Miracle River 2

The Miracle River The Miracle River, Part Two

In addition to pointing to a physical river that will flow from the Millennium Temple, Ezekiel's vision of a Miracle River points to bountiful blessings that comes from God TO THE CHURCH through the person and MINISTRY of the HOLY GHOST! This river points to the living water, a type of the Spirit of God, that Jesus offered (John 4:14, 7:37-39) to all those who would believe! After all other descriptions and specifications of the sanctuary and the giving of new eternal laws including those of Israel's allotted land, the Lord showed the prophet the final thing about the sanctuary recorded in his book: the measurement of a river flowing from under the threshold of the temple eastward, from the front of the temple, the right side of the house, and the south side of the altar of sacrifice. The waters flowed from the right side of the east gate (Ezekiel 47:1-2), which is interesting considering it used the plural "waters," not "water," which issued from the HOUSE – their source, the Throne of Jehovah; their channel, the Altar of Jehovah, which in type was a type of Calvary. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Ghost but we have the Holy Ghost today ONLY because of what Christ did at the Cross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christ is the Temple; and he is the Door; from him the living waters flow, out of his pierced side. Ezekiel said the Messiah will go in by the East Gate, and the waters will flow out by the same Gate. That is a beautiful picture of Christ, our Messiah, who ascended into Heaven, and, as a result, the Holy Spirit descended from the same place on the Day of Pentecost and has never left since! Praise the name of Jesus. John's vision of the heavenly river in the New Jerusalem reveals the river of live "proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

By Chris McDonald

Ezekiel 47:1-5 - Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. [2] Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. [3] And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. [4] Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. [5] Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

As we continue in this look at Ezekiel’s river let it be ever understood that all things the Holy Spirit brings to the believer is because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross! To state it another way, He (THE HOLY SPIRIT) STRICTLY works within the confines of the Sacrifice of Christ. What Christ did at the Cross gives the Holy Spirit the legal right to carry forth His Work in the heart and life of the Believer.

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.

John 14:16-17

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

For the most part (there are always exceptions) the denominational world, believing not at all in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, have little Biblical understanding of the things pertaining to the Third Person of the Godhead. Most of what is taught behind pulpits is a theology based on unbelief and tradition passed down from other ministers, ungodly seminary professors, and in some cases family. Most arguments today are not based on what the Word of God says but what some pastor told the individual.

As a result of this sentiment, the Holy Spirit is given almost no place whatsoever in these circles. I don’t state these things as a judge or on some high and mighty throne looking down upon my Southern Baptist brethren; I say it with a broken heart. My dad is a former Southern Baptist pastor, now Methodist, and as a result all my exposure to the faith as a child was granted to me through the influence of Southern Baptist churches.

When I speak I don’t speak as a person outside the realm of the Southern Baptist influence throwing stones; I know exactly the theology that governs most Southern, Independent and Missionary Baptist churches because that same theology is what I based most of my thinking of for over 20 years of my life! Let the reader be clear; I’m not singling out the Baptists; this anti-Spirit theology grips many Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other mainline denominational churches world wide, but ESPECIALLY here in America which has become gripped in the vices of the last days apostasy and a spirit of rank unbelief.

There is another side to this coin as well. The Pentecostal world, which in many circles “brag” about their specializing in the Holy Spirit, has, in fact, for all practical purposes, drifted so far away from His leading and Guidance that if He is thought about at all, it is thought and believed that speaking in other tongues is nothing more than the beginning and the end of whatever happens in one’s life; many think if they speak in tongues they have “graduated” somehow into Christian perfection and superiority to those who have not. When this spirit and attitude takes hold in one’s heart, the Holy Spirit is taken for granted, thinking that whatever He does in one’s life is thus automatic leaving us to be as smug and self-righteous as we want to be. That feeling is just as wrong as if one didn’t believe in the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit to begin with.

