Text: Nah 2:8
Introduction
A. Past glory – “Nineveh is of old like a pool of water.” The prophet compares the past and present condition of Nineveh. Nineveh is of old like a pool of water. It means it is populous, like a pool which hath been long breeding fish, and is full of them. In the times of Jonah, God said there were six score thousand (120 000) persons that could not discern his right hand and their left hand (Jonah 4:11). That figure refers only to infants. As a capital city, it was full of people, wealth and riches.
B. Present disgrace – “Yet they shall flee away.” Nahum says all those shall be gone: they shall flee away. He says no one will turn and look back at the city because “she is empty, and void, and waste” (Nahum 2:10).
C. Not Alone - Nineveh is not alone: many ancient cities had become ruins. Like Nineveh, they were once like a flourishing pond but the pond dried up and the cities became empty, waste and void.
D. Properties of a pool?
Get its water from some other source.
Beautiful if maintain.
Calm and tranquil.
But when water source is cut off or lack of maintenance: a. Stagnant and corrupt. b. Dry out. c. Dead.
Discussion
A. How did Nineveh become a wasted place?
Pride - The Ninevites, no doubt, were confident of their wealth and strength. They were spared once and it was because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; they were not spared this time round because they did not take heed to the preaching of Nahum.
Complacency – They were satisfied with their achievements. They failed to improve.
Identity – They lost their identity. The generations after were not the same anymore.
B. A story about being a living stream.
It is keeping on IMPROVING. 2 Tim 2:15
It is keeping on GROWING. 2 Pet 3:18
It is keeping on DISCHARGING. 2Tim 2:2
.; Properties of a living stream:
Life.
Beauty.
Replenish.
Giving.
D. These churches became dead pond.
Sardis: Her Spirit Was Dead. Rev 3:1 a. How Does The Spirit of A Church Die? Members Become Indifferent – They don’t care! Phil 2:21 Members Become Faithless. Acts 20:9 Members Become Worldly. Rom 12:1-2
Ephesus: Her Love Was Dead. Rev 2:4 a. How Does A Church Run Out of Love? Members Stop Being A Christian. Eph 5:8 Members Stop Loving One Another. Eph 5:2 Selfishness. Phil 2:3-4
Pergamos: Her Truth Was Dead. Rev 2:14-15 a. How Does A Church Lose The Truth? Tolerate False Teachings. 2 Tim 4:3 Fail To Study. 2 Tim 2:15 Decide To Follow The Majority. Matt 7:13-14
Thyatira: Her Virtue Was Dead. Rev 2:20-21 a. How Does A Church Lose Her Virtue? Unrepented Sin. Rev 2:21 Failure to Discipline. 1 Cor 5:11 Failure to Preach Against Sin. 1 Cor 5:1-2
Laodicea: Her Zeal Was dead. Rev 3:16 a. How Does A Church Run Dry of Zeal? Church Stops All The Programs – Worship is all she has. Members Stop Serving the Lord. Matt 9:37-38; John 4:35
E. How does a beautiful pond become wate?
No Longer Receiving Water From The Source.
No Maintenance – Debris accumulate on the surface and surrounding.
It Becomes Stagnant – It stops becoming active.
F. How to revive a dying pool.
Realise It Is Dead and Need Help. Luke 13:3; 15:17-18
Seek Help. Acts 2:37; Luke 17:5
Go Back To the Source. Jer 2:13; 7:13; John 4:14
Be Nourished Again. Psalm 1:2-3; John 7:38; 2 Pet 3:18.
Have A Maintenance Program. 1 Tim 4:7
Share the Fruit. 2 Tim 2:2; 2 Pet 1:8-10
G. God wants us to be living streams. John 7:38; Psalm 1:3
Feed on the Word of God. Psalm 119:103, 105
Grow in Faith. Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23-24
Grow in Service. 1 Cor 15:58
Grow in Love. Heb 13:1; Rom 13:8
Grow in Christian Graces. 2 Pet 1:5-10
Conclusion
A. Be a Living Stream – Strive Towards Excellence.
B. Be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Tim 2:21