A Pure Stream
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 21:1, 2 ESV
A few nights ago, these verses were read at our Tuesday Night Service. Nick prayed, “Lord, let it be so on earth as it is in heaven!”
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the River ever since. The more I ponder what this River is, the more it seems to be a vivid picture of the Holy Spirit flowing out of you and me.
Think about it. Jesus said that a river of living water would flow out of anyone who believed in Him and the Apostle John clearly states that Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. (John 7:38, 39)
Digging in a little further, we find a vision in Ezekiel 47 that is shockingly similar to the one in Revelation. After an angel shows Ezekiel the new temple and gives specific instructions regarding the dimensions of the various courts and the ministry of the priests, he showed him a river that was flowing out of the temple.
“On both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12 ESV)
The thought of this fills me with joy! Even if it is a future utopia, it’s worth getting excited about now. But could it be that this River is longing to spring out of you and me?
Both John and Ezekiel saw the River flowing out of the new Temple. The New Testament writers all clearly believed that the new Temple was you and me and all who confess Jesus as Lord. The Apostle Paul said, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV) The Apostle Peter wrote to encourage believers that they were being built up into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).
There could be several interpretations of these passages. However, when you link them together, a beautiful picture comes into focus. This is the picture I see:
In the midst of devastation, war, poverty, and injustice, there is a people filled with Living Water. As they speak life into the deathly decay around them, this Water begins to spill out of their mouths. Undaunted by the lies and attacks of the enemy, these temples are bent on healing the nations. Not through their own wisdom or power, but through the Spirit who animates them and influences their every action.
What if the trees on either side of the River are another picture of you and me? Psalm 1:3 says that the righteous are “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” (ESV) There seems to be a clear connection between the River, the trees, and the fruit that proceeds from them.
In all of these pictures, one thing is clear: the nations of the earth will be healed.
This is what we must contend for! This is why we must continue to be filled with the Spirit! This is how we are to affect change in our society!
You and I are catalysts for the healing of the nations. I know that sounds preposterous. But as we grow in our relationships with Jesus, the River will flow more and more and more. At first, it might just be a trickle; don’t get discouraged. Ask God to help you remove the things that are blocking it.
There are mindsets that need to be shifted and renewed. When we hear of injustices, we must stop thinking, “This is just the way it is.” I’m telling you, that will block the flow. Unbelief has to go. We must center ourselves on the revealed will of God in Christ Jesus and continue to contend for it to be done.
The last thing I want to point out is that the River is pure. “Bright as crystal”, according to John.
The world deserves to see a move of God’s Spirit that isn’t tainted by our own insecurities, pride, or selfish ambition. Healing must never be given with strings attached. The Glory cannot be manipulated into a marketing scheme. Sadly, I have witnessed many of these things done in the name of the Holy Spirit that did not seem to flow from a place of purity.
The truth is the Holy Spirit is pure. He is unmixed Love and selfless Power. He is Light and there is no darkness in Him. So why does the River seem cloudy at times? Where does the apparent mixture come from?
Us. None of us are perfect and God can certainly use us in our weaknesses and brokenness. However, we should contend for purity in our hearts every single day. When offense rises or jealousy stirs, we must confess our sin to the Lord. As we move in repentance, our eyes will be clear and our ears will hear the whispers of the Spirit. We will learn through practice what it means to never grieve the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30)
So let the River flow. On earth as it is in heaven.
Written by Tim Ornelas, Assistant Director at Gateway House of Prayer