AT THE CROSSROADS | WEEK 1 | GO BACK HOME

The One Point We didn't create the river. We stepped into what God was already doing. The Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-12 (NKJV) 1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, 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 gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. 7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Page 1 of 2 Go Back Home: Message Notes 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. " Four Life Lessons

1. Start With the Step Y ou Can See Ezekiel 47:3 More light usually comes after the step, not before it.
2. Let the River Take Y ou Deeper Ezekiel 47:4-5 The deeper places may require faith, but they are also where you discover His faithfulness.
3. Follow the River Toward Hurting People Wherever the river flows, life comes. Ezekiel 47:8-9 Love always moves toward people.
4. Open Y our Hands for the Next Season Ezekiel 47:12 Whatever God placed in our hands was never ours to possess. It was ours to steward. The Take Home Step into the river. Ask: What is my next step? My next step is:

Go back home, and tell them how much He loves them.

The One Point We didn't create the river. We stepped into what God was already doing. The Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-12 (NKJV) 1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, 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 gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. 7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Page 1 of 2 Go Back Home: Message Notes 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. " Four Life Lessons

1. Start With the Step Y ou Can See Ezekiel 47:3 More light usually comes after the step, not before it.
2. Let the River Take Y ou Deeper Ezekiel 47:4-5 The deeper places may require faith, but they are also where you discover His faithfulness.
3. Follow the River Toward Hurting People Wherever the river flows, life comes. Ezekiel 47:8-9 Love always moves toward people.
4. Open Y our Hands for the Next Season Ezekiel 47:12 Whatever God placed in our hands was never ours to possess. It was ours to steward. The Take Home Step into the river. Ask: What is my next step? My next step is:

Go back home, and tell them how much He loves them.