Part
One
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
TEXT: 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 I write these words, the world's attention is centered on the Middle East in the late summer of 2006. Israeli tanks and war planes have launched an offensive into Southern Lebanon to root out a horrible enemy - the terrorist group Hezbollah along with dealing with events to her south with the terror group Hamas. Both terror groups kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers in two separate events two weeks ago. ALL these events are the sounds of an alarm that we are living in the last of the last days!
Israel as a nation recently finished celebrating their "feast" day of Shavuot, or Pentecost, which we as New Covenant believers know as the day the Holy Ghost came in a new and powerful way to the church. This day, according to Jewish tradition was also the day that God gave the children of Israel the LAW upon Mt. Sinai to live by honor their GOD. Though impossible to keep God's law with sinful hearts, the finger of His power wrote His standards on two pieces of stone that under gird ALL normal civilization to this very day - the rule of LAW and JUSTICE.
You see Israel had only ONE GOD. This is what separated her from the heathen countries around her who worshipped many others - BAAL, CHEMOSH, TAMMUZ, Ashtoreth and the list goes on. God had brought Ezekiel in earlier passages to the temple in Jerusalem to show him the reasons for Israel's judgment - SIN!
In modern Jewry, the books of Ruth, Habakkuk and Ezekiel are still read in modern synagogues. Ruth speaking of harvest, meeting Boaz her kinsman redeemer - the church (GENTILE BRIDE) meeting her heavenly Redeemer (CHRIST) and as a result saving the life of Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law- a type of the Jewish people. WHEN THE CHURCH GETS RIGHT AND COMES BACK TO CHRIST WITH ALL OUR HEART REVIVAL IS GOING TO BREAK OUT UPON OUR JEWISH BRETHREN!
Also on Pentecost, the books of Ezekiel,
(a priest born in Jerusalem living with the Jewish exiles in Babylon since since
the second deportation in 597 BC, a decade before the Babylonians destroy
Jerusalem. His prophecies are given from Babylon)
and Habakkuk are read in the
synagogue because these books speak to us of FIRE, WIND and VOICES -
three things that took place on the DAY OF PENTECOST spoken of in the book of
Acts. This was a very festive occasion with the priests offering their peace
offerings, their burnt offerings and their WAVE offerings. All of these events
going on were a picture, a type, a foreshadowing of the great outpouring of the
Holy Ghost in these last days. The combination of Israel's travail and the
season of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost are two signs neighbor, we're getting
close to the next great event on God's prophetic time clock - the rapture of the
Church. This writer is not looking for a hole in the ground - he's looking for a
hole in the sky! I'm not looking to collect canned goods to survive on for seven
years - I'm getting ready to go to my HOME ON HIGH! Glory to God. You can stay
here and fight the Antichrist if you like - have at it - but friend, it's time
for the church of the living God to get our spiritual houses in order and be
looking up for our redemption is drawing nigh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
During
the first period of his career, Ezekiel foretold the complete destruction of the
kingdom of Judah, and the annihilation of the city and temple. One of the Old
Covenant's most interesting of the prophets called by God to call Israel and
Judah to turn from sin through sincere repentance, Ezekiel began prophesying
after a vision in which he saw God's throne chariot and was given a scroll to
eat (Ezek 1-3). Shortly afterwards, he had visions of idolatrous worship in the
Temple and of God's glory departing from Jerusalem. When his wife died he bore
it silently, as the people bore the loss of Jerusalem.
After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, after the fulfillment of these
predictions, the Holy Spirit spoke to Israel through the prophet that God would
once again shepherd his people (Ezek 34) and restore them, like dry bones coming
back to life (Ezek 37). That process began in earnest in 1948 when Israel became
a nation, thus starting the prophetic time clock ticking taking us oh so close
to the rapture of the church. Ezekiel he was commanded to announce the
future return from exile, the re-establishment of the people in their own
country and, especially, the triumph of the Kingdom of the Messiah, the second
David, so that the people would not abandon themselves to despair and perish as
a nation, through contact with the Gentiles. Part of this tremendous and
prophetic promise included a vision at the conclusion of his book of a restored
city, a sanctuary, and a miracle river, flowing from the DOOR of the this
beautiful temple and sanctuary.
