(12/8) On this first Sunday of Advent, I want to share with you insights from Ezekiel chapter 47, highlighting the profound truth that although our mission field is the world, our methods are entirely supernatural. Jesus said, "go and make disciples of all nations" and then he promised, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses" (Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8). In other words, the church’s influence is powerful, immense, incredible, and amazing; but it still doesn’t fully align with what Jesus envisioned when he commissioned his followers to go out and,

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" (Matthew 10:8).

And so, his intention was that we would replicate his ministry, making disciples and manifesting his presence on the earth. In fact, that’s what Jesus taught us, he said to pray,

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

I love that because there is no cancer in heaven, there are no haters in heaven, and Jesus instructed us to pray for his kingdom to invade our natural world. It is to this that we have been called and through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit we are transformed into instruments of his will, fulfilling our divine calling, spreading his love, and manifesting the kingdom on earth.

And so, as we come to Ezekiel chapter 47, we are going to discover this amazing Old Testament text that speaks profoundly about going deeper into the Holy Spirit’s presence. Not just experiencing his life-giving flow, but living out of the overflow in our lives and in our ministry. We are going to pick up in verse one as the prophet is describing his vision. He tells us,

"The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east)" (Ezekiel 47:1).

While many people interpret this passage symbolically and others interpret it literally, I believe it has a past, present, and future implication for our lives.

Jesus taught us that the kingdom of God is near. As he began his ministry on earth he declared,

"The kingdom of God has come near" (Mark 1:15, NIV).

And yet, as he ministered to the people, he often spoke about the kingdom of God in terms of a present reality. He emphasized that,

"The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21, NIV).

That its already among his followers.

But he also acknowledged that its complete realization was yet to come because he said to his disciples,

"I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18, NIV).

And so, Jesus spoke about a past, present, and future aspect of the kingdom emphasizing that the full consummation of God’s kingdom is something that we have yet to look forward to.

And so, as we look at this water coming out from under the threshold of the temple in verse one, we must recognize that it embodies the tangible and transformative power of God’s presence flowing through the land and bringing life and renewal wherever it goes. This is not a new concept because even before Ezekiel’s time, Joel had mentioned this river saying,

"In that day… A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias" (Joel 3:18).

The prophet Zechariah also spoke of it after Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity. In chapter 14, verse 8, he said,

"On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter" (Zechariah 14:8).

And so, this text in Ezekiel introduces a vision of water flowing from the temple giving us a past, present, and future understanding of the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

Today as we explore this passage before us, I want to encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit to overflow in your life bringing renewal and transformation as you deepen your spiritual walk with Jesus. This relationship has the power to transform your life, filling you with purpose, confidence, and a profound sense of divine companionship, because this is the same God who parted the Red Sea, who provided manna in the wilderness, and who desires to dwell within us and overflow through our lives.

Jesus echoed this sentiment when he spoke in the temple on the last and greatest day of the festival, saying,

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them" (John 7:37-38, NIV).

This powerful imagery of rivers of living water flowing from within those who believe in Jesus emphasizes the transformative power and abundant life that comes from a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus reminds us here as he is preaching in the temple of the endless supply of grace and the active presence of the Holy Spirit flowing from within us today. In other words, he is not the God who was, but the God who is, and always will be. In the same way, Jesus is not the God of the past, but he is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8, NIV).

That means that the presence of Jesus is actively living within you, but he wants to overflow, bubbling up, and flowing forth right now in your present tense. You see, he is active, always speaking, always moving, and always full of life. He is the same God who said to Moses, "I am who I am," and who later said,

"Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58, NIV).

As we reflect on Ezekiel 47:2, it's clear that we must not be content with only knowing who God was or what he did in the past. Instead, we should actively seek his presence in our lives today, so we don’t miss out on the mighty works he is doing right now. Ezekiel tells us:

"He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side." (Ezekiel 47:2, NIV).