Common sense should tell us the Holy Ghost does not work automatically, nor does He work on ‘cue.” If He did, there would be no failing Christians whatsoever! As well, ALL would be spiritually mature, but again, we know this is definitely NOT the case – no matter the denominational tag on the person’s resume!

Sadly, an even greater tragedy has occurred in the Charismatic world where the Holy Spirit, for all practical purposes, has been divorced completely from the Cross of Christ. This spirit has not gripped the entirely of the Pentecostal ranks yet, but it’s an ever growing and dangerously sad trend. (Charismatics are more of an independent bunch while Pentecostals tend to be aligned with the Assemblies of God, Church of God, Foursquare, and Pentecostal Holiness)

In Charismatic circles the Cross is ridiculed, lampooned, even blasphemed, as being the “greatest defeat in human history,” (That quote is from one of the Word of Faith camps ‘pioneers’ and bright lights) as they say, or as another one of their bright lights said recently, “past miseries.”

To state it in simple terms, at the turn of the 20^th Century right after the outpouring of the Holy Ghost beginning, which was the start of what the Bible refers to as “the Latter Rain,” the Denominational world rejected what was happening and attempted to preach the Cross without the Holy Spirit; the upshot of this years later in this modern age is that most denominational churches preach much of nothing!

Our family attends a Baptist church in Powell where we thank God that is not the case. Our pastor breaks the bread of Life each week and lifts up the CROSS as the only means necessary for man’s redemption. He’s not into the Church Growth hogwash or the self-esteem building. He preaches the Word of God! I’ve never sat down with him and got his views on the Holy Spirit but I can safely say he respects God’s Spirit and does not demean the things of the Spirit. For that reason we see people saved each week, the church is debt-free and over 80% of everything we receive in tithes and offerings go into missions. (I almost wonder sometimes if he’s not a Bapticostal like myself <smile>)

I tell you what type church we attend to make it clear I’m not bashing or criticizing any one denomination. Sadly however, Lisa and I have attended other Baptist churches in the greater Knoxville area that HAVE made fun of or demeaned the Holy Ghost of which many of these churches are nothing more than glorified social halls and morgues on Sunday mornings.

On the flip side, the Pentecostal world has attempted to preach the Holy Spirit while leaving the foundational message of the Cross and now many accept “spirits,” thinking it’s the Holy Spirit! Let the reader be clear that the Holy Spirit works so within the parameters of the Cross of Christ that one might say it is literally “cut in stone,” and so concrete, it is referred to as a “LAW,” called, the “Law of the Spirit life IN Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

This means the Holy Spirit will not divert from this “law,” which was formulated by the Godhead sometime in eternity past. This “law,” is “IN CHRIST JESUS,” which refers to what Christ did for us at the Cross, the foundational source of all true salvation but also the foundational source for ALL Godly living AFTER one is born again! One who is truly born again by the Spirit of God is one who is IN CHRIST, which simply means placing one’s faith (and keeping it anchored there) in the finished work of the Cross.

2 Cor. 5:17-21 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (CHRIST).

Because Jesus paid the price at Calvary’s Cross, in effect, satisfying the totality of the sin debt, and for all time, past, present and future, those who forever make the Cross of Christ the object of their faith can and WILL receive the benefits of the Spirit, of which Ezekiel’s miracle river stands in type. (Romans 6:3-14; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Col. 2:14-15) If we anchor our faith in the Cross of Christ, in other words, ever making the Cross the OBJECT of our Faith, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit “shall receive of Mine (what Christ did for us at the Cross), and shall show it unto you.”

John 16:14

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

For the believer to have victory over sin, Satan, the flesh and the world, one must be filled with the Spirit, which is THE command of the New Covenant!

Ephes. 5:18

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Sadly, most believers experience very little of the work of the Holy Spirit because their faith is placed in something other than the Cross of Christ! When we do get our faith anchored right and are filled with the Spirit, we step into the flow of the most glorious river that will change our lives forever!