This river, a beautiful picture of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
began at the south side of the Temple and flowed east. The gospel began
in Jerusalem and from "out of Zion shall go forth the LAW, and the Word of the
Lord." The LAW was given on the same day the HOLY GHOST would come on the day of
Pentecost telling Israel basically that God's Law was holy, just and right, but
their hearts were NOT holy, just and right. Man cannot keep the law of God in
his own strength! The church tries to do just that today seeking to establish
another system of righteousness outside the GRACE and POWER of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit is the one who produces Christ IN the believer!
Isaiah 2:1-4
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. [2] And
it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the
hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. [3] And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God
of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more.
Ezekiel's
river began as a shallow creek that was ankle deep and grew to become a large
river deep enough to swim in that ends at the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is about
1,300 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea with no outlets and is
located 16 miles straight east of Jerusalem. Its unusual depth, lack of outlets,
and the intense heat of the region result in intense salt water. The water of
the Dead Sea is such that no living creature can live in the water. Any fish or
other creature deposited into the Dead Sea dies. The vision therefore depicts
something very unnatural and displays the dead coming to life by the waters of
the Temple. When the fresh water river flowed into the Dead Sea, the water of
the Dead Sea which is naturally salty became fresh. The water however in
the marshes surrounding the Sea remains salty. The fresh water will team with
living creatures so much so that men will fish there. Fruit trees of all kinds
will grow on the banks of the river and will bear fruit monthly, never wither,
and serve for food and healing. The vision paints the picture of a life
giving water flowing from God’s Temple resulting in plush vegetation and
animal life. The Holy Spirit is the ONLY Source of LIFE for the modern church!
In addition to pointing to a physical river that will flow from the Millennium
Temple, Ezekiel's vision 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 4:10-14 to all those who would believe!
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.)
John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up
into everlasting life.
Other prophets used the same symbolism (Joel 3:18, Zechariah 13:1, 14:8) to speak of the time we live in today - the age of the HOLY GHOST!
Joel
3:18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new
wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow
with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall
water the valley of Shittim.
Zech. 13:1
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Zech. 14:8
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem;
half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in
summer and in winter shall it be.
Certainly, the good news of salvation and how to receive God’s Spirit started in
Jerusalem in Acts 2 and grew to bring the dead to life. The fish of all kinds
represents the church being filled with all nations and all kinds of people.
It’s interesting that fishermen are pictured gathering the fish- a beautiful
prophetic foreshadowing of the event when Jesus took a group of fishermen and
made them fishers of men (Mark1:16-20).
Mark 1:16-20
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother
casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. [17] And Jesus said unto
them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. [18] And
straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. [19] And when he had gone
a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother,
who also were in the ship mending their nets. [20] And straightway he called
them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants,
and went after him.
Unfortunately, not all receive this message and embrace the ministry of the Holy
Ghost; thus, the marshes, of whom these people are a type, remain salty and
dead.
The last portion of Ezekiel’s vision focuses on a description of the boundaries
of the new Israel and how the land is to be divided among the twelve tribes of
Israel. The land God maps out is generally the same as was mapped out by Moses
in Numbers 34:1-29 and only includes the land from the Mediterranean Sea
on the west to the Jordan River and Dead Sea on the east. It omits the land east
of the Jordan that Israel had previously occupied. Interesting to note is that
God didn’t originally plan for the Israelites to live east of the Jordan so this
is a return to God’s original plan for Israel’s land.
One clear indicator of the church is the allowance for aliens to receive an
allotment of the land. Aliens were to be treated as native-born Israelites. This
points to the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s people. Up until Acts 10, the
Israelites including Ezra and Nehemiah still fought for purity among the blood
of Israel (Ezra 10, Nehemiah 13). However, Jesus and the apostles opened the
opportunity for the aliens to be included in God’s house (Ephesians 2:19-20,
Galatians 3:26-29).
