According to John 4:23 all believers have the obligation to worship God in spirit and in truth. How we worship in this manner is not the direct topic of this study. However, realizing what this actually means in terms of our commitment to Him is.
In John 4:14 Jesus told us that "... the water I give ... will become ... a spring of water welling up to eternal life." In the parable of the sower we are told that this water has a definite purpose. Without it, there can be no life. Lk.8:6 says "some (seed) fell on rock, and when it came up the plants withered because they had no moisture." (emphasis added) The account of this parable as found in the Gospel of Mark advises us that the plant withered for lack of roots (Mk.4:6). We know that plants need roots to obtain moisture from the ground. Likewise, we know that we need the root of Jessie (Ro.15:12) and of David (Rev.5:5) in order for us to partake of this precious life giving water.
The Israelites had been given only symbols for the living water; whereas, we have been given the real thing. "They ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink: for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." (I Cor.10:3-4 emphasis added) Water flowed from the rock at Meribah (Nu.20:1-3), and Christ is my Rock (Eph.2:20). Because of Him, and His submission to the Father, I may now partake of that which was only a foretaste for them (John 16:7 & Acts 2:33). John 7:38 clearly says that "whoever believers in Me as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit." (emphasis added) The Holy Spirit has come - a river of living water is now flowing. According to Ps.1:3 we are to be like a tree planted by streams of water. We must send out our roots by the stream to drink in the power of the Holy Spirit (Jer.17:8)!
The temple which Ezekiel saw in Ez.47:1-12 had the flowing river. The water flowed from the temple toward the East. While the river originated in the Holy of Holies, it became visible to the world as it flowed out from the South side toward the East. Heb.8:5 tells us that the earthly sanctuary / temple was but a copy and shadow of that which was in heaven. Keep that in mind as we turn to Ex.25:31-40 and find the description of the Lampstand which was located in Moses' tabernacle.
Ex.25:37 shows us that the Lampstand was composed of seven lamps. Chapter 26:35 reveals the fact that the Lampstand itself was located on the south side of the middle court of the tabernacle. The relationship between the Lampstand and the river which flows from Ezekiel's temple becomes more clear when we turn to Rev.1:12&20 and discover that the seven Lampstands which John saw stood for the seven churches.
We know from Eph.3:10 that the manifold wisdom of God is to be made known through His Church. We are also told that this wisdom comes to the Church through the very Spirit of God ( I Cor.2:6-15). We are the Church, and this river of living water which originates in God, is to be flowing from us - from the South -toward the East which is the direction from which Jesus will return. (Matt.24:27) At first the river was ankle deep, then knee deep, waist deep, and finally over the head. Ezekiel could cross the river, or go into it only up to the point where it was waist deep. He could not cross it when it was over his head; indeed, at that time no man could. This raises a question. How much of ourselves are we supposed to devote to this worship of God in spirit and truth? Are we to go in up to our ankle, knee, waist, or over our head?
In Mk.10:21 Jesus told the rich young man "... sell everything you have and give to the poor ... then come, follow me." (emphasis added) I will not get into the topic of giving to the poor, trusting in the Lord enough to know He will provide all of our needs, or tithing at whatever percentage. These things and the blessings which the Lord will bestow upon us here on this earth if we do them will be covered in chapters 8 - 13. The point being made here is simply that He wants us to be willing to do whatever He asks before we follow Him. We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Ro.12:1) cleansing them from impure things thereby making it possible for God to use us for every good work (I Tim.2: 20-21). We are not to conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Ro.12:2). In fact, we are to take every thought and make it obedient to Christ (II Cor.10:5). (Note the sequence as set forth in Ro.12: :2 - the transformation comes about after our bodies are offered up as living sacrifices unto the Lord.)
If you are getting the feeling that this worship is to be a total commitment on our part, you are right. Whether we eat, or drink or whatever we do, we are to do it to the glory of God (I Cor.10: 31). In case we still don't get the idea, Christ reminds us of the Father's number one command in Matt.22:37: "Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (emphasis added)
Paul expressed his commitment in Ro.1:1 by calling himself a bondslave of Christ. The Greek word usually translated `servant' in that verse is dulous. This word is translated as slave in I Cor.7:22-23. Paul reaffirms his commitment as a bondslave of Christ in Phil.1:1, as does Jude in Jude 2. A bondslave is to be distinguished from a mere household servant or paid worker.
The Greek word for a servant or paid worker would be oiketes as found in I Pe.2:18, Lk.16: 13, Ro.14:4 and Philemon 16 Another word for servant, or menial worker, found only in Heb.3:5 is therapon. A servant (however menial) is still the master of some of his/her time and future. A slave owns nothing and can claim neither his time nor his future as his own. Ex.21:1-6 and Deut.15:12-18 give us an insight into the idea of what it means to be a bondslave. Notice from those verses that a bondslave can become one voluntarily because of his love for the master. This is what Paul, Timothy, Jude, and John did.
They became bondslaves of Christ. Paul says in Gal.1:10 that he could not be a bondslave of Christ and still seek to please men. His commitment was total. His entire being was dedicated to Christ. He was seeking to become Christ-like. Christ Himself became a `bondslave' unto the Father, humbling Himself and becoming obedient (Phil.2:7-8). Notice in Matt.11:29 what Jesus says, "take my yoke." We know from vs. 30 that His yoke was not harsh; indeed, it is easy, but we are still directed to assume it. See the contrast in Jer.2:20 wherein an admonishing God says "long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off you bonds." While it is true that we are sons of God (Heb.2:11), our commitment to Him is to be complete. And that takes care of that. Not just ankles, not just knees, not just up to our waist, but totally.
