermon to their lives?
By seeking a genuine spirit-filled life that overflows with love and compassion, and by embracing renewal in their faith.