Over the years I have known many believing friends that seemed a bit obsessed with chasing “new levels”, “the glory falling”, or the “latest move” of God or the Spirit, seeking experiences or Holy Ghost goosebumps. Don’t get me wrong. I have been in gatherings where I sensed a kind of special presence in the Lord. But I want to seek Him and His Kingdom not the next experience or great thing. So, I stopped looking for what some call “new levels”, or “the glory to fall”, and chasing after the “latest move” of God years ago. But sadly, I consistently find believers that still are seeking such rather than the consistency of just listening for His voice and doing what He says.
Yes, Our God is a God of New Beginnings, and He keeps us moving forward in Him and His purpose. But over the years I have found those that do chase such as “the glory falling” “God showing up”, or the “new/next move” are most often disappointed and frustrated in the end, and find themselves looking for yet another charge of something new in an experience.
The truth I’ve learned in 50 plus years in Christ is that change in Him is constant as He moves me by the Spirit working through the process of sanctification. He is constantly moving me, us as His body, toward reflecting the the glory of Lord whose image I behold in the mirror of His word transforming me into the same (His) image from glory to glory (one degree of glory to the next) just as from the Lord, the Spirit (See 1 Corinthans 3:18). This transformation doesn’t come to the believer by the so-called “new move” or “next level” or “fresh or latest’ thing” experience happening here or there.
Nor does it come from our thinking we must somehow “pull” heaven/the kingdom down to earth by our ideas, energy, works or piety! It comes from us plugging into the present reality of the Kingdom living under His Lordship, understanding that we are a conduit for the Kingdom to flow through in the moment. And, accepting the present reality of all He has provided and completed in the Spirit. And, that He is still working in us by the Holy Spirit in our Soul (mind, will , and emotions) through a process of sanctification. Sanctification is the work of the Spirit in me using His word (both written and what He speaks by the Spirit, and the example of the Word made manifest-Jesus), and often relationships with other believers as we function as His body.
It is important for us to comprehend that the Spirit is like living water. It flows like spring water. If you have ever seen a spring, it is an amazing sight! Hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons of fresh, clear, life giving water bubbling up, or sometimes gushing out, of the ground or rock running 24/7 365. It does not stop flowing.
John gave exposition to this idea of the Spirit and spring waters as he wrote of Jesus’ words…
[John 7:37-39 NASB95] 37 Now on the last day, the great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet [given,] because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Once we have come to Jesus and drank of the Spirit in Him, we are intended to be springs for the rivers of living water, the Spirit, to flow through and out of. Conduits for the Spirit and the Kingdom to pour out through upon the earth bringing life. I believe the concept or idea of being a conduit is important. Above, I alluded to the fact that some, perhaps all too many, think “we must somehow pull heaven/the kingdom down to earth by our ideas, energy, works or piety!” But we don’t have to pull it down! It is God’s pleasure to pour it out through us. The Kingdom is a present reality to be manifested through the likes of you and me.
Yes, there is a coming Kingdom as well, as revealed in Revelation 11:15 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. In that sense we might say the Kingdom is both now, and not yet. Now, because we are the first fruits in Christ manifesting it in the present (see Romans 8:16-19). And, Not Yet, in that a prophesied completed Kingdom “when the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord” is yet coming.
For now, however, we do not have to “pull” the Kingdom down by our efforts or energies, works of piety. It comes simply from us plugging into the present reality of the Kingdom. Seeking it first through living under His/Jesus Lordship, and understanding that we are individually, and corporately as the church His body, a conduit for the Kingdom to flow through.
Jesus taught us to pray:
[Matthew 6:9-13 NASB95] 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
Let us notice that the supplications of this prayer are all present requests for our daily lives. Give us this day our daily bread,forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. But, we have somehow decided that the first supplication, ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven, applies to some future time only outlined in prophetic vision. Since the rest of the supplications pertain to the here and now, it only seems reasonable that the request that ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is a supplication for the present reality of the Kingdom as well. In fact one might conclude that the first supplication sets up the request that He manifest His kingdom through us by showing His provision to us in daily bread, manifesting His forgiveness of us to as we extend forgiveness to others, and as we prove to be those who live outside temptation and evil.
May His Kingdom, with the Holy Spirit in us as administrator, flow through and be manifested by us touching others with His life, love, and power. May we be an example of the present reality of His Kingdom and the hope of a Kingdom to come
In Ezekiel 47 a river flows from the temple that is amazing. It starts as a trickle and as it flows out it gets deeper and wider until it cannot be forded.
[Ezekiel 47:1-5 NASB95] 1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of [the gate] that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side. 3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water [reaching] the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water [reaching] the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through [the water,] water [reaching] the loins. 5 Again he measured a thousand; [and it was] a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, [enough] water to swim in, a river that could not be forded.
The water does not stop. It becomes a river. And its flow begins as a trickle coming out of the temple. God is no longer living in temples of stone, but one here on earth right now constructed of living stones. (1 Peter 2:4-5, Ephesians 2:21-22) And the living waters run out of our innermost being to impact the kingdoms of this world. Note the impact of these waters flowing from the temple in Ezekiel.
[Ezekiel 47:7-12 NASB95] 7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there [were] very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters [of the sea] become fresh. 9 “It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and [the others] become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 “And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. 11 “But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 “By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all [kinds of] trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
The waters from the temple become literally a river of life. Trees flourish on the banks and provide all the benefits we derive from trees from shade to building materials, and food and medicine. Wherever the water flows salt water brine turns to fresh to quench thirst and bring life to everything.
Where it goes creatures and creation lives! And there is a great catch of fish! Perhaps this is just for food in fish of all kinds… but, perhaps it also alludes to the catching of men of all kinds by fishers of men.
Finally, note that wherever the flow is stopped, the waters do not bring life, but it becomes salt again. We are not intended to capture the water in buckets or pools and let it stand still. I am afraid this has been a tendency. We taste some of the fruit and benefits of the life giving flow of the water of the Spirit and then decide “this great and good. Let’s capture and stop it here for this is enough and plenty.” Unfortunately, It is our nature to hold and hoard the “new level”, “the latest or next move”, “the falling glory” and make it our own. But the River of Life that is the Spirit cannot be captured. We move in it and Him, not the other way around. He “flows” through us as a conduit or we stagnate and quench Him by ceasing His flow.
This all points to our being called and created for service of Him and service to others (Ephesians 2:10). We are all too easily focussed on receiving “something new” from Him, and often not focused enough on letting Him flow through us to others. Again, we do not have to pull the Kingdom down. It is His joy to give us the Kingdom [Luke 12:32 NASB95] 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly (KJV: It is your Fathers good pleasure) to give you the kingdom. We simply seek first His Kingdom, to live under His/Jesus Lordship and let the Holy Spirit administrate the Kingdom flowing through us to others, as He provides all that is needed. The conduit is receiving a trickle from God, but is soon channeling flowing rivers of living water out to others. We cannot be puddles, or marshes and swamps, but should be conduits/river banks bringing life to all we touch and wherever we go. If you want to see the power of God you cannot catch it for yourself, but let it flow through you to others. Let us recognize that we are conduits for the Spirit and the Kingdom. An outlet, individually and certainly corporately as His Body, to pour out on others. We drink from Jesus to have living waters flow from our innermost to refresh and minister thirst quenching life and provision to others.
Let us wade into the waters flowing from the temple, not just ankle, knee, or loins deep. But, let us wade in until we are over our heads flowing where the Spirit leads bringing life in Him wherever we flow/go..
[Revelation 21:5-6 NASB95] 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.