allAfrica.com: Nigeria: The River Within the Garden (2) (Page 1 of 1)

As one proceeds in the study of the Holy Scriptures, some other wonderful dimensions of God's river which started from the Garden of Eden are made visible.

Any diligent student of the Bible will discover that this river, which seems to have started in a very little way in the Garden, have become a mighty supernatural river which makes the City of glad. Although it is no longer visible in the natural realm, however, it still maintains its powerful impact in the life of those who abides in the garden of the will of God.

The Psalmist by the inspiration of God made some powerful declarations concerning this invisible river: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God ." (Psalm 46:1-4) Wherever God's people are found, this river is powerfully present. And regardless of what may be going on in the world, the streams of this river have the capability to make the people of God glad.

If the streams of this river can make the people of God glad, it means it is meant to make them stronger and stronger. In the realm of the Spirit of God, joy implies strength. The Bible says "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Therefore as this river flows in the lives and in the midst of the people of God, it ends up making them stronger. This river is meant to refresh, renew and reinforce the inner strength of God's people. The lives of those who are planted beside the streams of this river are like trees planted by the rivers, their leaves shall not wither and whatsoever they do shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3; Jer.17&-8)

The bible further reveals that this river is full of water and it is what God uses for blessing the people of the World whenever He visits them to pay a closer attention to them. "You visits the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; you provide them grain .You water its ridges abundantly, you settle it's furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with your goodness ." (Psalm 65:9-13) It is important to bear in mind that part of the attributes of this supernatural river (with which God waters the earth and greatly enriches it as a way of crowning the year with His goodness) is that it is full of waters! God does not operate perpetually with or in scanty waters.

The most profound and illustrative passage of the Scriptures which graphically portray the beginning, the course and the impact or the effects of this supernatural river is found in the book of Ezekiel. (Study Ezek.47:1-12) Among many outstanding features of this river are the following. The first thing is the fact that it starts from the threshold of the Altar of the Temple, this makes it very insignificant when it first starts to issue out of the Temple.

As the Prophet is encouraged to keep following and walking on in the waters that issued out of the temple, the waters keep getting bigger and deeper. When first walked within one thousand cubits, the waters were at the level of his ankle. After measuring another one thousand cubits, the waters got to his knees. Then he measured another one thousand cubits and the waters were at his waist. As he kept going further measuring another one thousand cubits, he discovered that the waters have become a mighty river that he could only swim in.

What later turned to a mighty river started with little water issuing out of the temple. This is a basic law of the kingdom of God. Almost every aspect or establishment of God's kingdom starts very little only to gradually and eventually become very big. A few examples will drive this point home. Daniel spoke of the stone cut without a man's hand which was revealed in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. It was a very little stone which was thrown at the amazing image with the head of gold representing various kingdoms of the world. However, with time, after breaking the image into pieces, it began to grow. That same little stone cut without man's hand, grew and become a very mighty rock that filled the whole earth (See Dan. 2:31 - 35)

This same principle was also revealed in Jesus' analogy of the Mustard seed. It is the least of all seeds. But when it is planted, it will germinate and grow continually until it becomes a very mighty tree that can provide shelter for all the birds of the air. Even the coming of the savior into the world also started in a very little and insignificant manner. Isaiah prophesied about Him when he said, "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant. And as a root out of dry ground " The account of one of the gospel writers later confirmed this prophetic concept; "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Lk 2:52) It is this same kingdom principle that is clearly demonstrated in the scenario of the river in Ezekiel's vision. You can call this "the law of gradual growth."

Apart from the progressive increase of this river, its impact on the landscape and any region that it passes through, as it is with most rivers, is worth examining. In the case of this supernatural river, the prophet observed that the trees that were growing on each side of its course were like the tree of life. The beloved apostle John to whom God gave the vision of the book of revelation also received a vision of this river. The leaves of the trees produced by this river have the ability to heal the nations of the world! Imagine such a miracle amidst our sin sick and violence invested world!

"And He showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the thrown of God and of the lamb. In the middle of the street, and on each side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruits every month. The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curses but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." (Rev. 22:1-43) Ezekiel also put his description of the effects of this river in a very amazing context. He said "The water of this river flow toward the eastern region, going down to the valley as it enters the sea. When it reaches the sea its (the sea's waters) are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live "

Another visible impact of this river is that it produces variety of fishes abundantly. Symbolically, it brings productivity into any life or region it comes in contact with. Now as an invisible but not less impactful river, it is represented in the lives of every believer in Christ by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That same beloved apostle John also recorded the direct words of Jesus concerning this river "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, If any man thirsts, let Him come to me and drink. He who believes in me as the Scripture has said, out of His belly (or inner most being) shall flow rivers of living waters. But this He spoke corning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him should receive ." (Jn 7:37 - 39).

It is very critical for us to ensure and be mindful of the free flow of this river in our lives and in all our operations. It is not just meant to water the garden of our lives but its divers streams are designed to lead us to major life enriching discoveries. The streams of this river are meant to replenish, stabilize and gladden the company of God's people known as 'the City of the living God'. Much more than all these, according to the vision of both Prophets Ezekiel an John, the river is meant to restore back the tree of life which Adam and Eve forfeited in the garden of Eden back to humanity. In so doing, it will bring not just healing but life and productivity into every nation that is current dying as result of diversities of satanic operations. May you discover and experience the flow of this miraculous river in the garden of your life in Jesus' name, Amen.

- (Abraham Sam. Aiyedogbon is the senior Pastor of Realm of Glory Int'l Church, Okota - Lagos).

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