The Need To Be Filled With The Holy Ghost

Acts 9:17- And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

The greatest event in the sinner’s life is when one comes to Christ. The greatest event in the life of a believer is when they are FILLED with the HOLY GHOST! When Paul got saved, the FIRST thing the Lord commanded him to do was to go find a man named Ananias, who promptly laid his hands on Paul, not to be saved for Paul was born again on the Road to Damascus, but that he might receive His sight and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST!

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, his prayer for them was not for them to build bigger buildings or grow larger congregations, but that they would be FILLED with the goodness of God, which comes only through the INFILLING of he HOLY SPIRIT!

Eph 3:19-21 - And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Without the Holy Spirit, there IS NO fullness of God in our lives, churches, families or ministries! The greatest need of the modern day church is to be filled with the HOLY GHOST which will bring His goodness and power through the flow of a Miracle River!

The Controversy Surrounding Things Just Stated

As stated earlier, I grew up Southern Baptist of which I owe a great deal of gratitude towards because of the foundation planted there in my heart as a child; I learned about the blood of Jesus as a child in a Southern Baptist Sunday school class; I learned about the plan of salvation living under the roof of a Southern Baptist (NOW METHODIST) Pastor Father, whom I dearly love and respect. He taught us boys that we’re saved by faith through grace; nothing more, nothing less. If he is reading this, he should know how thankful his son is that even though we may not have had a perfect home, we did have a home where we as children were exposed to the gospel message and as a result of those seeds planted in our hearts THEN, we serve in the ministry of the Lord Jesus today.

For that we are thankful to him and our mother, who is now gone on to be with Jesus.

I address the Southern Baptist denomination here more so because Baptists tend to fight against and resist the message of being baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost more than other mainline denominations. To be frank, Catholics, Methodists and even some Nazarene churches believe in a second work of Grace AND in the initial physical evidence of speaking with other tongues as one being filled.

Most of the differences I have found through the years coming from my roots tend to be embedded in differences surrounding terminology most Pentecostals and Charismatics use to describe certain experiences with God.

I’m not addressing those who are not hungry for God in these statements. There are some in ALL churches, even Pentecostals, who argue and debate matters because their hearts are full of unbelief, not because they are sincerely seeking more of God and have a sincere difference of opinion yet are always open to the truth of God’s Word. There is a BIG difference between ignorance in the sense of lack of knowledge and WILLFUL ignorance where knowledge is received but rejected.

In addressing this attitude in Corinth, Paul rebuked those with this attitude saying, “he that is ignorant, let him be ignorant.”

1 Cor. 14:20-22

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. [21] In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. [22] Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

I’m not “tied” into one view or the other about the things of God or the theology of the Holy Ghost. I always seek the Lord while I read His Word asking Him to illuminate the words I read through His Spirit. I don’t have any preconceived thought where I feel I reach a point I cannot learn more and be taught.

But this one thing I know. I made a decision long ago to read the Word of God for myself and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me about what He, not man, is saying to the church. I believe the Bible teaches that without debate or doubt when we get saved we are to then be baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. I received this glorious infilling for the first time in 1987 and no offense, but you can argue all your theology with me if you want to – it will not change the fact of what I felt that stormy night in Atlanta, Georgia on February 7, 1987.

Whenever I have given my testimony of what happened I always tell of how it literally felt like a “river” of power and glory flowing through my spirit the first time I spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. I’m not ashamed to talk about His work in my life nor am I ashamed to tell you I’m spirit-filled. I don’t arrogantly brag about it or walk around with a badge thinking I’ve “arrived,” or become perfect. God forbid. But when Jesus out of one’s “INNERMOST” being shall FLOW Rivers of living water – He meant it!

John 7:37-39 - In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Ezekiel 47:1- Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar

The same river Ezekiel saw of the coming Millennium Temple was a prophetic type of the future ministry of the Holy Ghost to ALL those who will but have simple child like faith to believe Jesus for this experience and enduement of power for service.

