The Scent of Water

Once cut down, a tree can come back, but not man

Up-Dated - Thursday, July 14, 2011

Scripture

Job 14:7 "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease."
Job 14:8 "Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;"
Job 14:9 "Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."
Job 14:10 "But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

Trees can be …
old
cut off
and through the Scent of Water
can revive

Men generally don't do this
Men usually give up and die

Text

Job 14:10 "… man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"
Job 14.9 " … through the scent of water it will bud"

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Three Things about the Prodigal:

He was Running Over
had more than he needed,
had more than the could handle

Luke 15:12 "And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living."

The young man
wanted all that was coming to him.

So he could
use it up
enjoy the worth of it

This young man was well watered
He was …

Psa 1:3 "…like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

This young man was well tended to
He was like Isaac who…

Gen 26:12 "… sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him."

This young man was well treated
He was …
Like Joseph in the House of the Egyptian

But there was a problem

Prov 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

He was Running Off
left home

Luke 15:13 "And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."

The young man
got the inheritance
gathered the things he wanted that was already his
and ran off

You kids
listen up

You may be wanting to take off on your own
and it is easy to do
and you run far
and fast
but,
it takes a lot longer to walk back
than it does to run off

He was Running Over

He was Running Off

and now

He was Running Out
began to be in want

Luke 15:14 "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want."

The young man
did not know where to go
did not know what to do
did not know how to go about finding out,

He just took as much as he could carry
and lit out
to do what he wanted
where he wanted
when he wanted
and
how he wanted

His problem was simply this
he didn't know what he wanted
he didn't know where he wanted
he didn't know how he wanted

Luke 15:15 "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine."
Luke 15:16 "And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him."

This is exactly what happens
almost every time.

You have big dreams
of how it is going to be, then you end up with someone you don't even like, doing something you don't like, for animals you don't like.

You young girls
you better listen to the old preacher

If you are not careful
you will end up married
to some lazy good for nothing boy, not a man
slopping food his good for nothing animal friends

This was not part of his plan
he was living with someone
that was contrary
to what he really wanted
for his life

He was making a living in a way,
that was contrary
to the kind of life
he really wanted

He was failing in his attempt
to make his own way
in life.

The young man
was not yet cut down, like the Tree
but needed to catch the scent of water
to be revived

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Recognize

Luke 15:17 "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"

This is where
his roots started to whither

He was not as well grounded
as he once was

his grip started to slide

He couldn't hang on
like he used to

his step started to falter

He began to trip over
the slightest things

his sight started to fade

He couldn't see things as clearly
as he used to could

We are not talking about
an old man
an elderly woman
an person that has run their course in life

We are talking about a young person
who has been cut off at the trunk
in the prime of his life

and he is beginning
to see his mistake

He began to sniff around
Kind of caught the scent of water in the air
Kind of caught a glimpse of reviving.

A. He recognized Who he Was
still a son,
still had a father,
still had a home

B. He recognized Where he Was
in a far country
far from home
far from family
far from help
far from a smiling face
far from a loving heart
far from a pat on the back
far from God

"though He be not far from everyone of us"

C. He recognized How he was
starving to death
wasting away
cut off at ground level
one of his wheels had come off the cart

Illustration
The Maniac of Gadera

Luke 8:35 "Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid."

This man came to himself.
Caught the scent of water in the air
Jesus had cast out the Legion of Devils
and now
he was in his right mind

He came to himself.

Snared the smell of water in the on the breeze

I better put on some clothes.
I better quit cutting myself.
I better listen to the person that drove out the devils.
I better follow what He says.
I better not let that bunch of demons back in.
I better watch who I hang out with.
I better take this opportunity to get straight.

Illustration
There is another fellow that came to himself

Luke 16:20 "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,"
Luke 16:21 "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores."
Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;"
Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

This man came to himself.
But it was too late.
He couldn't say, "I better do such and such."
He could only say, "I should have done such and such."

I should have listened to
my Mother
the Bible
the Preacher
my conscience
I should have listened
I should have listened.

I should NOT have listened to
my heart
my friends
the TV
Rock Music
the devil

He came to his right mind.
But,
it was too late
It was too little
He was too far gone
"It is appointed unto me, once to die and after this the judgment."

He said to himself
I can barely the catch the scent of water in the air
over there by Lazarus
in Abraham's Busom
but can never quite get there

Illustration
While in this world
there is always hope.

Eccl 9:4 "For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion."

Once that you are dead

Whether
king of the beasts
king of the hill

it is too late.

Better to realize now
what a fool you have been
than be brave and courageous now
and die
and wake up in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone
boasting how you did things "Your Way"

"Awake, thou that sleepestand arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

Illustration
Remember the 4 lepers
that were outside the Gate at Jerusalem
with the enemy laying siege on the city
and famine inside the city
they said,

"Why sit we here until we die?"

Let's
go inside and die with the rest
or
go to the enemy and let them kill us
but
let's don't just sit here until we die.

Jer 31:19 "Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth."

