THE RIVER WHERE WORSHIP FLOWS.

Ezekiel 47:1, the prophet describes a vision of a temple and a River flowing from a Temple.

Water flowing is symbolic of joy, just as Jesus describes in John 7:37-39, symbolizing the life-giving spirit, abundance, refreshment and fulfilment.

Jesus said in v37, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!’ This was in the Temple of Solomon and the outer court, which represented a molten sea. In this outer court stood a laver that held water, where the priests stood with 12 Brass Oxen, 3 facing north, 3 facing South, 3 facing West, and 3 facing East.

Pipes went into the belly of the Oxen that were filled with water, and the mouth of the Oxen was a tap or faucet where the water would flow.

This was Jesus the King saying, " Natural water that you drink will not satisfy, but the water I give you will cause you to never thirst again, because a River will flow from your belly.

This scripture describes worship with an altar and a sacrifice that brings life and joy.

The river flows out of the temple door; worship in our churches should flow out of our buildings and affect the community.

The first verse reflects A. The House,…B. The Altar,… C. The River. In Ezekiel chapters 40-48, God took Ezekiel to a high mountain; when we read ‘the mountain’, it is a shadow of the house of the Lord.

In the Old Testament, everything is physical; in the New Testament, everything is spiritual.

Chapter 43v10 describes the temple to the people of Israel so they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them MEASURE THE PATTERN.

In the book of Revelation, the Angel gave John a measuring rod to measure the Temple.

Ezekiel chapters 40-42, the hand of the Lord came upon (v1) to measure the Temple, what materials it should have, the colours, the wood, the foundations, the depth and height.

The Great Architect of worship gives us a pattern as to how we should worship.

V10. Show them that they have no depth and have been playing at building the House. THIS IS LIKE MANY MODERN CHURCHES TODAY, FULL OF PROGRAMS BUT LITTLE SPIRIT. This verse is to show them God’s plan and His Word.

Show them how to come in and go out.

Teach them how to worship.

21st century danger is that we can have the House with the right foundations and structure, but it is all mechanics, and it does not work because there is no River!

There is much hype and gimmicks that appear, but in the long term, they do not last.

Some have a House but no River, and others have a House with no River, so both are essential: the House and the River.

Then the Altar speaks of the cross, which is the Centre of the church.

Paul the Apostle said in Galatians 6:14, ‘God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’

No Altar, then we can have no River.

V3-4 tells us to continue worshipping (we will be looking at this in a couple of weeks). The River starts to rise, and the more we press in, the deeper it gets. Then, just before it gets deeper, MANY CHURCHES DO NOT CONTINUE and miss the breakthrough and His presence; therefore, huge blessings are lost.

V4. ‘He measured a thousand cubits’, the water came past the ankles, and now it was past the knees; then He measured another thousand cubits, and the water came up to the waist; then another thousand cubits were measured, and the water came up to the chest, and it was a River where you could not walk but only swim.

We are encouraged to drink the water that will never make us thirst again, flowing from the Temple and Altar, flowing out of the door, affecting schools, colleges, students, workplaces, friends and neighbours.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS MOST CHURCHES AND LEADERS DO NOT GO DEEP BUT STOP WHEN THEIR FEET GET DAMP - a little dew comes, and leaders think it’s revival.

My prayer is LORD LET THE WATERS FLOW so that the financial giving breaks out, musicians are affected, cults are washed clean, youth get serious with God, and we let a little part of the book of Acts break out.

We don’t have to plead with the Holy Spirit to please come, as He is already here and He loves people. He wants to bless them, make us aware of His presence, and lead us to the River Bank.

V7. Then Ezekiel saw trees on both sides of the river! Wherever the river flows, it brings life; just as the tree of life in Genesis 2 and in Revelation 22, 1John 1, and Isaiah 55. All encourage us to drink deeply.

V8. The river flowed into a sea (Arabah) where nothing grows, just like the Dead Sea, where there was no life but only death.

This River of sacrificial worship flowed into the sea, where its waters were healed and became fresh.

Healing, refreshing worship, life, vitality, activity, joy and rejoicing.

V9. Wherever the River flowed, it touched everything that moved, everything that was dead, and everything was healed.

Most people have seen dry, crusty, salty churches, poisoned by polluted waters, where everybody tries to be nice, but they are not healed of anger and frustration in the Dead Sea.