This stream, emanating directly from the presence of God, flowed past the south side of the altar. Ezekiel’s guide then led him out of the temple through the north gate, where he once again observed the water flowing out from under the temple on the south side of the eastern gate, where it eventually made its way down into the Kidron Valley. This vision emphasizes the source, the divine origin, and life-giving power of the water flowing from the temple.

This is indeed a rich imagery, symbolizing God's restorative presence flowing throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. We find mention of a similar river in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:10. The Bible says:

"A river watering the garden flowed from Eden" (Genesis 2:10).

We see this imagery echoed in Revelation 22:1, where John describes the ultimate fulfillment of this divine living flow. He writes,

"The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God" (Revelation 22:1).

And so, the Bible begins with a river of water flowing through a beautiful garden in Genesis where man first sinned. And it ends with another garden in a glorious city, where man is now free from sin, in Revelation. The transition from the first garden to the final, sinless garden is found in a third garden called Gethsemane.

From this third garden, another precious flow emerged. Jesus spoke of it that night, saying,

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28, NIV).

Ezekiel's vision highlights this divine flow, a powerful and unstoppable force spreading God's restorative presence to all peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. This divine flow is a testimony of God's unending grace and the transformative power of His love.

He is poured out like a mighty river, constantly moving, dwelling within us, and actively working in our lives, in the church, and in the world. This river is unstoppable, always moving forward, always flowing outward, and always advancing the kingdom of God. As Jesus said,

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing…" (Matthew 11:12).

From the beginning of the church in the first century and throughout history, many have tried to halt the movement of the Holy Spirit. Yet, He has continued to advance, undeterred and unstoppable.

His work never ceases, as Jesus Himself affirmed:

"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (John 5:17).

Regardless of what we see or feel, the Spirit of the Living God is continuously at work. He is speaking, moving, and transforming lives. The Holy Spirit is an everlasting source, one that never dries up and never stops flowing. His presence and power are perpetual, ensuring that God's work is always advancing, touching hearts, and bringing about transformation in ways both seen and unseen.

We learn from the prophet Elijah that while a brook can dry up, the provision of the Holy Spirit never does. In 1 Kings 17, after God had instructed Elijah to drink from the brook and had sent ravens to provide him with bread and meat, the brook eventually dried up. But God’s provision did not stop, instead, he said to Elijah,

"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food" (1 Kings 17:9).

In other words, God always has a plan in place, and his provision never ceases as long as we are willing to follow him. Even in our moments of fatigue and weariness, the Holy Spirit continues to move. And if we remain open and willing to follow his lead, he will guide us to greater places and deeper experiences of his grace and love.

This man, this divine being, led Ezekiel eastward with a measuring line in his hand, measuring off a thousand cubits, and then led him through water that was ankle-deep (Ezekiel 47:3).

This emphasizes the gradual but sure increase in the flow of God's life-giving presence and blessings, illustrating how his Spirit often begins modestly, but continues to grow and expand, bringing more profound impact as we move forward.

This could illustrate the Holy Spirit working through the church, or more specifically, through us individually. The increasing depth and flow of the water symbolize the ever-growing and life-giving presence of God in our lives, as the further you go, the river grows deeper. As you continue to seek the presence of God and move forward, the depth will increase, as will your experiences with the Holy Spirit.

And so, in verse four, Ezekiel says,

"He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist" (Ezekiel 47:4).

As we journey further, the depth increases, illustrating growth in our spiritual life and our personal experiences with God.

This progression reminds me of the desire to experience more of God’s power and presence. Though we see God working in other places, he calls us to continue moving forward in the grace he has given us now. Just as he told the priests preparing to cross the Jordan River,

"When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river" (Joshua 3:8).

In other words, sometimes God asks us to step out in faith and go through the process. Now, there will be times when God acknowledges our faithfulness and says,

"Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23, NIV).

But there will be many other times where you will be wading in the river and as it gets deeper and deeper you may find yourself stumbling as it becomes more challenging to walk.

Yet, the man continued on and in verse five, Ezekiel tells us,

"He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross" (Ezekiel 47:5).

