“The man brought me back to the entrance to the Temple and I saw water pouring out from under the threshold of the Temple (for the Temple faced the east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the Temple, south of the altar.” (Ezekiel 47:1 NIV)
I’ve spent the week in San Antonio, painting the first floor of an old friend’s new home. We have worked our way through almost 1600 squares feet and closing in on six rooms: coaxing fresh life into dingy walls and strengthening our friendship with every passing hour. It’s been a considerable undertaking and last night we broke for Bible study and a change of scenery.
It’s always odd for me to step into an unfamiliar gathering of God’s people. Generally speaking, church is as my own home. But when I’m out of town, I love to take advantage of the opportunity to be an ordinary participant, not in charge and not teaching. It is refreshing for my soul to simply show up and receive. Last night was no different.
The senior adult minister was mid-series, teaching in the emblems of the Holy Spirit: wind, fire, water and oil. Water was the emblem of the evening and he shared this prophecy from Ezekiel along with a haunting text from John 7:37. (I say haunting because it has been a regular focal point in my daily pause for the past several days.) The teacher reminded us how water represents the Holy Spirit and then spent a few minutes discussing this vision in Ezekiel. We noted how the water flows from under the Temple; first a trickle, but growing deeper as it gained momentum. Ezekiel bravely waded further into it’s flow. Ankle deep, then knee-deep, soon the waters were up to his waist. At last the river was deep enough to swim and so wide that no one could cross. (Ezekiel 47:5)
The teacher then encouraged us to wade out into the depths of the Holy Spirit. We cannot drown with our Lifeguard Jesus on duty. I privately paged back in my personal story, I can remember first filling toes in the initial infilling. The teacher’s word brought a favorite psalm into recollection.
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers crash over me.” (Psalm 42:7 NIV)
It is certainly easier to flow with the Spirit in deeper water. At the shore, our feet search for footing, but in the current we learn to cooperate.
This morning I found myself flipping back to these scriptures in Ezekiel, not ready to leave the Temple River just yet. If we keep reading Ezekiel‘s prophecy, we find the river of God flowing down the Jordan into the Dead Sea: a flow so profound that it reverses the natural course of death in the lowest place on earth. The salt water loses its saltiness in the presence of the spirit and the Reservoir burst back to life. Fish and wildlife and flora and fauna irrupt on land and Sea a lake. By supernatural means, God will redeem the deadest square footage on earth. Remarkable.
I think back to the beginning of the prophecy. Water flowing from under the south side of the Temple. Where did Peter preach from on Pentecost? The southern steps. The power of God flowed out through surrendered Simon Peter and gathered fury from there. Beginning with just a few souls seeking God in an upper room, we have discovered that means to flood the earth with hope and healing.
Last night was exactly the reminder my soul required. I need the Holy Spirit. I cannot complete my assignment apart from the power available through His presence. Overthinking, speculation and discussion will not accomplish the total transformation that we desire. Only the Holy Spirit can fulfill the vision that the Father has cast. We need more than toes and knees in the water. We must leave the shore and relinquish our ability to paddle back to personal safety. ‘Going with the flow’ takes on a whole new meaning when we choose to abandon ourselves to the Holy Spirit.
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendents.” (Isaiah 44:3 NIV)
Lord, thank You for the river we can climb into. Forgive us for fear or worry about where You may take us. Give us the courage to relinquish control. Carry us wherever You’re will desires as we surrender to the strength and current of Your spirit. Flood the land and heal all who are willing to receive You. Move us from death to life as we are abandon ourselves to Your cause. Amen.