Ephes.
2:19-20
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with
the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Galatians 3:26-29
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:
for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Afterward He Brought Me Again To The Door Of The House
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.
These waters signify two main things: the gospel of Christ, which went forth from Jerusalem, and spread into the countries about and the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it and was and IS the only power which the church has today. Let the reader be clear as I state it again - the church has NO OTHER power available to it to ward off the powers of darkness other than the working and anointing of the Spirit! Souls are saved, bodies healed, bondages broken, broken homes restored, believers filled and changed ONLY through the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit! It's not by our church growth programs, our softball teams, our yard sales, women's bazaar's or such the like. It amazes me how many seminars take place that can "teach" you how to grow a church. Neighbor, the ONLY POWER IN THE UNIVERSE THAT CAN MAKE THE TRUE CHURCH GROW IS THE RIVER OF THE HOLY GHOST! You may get "people," and "numbers," through techniques, but the Spirit of God will not be within a million miles of the place. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Preacher, what good does it do you to have 5,000 people coming if 4,995 of them are lost and without God?????????? Do you think that makes God "proud" of you or merits brownie points that your church has lots of people coming.
The TRUE GOSPEL message has never brought people to it - it's chased them away! The anointed Word of God is what caused God to "add to the Church daily AS MANY AS WOULD BE SAVED!" The key word in this passage from Acts is SAVED, SAVED, SAVED, SAVED, SAVED! The purpose of the New Covenant Church is not to seek numbers but to preach the GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and hang lost men over hell with a broken stick with Holy Ghost conviction that SOULS will be changed for eternity. The purpose of the New Covenant Church is NOT to fill buildings with people who come to a weekly meeting void of the power of God and void of anything that is truly from the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel's vision of this glorious miracle river shows us that this Holy Ghost POWER is spread far, and produced blessed effects as the result of the anointing of God to all who will let this river FLOW without resistance! Let the reader be clear - this miracle river will not flow in your church unless you want it to flow in your church! I'm talking to pastors here!! Pastor, you are the key to allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the church you lead. Yes, there may be resistance to what God wants in the pew but it's been my experience over the years that God has a way of opening the door for those not sensitive to His Spirit to find another sheep fold. To be frank, the Holy Ghost has nice psychology program of offending the religious which causes those not sensitive to what God is doing to not want to stay! But PASTOR, YOU are the under shepherd to Christ, the DOOR, from which these waters flowed!
We
can say "we want God to meet with us each week," but we needs beware of what we
ask! When the river flows - THINGS happen! When the river flows - demons
scatter! When the river flows, JESUS CHRIST is lifted up and ALL men are drawn
to HIM. Jesus Christ can set the captive free!
The term “Afterward,” in this passage refers to the fact that 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."
Rev. 22:1
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The River And The Last Of The Last Days
The mighty “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit from Christ seen in prophetic type by Ezekiel's future miracle river, is one several indicators we are living in the last of the last days prior to the rapture of the Church.
2 Tim 3:1-2
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
One, Paul said that “in the last days,” perilous times shall come. Men shall be lovers of themselves, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, unthankful, without natural affection, having a form of godliness but denying the POWER thereof, from such turn away.
First of all, a sign we're living in the end times is that men will DENY the power thereof as the church world sinks into deep apostasy. The “POWER” spoken of here is the power of the Holy Ghost which only works through the work of the Cross and what Jesus accomplished for us there.
Secondly, the Apostle Peter, along with the Apostle Jude, said another sign of the end would be that “in the last days,” men would scoff at the Word of God and walk in their own “lusts.”
Jude 1:18
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
2 Pet 3:3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts
We are seeing that with the denial of the truth from behind pulpits by so-called men of God who are in reality wolves in sheep clothing. The term “walking after their own lusts,” speaks of the massive onslaught of perversion within the church world we see today through the increase of blatant acceptance and practice of homosexuality and immorality. Many mainline denominations are succumbing to this spirit allowing homosexuals to lead their movements without even a blush or thought. Homosexuals almost boast of the fact how they can go to their churches and "feel at home," and not feel "condemned." NEIGHBOR IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COME AND NOT FEEL HOLY GHOST CONVICTION THE RIVER OF THE SPIRIT IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the river of God were flowing as it should, they would NOT be able to stay without either getting right with God or feeling so uncomfortable they would RUN out the door.
John said that He that believes and repents is NOT condemned but HE that believes NOT (and as result of unbelief fails to repent) is CONDEMNED already! The world without God is condemned already!!! And neighbor, hear this writer. HE THAT BELIEVES HAS LIFE, LIFE, LIFE, LIFE, LIFE i.e. they have the RIVER OF GOD in their heart and soul! BUT those who believe NOT the Son shall not see life, but the WRATH of GOD abides on him! That is not Chris McDonald judging someone, that is the WORD OF GOD laying out the principles of eternal life. Those who obey will see life. Those who don't will perish!
John 3:33-36
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. [34]
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto him. [35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all
things into his hand. [36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abides on him.
God did not send Jesus into the world to CONDEMN the world; the world condemned itself through unbelief and not receiving God's tremendous gift of love through Christ. And those who refuse to repent of their own lusts and not allowing HIM to deliver them through the power of this miracle river of the Holy Ghost - they are CONDEMNED too!
1John 3:17-18
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
Thirdly, James speaks of the last days as a time when men shall “heap together to themselves treasures,” speaking of false prosperity and a spirit of greed that will grip millions. James warns those who do such that their “gold and silver,” and the rust of them “shall be a witness AGAINST them,” and will eat their flesh as it were fire. This speaks of the spirit of "greed," that does just that; it burns inside a person’s heart driving them to do things never thought of and in reality "eating their flesh as it were fire."
James 5:3- Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
The question is not how much money one has or does not have. The poor can be filled with just as much greed as the rich. The issue is the LOVE and OBSESSION of money, which the Word of God say is the ROOT of all evil. Biblical prosperity is tied into the condition of one's soul, not into the amount of one's possessions. Jesus said a man's life does not CONSIST in the amount of the things one possess. He called a man with such a feeling a "FOOL," declaring that the man's riches would not save him when the time came when his "soul" would be required by God.
Luke
12:15-20
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. [16] And he
spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do,
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? [18] And he said, This will I
do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my
fruits and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods
laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God
said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then
whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Fourthly, the prophet Joel (Peter repeated this prophetic passage on the Day of
Pentecost), predicted that “in the last days,” there would be an outpouring of
the Holy Ghost unprecedented in human history that would be the harbinger of two
things – the greatest harvest ever of souls coming into the Kingdom of God
accompanied by an increase of prophetic visions and dreams and two, the birth
pangs of Israel’s travail preparing the world for the advent of the Antichrist
and the start of the Great Tribulation period when the sun will turn to blood
and the moon will darken her light.
Acts 2:38-39
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.
Acts 2:16-20 - But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
The Door of the House
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.
This “miracle river,” of Ezekiel speaks of the latter day outpouring of the Holy Spirit the true church is YET to experience in its fullness! The Azusa Street 'latter rain' outpouring in 1903 was just the beginning. We are about to see one of the greatest moves of God ever known to mortal man as this “river,” of the Spirit begins to flow in unprecedented proportions.
The "door," here speaks of the fact that the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, because Jesus paid the total price with His blood at Calvary’s Cross for man’s sin debt for all time, past, present, and future, at least for all who will believe. The “Sanctuary,” from which the waters flowed had a “door,” which was a picture of CHRIST, THE DOOR, through which is the ONLY way for sinful man to come to the Father. “No man comes unto the FATHER, but by ME,” Jesus said.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This means that one cannot get to God through Mohammed, the Catholic Church, Joseph Smith, reading the Purpose Driven Life, or any other fake luminary. If the world believes in God at all, it erroneously thinks He can be reached through many and varied sources; however, there is only ONE DOOR and that DOOR IS CHRIST! I want to ask those preachers who preach something other than this with national television audiences “what part of that do you NOT understand?!”
