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). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

It will take someone of much higher learning than I to interpret the significance of much of the imagery in this vision of Ezekiel’s. But this I know, the temple represents where God dwells and water quenches thirst, cleanses and gives new life.  It promotes wholeness. The question I want to ask then is very simple. Have you been to the temple lately? The house of God, the church, the synagogue – wherever you used to worship – that place where you meet with God on his terms.  No? Now you are defensive and you say, “God is everywhere, what does it matter?”  Friend it matters greatly because it is necessary for spiritual wellbeing and growth: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10: 24 – 25). The house of God should not be viewed primarily as a social club. It is where we meet with God and bring our prayers, thoughts and acts of worship and focus on God’s agenda. The Day of his appearing is approaching after all.

My experience has been that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose when I enter the house of God to worship. In Old Testament times God gave his people specific instructions on how to conduct worship and the altar has always been of great significance. While I worked full-time I was a care-giver for ten of those years as well and I can tell you that the altar is where I met with God repeatedly to receive the strength and wisdom I needed. It was there that the presence of the Holy Spirit became most real to me. It is there that people often go to be forgiven, healed, delivered, and find the grace to mend broken relationships. God does want us to do things his way. Go as an act of faith and obedience.

“It is from the presence of God that healing flows. It can flow in limited or great degree as He wills. It is up to his people to get into the flow. Present your need and according to your faith it shall be measured to you. The Lord God is not limited but the degree of your faith can limit what you receive.”