“Again he measured off a third of a mile, and it was a river that I could not cross on foot. For the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed on foot.” Ezekiel 47:5 (HCSB)
Throughout the Old Testament the word “river” often represents the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 47 we find a bubbling stream flowing from the throne but quickly leads outward to become an out of control raging river! As believers, all of us stand on the banks of this river. It is there for us. We need to get off the bank of the river and jump in. Not just step in at ankle depth, but to leap into the river and lose control to the Holy Spirt. We need to let loose and give Him control. Too often we limit what He can do. We actually put boxes around Him in our services because we want them nice and tiding. If we let Him have control it might offend someone. Heaven forbid that! So, we accept the counterfeit things we can control. But understand this, in this hour we need the Holy Spirit flowing as a raging river in and through us and our church services. Sadly, we prefer the Lion in a cage and the Spirit in a box, as we lead and control our lives. It is time to let go of control and let God be God in every aspect of our lives and church!
I recently heard Scott Sheppard, the pastor at Cornerstone say, “The deeper we go in the Holy Spirit the more He does” (message on Sunday March 27)! Do you want more power, more of Him? Then get off the banks of the shore, and surrender control!
Ask the Lord for a grace to jump into His river, without hesitation, but with abandonment! Tell Him you relinquish all control and will jump off the bank into His river. Repent for every place you have put God in a box, and invite Him to be the God He really is – all powerful, wise, loving, kind, good, out of our control and always moving! Invite Him as Lion to roar in your life and through your life. Tell Him you are willing to offend others because of Him! Pray all these things for your pastor and church. May the raging river of Life and of the Holy Spirit flow through your church, and the other churches across our city!
