There are some principles we can learn from reading these scriptures about the stream of living water (Ezekiel 47:1-12), namely:
1. The success of a Christian is measured by how much impact he can produce for his community.
The stream of the river of life is flowing out of the temple (the believer) and wherever the water is flowing, all that is dead becomes alive.
That is a picture of Christian life should be. Wherever we are, wherever we go, there are changes that we produce. Whatever and whoever is in contact with us will experience changes.
The success of a Christian is not measured by how many times he goes to church or how much he prays. Nor how much money or the company he has, but how much impact he can produce for his community.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matt. 5:14-15).
2. How much impact we can make out there is determined by how strong the Spirit has worked inside us.
The flow of the river of life that is in our life is proportional to the flow of the river that can flow out of our lives.
The work of the Spirit that has already completed within us is proportional to the impact we can make in the community. The more the Spirit can freely work in us, the more He can use us remarkably. If the work of the Spirit in us is only until ankle height, there is no impact that we can produce.
But if the work of the Spirit is deepened until it becomes a river that cannot be crossed, it means the Holy Spirit is fully in charge over our lives. Our whole humanity are lost in His divine.
We no longer live in the law of this world, but live in the law of the Spirit of Life. Jesus rules and reigns in our lives, becomes Lord and King over our lives. That’s when the work of the Spirit will flow through fully in our lives.
Thus, as the Spirit has revived us, and so the Spirit will revive the community through our lives. As Jesus becomes Lord and King over our lives, and so Jesus will be Lord and King over people around us. The awesomeness of the Spirit working in us will manifest through our lives.
3. How strong the Spirit can work in us is determined by how much Word that has already lived in us.
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
Our salvation process begins when we receive the Word of salvation. When we receive it, we believe it and when we believe it, the Word becomes alive. When the Word lives within us, the Holy Spirit overshadows us and works in us so it will flow like rivers of living water.
We should continue our Christian life like that. Each area in our lives must be built, the process is the same: starting from receiving and believing the Word in that area, then the Word becomes alive in that area, the Holy Spirit overshadows us and works in it, then the flow of living water starts flowing in it. That area becomes alive because of the work of His Spirit.
In an area that has become alive and experienced changes due to the work of His Spirit, in that area the Holy Spirit begins to use us to revive people who have problems in that area.
If all areas of our lives are completely controlled by the Holy Spirit, our lives will be used effectively by His Spirit as the stream of living water to touch the various lives around us.
Work in me, work through me, O Holy Spirit!
Also read: New Indonesia.