V10. Fishermen spread their nets and gathered fish, just as fish in the great sea (Mediterranean), just as Jesus described in the last days - Matthew 13v47-50, a dragnet will be let down on the Earth, and a great harvest of fish (souls) will be gathered in the net.

We will see a multitude of souls in the last days as the dragnet covers the Earth.

Jesus said, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19).

Peter did not say, ‘You are just a carpenter, and I am a trained fisherman’ - he obeyed, and God moved the fish into the net. Peter did not write a book on it, but he fell to his knees and said, ‘Depart from me because I am a sinful man’ - the River reveals what we are -

God’s sovereign power filled the nets.

When the River flows, it brings life and healing, like medicine.

V11. The swamps and marshes will remain salty; without a river, the water becomes stagnant and putrid.

You can swim, but we are more focused on holidays and on having fun in the Church, making it more enjoyable. This water is not flowing, and it is full of biting mosquitoes.

This can be us in the middle of the water, where there is nothing but flying insects.

V12. Here is a total contrast, where we see all kinds of fruit trees heavy with fruit. WHY? Because their water flows from the sanctuary.

Fruit for food and leaves for healing.

This is a church that understands the altar and is a life-giving church where the river overflows.

Matthew 7:16, 7:20 by the fruit you will know them; a well-watered tree produces good fruit and where fresh water flows, a church produces good fruit.

Luke 9:14-16 Jesus gave bread; we are like bread in the hands of Jesus, and He seeks through us to give bread to the masses who are so hungry they will eat, and so thirsty they will drink.

SOME HUMAN HINDRANCES THAT STOP THE FLOW OF THE RIVER.

1. The water begins to flow and reaches our knees, and there is a sense that something is happening.

The worship leader begins a mini-sermon, and the people's eyes shift from the Lord to the worship leader.

A NOTE TO WORSHIP LEADERS: LEAD THE SAINTS INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND LEAVE THE PREACHING TO THE DESIGNATED PREACHER.

2. When the water flows, and it begins to rise in the House, someone starts reading a scripture and cuts right across the flow; often it is a person with a religious mindset.

LEADERS PLEASE TEACH YOUR PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THE LORD AND NOT THEIR OWN VOICES.

3. The flow is beginning to rise, and indeed it is strong! An individual stands and delivers a prophecy; the saints resume worship, and the water begins to rise. Another prophecy comes, so we start again, and yet another prophecy.

When there is a strong mantle of worship, prophecy can come and rightly should be heard if it’s from the Lord.

BUT THERE IS A WINDOW WHERE THERE IS A CORRECT TIME TO GIVE THOSE PROPHECIES, SO IT IS NOT STOP/START, STOP/START, STOP/START WHICH DISRUPTS THE RIVER AND ITS FLOW.

If someone says, "I have to give this prophecy/word NOW, because it’s the Holy Spirit!"

1 Corinthians 14:32 says THE SPIRIT OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS!

This means true prophecy is always under self-control, as the Holy Spirit never controls anyone.

This ensures orderly worship, as God never brings confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:40. Let all things be done decently and in (GOD’S ORDER).

4. Flags, banners and ribbons during worship.

This was a trend in the 80s, 90s and early noughties.

It was happy, fun and looked like life and excitement, until we realised congregations were watching the performers. The congregations’ eyes were distracted from focusing on the Lord to focusing on the banners, ribbons and flags.

ANYTHING THAT TAKES AWAY FROM FOCUSING ON THE LORD IN HIS THRONE ROOM OR DISTRACTS HAS NO PLACE IN THE CHURCH.

When the River flows, it sets my feet a dancing. This was a song in the 90s from a composer who understood the flow of the River.

Is dancing biblical? What does the raising of the arms signify? Is there a supernatural function in true worship? Can people be saved from purely worship? Do we only have modern songs, or is there a place for old-fashioned hymns?

We will look at the directions of the Great Architect in the coming lessons.

An old Hymn writer penned this:-

ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME, LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE, THE WATER AND THE BLOOD FROM THY TORN SIDE HAS FLOWN, BE OF SIN THE DOUBLE CURE SAVE FROM ITS GUILT AND POWER.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, AND IS IT RELATIVE TODAY? NEXT STUDY WE LOOK AT THE KEY OF DAVID WHICH IS VERY SIGNIFICANT IN WORSHIP, THIS GIVES US A PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP.

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