Stagnant no More!The Danger of Stagnation

ProgressKeeping the Water

Flowing

Keeping the Water Flowing

Tonight …

Exodus 17:1-7

1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Isaiah 48:21

John 7:37-39

“The refreshing water, welling up in a parched and barren land, causing the desert place to blossom, and flowing out to give life to the perishing, is an emblem of the divine grace which Christ alone can bestow, and which is as the living water, purifying, refreshing,

and invigorating the soul. He in whom Christ is abiding has within him a never-failing fountain of grace and strength. Jesus cheers the life and brightens the path of all who truly seek Him. His love, received into the heart, will spring up in good works unto

eternal life. And not only does it bless the soul in which it springs, but the living stream will flow out in words and deeds of righteousness, to refresh the thirsting around him.”

{Patriarchs and Prophets 412.2}

“Satan ever seeks to make the religious life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome and difficult; and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of religion, he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan. Many, walking along the path of

life, dwell upon their mistakes and failures and disappointments, and their hearts are filled with grief and discouragement.”

{Steps to Christ 116}

Types of Stagnation:

PhysicalSpiritualFinancialMissional

Moral

Types of Stagnation:

Physical

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”

Matthew 4:23

How far did Jesus walk during His life?

How far did Jesus walk during His life?

Estimates are upwards of 12,000 miles!

"Regular exercise toughens the mind as well as the body. After working out three times a week for six months, one group was found to be 20% fitter. Bonus: they also scored 70% better in a test of complex decision making.” 

American Health, quoted in Homemade, November 1985

World record for most miles run in a week: 408.04

Mike Sheehy

World record for most consecutive situps:

Richard Knecht - 1972

World record for most consecutive situps: 25,222

Richard Knecht - 1972

Types of Stagnation:

Spiritual

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Luke 6:12

"He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”

John Bunyan

"The fewer the words, the better the prayer. To have prayed well is to have studied well.”

Martin Luther

"Prayer is the breath of the soul. Jesus lived in dependence upon God and communion with Him. To the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty, men now and then repair; they abide for a season,

and the result is manifest in noble deeds; then their faith fails, the communion is interrupted, and the life-work marred. But the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion; and His service

for heaven and earth was without failure or faltering.”

{Signs of the Times, February 3, 1904 par. 8}

Types of Stagnation:

Financial

"And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast

into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. ”

Mark 12:42-44

"Constant, self-denying benevolence is God's remedy for the cankering sins of selfishness and covetousness. God has arranged systematic benevolence to sustain His cause and relieve the necessities of the suffering and

needy. He has ordained that giving should become a habit, that it may counteract the dangerous and deceitful sin of covetousness. Continual giving starves covetousness to death. Systematic benevolence is designed in the order of God

to tear away treasures from the covetous as fast as they are gained and to consecrate them to the Lord, to whom they belong.”

{Testimonies Vol. 3 - 548.1}

Types of Stagnation:

Missional

"And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? ”

Luke 2:49

"Christ has said of His people, "Ye are the light of the world." We are the Lord's denominated people, to proclaim the truths of heavenly origin. The most solemn, sacred work ever given to mortals is the proclamation of the first,

second, and third angel's messages to our world.”

{Counsels on Diet and Foods 76.2}

Types of Stagnation:

Moral

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

John 18:36

And yet, we find ourselves frustrated.

Albert Einstein

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again

and expecting different results.”

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

Isaiah 41:17

"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground;”

Isaiah 44:3

"in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”

Isaiah 35:6

The invitation is given, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”

Isaiah 55:1