Many Christians today do not know or realize that within them is a mighty river that can be released to flow out of them to bring and release many different kinds of blessings, healings and opportunities to others. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is that "river of God" within us, and Jesus taught that those who believe in Him, "Out of his heart (or innermost being) will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-39). He was speaking of the Holy Spirit Whom He sent to us on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4 & Acts 1:8). If we look at Ezekiel 47, we see there that a river flowed out from the temple of God. That "temple" today is you and me – believers in Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit! Ezekiel in his vision was given the experience of being taken into that river of God to four different levels or depths. Each one represented more of God and His revelation to us. Three of the four meant we could still stand in the river. But the fourth level (or depth) was too deep to stand up in – it was over his head. To stay there he had to swim; he had to trust his life to the water to hold him up from drowning.

Depending on how far in we are prepared to go into this great river of God, determines the level or depth of revelation, understanding and usefulness we will have as a believer in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is urging us to "Launch out into the deep" (Luke 5:4), to get out into those waters to swim in! Ezekiel saw things in the deep that he never saw in the shallows. The revelation of God came to him, as and when he trusted himself to the river. He saw the fish being gathered in (representing the souls of men and speaking of evangelism), and he saw the fruitfulness of the trees, and how their leaves were for the healing of the nations (the results of allowing the river of God’s Holy Spirit to impact our lives).

In my travels around the world I meet many Spirit-filled Christians who are "locked" into a "pray and waiting for God to move" mentality. That is not the way of the New Testament Church. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to enable us to function powerfully and effectively for the glory of God and the benefits of mankind. That "dunamis" power of the Holy Spirit, which we receive when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives (Acts 1:8), is within us right now LONGING TO BE RELEASED TO FLOW! Unless, and until we unleash that power, nothing will happen! It flows as and when we trust our lives to that river of God and allow the anointing of its current to lead, guide, prompt and/or impress us to set that river "free" from our innermost being. The new Covenant Jesus ushered in was all action as the Early Church knew how to release the Holy Spirit from within to bless, heal and impact those that were around them.

God does not violate our will, nor does He make us do things we do not want to. It is all"according to the power that is working in us" (Ephesians 3:20-21). Unless that power is working within us, it lies there dormant from day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year – the result of which is lost opportunity after lost opportunity to represent Jesus here on earth through the river of life He has poured into us. Rivers that are flowing are refreshing and healthy. Rivers that are stagnant only attract insects and pollution in their dying state; they do not get healed according to Ezekiel 47:11.

Let us all make sure that we know our purpose here on earth. We are here to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God to the point of flowing and overflowing to bless, heal and impact a generation that is desperate for the water from that river. Let it flow! God Bless you. – Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2; Ephesians chapter 1 & 3. 

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