Satan has fought this message that proclaims Christ as the only Door as no other message. As a result, Christianity is quickly becoming a Christless philosophy or, more particularly, it embraces Christ and especially much of the Church, WITHOUT THE CROSS. As a result, most of the Church serves “another Jesus,” fostered by “another Spirit,” which presents “another gospel.” When the TRUE river flows in a church - the CROSS is the theme of our worship, our praise, our glory and our boasting! We GLORY IN THE CROSS!!!!! Anything else is a false gospel that will doom men to hell forever and forever!
2 Cor. 11:4
For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Let the reader be clear that Christianity without CHRIST and the CROSS is left with no more meaning than the mindless mumblings and babblings of witchcraft and voodoo! That sounds strong but friend, an AWFUL, TERRIBLE price was paid for man’s redemption for the modern day church world to trample on and tinker with this precious gospel message as it does! To accept Christianity without the CROSS, or even to accept Christ, and ignore the Cross, is to degenerate into mere religion, which offers no life, and, instead, guarantees death. That is the message of the Miracle River we will deal with more in a moment – if your church is dead, get the river in it! When the river is flowing in a church, the preeminent message will be “Christ and Him Crucified!”
1 Cor. 1:17-18
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world.
1 Cor. 1:30-31
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is
written, He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Without Christ and what He did for us at the cross, here is NO life!
1 Cor. 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
The Threshold of The Waters
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 threshold is a symbolic fulfillment of the Promise of Christ when He proclaimed the great supply of the Spirit He gives to those who come to Him.
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.)
John 4:14-17
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
According to Peter's prophetic message on Pentecost, (he quoted the prophet Joel), this river’s abundance will increase during the coming Kingdom Age which will bring life to the entirety of the world. To be sure, the Holy Spirit has been here from the very beginning, actually moving on the chaotic Earth, bringing order out of disorder.
Acts 2:16-24 - But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
However, until the day of Pentecost, His activities were more hidden than visible, due to the fact that the sin debt remained unpaid, in that the blood of fulls and goats could not take away sins.
Hebrews 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
On the Day of Pentecost, this river of the Spirit, so to speak, began to flow, and because Jesus paid the totality of man’s sin debt through His blood shed at Calvary’s Cross, the Spirit has flowed FREELY and without measure to all those who will believe!
Hebrews 10:12-14
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The “threshold,” from which these waters of Ezekiel’s river flowed speaks of “place,” and “position,” denoting humility. In Ruth, the Old Covenant anti-type picture of this we speak concerning the last days Pentecostal outpouring (the book of Ruth is read during Jewish synagogue services on Pentecost (Shavuot)) we see Naomi telling Ruth, “get thee down to the floor., a place of humility concerning Boaz.
Ruth 3:3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
John the Baptist spoke of Christ, baptizing with the HOLY SPIRIT and with fire, “whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.”
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire
John’s phrase concerning the shoes spoke of a slave, who would remove the shoes of visitors upon entering the House, and WASH their feet. It was the job, incidentally of the lowest of slaves. John recognized his place of servant hood in light of the glory of Christ who had come to free slaves from the power of sin through the Holy Ghost to come after He went back to Heaven following His crucifixion.
The Baptist was portraying that humility was a requirement (and still is) for receiving the Holy Spirit, which is opposite of pride. The “threshold,” of Ezekiel’s river typifies the individual, who must get down on their knees, spiritually speaking, putting their head down in order to “drink,” the water; regrettably millions have desired this life-giving stream, but have not been willing to humble themselves; consequently, and in this fashion, it is impossible to partake of this gift without, as Naomi told Ruth, “getting down to the floor.”
