Rivers of Revival

Ezekiel 47:1 In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. ² The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. ³ Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. ⁴ He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. ⁵ Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through. ⁶ He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. ⁷ When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. ⁸ Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. ⁹ There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean. ¹¹ But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. ¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Today’s passage is about a vision of hope given to the prophet Ezekiel who lived in exile for 25 years in Babylon (40:1). Let me give you the context of the passage. The temple in Jerusalem had been devastated because of their idolatrous sins and social injustice. God’s people were taken into exile and scattered, while the rest were living in their own ruined land. There was no hope and no future. (Only judgment and destruction.) At this point, Ezekiel saw a series of visions. In his earlier vision, he saw abominations in the temple and the glory of the LORD departing from the temple (Ch.8-11). But in his final vision (Ch. 40-48), Ezekiel sees a vision of a new temple. He witnesses the glory of the Lord returning to fill his temple, and a marvelous river flowing from the temple to bring life and healing to the land.

I. The source of the river

Rain coming and rain stopping is always the result of the way God’s people are conducting themselves in the house of the Lord.

I Kings 17 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

Because of the way Ahab & Jezebel were leading God’s people, and because the way God’s people were conducting themselves God stopped the rain through Elijah.

When there is sin, discord, gossip and slander taking place in God’s house he removes His glory and He stops the rain from falling.

But when God’s people make a conscience decision to turn from their wicked ways, God restores His glory and lets it rain again.

II Chronicles 7: ¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

II. The power of the river

When we look at Ezekiel 47 we see that not only was there a river flowing, but there was power in the river.

Exekiel 47:⁷ When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. ⁸ Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. ⁹ There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.

Dead sea – Dead Sea, which is the lowest place on earth, 394 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea is very dead as the name suggests. It contains about 25 percent of minerals compared to the normal sea water (4-6 percent). Because of this extremely high mineral content, the water is toxic, and therefore no fish or other sea life can survive in it. 

1. The dead sea was the lowest place on earth

No matter how low in life we find ourselves the love of God will come down and get us.

In Luke 8 we see Jesus going into a deep dark place to rescue a man that had been possessed by many demons.

Luke 8:²⁶ They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” ²⁹ For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

• The dead sea was the most toxic place

Not only was the dead sea the lowest place on earth but it was also the most toxic place on earth, not able to produce any type of life, but after coming into contact with the river from the temple this water was made fresh again.

The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. ⁹ There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.

When the River of heaven hits our lives bitterness, unforgiveness and all other hurt and pain will be released that we can be healthy and pure again.

III. Our Depth will determine our results

As we see what the fresh water from the temple can o for us, I believe all of us desire these results with in our lives, but we must also face the facts that we all have a part to play.

Ezekiel 47 :² The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. ³ Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. ⁴ He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. ⁵ Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.

The further he went the deeper the water got the deeper the water got the more results took place.

Ankle deep ankle deep results

Waist deep waist deep results

All the way in, all the way in results

The same way Jesus went all the way for us, He wants us to go all the way for him and we will experience the fulfilment of this promise within our lives.

Ezekiel 47:¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”