Untapped-2-The River of God

today er continue our Untapped series as we study The River of God.

Pastor's Notes:

TEXT
Ezekiel 47:1-9 NKJV
 Then he brought me back to the door of the [a]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. 2 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.
3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.
7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the [b]valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever [c]the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning!
I hope you had as much fun last week as I did. We started our Untapped series, and we looked at God’s intention was man on the Earth, in His image. Because Adam dropped the ball, Jesus came and fixed the problem, and once again made us one with God. 
So Jesus didn’t just die to get us to Heaven, but so Heaven could also get on the inside of us!
Today, I want to take this revelation just a little bit further. Today, I want to talk about “The River of God”.  
ILLUSTRATION 
In John 4:14, Jesus ministers to a woman at a well, and He tells her that all those who drink of the water that He gives (the water of life), it will “spring up a fountain of water springing up to everlasting life.”
That’s why when you are saved, you can now share that water with others, and lead another soul to Christ! Water is often a symbol in the Scripture of the work of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
TRANSITION 
Since all of this is starting to come together, let’s look at what Ezekiel shows us about the River of God. BACKGROUND
In our passage and the chapters that are previous, the prophet Ezekiel is having a vision of the New Jerusalem and the temple. He is measuring the courts, the gates, and all of the other various aspects of this holy city. 
Then, he is taken to this river that is flowing. It seems to be a central characteristic of the New Jerusalem. In fact, John mentions it in Revelation 22:1- 5 NKJV. 
Here are the key characteristics I see when I look at this passage: 
 APPLICATION 

The Source Of The River (vs. 1-2)

- Ezekiel tells us that this river is coming from the temple.
- It is flowing. A pond is stagnant, but a river flows. 

The Levels Of The River  (vs. 3-5)

- He walked out some, and it hit his ankles. 
- Then his knees. 
- Then his waist. 
- Then it was over his head where the water would overtake him. 

The Purpose Of The River (vs. 6-9)

- This river would give life. It flowed to the Dead Sea and brought resurrection to that which had been dead. 
- It brought healing. 
- Everything that touched the river would live!
- Part of the proof of it’s existence was the life surrounding everything. 
CONCLUSION 
How do we seal this up? 
Just like we learned last week, salvation concerns Heaven, but it doesn’t ONLY concern Heaven. Well, this River of Life concerns Heaven, but it doesn’t ONLY concern Heaven!
In John 7:37-39 NKJV,  Jesus said concerning these things
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. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [a]believing in Him would receive; for the [b]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!
We can choose how far we walk out in the River of God
The life that is in us is there to take it to the nations!

THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT! 
The life of God is IN us, but the life of God also wants to flow THROUGH us!
When that dam of water bursts forth, the very first thing it will affect is your tongue! Your mouth won’t even be able to use English fully to express what you feel down on the inside. That life will bubble forth!
Who’s ready to come and jump in the river? Or do you just want to put your toes in?