The River of Revival - Part 2

The Flow of the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 47:8-9, “When the river reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And 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.”

The “waters of life” is a favourite figure in the Old Testament as desert areas needed water that life may be possible. This stream which Ezekiel sees flowing from the Temple makes its way to the arid regions of the Arabian desert. In an ever deepening stream it goes on its way to bring life and health and abundant prosperity wherever it goes. It is the one remedy that is needed today - for both the church and society.

The river will bring life wherever it flows. Isn’t this a vivid picture of the life-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit? This stream is a striking figure of blessing, widespread yet complete, and it will flow out of you and I to all those around us. The question is simple. “Do you want rivers of living water to flow in and through you?”

Allowing the River of God to flow is in fact maintaining a constant experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit and with the ‘oil of joy’. This ongoing experience is vital to your overall well-being as it acts as an antidote against worry, grief and depression. But for it to remain effective in your life you must understand and comprehend the multifaceted workings of the Holy Spirit. That is, how He flows ‘in’ and ‘through’ you!

Acts 4:31 "...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

Luke 4:1 "Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,...."

Acts 6:3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who we may appoint over these affairs."

Acts 13:9 & 4:8 "Then Saul, who is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'Oh full of deceit and fraud’..." "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'Rulers of the people and elders of Israel’."

Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, therein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

John 7:38 "He who believes in me - who cleaves to, trusts in and relies on me - as the scripture said, out of his innermost being, springs of living water shall flow [continuously]."

The scriptures we have just read demonstrate five ways by which the Holy Spirit may flow 'in' and 'through' a believer. So let’s examine the various workings of the Holy Spirit and see how He has chosen to manifest Himself 'in' and 'through' you. God's will for you [as a vessel of honour] is to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit [Ephesians 5:17,18].

[1] The first scripture we read.... Acts 4:31, is related to the outpouring of "power from on high" [Acts 1:8], and is expressly ‘the subsequent manifestation of boldness to speak God’s word’ with signs and wonders following. This ‘working’ of the Holy Spirit refers to a clear presentation of the gospel without being ambiguous or unintelligible.

Yet it also denotes a divine enablement [an anointing] that comes to ordinary people exhibiting spiritual power and authority. Note, it has nothing to do with human qualities or talents, but is as a direct result of being filled with the Holy Spirit!

[2] The next working mentioned appears in Luke 4:1, Acts 6:3, 7:55 and 11:21, and has to do with 'equipping for ministry' - this is the anointing that comes with your calling. When Jesus stepped into His calling [ministry] in Luke 4:1, it says...."being filled with the Holy Spirit, ...he was led into the wilderness." This was the start of our Lord's ministry here on earth and His Father was equipping Him for His divine mission.

In Acts 6:3 when the disciples chose 7 deacons they sought "men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom." Church growth demands organisation and delegation. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will appoint and equip believers with God-given abilities to perform specific task in the church. What have you been anointed for?

[3] The third working of the Holy Spirit we can find demonstrated in Acts 13:9 and 4:8, and this relates directly to the operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word used hear and translated "filled" actually implies "to be filled beyond", which I believe is "beyond your own natural abilities" [thus into the supernatural].

In Acts 13:4 to 12, we will now see this 'flow' in operation. When Peter and John addressed the cripple at the Gate called Beautiful, Peter must have been operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit because the man was crippled from his mothers womb, and therefore, he must have needed a miracle!

Later, when the Sanhedrin challenged Peter concerning this miracle, it says..."Then Peter, filled [beyond] with the Holy Spirit," which tells us that he must have still been operating in the Gifts! Notice, to be filled beyond your natural abilities and manifest divine qualities, it requires that the Holy Spirit operate His Gifts through you. You must have no part in this - except as obedient and empty vessels of God's love.

[4] The forth working of the Holy Spirit we find in Ephesians 5:18,19... "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Here, the Greek word translated "filled" literally means "to fill to the full", and implies "always having a perfect measure of something."

It is also used when referring to the 'joy' and 'peace' [Romans 15:13]. This is a perfect measure because it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! Can you see something? When you have the fruits of the Holy Spirit flowing in your life; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - you are fully equipped to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." Hallelujah - what an encouragement - to us and to others!

[5] Finally, the fifth working of the Holy Spirit is the most profound, and it can be found in John 7:28...."out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water [continuously]." This is the unlimited and eternal flow of life from heaven. According to Revelation 22:1 this pure living water is the fountain of life that flows from the throne of God.

Notice something - this is the only 'flow' that we are told will flow 'from' us [the rest have flowed 'to' us and 'in' us].
You have continuous living water flowing from the throne of God into your spirit. This water contains divine life and it flows as a stream containing God's pleasures and His divine delights. Also, it is the fountain that pours out His love. Therefore, whoever comes into contact with you, and whoever is spiritually thirsty, may drink and be satisfied. Isn't this exactly what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10? ...."If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink', you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

These "rivers of living waters" should never be restrained. The Greek word translated "flow" implies a "continuous flow" [like a fast stream]. God's life [as it was with Jesus] must flow freely from you to those in need! Whoever is thirsty should be able to come and drink from the stream of God's pleasures and bathe in the river of His delights. The "rivers of living water" are in fact the life and nature of God the Father [flowing from heaven]. This is fountain of eternal life and you are the chosen channel through which this life flows! You have a duty to ensure that these 'living waters' flow freely, because if they become stagnant, then they will surely become polluted.

To recap: There are two workings that are concerned primarily with 'authority' [the various manifestation of power from on high, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit]. There are two which deal with the 'equipping of the Saints' [equipping for ministry and equipping for duties or service]. Lastly, there is an 'outpouring' which comes straight from the throne of God and it contains ‘His life and His nature’. This is meant to flow directly into thirsty people’s lives.

Chris Demetriou, 25/09/2005