Now we have all heard the excuses. "I might lose my balance" Don't worry, Prov.3:5 says that we should not be leaning on our own understanding. Besides, we are in His everlasting arms (Deut. 32:27). "I might stumble on the rocks in the stream bed." Relax, He is still there. Remember, those who are in the Word, being carried along by this Spiritual river, would never stumble over our Rock - Jesus. (I Pe.2:8 & Ro.9:32). Furthermore, He delivers us from stumbling, as both Ps.116:8 and Ps.56:13 tell us. As to the rocks which satan places in our way, Ps.91:11-12 says that God will command His angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways. He further promises us that they will lift us up in their hands so that we will not strike our feet against a stone. We need not be concerned about slipping either, for Ps.94:18 and Ps.121:3 tell us that God keeps us from slipping. Conversely, Ps.73:18 shows us that it is the evil ones who are on slippery ground.
ICor.15:58 says "always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord." To put it another way, we are to be like athletes in training, giving ourselves totally to the task ahead (I Cor.9:24-26). We are shown in vs. 24 that we are to run in such a way as to get the prize. Phil.3:14-21 advises us that the prize we are to hope for is having our bodies transformed / glorified by Jesus upon His return. Let's return momentarily to the concept of the bondslave. Rev.22:3 tells us that His bondslaves will serve Him in the New Jerusalem. In fact, vs. 6 clearly shows us that the revelation of Jesus Christ, which was given to John, was to be revealed to God's bondslaves.
"But Ezekiel said no man can cross that river let alone stay in it." While Ezekiel had been anointed by God, the full Spirit of God had not been poured out on the earth until Pentecost. At that time we received the power we needed (Acts.1:8). You, me - each born again, spirit filled believer, right now today, as you read this lesson, is greater than Ezekiel in terms of what has been revealed to him, and the power which is available at his command to do God's bidding. Matt.11:11-12 tells us that while John was the greatest Old Testament prophet, we are greater then John. Jesus Himself tells us that we would do greater works then even He had time to do while He was here (John 14:12). He then guaranteed us that fact by giving us His Name as all the earthly authority we need. Keep in mind that His Name is above all names in Heaven and earth. (Mk.16:17 & Matt.28:18). (Remember that for the most part in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God rested on the prophets; whereas now, His Spirit is in us - Acts 2:4.)
"How do I know that all this is true, for us now?" Because God says so, and His Word is sufficient (Titus 1:2 & Gen.22:16-17). God's word is full of faith messages, love messages, prosperity messages, overcoming messages, and messages of power; however these are only our rights - we also have obligations. The teaching of the Word of God requires the teaching of the totality of our obligations, as well as our rights.
II Tim.4:3-4 warns us that a time is coming when men will only be willing to listen to that part of the Word which "suits their desires." This is dangerous, for we need the entire Word of God in order to be victorious. We are reminded in Titus 2:1 that "you must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." The statement we read in Matt.22:37 ("Love the Lord your God with all ... etc.) is a command, not a suggestion. That is an obligation, and it refers to the totality of our commitment unto God. Yet it is a totality which comes with love.
There are no more excuses - jump in, the water is perfect. Add the water that is to flow from within you to the mightiest river known to man, that it may grow as each new member of the Body of Christ dives in. Then its volume will be so great that the very sea it flows into will become fresh and teeming with life (Ez.47:9). Let that river flow that there may be life on its banks. Flow with it totally until the Spirit plants you where He wants. Then plant your root deeply in order to draw moisture so that your fruit may be food to the nations. Your hands laid on people (your leaves) will heal them through the power and love of God that is flowing from you.
Do not do this as a Christian who is only willing to go waist deep, knee deep, ankle deep, and certainly not as a person who won't go into the water at all, thereby denying the power of the Holy Spirit on the earth today. Refer back to John 2:1-10 and note that the miracle at the wedding at Cana was manifested only after the vessels were filled with water. We need to be more than ankle deep, just as we need to release more of the Holy Spirit within us then is evidenced by speaking in tongues. There is more! We are to seek the gifts which build up the very Church of which we are all a part. But we know that the gifts will pass away (I Cor.13:10). There is more! We are to seek the total and complete leading by the Spirit as Sons of God (Ro.8:14).
Walking in love we flow with the stream, not worrying about what is around the next bend in the river, or whether we will make it through the rapids. We do this as righteous Sons of God immersed in the Spirit and purified so as to be used by the Father for every good work - all to the Glory of God. If satan, through `religious people,' attempts to dam up the river, or fill in the well springs to prevent the water from flowing, we will be like Isaac in Gen.26:15-18, and just redig the wells. We maintain the flow by staying in the Word, by increasing our faith through the Word, by letting that river flow so that now, through God's Church His manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
As was true when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the choice to accept or reject is ours. As was true after we received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the choice to begin exercising the power or ability which God gives us is ours. So also is it true that the choice to go into the river over our head is ours. Let us be like Peter in John 21:7 who, upon realizing that Jesus was indeed with them, put on his cloak and jumped into the water in order to get to His Lord and Savior. Let us put on our garment of praise (Isa.61:3), jump in, and head straight for Him: spreading peace, joy, and life in our wake. Jesus will not push us in, but as He did to Peter in Matt.14:29, He invites us to "Come." We know His will, the rest is up to us.