I.
Introduction
a. Thesis
i.
A lake that has a river flowing into it and
flowing out of it is always fresh
b. Roadmap
i.
We’ll talk about three exercises to keep fresh
c. Prayer
II.
Receiving – River flowing in
a. Introduction
i.
One time, someone once told me about a
discipleship theory
1. You
need someone to pour into you
2. You
need someone to share with at an equal level
3. You
need someone to pour into
ii.
As the years pass, I’ve thought about that a lot
and I believe that it has great application in the whole spiritual life, not
just in the area of discipleship
iii.
So, tonight we’ll investigate the three parts
b. Mentors
i.
I like the definition of a mentor
1. A
caring adult that takes the initiative to develop a personal relationship and
who grows with a single student in order to encourage personal and spiritual
maturity.
ii.
In my experience
1. I’ve
had two mentors in my life apart from my parents that have influenced me
greatly for the better
2. John
Almarode
a. The
first one I had was a teacher of mine, John Almarode
b. I
had a science class of his in the 6th grade; and even though I didn’t
pay too much attention to him, he seems to have paid attention to me.
c. A
few years later, in high school – I found that he had gotten job in my high
school.
d. He
recognized me and began to push me
i.
At that time, I didn’t really care about school –
I didn’t care what grades I got, I didn’t really try.
1. But
he invested time into me. He thought a
lot of me and believed in my potential
2. He
also noticed that I was fascinated with science and in those classes I did
well.
ii.
I had more or less taken all the science classes
that my school offered except one, which was of a lower level than the ones I
had previously taken.
1. But
Mr. Almarode encouraged me to take that class as he was going to teach it
a. So,
I took it.
2. But
he didn’t let me be part of the class
3. He
personally went out and bought five books on the subjects of astrophysics and
quantum mechanics as well as scientific philosophy
a. They
were way advanced for my level
4. He
had me read them and make reports on them – I was the only one in my class and
there has never been that class again.
iii.
This impacted me a lot! It got me excited about reading and being
smart – and it formed a seed of hunger to learn
3. David
Towles
a. Another
influence was Dr. David Towles, a professor of Spanish in the university my
wife and I attended
b. He
has a profound effect on me too – including spiritually
i.
He always pushed me to do things completely and
correctly
c. Under
him, I learned respect, doing what I say, managing my time, doing my work well,
thinking ahead, sharing the gospel, teaching and looking after people
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
a.
so we
cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with
you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
b. In
Greek, it says “because you all are so
loved by us”
i.
The word “loved” is agapetos
ii.
Agape
in Greek is a specific kind of love that is used when talking about the love of
God, from father to son.
iii.
Father to son
1. Ephesians 6:4
a.
Fathers,
do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and
instruction of the Lord.
2. Many
places in Proverbs talks about how we ought to look for understanding, wisdom,
knowledge as if they were gold or silver or riches
a. But
for most of us, we can count on one hand the times we have studied the Bible
b. Less
are the people that have a hunger to know the Word of God
c. And
we wonder why our children are always chasing after money and fame and worldly
things above all else…
i.
It’s because we haven’t been examples in looking
for that understanding, wisdom and knowledge as if they were riches.
III.
Sharing on an equal level – the water in the
lake
a. Healing
i.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and
pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person
is powerful and effective.
b. Health
c. Colossians 4:2
i.
Devote
yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
d. 2 Timothy 1:3
i.
I thank
God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and
day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
e. 1 Thessalonians 1:2
i.
We always
thank God for all of you and continually mention you in
our prayers.
f.
Now, do you think it is important to think about
someone else when you pray?
i.
Praying for the health of the church
ii.
God has a heart for missions
1. His
commandment for us was a mission
2. A
challenge that I make to people to get them focused on praying for others is
a. Whatever
amount of time you spend praying for yourself, double it and spend that praying
for someone else
b. I
promise from that, you will develop a heart for mission and for the people.
g. Congregating
i.
Hebrews 10:24-25
1. And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving
up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one
another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching
2. We
ought not to stop ourselves from getting together
a. Not
just in the temple (church building)
b. We
should get together outside of it as well
c. In
fellowship, praise and joy
IV.
Giving – the river that flows out
a. Apprentice
i.
We should always be in a position of learning
ii.
As we have read, Proverbs talks to us about
searching for understanding, wisdom and knowledge as if they were treasure
(they are)
iii.
It is better to give than to receive
1. If
we are receiving without getting – where’s the blessing in that?
a. Where’s
the growth in the body in that?
b. We
need to invest in our youth and less mature
b. Humility
i.
But don’t be so arrogant to think that you can’t
learn from someone younger
1. I
always hear from teachers and pastors that they probably learn more from the
students than the students learn from them.
ii.
Be of a humble heart
iii.
Let idea challenge you
1. Reconcile
thoughts and new ideas to what you understand now y renew your mind
iv.
We can learn from anything!
V.
The Lake
a. So
imagine a lake in the mountains
i.
There’s a river that flows from the highest part
of the mountain into the lake, bringing it fresh water constantly
ii.
The water moves around the lake once it is in
and flows the fresh water to all parts of the lake
iii.
On the downhill part of the lake, a river flows
out from it, taking out the older water and allowing the water in the lake to
stay fresh
b. Now
picture a lake with only a river flowing into it, none flowing out
i.
The lake would continue to grow and grow an bust
over its boarders and maybe eve cause flood damage
c. Now
picture a lake with no river flowing into it or out from it
i.
That water become stagnant and a breeding ground
for scum and mosquitos
d. Now
picture a lake that only has a river flowing out from it
i.
Eventually, the lake will run dry because it
cannot supply the water
e. Which
one are you?
VI.
Pray to close
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