Yes, this experience is a second work of grace in the heart of the believer in the sense it happens AFTER the work of grace of salvation when one is lost and comes to Christ. No, it does NOT mean the believer who receives this glorious experience will graduate to perfection. Our walk with Christ is predicated by FAITH and by FAITH we live! We don’t put our faith in the experience itself; we put our faith in THE BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND FIRE – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!

Being filled with the Spirit is about power and service for witnessing and without the Holy Ghost there will be NEITHER power NOR service in the future of that believer who refuses to move on to this glorious infilling.

It does not affect our standing as far as eternity goes but it will without a doubt because those who reject this experience outright most of the time to be weak, ineffective witnesses for the Lord.

Acts 1:4-8 - And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. [6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The purpose of the Holy Ghost is for us to become WITNESSES of CHRIST and what He has done for us at the Cross! The passage in Acts 1:4-8 are the words recorded by Luke the physician of Jesus, NOT the words of the Assemblies of God, Church of God, Foursquare, or Pentecostal Holiness!

The infilling of the Spirit, which Ezekiel’s river stands in type of, is far bigger than any denomination or movement. Man has made it such, but friend the Holy Spirit can’t be contained within a tenant of faith or a church’s bylaw! I make that comment because there are some churches that put it in their bylaws if someone speaks in tongue they’re asked to leave the church. If they asked me to leave I’d leave but I’d still know the experience of this glorious river is far greater in scope than anything man says about it!!!!!! The baptism in the Holy Ghost is the greatest event that takes place in the life of the believer!

Those gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost were not going there to get saved! They were going there to be FILLED! Jesus pointed back to the statement of John the Baptist, “you shall be BAPTIZED (FILLED TO OVERFLOWING AS A RIVER) with the HOLY GHOST not many days hence,” as the prophetic announcement of what would take place at Pentecost.

We can get hung up on semantics if we like and argue over terminology and our own opinions about whether this is real till Jesus comes in the rapture, but this writer FIRMLY and WITHOUT APOLOGY preaches and teaches that when one is baptized in the HOLY GHOST, they will speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance – just as those who were baptized on the Day of Pentecost spoke with other tongues!

And while I’m on the subject let me say this too: THERE IS NO verse or statement in this entire discourse of what too place at Pentecost when this River begin to flow that says, “This River flowed here today but it won’t flow any more.” Preachers who get up and say such stupid things like “we believe all of this went away with the apostles,” are bags of hot air and unbelief and have about as much business preaching as I do being the President. I’d rather go to a barn at midnight and sit down hear a donkey “BRAY” as to hear some preachers spew their unbelief and venom about the Holy Ghost.

Let me hear somebody FULL of the HOLY GHOST, full of the power of God, full of the WORD OF GOD, full of FAITH, full of the anointing of the Spirit, who gets up and preaches with a fire in their heart and soul instead of hiding behind some educational degree and having a heart full of NOTHING! God help us in this hour of unbelief! To be frank, I wonder how many preachers are preaching about Jesus they themselves do not know! I wonder how many preachers are lost themselves preaching to lost parishioners in lost churches.

Neighbor, hear this fired up gray haired writer – this River IS flowing to ALL those who believe and have faith in what Christ has done for them at the Cross to be gloriously FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. The New Covenant pattern in the book of Acts was “get them saved and get them filled.” It was simple then to the Early Church and it should be simple to us today; the New Covenant pattern in the Book of Acts was/is the pattern for us today!

Acts 2:37-39 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

This journal is not about “tongues,” or the debates that surround them. This journal is about the RIVER of the HOLY GHOST that flows to ALL those who believe in its power and source! But hear this writer: The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is NOT an option for the believer, it is a command of Jesus who told His disciples: “GO TO JERUSALEM AND TARRY UNTIL YOU BE ENDUED WITH POWER ON HIGH!

Acts 1:4-8

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. [6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Luke 24:49

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

That doesn’t sound like a simple “if you want to do this do it, if you don’t want to believe in it don’t!” And it is just NOT a simple request today.

