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THE RIVER OF LIFE
Ezekiel 47:1-12
Eze 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.
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.
6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.
11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: Ezekiel is a book of visions. Chapter 47 is the River of Life chapter. Parallel passage is Rev. 22:1. Re 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (KJV)
Chapters 40-48 are a picture of Ezekiel’s vision of the Millennium Temple and the coming Glory of the Christ the King. There are several elements of the Christian life seen in these twelve verses.
I. LIFE BEGINS WITH CHRIST.
A. The Source. Vs. 1. Eze 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. (KJV)
The Door is Jesus.
1. The door. John 10:9. Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (KJV)
2. The story begins at the door. Christ is the beginning of the Christian life.
3. The Christian life begins at the door. The Christian life begins with Jesus Christ.
4. Comes from under the threshold – you can’t see beyond the threshold therefore it must be by faith.
The Source.
B. The Course. Vs. 1, “…..and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.” (KJV)
1. The waters came from the door. There was no tributary waters. Christ is sufficient alone.
a. Man doesn’t add to what God has done.
b. Christ is sufficient within Himself.
2. It is a picture of the cross.
a. The blood flowed down.
b. No tributary action.
c. Enough blood to save every sinner.
3. It came from the altar.
1. The altar always speaks of sacrifice.
2. The O.T. altar is the N.T. Cross. 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
(KJV)
The Course.
C. The Force. Vs. 1, “…water issued our from under the door.” The word “issued” means spring forth with force. The water is coming from under the door with force. That will tell us this:
1. The River of Life will meet every need.
2. The River of Life has healing powers. Vs. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
The blood of Christ is powerful – It can cleanse the vilest of sinners.
That man in Atlanta that killed those people in that court room if he would cry out to God in mercy and repentance there is enough power in the blood of Christ to save him.
a. Jesus never met a crippled man He didn’t heal.
b. Jesus never met a sick man he didn’t make well.
c. Jesus never met a saddened man He didn’t make happy.
d. Jesus never met a blind man He didn’t make to see.
Jesus is the sweetest name I know
And He’s just the same as His lovely name;
That’s the reason I love Him so;
Because Jesus is the sweetest name I know.
The Force.
II. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE MUST BE LIVED IN CHRIST.
Vs. 2, “Then He bro’t me.”
Vs. 3, “Then He bro’t me.”
Vs. 4, “Then He bro’t me.” Ezekiel got in the river at the Door. He walked down stream and never got out of the water. The river got bigger and bigger - wider and wider – deeper and deeper.
What this is saying is:
Our life as a Christian must grow larger and larger – more and more in Christ. We must depend upon Him for everything.
There is a pattern for a Christian beginning in verse 3. Eze 47:3 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. (KJV)
Follow me in this:
A thousand represents the completeness or maturity of God. The Millennium will be 1,000 years – a day is as a thousand years.
Cubits is a way of measure.
Thousand cubits — A certain place or measurement on God’ s chart for our lives – a certain expectation of accomplishment or growth in our Christian life. As we grow spiritually there are certain places on God’s measuring chart that He expects us to be. He doesn’t allow for anyone to be a baby Christian all their life – He expects growth.
The first expectation.
A. A Thousand Cubits. Ankle Deep. vs. 3. Eze 47:3 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. (KJV) What does this mean? What is ankle deep water?
1. Beginning of the Christian life.
2. Not ready to swim yet. A baby Christian.
3. Lack of Spiritual understanding. 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (KJV) How many of your are reading your Bible through at least once this year? It is not too late to begin. Read 4 or 5 chapters a day and you will finish it by the end of the year. You won’t grow without reading the Word of God. God’s first measurement was ankle deep water. A steady diet of the Word of God.
B. Another Thousand Cubits. Knee Deep. vs. 4. Eze 47:4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees…”. What does this speak of?
Knee Deep Water.
1. Prayer life.
2. Beginning to understand the things of God. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (KJV) When a Christian gets knee deep in God he will be understanding the things of God better. When you hear someone say, “I just can’t understand the Bible”. What they are saying is they are still in the very shallow water. Water up to the ankles. They are still at the beginning of the stream.
3. Beginning to see certain things on your own. There is great pleasure in observing a new Christian as he/she begins to see things that God is showing them is their personal Bible study. I have had them come to me and show me something that God had opened up for them, and it is so enjoyable to see God working in their lives. That’s the water up to the knees.
C. Another Thousand Cubits. Loins vs. 4, “….Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. (KJV)
1. Strength – The mid section – waste deep.
2. Set in doctrine.
a. Assurance is settled.
b. Tithing has begun.
c. They understand justification.
d. The understand blood atonement.
e. The are interested in the 2nd Coming.
