The Agenda of the Holy Spirit in One Word

Ezekiel 47:12 (NIV)

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

CONSIDER THIS

“The Spirit of Jesus in me greets the Spirit of Jesus in you and brings us together in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Everywhere the river flows everything will live. As we begin the journey back to the bus, these seven words have not only impacted us, they have imprinted on us. It is like the Spirit has etched these words on our hearts and emblazoned them on our minds. Everywhere the river flows everything will live.

There is an obvious lesson here Jesus wants to teach us and yet it is so easy to miss. It can be summarized in a single word.

Flourishing. 

The mission of God the Father: Flourishing.
The messianic intervention of God the Son: Flourishing.
The miraculous movement of God the Spirit: Flourishing. 

The message of the Bible, the inspired, revealed Word of God, from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 can be summarized in a single word.

Flourishing. 

That’s the whole point of the River isn’t it? Everywhere the river flows everything will live. I mean take a slow, deliberate read through today’s text:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

All kinds of trees
Unwithering leaves
Unfailing fruit
Flourishing fruit
Nourishing fruit
Healing leaves

It makes sense then, that with every person we know, every situation we encounter, every heart, every home, every church, every city—at the forefront of our mind, the very essence of our imagination will be this overriding concern: flourishing. 

The will of God is for every person, every family, every community to flourish in life. The Holy Spirit is actively working, moving, and flowing to bring flourishing in every situation you come across every day—from your children to your parents to the in-laws and outlaws, to your friends and your enemies and complete strangers.

There is only one question we need ask everywhere and all the time: How might the Holy Spirit bring or be bringing flourishing here? 

What if millions of people became consumed with asking this question and compelled to move in response? 

What if I became consumed with asking this question and compelled to move in response? 

There is a one word answer:

Flourishing.

That is the awakening we sow for. 

Still day one. 

THE PRAYER

Father, we agree with you today in the simple yet comprehensive prayer of this word: flourishing. Open our eyes to see how your son, Jesus, did it and is doing it? Holy Spirit, fan into flame the flourishing of our imagination to follow suit. Praying in Jesus’ name, amen. 

THE QUESTION

Are you flourishing? What might the flourishing of the Holy Spirit look like in your life right now? In your family? In your church? Among your neighbors? 

Source:
seedbed.com