Jesus Christ did not die that we just be saved and go to heaven sitting on our blessed pew of do-nothing; He came and died that we might be FILLED with HIS POWER through the ministry and work of the HOLY GHOST.

If the Baptist, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc., want to argue there is just one “baptism,” let them argue that. Name it what you will but the work of the Holy Spirit does not STOP with the believer when we get saved – His work is just beginning! His ministries and gifts are available to us ALL depending on the humility of our hearts and the faith of our souls! In I Corinthians 14, Paul pointed the church at Corinth back to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the “rest,” and the “refreshing,” two things that come as a result of this “RIVER” of Holy Ghost power!

1 Cor. 14:21 - In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Isaiah 28:11-12

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Isaiah declared 2700 years ago that this is the REST wherewith you cause the WEARY to REST and this is the REFRESHING! Sadly, the prophet said, “they would not hear,” and the modern denominational church world is not hearing today! The denominational world wants to preach the cross without the Holy Spirit while the Pentecostal world wants to preach the Holy Spirit without the Cross. Both messages will lead the listener to death!

The power of the Cross is made real by the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit is only real and available because of the power of the CROSS!

Our Christian walk, our victory in Christ, our eternal souls being saved, our overcoming the powers of darkness seeking to deceive and destroy us and our families are NOT possible without the power and grace of the Holy Ghost and His miracle River that flows today!

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE CHURCH WORLD TO DO WITHOUT HIM EITHER! Sadly, most of the church has and thus, we witness the ever growing apostasy and descent into theological madness today as humanistic psychology has taken the place of the old fashioned altar.

The Altar

The phrase “for the forefront,” of the House denotes the channel, or course of the River – it is the Altar of Jehovah, Calvary! This speaks to us today of the Truth that the Holy Spirit could not take up abode, at least not permanently, in believing man, until Jesus paid the price for man’s redemption at Calvary’s Cross, thereby satisfying the claims of Heavenly Justice.

John 14:16-17

Due to this ALTAR, God can now look at man exactly as He looks at His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For upon acceptance of Christ, He becomes our substitute, and, therefore, in God’s Eyes, we are perfect as His Son is perfect; however, it is all by FATIH in HIM, and not any of our works.

The cleansing afforded by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ made it possible for our bodies to literally become the House, or Temple, of the Holy Spirit, where He comes to abide.

1 Cor. 3:16 -Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

This reminds me a beautiful chorus we used to sing in church we don’t hear much anymore these days, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary.”

Oh Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary

Pure and Holy, tried and true

With Thanksgiving, I’ll be a Living

Sanctuary for You

ONLY THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE MIRACLE RIVER POWER AND FLOW OF THE HOLY GHOST CAN PREPARE US TO BE THAT SANCTUARY FOR GOD! The blood applied to our heart gives the Holy Spirit river access to flow. The Holy Spirit river then points us back to the Altar from which its source originates – CHRIST!

John 16:13-14 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

The Holy Spirit will GLORIFY CHRIST in our lives! The Holy Spirit will not glorify some church, some movement, man or denomination! He will not even glorify truth in itself. He glorifies THE TRUTH, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many Christians want to do nothing more than argue over theology which does nothing but split churches, families and even homes in some cases. Jesus Christ has not come for us to argue, Jesus Christ came that we MIGHT BELIEVE! His Spirit was not sent to DIVIDE the church, but sent to prepare us to be a HOLY TEMPLE, pure and spotless, tried and true unto HIM, Who is the HEAD!

Ephes. 1:21-22

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephes. 2:20-21

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

1 John 5:11-13 - - And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. [13] These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John wrote what he wrote that we have ETERNAL life and that we may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God. We cannot even believe and call Jesus “LORD” without this Holy Ghost river in our hearts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Cor. 12:1-3

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. [2] Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. [3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The church must ever remember that the course of this Great River, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, is the Cross of Christ. Even though it’s a past event of history, the benefits of the Cross continue to this hour through the power of this miracle river seen by Ezekiel! The Cross makes EVERYTHING the HOLY GHOST does for us as believers possible. This is why Paul called the Cross, “the EVERLASTING COVENANT,” meaning it will never have to be amended, abridged, or changed in any way because its source is GOD and it is PERFECT.

