We have been thinking and learning about God, the Spirit, for some time now. In today's message, we will be learning more about Him.
In Ezekiel, we find God's prophet calling on the Israelites to stand firm again. In Chapter 40, vv. 1,2, we can read that Ezekiel was in Babylon, a gentile country, but we also find that he was often given visions from God.

In today's reading, we find that Ezekiel had a vision about a river. The river that he saw in his vision was the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit of God is something that we need in life. We need it in our lives. In truth, we all need it in our lives. All people everywhere need it. It is wonderful and blessed. However, it appears to be something that is difficult to receive. Anyway, we read that as Ezekiel experienced his vision, the river was getting bigger and bigger, and as he watched it grew into a huge river.

Now "water" is a symbol of cleansing. We wash things in water in order to clean away the dirt that has somehow collected on or in them. And, we find that water is effective in washing away the dirt. But "water" is also symbolic of another thing, that is power. Water has power! Last night, we all experienced a typhoon in Oita and found how much power water has. Just remember the story of Noah's ark; the flood had such a power that it washed out everything on the earth.

Jesus once said, "Come to me, those who are thirsty, and drink from me." (Jn.7:37,38). The water that we can drink from Jesus, the water that he called "living water", is not the water that we can get from rivers, or rainfall, or wells, but it is actually the Spirit of God. And we can actually receive it from Jesus! Jesus can give this water to us.

In our reading today, Ezekiel measured the water 500 m each. First, it was only up to his ankles, but then it was up to his knees. Soon, it was deep enough to swim in! True, Oita River begins as a very small stream somewhere near Yufuin. But, the part of Oita River that runs past us is big enough to put a boat in. Thinking about these things, it can be compared to our own steps in the Christian life; first, when we are newly born, our faith is little and small, but as we mature as followers of Christ, our faith becomes big, and firm.

The river described here, in Eze.47:9, is exactly the same as the one described in the Garden of Eden. A certain pastor said this is the promise of God, that the Garden of Eden will come back to us. Read Re.22:1-3, this is what we call the new world of the future. This is the prophecy that we have for our future. The life we have with the Spirit of God can give us this blessing, and it can give salvation to others which we very much need for ourselves.

Look back in our passage to Eze.47:8. This is a reference to the Dead Sea. As you all know, no life can live in the Dead Sea. But the promise of God is that in such a sea we will be able to find living things. How wonderful! Actually, some professor has already found some living things in the Dead Sea. We are called to give out God's love and salvation to others. With God's Holy Spirit, we can do this!

Ezekiel measured the waters, first at his ankles.. This "at his ankle" is talking about our daily lives. The fulfillment of God's Spirit in us begins in our daily lives first. A lady who had a conflict with her mother-in-law finally won a triumph with God's Holy Spirit in her life. Her mother-in-law found something in her life that challenged her, and gave her hope. She began to come to church, and eventually she accepted Christ into her own life. This was the victory the lady won with God's Spirit alive in her!

Next, Ezekiel measured the water at his knee, and this is a reference to holy prayer. We need to pray! Prayer is an important part of our life with God's Spirit.

Then, Ezekiel measured the water and it was up to his waist! This is the power and strength needed for evangelism (In lifting up Christ, we need to have strong waists). When the Israelites were carrying God's holy box (the Ark of the Covenant), they arrived at the Jordan River and stopped. The river was too wide. The river was too deep. At first, they stopped and hesitated, but then with faith, they stepped in. Well, what happened? The water drew back! These faithful servants crossed the river on dry land! With faith, we need to step in also!

And then, the water was deep enough to swim in. Being full of the Holy Spirit, we can give out the fruits of the Spirit (see v.12). We've been praying for a great revival in Japan for long enough, and I do believe it is coming near. But, unless we ourselves start to swim in this river of God's Holy Spirit, we won't see God's work through us. We need to step out into the river of this world. We have been called to do this work.

The water originated from the Temple. Moses hit a rock and the Israelites received water from it. Jesus is that rock! From Jesus we get that water. Jesus was hit, and gave us the water of life. Those who are thirsty.. come to Jesus.

An American doctor, who had once visited Japan, knew that his own birthday was on the same date, December 7th, that war began between the United States of America and Japan. He quit celebrating his birthday, and now he fasts on that day instead! He is praying for Japan's salvation! And I do think that he is a person who is filled with God's Spirit, and living with Him. This is an example of God's work in us, and we can not do His work effectively alone. We need God's Spirit in our lives to succeed in what God is calling us to do.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
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