Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/Annual Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Sermon Notes
“And
as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto
them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed
that they had seen a spirit.
During times of stress, calamity, and duress, Jesus is the
bridge over troubled waters. During times of miscommunication and
misunderstanding, Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters. During times of
grief and despair, Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters. It is Jesus who
laid His life down for the purpose of building the bridge of reconciliation
back to the Father. The bridge is the vehicle or vessel that allows a person to
pass over territory, terrain, or water without great difficulty. The bridge
stands between two points, but allows one to pass to the other side. The bridge
is a type of mediator. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5). “And to Jesus the mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than
that of Abel” (Heb 12:24).
Constantly, we are in need of the bridge building Christ. It is in Him that we walk and safely transport from one destination, level, and stage, to the next. All humans are together residence within this place called planet earth. It is primarily filled with water and limited pockets of land. From a spiritual/biblical perspective, the world is water, and the influence of the devil is attacking all occupants. However, just as the physical bridge helps one pass over and evade the creatures of the sea, Jesus acts as the bridge that helps the church safely pass over Satanic influence.
- “And
there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked
with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment
of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1).
- “These
shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is
Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called,
and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou
sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues” (Revelation 17:14-15).
Notice the protection of Christ as the bridge that helps us
pass over troubled waters. Christians are the sheep, while Christ operates as
the shepherd. Notice His words:“…Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the
door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but
the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:7-9).
If we enter in through Christ, He is our bridge over
troubled waters. Do not make the mistake of connecting with a fictitious bridge
builder. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his
life for the sheep. 12 But he that is
an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf
coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and
careth not for the sheep” (John 10:11-13).
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
have I received of my Father. 19 There was a division therefore again among the
Jews for these sayings” (John 10:18-19).
The illustration is that of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, laying down at the door of the sheepfold, hence the phrase, “over my dead body.” All that attempt to get to the sheep, must cross over Jesus and anyone who has entered in accept for the door, is a thief or robber. Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters. But, for Him to act as your bridge you must meet Him so He can add you to the fold.