The spirit of arrogance has taken hold in the the modern church and as a result we've walked down a path that has caused the cessation of the flow of the Holy Ghost river! Pride will destroy your church friend! Pride will destroy the pulpit, preacher. God does not call "paid professionals," behind His holy desk to break the bread of life and lead sheep. He calls HOLY GHOST FILLED ordained ministers of GOD, not MAN, to lead His flock to the living waters whereby they can find rest and refreshing for their souls! What most people get today from the ministry of the modern church is something that has no life in it!
I’d like to share a recent prophetic article written by Mark Squire entitled, "What Pride Does to Revivals,” that summarizes the spirit or arrogance and pride contrasted with the spirit of true humility birthed by the Holy Ghost:
“Why do excesses, counterfeits, leaders falling into sin, deception, etc destroy so many revivals? Is there some singular key they missed which will protect us from the same fate?I believe there is and it is HUMILITY. Let's have a think about the above areas:
COUNTERFEITS:
Pride: Will jump in to be associated with whatever sounds good, wants to impress, allows whatever pulls the crowds, is not worried about what is going wrong as long as the good stuff is happening
Humility: Accepts wisdom and discernment from God, wants to be pure and holy, is not afraid to disappoint people, is careful with prohibiting and permitting
TEMPTATION:
Pride: Accepts small compromises, keeps secrets, focuses on the sin, attempts to resist in own strength, justifies self, entertains sinful thoughts, believes sin is not that bad.
Humility: Glorifies God in every area, is transparent and honest, focuses on Christ's death as atonement, submits to God then resists the devil and flees youthful lust, brings self unto submission, takes every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ, knows all sin separates us from God.
DECEPTION:
Pride: Follows the crowd, demands its way, cannot be corrected, judges by appearance, will change to become acceptable.
Humility: Can challenge the crowd, evaluates it's way, is open to correction, looks for fruits and lets God show roots, will change to become Christ-like.
MISTAKES:
Pride: Argues, decides hastily, is offended easily, tries to sound convincing, preserves ego, can be over-complicated or too simplistic, is insecure.
Humility: Keeps away from profane and foolish arguments, takes time to consider and pray, gives grace, says it straight, preserves friendship, discerns and avoids distractions but recognizes other factors in an issue.
Let's add some more:
MUSIC:
Pride: Plays what sounds good, entertains, over-organizes or is impulsive, follows own ideas.
Humility: Selects lyrics, which glorify God, worships in Spirit and truth, is orderly but listening, follows biblical values.
PREACHING:
Pride: Convinces, exaggerates or plays down, attempts to be skillful, puts on an act.
Humility: Teaches, talks straight, relies on God to guide and confirm, is honest.
AUTHORITY (LEADING):
Pride: Pushes from the rear, manipulates, is domineering, boasts of self, enjoys position,
Humility: Leads from the front, asks, is gentle, boasts only in the Lord, accepts responsibility.
AUTHORITY (FOLLOWING):
Pride: Murmurs and complains, is resentful, flatters, is in for what they can get, usurps or divides.
Humility: Upholds and supports, is respectful, praises genuinely, is in for what they can give. Submits or departs quietly.
ADMINISTRATION:
Pride: Complicates matters, is angry when the smallest thing goes wrong, criticizes, wants everything it's own way, is careless.
Humility: Makes things as simple and efficient as possible, accepts that nothing is perfect, compliments, listens to other ideas, is thoroug
The word "revival" already has a negative ring to many. If there was true humility, people would see the difference even before God moves.
The church world needs to “get thee down,” to the floor! There is such rank smugness, flippant bragging, arrogance and pride that flaunts from behind pulpits today that condones a similar attitude in the laity. We don't rebuke pride as we should in the church, we applaud it. Pride needs to be REBUKED just as immorality, alcoholism, homosexuality, lying, or any other sin needs to be rebuked among leaders!
The catch phrase of the modern charismatic message is that we as children of God have a “right to demand God,” do what we so desire – even if what we desire is not according to His will for our lives. When someone says, “we need to seek the will of God on the matter,” they are quickly labeled as not having the right type of faith or right type of “confession.” If the modern Christian is going through trial or temptation they are told their faith is not right or a list of other things are wrong. The very nature of Christ's message to His disciples is that if someone does evil to us, we in turn render GOOD back to them. We don't deman they "repay" us or act like we're entitled to "stand up" to them. Jesus didn't stand up to His persecutors - He was led like a "lamb to the slaughter," so we as sinful fallen sons of Adam could be saved! When we are struck on the cheek, the Jesus principle is to "turn the other cheek," not strike back in arrogance or pride thinking we are "special," or have a right to do so from God. That is why the attitudes of MOST Christians STINK today and we come across to the world at large as being no different than the drunkard in the local bar on Friday night. The only difference is we have a smugness and self-righteousness about us that turns people off from Christ instead of drawing them to HIM! His fragrance in our lives (produced by the Holy Ghost) produces HUMILITY!
Hear me good friend. This writer believes in a good confession and speaking life to situations, not death, when we are faced with the onslaught of the enemy. A negative, nagging, fault-finding tongue will never get one ANYTHING from God the Holy Ghost! James said those who are "double-minded," are unstable in ALL their ways and will NOT receive anything from the Lord. Just because we “say,” the right things or set the right “mood,” in our services, we are not "guaranteed," the river of the Holy Ghost will flow and touch people’s hearts and lives for eternity.
Satan fell because of pride and is the author of such in the church today! The very nature of the HOLY GHOST and CHRIST is HUMILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus described Himself as being "lowly," in heart and "meek." That is in stark contrast to the militant Christ we paint to folks today. Yes, He is the KING of all Glory and as King He rules and reigns over ALL the powers of darkness. He gained that place of position through SACRIFICE and HUMBLING himself to the obedience of the CROSS!
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29]
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light.
Philip. 2:5-10 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6]
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7]
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
When Jesus described the coming of the Holy Ghost He made it clear to His disciples, “He will not testify of Himself, but He will glorify ME (SPEAKING OF 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.
Most modern church services have become nothing more than glorified ‘pep’ rallies to get people happy about a “church,” or “denomination,” or “movement,” instead of glorifying CHRIST! Jesus said declared if HE would be LIFTED up He will DRAW all men unto Himself. The HEAD of the CHURCH is the one we worship; we don't worship the BODY! The Body's function is to obey the HEAD!!!!!!!
John 12:32-33
And I, if I
( NOT THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT OR THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE) be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto me. [33] This he said, signifying what
death he should die.
John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
man be lifted up:
Col. 2:18-23 - Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [19] And not holding the Head, from which
all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit
together, increases with the increase of God. [20] Wherefore if ye be dead
with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world,
are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which
all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
[23] Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility,
and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
When one hears things like, “you have a ‘right,’ to do this and do that and tell God this and tell God that,’ neighbor, those words are being produced by “another spirit,” NOT the Holy Spirit! When we came to Christ we LOST our rights – at least in this world! The demands of the gospel are for us to “TAKE UP OUR CROSS” and follow HIM! When we take up the cross we are in essence sentencing ourselves to DEATH in the sense we are no longer our own – but bought with a price!
Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:
go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
1 Cor. 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
When we came to Christ, we came to be crucified WITH Him so that the body of sin and death inside us would be “killed,” and the true life of the Spirit would flow as free as this prophetic passage in Ezekiel illustrates. The miracle river only works through the humility of our hearts!
Romans 6:3-5
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 6:17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
The Bible has a lot to say about humility:
Prov. 15:33- The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
Prov. 18:12- Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Prov. 22:4 - By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
Acts 20:19 - Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Col 2:18 - Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind
Col 2:23 - Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
1 Pet 5:5 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
The Holy Spirit declares, “God gives GRACE to the HUMBLE,” but “resists,” the PROUD. I don’t care how much activity is going on in a local church. If there is not a true spirit of humility among that church’s leadership, which really can only be embraced by those who understand the Cross, the only thing all that activity usually does is fuel the fires of arrogance, smugness and pride! Pastors boast of numbers and buildings without recognizing that the proof of the pudding of success in God's sight is whether the Holy Spirit RIVER is moving; and the way we know He is MOVING depends on the salvation and deliverance of SOULS on a weekly basis along with the spiritual growth and maturity of the members UNTO CHRIST
Isa 57:15-16 - For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
God dwells through the work of the Holy Ghost with those who are humble and contrite in spirit. In contrast, He “resists” any church or individual who is proud. In reality the attitude of smugness and arrogance is what brought the stinging rebuke from the Lord to the church at Laodicea:
Rev. 3:15-17 - I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. [17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Laodicea’s problem was not the riches or the goods but the attitude that the riches and goods were her sufficiency, not the anointing of the Holy Ghost! That is why Jesus counseled her to “BUY OF HIM GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE,” and to “ANOINT” her eyes with His eye salve - THE HOLY GHOST.
Rev. 3:18-22 - I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that thou may see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Churches with stain glass windows and steeples taller than the Empire State Building boast and brag of their wealth yet they are deader than a corpse in the local morgue each week! No one ever gets saved, no one ever gets healed, no one ever gets filled with the Holy Ghost, no one worships freely, and not even the sound of an amen is heard. If a mouse squeaked in some churches you’d have to do mouth to mouth on 80% of the congregation. Yet if that same congregation took a church group to a local sports event those same folks scared of a mouse squeak in church would scream and shout to the top of their lungs, jump up and down and run like there is no tomorrow. It's just when they're in church they become "dignified," and call those type things "too emotional." Someone said the other day, "well we're all built 'differently.' NO we're all built the same- with a heart to seek after and WORSHIP GOD. The problem is that some have their heart towards the things of this world and NOT the things of the Spirit. The problem is not the "emotional" question, it's the problem of the "SPIRITUAL" question. Some folks sitting in our church benches are just plain LOST and need to get BORN AGAIN! Those who are born again enjoy seeing the river of God flow from week to week. They live for the river. They yearn for the river. They cry and pray for the river. They intercede for the river and they welcome what the river does when it flows.
Neighbor, when the Holy Spirit leaves a church and His river does not flow – DEATH OCCURS! But the REASON He flows in a church is because of Him being allowed access to flow AND the fact those He visits have humble, seeking, contrite hearts before the Lord. Pride, smugness and arrogance cause us to become like Laodicea, "rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing."
Let the reader understand this today as we close this first part of this message. This writer WANTS the river! This writer needs the river! This writer needs the HOLY GHOST every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day of every single week of every single month of every single year of every single decade of every single century all the way to eternity. When I stand before the Lord one day at His Judgment Seat, I'll NEED THE HOLY GHOST to be there to assist me to stand before the KING OF ALL AGES. And friend, He will be there! He will be there, he will be there, he will be there! Why should we in the church world today ever want anything to substitute for His grace and power in our midst? Why would we want a poor substitute of dead religion in place of a flowing life-giving river that can tough hearts and lives and cause men to see their need for Christ unlike anything the modern church world can produce or offer in the flesh?
In the next part of this message we will take a look at the results of this river and what takes place when it's allowed freedom to flow.
I pray you know the One today from Whom this River flows - the Lord Jesus Christ. Neighbor, it's getting late. It's so late right now words are at a premium in this writer's vocabulary to describe the pathos of our heart concerning the times we live in today. It's not I'm worried about the future. I KNOW who Holds MY future and I'm secure IN CHRIST today. My pathos is for the millions, perhaps BILLIONS of souls who do not know HIM and in a moment's time could slip off into eternity without God. That is why we have this website. It's our platform to pour our heart out in words to a lost and dying world to come home to Christ before it's too late; it's also a platform to exhort the church of the 21rst Century to come back to Christ as well and to allow the RIVER of the HOLY GHOST to flow once again! He is the only One who can quench the thirsty hearts of the souls of men we minister to! Be blessed today. Praise God.
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