Christians, recently during a time of praise and worship, we were singing a song that speaks about having a “river of life flowing out of me, it makes the lame to walk, the blind to see, opens prison doors and sets the captives free.” As we sang this over and over, I was lifted in my spirit and a strong desire arose to live a life like the Church in Acts. Signs and wonders described there were commonplace, they were the signs of those that were spreading the Gospel, the good news. I know God still performs miracles, I have been witness to some. So I was questioning why this river is not flowing out of more Christians; the revelation I received is that many are “all dammed up!”
Much like a beaver’s dam in nature, if the flow of the river is stopped up, the effects of the river are stopped. In our lives, if the river isn’t flowing then the signs won’t follow. I began to ask God for insight into this idea and He led me to some interesting information. The enemy and his demons are much like beavers. Apparently beavers HATE the sound of the flow of the river, they have done experiments and they will build over anywhere that the river is “flowing.” The enemy HATES the flow of God in our lives, he and his demons work tirelessly trying to slow, hinder, and STOP the flow of the Spirit of God in our lives. How do they do this?
The primary way that the enemy stops us up is offense. We get upset, offended at anyone, each other, our spouses, God, and this stops the flow of the Spirit of God. The enemy also uses: fear, doubt, worry, pain, sickness and disease. We allow ourselves to get busy, we get distracted with media, technology, activities, even seemingly “good” things are not “God” things. We get tired, cranky, frustrated, our attitudes, our mindsets hinder the flow. We cannot possibly see the flow of God in our lives if we are all clogged up in the function of the Spirit of God. So even if we recognize we have this dam built up in our hearts, stopping the flow — how do we break it up, how do we begin to remove the offenses, they are all jumbled, connected, what do we do?
A few years back I watched some episodes about a rather colorful family in the south. They were outdoorsmen and one of the things they battled was beavers and dams. Their solution to dealing with the beaver dams was to blow them up, with DYNAMITE! Why do I bring this up? I have heard many teachings about Acts 1:8. Jesus was telling them how they would receive POWER to do the things they needed to do. The Greek word is dunamis — which is the root word for DYNAMITE. The answer how to remove the things blocking the flow in our lives is this dunamis power of the Holy Spirit falling on us, breaking up and breaking out the flow of the Spirit of God in our lives. When this happens, you have to be ready to steward this flow. God will show signs and wonders when there is unhindered flow. Jesus said we would do GREATER things than HE DID after He left. Are we ready for the flow, are we ready to see God move?
Christians, let’s take this time to exam our hearts. We all have things stopping the flow, daily, we must take them to God and under the power of the Holy Spirit DESTROY the attempts of the enemy to block and hinder the river of life flowing out of us. The signs and wonders of God were not just for the early Church, they were for THE CHURCH. The Body of Christ. For every believer, for every age. We need to be flowing so strongly, we cannot help but be atmosphere changers when we walk in the room.
We have to be prepared that as soon as we start to flow, the enemy will try and stop it. With people, situations, comments, questions. The flow of the river of God is like nails on a chalkboard to the enemy and his cohorts. We should embrace the opposition because it means that we are flowing. We should be questioning when we don’t meet any opposition if we are flowing.
Holy Spirit, we pray that you would fall on us now, like you did to the Church in Acts. That you would set us ablaze, that you would anoint us with that dunamis, dynamite power and destroy the areas of offense in our lives. We pray that you would set free the flow of the ‘River of Life’ in our lives. That the river flowing would change the environment around us. That we would be swept away in the Spirit. We pray that continually we would bring our hearts to you for refreshment, renewal, and revival. Make us alive in your love to others as we show your heart to the world. May the lame walk, may the blind see, may the dead come to life. May your miracle working abilities FLOW in our lives, in Jesus name, Amen!
He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. John 7:38 (AMP)
But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. Acts 1:8 (AMP)
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:12-14 (NLT)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2018
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