Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. Ezekiel 47:1-2
The prophet Ezekiel had a vision which revealed a prophetic shift in the move of the Spirit among the people of God. This shift was from pious worship in the temple to a flow outside of the walls of the house of worship. As we continue to endure the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on our gathering together in the church; we see this shift happening in our generation here and now.
What does the flow of water represent spiritually? Ephesians 5:26 says water sanctifies (sets apart) and cleanses us — that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, — the scripture reference is about the church. This is to say that the flow of water spiritually represents cleansing and washing by the word. In Ezekiel’s vision, the word of God is flowing from the altar out of the temple into the nation of Israel. In our generation, the word of God is flowing from the altar out of the church through livestream, social media and other channels. We are forced to touch lives and do ministry outside of our normal traditions. Hebrews 10:22 says — let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. The writer of Hebrews talks about pure water washing our conscience and our bodies. We must present our bodies to God clean, as vessels fit for the Masters use.
The water also represents the Spirit of God as it is written in John 7:37-39 — On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Do you thirst for more of God? We are like a river that flows into the sea. A severe drought can dry up a river, but a vast ocean can withstand the scorching sun due to its enormous depth. So it is, with our God who is without limits, there is no way His depth can ever be exhausted, so let us flow in the Spirit that is without measure.
The prophet Jeremiah has instructed the believers for all time about fountains of living waters — living waters refer to the movement and flow of water. In Jeremiah 2:13 the prophet speaks as an Oracle of God concerning the fountain of living waters; For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. Again in Jeremiah 17:13 the Lord declares that He is indeed the fountain of living waters; O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. “Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the LORD, The fountain of living waters.”
We can see in scripture that the flow of water from the temple represents the Spirit of God moving by the word of God into the nations. In other words, the LORD Himself is moving and inviting His people to get in the flow. May we all get into the flow as we represent the king of glory in the earth!
Maranatha
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