Saturday 19 December 2009

Move just 4000 cubits

A friend just reminded me of this passage. As I read it, the Lord spoke to me. See what you think.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 AMP
1THEN HE [my guide] brought me again to the door of the house [of the Lord--the temple], and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple was toward the east; and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south side of the altar.
2Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side.
3And when the man went on eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were ankle-deep. 4Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the knees. Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the loins. 5Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through.
6And he said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he led me and caused me to return to the bank of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.
9And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes. 10The fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or Mediterranean Sea. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become wholesome for animal life; they shall [as the river subsides] be left encrusted with salt and given over to it. 12And on the banks of the river on both its sides, there shall grow all kinds of trees for food; their leaf shall not fade nor shall their fruit fail [to meet the demand]. Each tree shall bring forth new fruit every month, [these supernatural qualities being] because their waters came from out of the sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaves for healing.




Move just 4000 cubits

Why are we, as a people, so afraid of the Holy Spirit in action that we dare not get more than our feet wet?

Most people get feet dampish

A few go in to their knees – like paddling in the sea

A few get waist deep – getting scary

A very few brave souls go for it and take to swimming.

What does this passage promise us who dare to venture into the deep realms of the Spirit?

1. Trees on each side

2. Clean water teeming with fish

3. Trees that give new fruit every month without fail !! Leaves of healing

So what?

These trees supply shelter – they supply food – they provide health
And for meat – the river provides the fish.

Where are these things? By and in the River of God.

OK – So . . . . . ?

Where do you stand in or by the river of God – the river of His Holy Spirit that flows from His Holy Temple? Are you afraid to move into deeper water? Are you afraid to get your feet wet – or get your knees wet – or your waist wet – or even of getting in so deep that you have to swim?

Why?

Is the Word of God to be believed or not? Do you believe whatever God or His Word says to you?

There is provision in the river of God. There is food and shelter there. There is healing and health there. He doesn’t promise an easy ride. He doesn’t promise there will be no more difficulties – in fact Paul promises the opposite. But He does promise His hand upon you – His provision for you “every month”.

What are you afraid of? Get in deeper. Move those 4000 cubits further down stream. Say to Him, “Yes Lord, I want to swim in Your river. I want Your provision, Your healing and health, to shelter in the place where You are providing. Come Holy Spirit Come. Do your work in me today – right now – this very minute.” If you say that today, you’ll never regret it even for one instant.

CGB 19 Dec 2009.

3 comments:

  1. this is great Chris as always you inspire ...yeh let me walk into where the river is too deep ..I can't drown ever in the Holy Spirit .. He gives life he doesn't take it... did you notice Chris that the further the river of life flows from the temple ..the deeper it gets ..I.e unlike earthly rivers that dissipate as they flow unless there are tributaries ... any thoughts on why it gets deeper the furher it moves from the Ftaher .. cf Rev 22 bro?

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  2. The immediate thought I got is that the further from our comfort zone we get the more faith we need to do things in His Name and therefore the more of the Holy Spirit we both need and use. When we are swimming, then we are right out of our depth and thats when we need Him most. Thats very simplistic but, in a nut-shell, thats the reason.

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  3. The first thing I thought of was "And the Torah shall go forth from Zion". At the end of John's Revelation, we see a picture of a tree that heals the nations; a return to the Garden and the original relationship with God that was experienced by Adam and Eve. This is knowledge of God; not "head knowledge" as such, but intimacy of relationship and that's what does the healing. This is what the Torah shows us, including the "living Torah", Messiah (Christ).

    I don't have a problem seeing Ezekiel's Temple as literal. Beyond the age of Messianic rule, after the final battles are done, God and the Lamb will be our light and our Temple, but the Temple of God is a sign of hope for the world in during the Millennial reign, that Messiah is King of the world and true Justice has returned. It's a symbol of God living among us, not only in our hearts, but in a state of relationship that only Adam and Eve ever experienced.

    I look forward to it.

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