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

It is blasphemous and apostate for some Charismatics to them claim they have “gone beyond the Cross,” when dealing with things of the Spirit. I’m as Charismatic, Pentecostal as they come, but the foundational message of the Cross placed in my heart since I was a child has never left this writer! It pains me to hear well-known, television ministries, make fun of and denigrate what Christ did for us at Calvary in lieu of “other things,” that tend to always appeal to the flesh of the hearers of their message.

It’s never popular to preach repentance and self-denial, which is really the message of the Cross as it relates to us today! It’s not popular to tell folks their social drinking and occasional hoity toddy and wine cooler is a SIN, not a “disease,” or “social problem.” It’s not popular to warn people about watching dirty, filthy movies and their effect on our hearts and souls. It’s not popular to tell folks that fornicating and committing adultery are SINS, and God will judge the whoremonger! The demands of the Cross are repentance!!!!!

There is only one way to God and that is through Christ. There is only ONE way to Christ and that is through repentance, confession and taking up one’s cross and following Christ daily! Obedience to the faith is what grants one eternal life; the devils believe, James says, and even tremble, but they are not saved!

James 2:19-20 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

If one attempts to go beyond the Cross, one loses one’s way! To try to go beyond the Cross, is to claim an ‘unfinished,’ work, an unfinished atonement. Such an attitude, which is very pervasive and popular among the modern Charismatic world right now is none other than blasphemy. (SEE BAPTISTS I AM NOT JUST PICKING ON YOU IN THIS MESSAGE!)

The Cross is the source of the Holy Ghost. We can NEVER forget that. It’s been said if one majors on the Cross without the Spirit one usually winds up with a dead religious form void of power; if one majors just on the Spirit without the Cross, then one winds up in fanaticism and all sorts of other spirits operating within a congregation.

The Leading

Ezekiel 47:2-3

Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looked eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward,

Ezekiel saw the East Inner Gate shut, and, as well, therefore, the Lord led him outside the Inner and Outer Courts by the North Gates. There is great spiritual meaning in this obscure passage as we hope to illustrate here.

For instance, many hungry hearts desire the Baptism with the Holy Ghost (infilling), but, because of not being totally led by Christ, they become discouraged, not quite knowing the way or the route in order to receive. Admittedly, the course, although direct, is seldom reached in a direct way. Some receive easily, some do not! However, ALL will receive who persist in faith, because ALL are invited to come!

Rev. 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The miracle river flowed through the Eastern Gate, but yet one cannot go through that Gate, but has to go through the NORTHERN Gate in order to arrive at the appointed place. Therefore, if one is not led “by the man with the line in His hand,” one will be confused, and, therefore, discouraged, and fail to receive its fullness.

Consequently, Spirit-filled believers should themselves be led by Christ in their dealing with those who are hungry for the Holy Ghost. If earthly wisdom is used rather than Heavenly Wisdom, the individual will be led astray! However, if the spirit-filled believer is led by Christ in taking the person to the RIVER, so to speak, ALL will arrive safely and will receive the life-changing power of this miracle river!

Someone has said that as revolutionary as Salvation is to the unbeliever, likewise, as revolutionary is the infilling of the Holy Ghost for the believer! While Salvation separates the sinner from the world, the Baptism (infilling) with the Holy Ghost separates the Christian from dead, lifeless formalism, in other words, MOST of what passes for Christianity in today’s modern church circles.

The Flowing Of the Waters

Ezekiel 47:2-3

Ezekiel saw this miracle river flowing “on the right side,” indicating it flowed out of the Sanctuary into the desert.

