Scripture:

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".

Observation:

Ezekiel was taken the by Spirit of the Lord to see the temple. A river flowed from under the threshold of the door that got deeper and deeper as it went out from the temple. This river brought healing everywhere it went. In verse 12 we see the fruit trees that are on both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees never turn brown and wither and there is always fruit on the branches. They produce fruit every month! These trees continually reproduce because the river of God runs next to them.

Application:

These words have been spoken over the congregation I lead many, many times. It has been repeated over and over that there would be a river that runs here and it would bring life and healing everywhere it goes. I love reading about the trees because these trees bear fruit every month. I want to see a church full of people who are bearing fruit every month and reproducing continually. May we learn to walk in the Spirit and be planted by the streams of living water. I love the presence of God, but I do want that encounter with God to bear much fruit.

Prayer:

Father, let Your Spirit run like a river through my life and church. Let those I minister to at Word of Life be like these trees that are fed by the river and bear fruit continually. Teach me to hear Your voice more clearly and to let the river flow as completely as You want it to. Help me not to hinder Your Spirit from flowing in our region, but to help the river flow even more freely.

Yours,

Jeff