THE RIVER OF GOD

By Jemima Rayan

A river is a natural stream of water of considerable volume. There is a river of God - Psalm 46:4-5. This river is present all the time.

The great prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of the 'River of God' and wherever the river touched, life began to spring forth. Ezekiel 47:5-9 talks about this river of God. We hear about floods in the news and the negative impact it has! But there is a tremendous positive impact when the river of God flows. It gives life!

I believe God is about to bring about a great revival in an unprecedented way. God manifested power is about to hit the world. This is what exactly the prophet Joel mentioned in Joel 2:28, 'And it shall come to pass, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions'. God wants to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Little children, young people and the elderly will be totally drenched by the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen!

Ezekiel 47: 2-5 talks about the five depths of water in the river. There was a trickle, ankle deep water, knee-deep water, and loin - deep water in the river. The River of God originates from God Himself. Then it flows through us and then to the Nations of the world. Rivers are different from the puddles or pools. Rivers carry massive amounts of water. I have read about the great river Amazon. It is not only a great river but also it is a deep river and the waters flow with such a great intensity. In order, for a river to get to the seas, it needs to be deep enough. 'Seas' refer to the nations of the world and the 'depth of the river' talks about our walk with the Lord.

How is your walk with the Lord? If you want to touch the lives of others, then you need to plunge into the river first. Is your heart longing for the Lord? Is your soul thirsty for more of the Holy Spirit?

Eze 47:8 says, ' These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert and go into the sea; which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. Is 14:17 says, Satan has caused the world to become a wilderness. The word of God says that the river of God is flowing into the desert. Isn't that wonderful! The living water is released into us and we in turn release it into the world.

Eze 47: 9 says, ' it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever 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'

Everywhere the river flows, life is there. On the banks of the river are fishermen, who are pulling in tremendous catches of fish. These are the souls of men and women. We need to be in that flow so that we can be a blessing to the nations of the world. God wants the river of His manifested presence to flow through us into the wilderness of this world. Let the river flow!

Jesus Christ is the well of salvation, and the when we receive Christ in our hearts we have the well of salvation within us as we are His temple and out of us also living waters flow. The salvation experience makes glad the City of God, meaning all the children of God.

Purpose of the river of God

1. Abundant satisfaction and pleasure:

Psalm 36:7-9 says, '…they are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures'. Also Ps 46:4 says, 'There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God'.

People often say that, following Christ is not very enjoyable. This is not true. The Bible says that we can be abundantly satisfied when we drink from the river of God. Jesus wanted to give the Samaritan woman 'a drink'. In John 4:14 we see Jesus talking to the woman at the well. 'but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life'.

2. Healing the nations:

Rev 22:1-2 talks about the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb and the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Eze 47:12 says that along the bank of the river on both sides, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fall. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food the leaves for medicine.

You will become a tree planted by the river bringing healing to the nations - Psalm 1:3. If we meditate the law of the Lord, day and night, we will for sure become a tree planted by the rivers of water.

3. Channel of blessing:

Jesus said in John 7:38-39, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'.

When the river of God touches us, we in turn will become a smaller river touching lives around us. God ultimately wants to make you and me a channel of His blessing. God wants to flow through us and touch others who need a plunge. Will you come to Jesus for a drink?

May the river of God flow into your life in Jesus' name!