The River was not meant to be kept in the confines of the Sanctuary, but is meant to flow out into the world, thereby bringing life; consequently, if the Holy Ghost is not allowed to function in the life of the Believer as He desires, which is to flow out to others, He will soon cease operations. He does not do things our way, but do things HIS Way. I want to say that again. The Holy Spirit does not “come,” at our beckon call as some in the church think.

I hear of worship leaders tell who try and plan to set a “mood,” for the Holy Spirit to work. This is done through numerous things – flags, banners, the right lighting, the right chords on the piano and a ton of other foolishly contrived methods. These things are not “wrong” in themselves, don’t get this writer wrong. But when we do these things thinking that because we do something a certain way or go by a certain formula the Holy Spirit then is required to move and flow we are FOOLISHLY and SADLY mistaken.

One may say, “Well we feel the Holy Spirit moving at our church when we do these things.” Are you sure? Many times it’s not the HOLY SPIRIT “moving,” but “another spirit!” Let this writer help some of you right here and now about the moving of the Holy Spirit.

As we were coming home from church this past weekend I told my wife and children that the only thing I pray for our church we attend is that the Holy Ghost be allowed 100% total freedom. One of my girls said, “Well isn’t He allowed freedom now?” I looked at her and thought about that a moment and realized that He had some control of our church but we had not seen the totality of the power of this miracle river – at least not yet.

I told them that when the Holy Spirit took complete control of First Baptist Church Powell we’d see such a spiritual breaking of hearts that men, women, boys and girls would run to the altar, weeping, crying out to God in repentant sorrow for Him to change our condition. This would be done without prompting or manipulation, not that pastor does any of that; Pastor Phil Jones is a man of God, anointed by the Holy Ghost, who breaks the bread of Life weekly for all to feed!

I know that if he and I sat down there might be minor differences of opinion over some of things mentioned in this message, we would be 100% in agreement with the requirements he preaches to those listening for salvation and blessing according to the Word of God. I know the Holy Spirit wants to do so much more there and move in ways our church has never known in its history.

When the Spirit is in control, those with sin in their lives will NOT be able to sit in our services untouched and unmoved like a statute, yawning and almost falling to sleep because their hearing a message void of power and conviction! When the miracle Holy Ghost river flows in, those with sin in their lives (even backslidden Christians) will either get so mad they will run OUT of the church or be so convicted they will run TO the altar IN the church! Preacher, no offense, but if the congregation you’re preaching too praises everything you say from the pulpit there is a good chance you’re not preaching very much!

We need to stop giving the latest book report on the Purpose Driven Life (which has replaced the Bible in many evangelical churches) or talking about the latest fads in the world! Instead of putting people to sleep on the pew we need to get filled with the Holy Ghost so we preach with such a conviction on the Word of God that lost souls are hung over hell itself with a broken stick! That’s what will happen when the River “flows” in our churches!

I’m not calling for some type of circus show on Sunday morning where people do things in the flesh thinking they are being “free” in the Spirit but in fact glorifying “SELF.” God forbid. What I AM talking about is the lack of a true flow of the Holy Ghost that can ALONE produce true born again experiences in the hearts and lives of those lost among us. HE ALONE is the ONE who can produce Christian maturity, righteousness and growth in such a way that we won’t have to spend millions of dollars bringing in some famous self-help guru to our church to make people feel better about their sinful lives and hearts.

If our churches are not going to conduits of the Holy Spirit where His miracle RIVER can flow to those attending our services, we’d do the community a better service by putting gas tanks out front and pumping gas to the patrons than saying we have a New Covenant church! What we have in reality if the Holy Spirit is not in control of our churches is nothing more than buildings with people in them!!!!!

If we’re not going to preach the gospel, the Word of God, the MESSAGE of Christ and Him Crucified, under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, we don’t need to be opening our doors! If the RIVER is not going to be allowed to FLOW and FLOW FREELY then we’d be better off to just bring the Kiwanis club in and let them have their meetings instead. God help us.

As I close this message let me share how this hit home to this writer and his family a week or so ago when my daughter told me of one of her school friends who is deeply involved in Wicca but who attends our church along with her parents.

This young lady was in the services with her parents this past Sunday where we enjoyed such a powerful presence of God during both morning and evening services. As our daughter relayed to us how she saw this other young lady outside the building and spoke to her, the only thing I could ask was: “Lord, were You welcome enough in Our church today she felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit so much as to make a decision to repent?” “Was the Holy Ghost given enough freedom today as to bring this young lady to a place to see her lost condition and need for repentance, or did she just sit there today and not feel a thing?!!!”

As my curiosity turned to questions about this young lady’s condition, my daughter Sara caught on to what I was saying, held her head down, and said, “I don’t think she felt any conviction today about the condition she’s in.” I told Sara we needed to pray for this young lady without delay cause if she could sit in the service we had Sunday and not feel conviction, one of two things were going on – either the spirit we felt was not the Holy Spirit, or her conscience was so seared she was walking dangerously close to a point of no eternal return.

Our church is not perfect. I have sit there almost ready to jump out of my pew running as the glory of God flooded my soul in worship only to watch a majority of the people around me sit there like a knot on the log. I’m not pointing to “me,” but pointing out that the Holy Spirit wants to do SO MUCH more where we attend and for whatever reason – whether it be the leadership or the laity – His river is not allowed 100% free access.

As I pondered this young lady’s heart, I prayed for her soul – AND I PRAYED FOR OUR CHURCH. I prayed and asked the Lord to remove any obstacles among us that was hindering His Spirit moving and flowing among us as Ezekiel witnessed this miracle river flowing from the altar so long ago – a vision of the coming Millennium River that will flow from Jerusalem when the Lord returns.

As I close, let me ask you some solemn questions. How many people are in hell today because they sat in our churches and the miracle river was not there? How many broken homes are now beyond repair because a spouse sit in our churches in sin and because they didn’t feel the conviction and glorious power of this miracle river lost their way with God and as a result their home!

How many young people are on drugs today that have sat and sat and sat and sat week in week out and have not felt the glorious power of the miracle river??? I ask you today preacher, does this river flow through YOU? Do you spend time with God before you break the bread of life and pray His anointing and Spirit on what you say? Are we more concerned with HOW we say the things we do instead of WHAT we are telling the people?

Have we become so polished and “professional,” acting in the church world today that it reeks of smugness and arrogance in the nostrils of God, that we’ve pushed aside the Holy Ghost river which is the only hope for a world lost and dying with no hope outside of faith in Christ?

There is a so much clamor, so much talk, so much flippancy, so much activity, so much bragging – BUT VERY LITTLE OF THE RIVER in our churches today. How much will God hold us accountable in the American church for the blessings He has bestowed upon us only to have most American churches steeped in idolatry, dead religion and formalism? We so terribly need the river!

We so terribly need an outpouring of the Holy Ghost. We so terribly need God to shake us to our core and being and show us the horrible conditions of our souls so that we will want to do nothing more than to just JUMP into this river of Glory and allow the Spirit to change us. I don’t mean to say these words with callousness or anger, but it’s burning in my soul.

Does the river flow today in your heart and soul? Have you been to Jesus, the SOURCE of these living waters, for a life-giving flow of power and enduement for service? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. If you say “no,” that doesn’t mean you’re not saved. It just means you haven’t gotten in the river yet and the man with the line in his hand beckons to you today through the words of this journal – “COME ON IN and RECEIVE!”

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You today to fill every hungry heart and every thirsty soul wanting More of You today. This gift of power and enduement of service is for those who are believers. The world cannot receive the things of God. If someone is reading today LOST and without Your Son Jesus Christ, I ask you to convict them today and bring them to Your saving Grace before it is too late. For those already saved, I pray you Increase the thirst of our soul for you and cause us to cry and plead for This River!

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen and Amen.

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