River Church!

Ezekiel 47:1 “The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).”

River Church! Ezekiel 47:1-12

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works….”

Isaiah’s “Reflection”— God’s people like a ever-flowing stream that brings relief and life-giving water: “You will be . . . like a spring whose waters never fail. . .” (Isa 58:11). The waters are ever-flowing, are not stagnant, but clear and cool because there is action. (Lilya Wagner) (Jesus calls the water He gives [through the church-His people]“living water.” John 4:10).

River Church! Ezekiel 47:1-12

Ezekiel 47:3 “As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.”

Ezekiel 47:4 “He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep.”

Ezekiel 47:4 “He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.”

Ezekiel 47:5 “He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.”

Ezekiel 47:6, 7 “He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.”

Ezekiel 47:8 “He said to me, ‘This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into Arabah, [a desert], where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.’ ”

Ezekiel 47:9 “ ‘Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. . . .’ ”

The Rest of the Story: Ezekiel 47:12 “ ‘Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river….Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.’ ”

Another River. . . Rev 22:1,2

Revelation 22:1,2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.”

Revelation 22:2 “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (NIV)

Revelation 7:16 “ ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ ”

Revelation 7:17 “ ‘For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”

River Church! . Ezekiel 47:1-12

New Song Church Sandtown Baltimore, MD Read the whole story in To Live in Peace, by Mark Gornik. Here’s a radical example

Allan Tibbels (in wheel chair) Alan Tibbels (in wheel chair)

New Song Community Church (also known as New Song Worship and Arts Center)

River Church! Ezekiel 47:1-12