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THE TREE THAT MADE THE BITTER WATERS SWEET

Exodus 15:22-27 (King James Version)
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Introduction: Having escaped from Egypt through the plagues God put upon Egypt and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, Israel went into the wilderness three days without finding drinking water. Finally, at a place called Marah, they found water, but like the meaning of the name, they could not drink of the water because the waters were bitter.
1 Peter 2:24 (King James Version)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

I)THE CROSS SWEETENS THE BITTER WATERS OF DESERTION

Matthew 26:56 (King James Version)
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Matthew 26:46 (King James Version)
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Because of Calvary, even when I'm deserted I have:

A)A FATHER who will not forsake me

B)A FRIEND that sticketh closer than a brother

C)A FAMILY that is always expanding!

II)THE CROSS SWEETENS THE BITTER WATERS OF DEFEAT

Romans 8:35-37 (King James Version)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Because of Calvary,

A)Our defeats are short and temporary

B)Our defeats are a school and training

C)Our defeats are stepping stones to triumph

III)THE CROSS SWEETENS THE BITTER WATERS OF DEATH

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (King James Version)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Because of Calvary,

A)Deathis a removal of pain (The stinger is gone!)

B)Death is a reception in paradise

C)Deathis a reminder of the prospect (sleeping implies an awakening of the body)

IV)THE CROSS SWEETENS THE BITTER WATERS OF DAMNATION

Galatians 3:13 (King James Version)
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Because of Calvary,

A)My sins are gone

B)My salvation is by grace

C)My security is guaranteed!