READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Ezekiel sees a vision of a river starting from the temple of God. It flows into the desert land, transforming the landscape into a beautiful garden of fruit trees and plants. This is a picture of the church which blesses the community, nation and world. Vision 2035, the vision of Wesley Methodist Church (shared by Rev Raymond Fong at her 140th Anniversary Service), aims to make Wesley such a church.
Vision 2035, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, seeks to be a welcoming church that makes disciples and serves the least, last and lost in the community and beyond. Zech. 4:6 reminds us that only through the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to achieve Vision 2035. As a church, we have experienced God’s faithfulness in the past 140 years and the same Holy Spirit will lead us on for the next 140 years.
Source of the River (Eze.47:1-2) – the river Ezekiel sees is no ordinary river. Its source is the temple of God. Jesus, using the same metaphor, talks about the river of life (John 7:38) and refers to the Holy Spirit as the source of that river. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians that will enable them to be conduits of God’s love in the world. Like the river flowing from the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision, there is a river flowing out of the church (which is God’s temple) into the world (1 Cor. 3:16-17 and 1 Cor. 6:15). As conduits of this river, wherever we go, the river of life flows.
Depth of the River (Eze.47:3-6) –Like the growing depth of the river in Ezekiel’s vision, Christians need to grow in spiritual depth as well. This is accomplished by being full of the Holy Spirit. This is seen in the life of Jesus and the ministry of the early church. Only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit will we be able to accomplish God’s work. As in Ezekiel’s vision, the further the river flows, the deeper it gets. Similarly, our influence widens and deepens as we grow in the Spirit. Spiritual depth is accomplished as we learn to trust in the Holy Spirit and let Him lead us in our work and ministry. We must not simply read Scripture but act on what God is saying to us through Scripture.
Influence of the River (Eze.47:7-12) – we are called to be salt and light to the world. As the river in Ezekiel’s vision transformed the environment wherever it went, the same is expected of the church. It is tragic if the church loses its ability to influence and bless. The church needs to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation of the community and the world. As members of the church, we must be a river of blessing that flow from the sanctuary into the world. Whether in professional or social life, we are to be God’s conduit of love and hope.
May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to make Vision 2035 a reality.
(Sermon notes by Angela Goh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Are you a river of life?
- How are you a river of life?
- Share one or two examples of being a river of life.