We ought to be like the Prodigal Son
or the Men at Pentacost

Acts 2:37 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Or like the Jailor at Philippi

Acts 16:30 "… Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Catch a Scent of Water in the air
and follow that Scent to the Water.

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Rise

Luke 15:18 "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,"
Luke 15:19 "And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

I will arise
go back home
go back to Dad
go back and confess my sin

to my Dad

to my Lord

go back and accept whatever they will give me.

If not a son again

then a servant

A servant in the right place

is better off

than a son in the wrong place.

I will say …

Psa 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah."

I will say …

Luke 18:13 "… God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other…"

At least he has decided
to go back for the water
He like the Scent of the Water,
now it is time to go get it,
to be revived.

He is not yet cut down,
He can be revived

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Return

Luke 15:20 "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

It is not enough to
Recognize
Rise

A person must make up their mind to
Return

It is always good to go back home
it is never the same
but it is always home
There is always dinner on the table at home
There is always milk in the refrigerator at home
There is always a bed with clean sheets at home
There is always a sweept floor
There is always another dollar or 2 extra in the cookie jar

It is always good to go back home
The Father will always
forgive
be watching
have compassion
meet you in the way
have a hug for your neck and kiss for your cheek

Psa 86:5 "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
Psa 103:10 "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."
Psa 55:6 "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."

I would just follow
the scent to the water

Isa 55:6 "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"

I would just catch a sniff of the air
and let it take me to the water
that can make the tree begin to flourish again

And I am not going to delay, because ….

"The Lord shall not always strive with man."

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Repent

Luke 15:21 "And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

It is not enough to
Recognize your sin
Rise up against your sin
Return from sin

A Person must make up their mind
to Repent of their sin

1 Cor 8:12 "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."
"take off the old man"
"put on the new man"

That old Tree trunk
has got to turn away
from the things that withered it roots
from the things that cut him off at the ground

That old Tree trunk
has got to catch the direction the water is coming from
and send a root out
to get it

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Receive

Luke 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:"

The Prodigal's Father

He was
Robed
Ringed
Shod

He was Robed
The Lord cares about clothes
He wants to have and wear the best we can afford
He wants us to have and wear modest clothing

not too tight
not too short
not too slinky
not too transparent
not too nothing

If we have
recognized our sin
and have arose to leave our sin
and have returned back to the Father from our sin

A Person must make up their mind
to Repent of their sin
and if repentant
don't argue about what is sinful
and what is not
just put on something nice
that you know is right to wear

He was given a Ring
this was to certify
that his son was back
and he was not back as a servant
but a son.

He was given some shoes
this showed the pathetic state he was in
shoes are primary
shoes are basic
A great General once said
an army marches on its feet
it is primary to care for the feet.

Not only could he smell the scent of water
he was now splashing around in it

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Rejoice

Luke 15:23 "And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:"

The Prodigal's Father:

Dressed Him

Delighted in Him

Dined with Him

Matt 22.2
John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
1 Tim 5:6 "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."

Rejoice
in that one has come back from
running off
running out

Rejoice
in that one has returned from
withered roots
and being cut off at the ground

Rejoice
in that we don't have to just smell for water
but there is enough
back at the Father's House
to make you well again
and even share with others
and even splash around in

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The Party will go on with out you

Luke 15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing."
Luke 15:26 "And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant."
Luke 15:27 "And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound."
Luke 15:28 "And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him."

He kind of reminds me of Eliab
David's older brother
who was angered
because David had spoke up against the Philistines and Goliath
Eliab said,
"who is minding those few sheep
you are supposed to be watching????"

I hope the older brother
didn't stir up the weak family members
in his father's house
and turn them against his brother

Like the …

Acts 14:2 "…unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil … against the brethren."
Jonah 4:4 "Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?"
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

It ought to be like the way Paul wrote …

1 Cor 12:26 "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."

Or …

Rom 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Gal 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens…"

Illustration
some years ago
the Submarine Squalas
sunk to the bottom of the ocean
they sent up a bouy and a flare
another sub came and sent down a diving bell
and rescued a few men at a time
They were anxious
They were a long way from help
They were in deep water
They had a great need to come back to the normal world
None said,
I don't think I will leave
I don't want to be rescued by hypocrites
I don't will wait for a convenient season
I don't understand the workings of the Diving Bell
I don't like organized rescue missions
No
They all came up from that watery grave.

Illustration
Man went to Hell
Dreamed he went to Hell
the devils were plotting and planning on how to get more to come
There is no God
The fool has said in his heart there is no God
There is no Hell
They will know it is a trick
Men must reap as they sow
The Bible is not true
We can't get them this way
they can easily see the writing of God on their hearts and across the sky
You must be good
They already know they can't be good

Let's tell them
they have plenty of time
no need to hurry

Some can be standing around in the Water
with the Scent of it everywhere and not know what to do or how to do it.

Just the Scent of the Water was enough to revive the tree.
The promise of it.
The prospect of it.

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