You might expect to immediately swim in deeper waters, but sometimes God gradually increases the depth, first to your knees, then to your waist, building your strength as you stand in the current. Eventually, you will reach a point where the current takes over and you are no longer in control.

It's important not to skip this process because the Holy Spirit is guiding you, and this progression is essential for your growth and maturity. In verse six, the man asked Ezekiel,

"Son of man, do you see this" (Ezekiel 47:6).

This question is significant because it prompts Ezekiel to fully grasp the vision and understand its meaning.

The vision of the river flowing from the temple represents the life-giving and restorative power of God's presence. The increasing depth of the water symbolizes the growing influence and blessing of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the lives of believers. By asking Ezekiel if he sees this, the man is emphasizing the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the progressive revelation of God and the unfolding of redemptive history.

Ezekiel further enhances this imagery as he continues telling us,

"Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river" (Ezekiel 47:6-7).

As we pursue the Holy Spirit, we must not get discouraged by the shallowness we feel, because if we keep walking, moving towards a better place, the depth and blessings of the Spirit will grow, leading us to a more abundant life.

This passage suggests that as we persevere and the river overflows its banks, healing will occur. When Ezekiel returned to the riverbank among the trees, the man revealed that this swelling river's overflow would bring life to a vast multitude.

"He said to me, 'This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live" (Ezekiel 47:8-9).

Ezekiel describes a miraculous river that starts as a trickle and grows deeper as it flows away from the temple, reaching the barren Dead Sea. This vision symbolizes faith's transformative journey and the church's mission to venture into neglected places. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are called to bring God's love, healing, and grace to the world’s most desolate parts. As we align with this divine flow, God promises to multiply His grace and power in our lives.

But Ezekiel tells us in verse 11,

"The swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt" (Ezekiel 47:11).

In other words, by choosing to stay in the flow of the river and not moving forward, the flow of God’s grace and blessings in our lives can be hindered, becoming stagnant and losing its freshness.

To experience the fullness of God’s grace, we must continually grow and move forward in our spiritual journey. As we progress, seeing people saved and healed, interceding for the lost and hurting, and living to impact the world with the gospel, God promises to increase his grace in our lives. By staying aligned with his mission and purpose, we open ourselves up to an ever-deepening flow of his blessings and presence.

Verse twelve says it this way,

"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail" (Ezekiel 47:12).

This is a picture of abundant fruitfulness and life along the banks of the river, symbolizing the continuous and renewing work of God’s Spirit. Therefore, we should stay receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance, letting his living waters flow through us and shape us into who we are meant to be. As the psalmist said, this is one which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither (Psalms 1:3).

And so, the river of God’s presence is intended to bring new life, renewal, and blessings wherever it flows. The second half of verse twelve tells us,

"Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing" (Ezekiel 47:12).

This vision is a profound and beautiful metaphor for the life-giving and healing power of the Holy Spirit bringing spiritual renewal, healing, and abundance to the areas of our lives that may feel dry, stagnant, or lifeless.

Ezekiel's vision powerfully illustrates God's transformative power to turn desolate places into flourishing havens of life and growth. This glimpse of the kingdom of heaven reveals the tree of life on the riverbanks, bearing abundant fruit every month—a supernatural testimony to the life-giving waters flowing from God's throne. The leaves possess remarkable healing properties, symbolizing God's unending provision and transformative power.

Ezekiel illustrates what Jesus said in John chapter 15,

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NIV).

As believers, God’s divine presence overflows through us, he infuses our lives with purpose and power. This connection allows us to bear fruit, offering spiritual nourishment and healing to those we meet. The Holy Spirit constantly refreshes and sustains us, empowering us to be effective channels of God’s abundant grace and transformative power. This ongoing relationship and renewal equips us to bring hope, love, and healing to a world that desperately needs it. And so, it is through this divine connection that we carry out God’s mission, extending his life-giving presence to every aspect of our lives and beyond.

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott