The LIFE-GIVING POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT!
September
10 Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapters 46-48
The LIFE-GIVING POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT
He said to me, "Son of man, have you
seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.
When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on
one side and the other. Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the
eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches
the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that
moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude
of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything
will live wherever the river goes." (Ezek 47:6-9)
The final
chapters of the book of Ezekiel describe the new land whose major feature will
be a life-giving river flowing from the temple (47:1–12). Joel had mentioned
this river before Ezekiel’s time (Joel 3:18), and Zechariah spoke of it after
Israel returned from the Babylonian captivity (Zech. 14:8). Ezekiel saw in a
vision a river flowing from the door of the temple, past the altar, through the
wall south of the east Gate, and down to the Dead Sea. The waters of the sea
will be healed, and fish will abound in it.
This river
speaks of the healing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit of God (see Gen.
2:8–10; John 4:13, 14; 10:10). Apostle John, too, saw the river of the water of
life flowing from God’s throne (Rev. 22:1). The result of the land’s receiving
this water is the same in both visions —the
land is healed (compare vv. 9–12 with Rev. 22:1–3).
What we can
understand from this vision is that no matter how deep we want to go into the
things of God, the opportunity is there. It’s
tragic that too many of us linger in the shallows when we could be enjoying the
depths. This river is also a picture of the blessings that will flow out
from God who dwells in His temple. Today God dwells in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19)
and therefore streams of blessing should be flowing to others around us from
our lives (John 7:37-39). If we are filled with the Holy Spirit then our lives
will bless others as the blessings will overflow to others. What a challenge for us to meet the
conditions that will produce a blessing for others!
