ARE YOU LOOKING AT OR PARTICIPATING IN THE RIVER ?

I felt impressed to look afresh at the flowing water that came out of the Temple in Ezekiel 47.  Water (and river) is a beautiful type (picture) of the Holy Spirit. We see this in John 7:38 “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said , out of his heart (belly) will flow rivers of living water. verse 39 tells us that Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit.
Going back to Ezekiel, we read in verse 3, that water came up to the ankles. This makes me think of children going to beach and paddling in the water, it can speak of our initial experience with the Holy Spirit, but also our continued immaturity of simply playing around with the things of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not a TOY to be played with but a TOOL (I say that respectfully)  as the Holy Spirit’s role is to  lead us ever forward and upward in our walk with God, and also equip us in our service and ministry for God.

LET US STOP PADDLING

Verse 4 tells us the water increased up to the knees, which to me simply means we must learn to pray, (even the Disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray). There is that saying, the devil trembles when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees. Regular prayer speaks of a developing intimacy between God and man, James reminds us that THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER  OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILS MUCH. Prayer changes everything. In our crazy busy world we must organise a regular DAILY time set aside to spend time with the lover of our souls. You know the saying seven days make one week, seven days without the Lord makes one WEAK.

LORD HELP US TO NEVER TO BE TOO BUSY TO PRAY

Then the water increased up to the loins. I am reminded of Paul’s teaching on the whole armour of God in Eph. 6.14 that we must have our loins (waist) covered in truth. We must become men and women of the Word. Why did Paul highlight the loins area, we are living in a sex crazy world, and we need the empowering truth of the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, to help us maintain self control and moral purity.

LORD HELP US DAILY TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS TO RECEIVE YOUR WORD

The water rose again until it was so deep that one had to swim in  the river. This reminded me of the words of Jesus in Luke 5 the Disciples had fished all night without success and Jesus tells them to LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS FOR A CATCH. Peter’s response was AT YOUR WORD (RHEMA) I WILL LET DOWN THE NET. The result was an overflowing net full of fish.
Can you see the progression in the continued rising tide of the water, initial experience (or immaturity) developing an exciting prayer life, and hearing and obeying the Word in our walk with God, and letting God give us a personal word (Rhema) that will project us forward in our Christian life, expressing more of the fruit of the Spirit,  but to those in ministry (IT IS TIME WE STARTED SWIMMING) God wants to give you (me) a Rhema word,  remember faith comes by the Rhema word (Rom. 10:17 and it is time to LAUNCH OUT ON THE WORD, and see and overflowing net of fish. Too many people step out on what they think is a word, and fail, when God gives you a Rhema word, it produces faith in your heart, and you can believe IT WILL COME TO PASS.
Please not only with a prayerful heart read this blog, but learn to meditate on God’s word and let Him give you that Rhema word that will so grip your life, that will cause you to CONFESS what God has told you, and then ACT UPON the word, and SEE GOD BRING HIS WORD (to you) TO PASS.
I do pray this blog will bless and encourage and challenge you to move ever forward and upward. May you have an awesome Sunday in God’s House.