July
6, 2008
___________________________________________________
Where
the River Flows, Life Abounds
Ezekiel
47: 1-12 (Message)
[1-2] Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I
saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east
(the Temple faced east). The water poured from the south side
of the Temple, south of the altar. He then took me out
through the north gate and led me around the outside to the
gate complex on the east. The water was gushing from under
the south front of the Temple.
[3-5] He walked to the east with a measuring tape and
measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water
that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred
feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He
measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through
water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred
feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in,
water no one could possibly walk through.
[6] He said, "Son of man, have you had a good look?"
[7] Then he took me back to the riverbank. While sitting on
the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the
river.
[8-10] He told me, "This water flows east, descends to the
Arabah and then into the sea, the sea of stagnant waters.
When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh.
Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great
schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt
sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds.
Fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder along the shore
from En-gedi all the way north to En-eglaim, casting their
nets. The sea will teem with fish of all kinds, like the fish
of the Great Mediterranean.
[11] "The swamps and marshes won't become fresh. They'll stay
salty.
[12] "But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit
trees of all kinds. Their leaves won't wither, the fruit
won't fail. Every month they'll bear fresh fruit because the
river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be
for food and their leaves for healing."
Worship folder
..........................................................................
NORTH RALEIGH CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
9200
Strickland Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615
919.870.1141 Phone
919.870.1447 Fax
web@nrnazarene.org