They are growing in the Lord. They are solid. No need to worry about them getting upset and leaving the church.
3. The loins is the reproduction area. Heb 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. (KJV) This is talking about Levi – Jacob’s son. He was still in the loins of his father. He hadn’t been born yet. The loins is the area of reproduction. What does this mean today?
a. This is talking about the person becoming a soul winner. Reproduction. The third measurement is speaking about growth that will now produce soul winners.
b. He has begun to witness to those he works with and those he knows.
c. Every week he/she comes out to go and tell others about Christ.
D. Another Thousand Cubits. Over The Head. Vs. 5. Eze 47:5 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. (KJV)
1. Waters could not be passed over.
2. Waters to swim in.
a. You are submerged.
b. Out of sight.
c. Self is buried.
Oh what a need we have for more and more people to get to this position in their Christian life.
3. Abundant life. Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)
4. This is the final stage.
5. The water is supporting you
6. Not under your own power. Working in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This is where God wants all of us to be. This the goal God has for all. Water over our head – water to swim in.
III. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE INVOLVES SERVICE.
A. Hast Thou Not Seen This? Vs. 6. Eze 47:6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. (KJV)
Back to the beginning.
B. Return To The Brink. 1st Love. Back to the starting point. Back to the reality that all we are and all we are doing is in and for Christ. We are working for Him because we love Him. He is our first love. When we return to the brink – the first love then we are ready to serve Him.
When we get to thinking that the work we are doing is not accomplishing much or that we are not making an impact we just need to return to the brink of the river – back to the 1st love. That is speaking of our love for Jesus Christ. Sometimes we get too far away from the brink of our strength and our source of supply.
“Every need He is supplying.
Plenteous grace He bestows.
Everyday my way gets brighter,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows.”
C. Many Trees. Vs. 7. Eze 47:7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. (KJV)
1. Trees represent humanity.
a. People without God.
b. Opportunities to reach the lost.
c. We have within a 20 minute drive in all directions between 150,000 and 200,000 people. Many trees. Much people. We wouldn’t have to drive much further than driving to Wal-Mart.
When this becomes a reality then:
D. Revival Breaks Out. Vs. 9. Eze 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (KJV)
1. Everything shall live whither the river cometh. That is the river of the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary. We must get more and more people into that river. We must take that message to all of our community.
2. Multitude of fish.
3. We need revival.
4. Christians must spread the Gospel. “And everything shall live whither the river cometh.”
E. No Sinner Too Hard. Vs. 10. Eze 47:10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. (KJV) What are the nets? Our talent – our ability – or we could define it as our responsibility.
1. Engedi and Enegliam (Look on Map)
a. Desert area.
b. Dead Sea area. Nothing grew in these waters. But notice what it says. “…they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”
2. Exceeding many fishes. Revival comes. Those old dead areas where we have gone and gone before and no one was interested in hearing the Gospel will spring forth into life and “Many fishes” will be there.
We have been up and down some of these streets until most of the people know us by our first name – but the day will come when one of those families will say “Yes” to the gospel message then the fish will start biting.
F. Failure Of Christianity. Vs. 11. Eze 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. (KJV)
1. Miry places.
2. Marshes.
Some places just won’t work.
These are separate bodies of water. No life in these.
a. Isolated groups that every church has.
b. Cliques.
c. Trouble makers.
d. Stagnant water.
e. Gotten away from source.
f. Self-centered.
g. Given to salt. (Lot’s wife)
3. No reproduction in this area.
4. Some Christians can’t be motivated.
IV. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE REQUIRES SACRIFICE Vs. 10
Eze 47:10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. (KJV)
A. Missions. Foreign And Home. Start more churches. I am praying about where to start the next one. Bro Carter in Oregon is starting to grow. In a couple of years they will be organizing into a local church and then we can move on to another area and start another church somewhere. Who will go? Who can we send?
B. More Workers Needed In Every Area – More Bus Workers - Nursery Help.
C. More Soul Winners – More our visiting the lost - More willing to participate.
V. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE REQUIRES SURRENDER Vs. 5.
Eze 47:5 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. (KJV)
A. Surrendered To His Will.
B. Surrendered To His Leading.
Letting the Lord use them in any and all areas of need.
VI. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BRINGS REWARDS Vs. 12
Eze 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (KJV)
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (KJV)
What does that mean? When you love someone the way this is saying – there is nothing you wouldn’t do for the one you love. When that emotion takes place in your life for the Lord then you will begin to see the rewards He has in store for you.
INVITATION.
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH MINISTRIES
PO BOX 891523
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73189-1523
405-691-8701
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