It’s easy to get settled in life—set routines, habits, limits and expectations. Routines aren’t inherently bad, but they can become barriers. The life of the Spirit cannot be contained by walls, schedules or comfort zones. In a powerful message, Jonathan Cahn, a prophetic voice, warned that if we rely solely on these habits, the river of God cannot flow.
Ezekiel’s vision of the river flowing from the temple is a powerful illustration of this truth. In Ezekiel 47, water is seen pouring from under the threshold of the house toward the east. Cahn explains, “The house in Hebrew… It’s not just a house. It’s the house. The house is the house of God.” Jerusalem, the city of God, had no natural water supply, depending entirely on heaven. This reminds us that as God’s people, we are not to rely on circumstances, people or the world, but on Him alone.
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The river in Ezekiel’s vision begins small, ankle-deep, but grows as it flows. “He measured a thousand cubits… the water was around my ankle. He measured another thousand cubits… now it was reaching my knees. Another thousand… it was high enough to swim a river that could not be crossed,” Cahn recounts. Eventually, the river transforms everything in its path, even bringing life to the Dead Sea.
This imagery shows how God’s Spirit can revive the dead and bring life where there was none. Scripture reinforces this principle: Joel 3 speaks of a fountain springing from the house of the Lord, Zechariah describes a fountain for cleansing in Jerusalem, and Revelation 22 presents a river of living water flowing from God’s throne.
Even the temple—the house of God—cannot fully contain His presence. “Even the house of God cannot contain the presence of God… Even the greatest ministry cannot contain the presence of God,” Cahn notes. When life or church becomes rigid and routine-focused, it creates walls that prevent God’s river from flowing.
The key to experiencing this river is openness. We must be willing to step beyond our comfort zones, routines, and habits. “God wants His life to flow. God wants our [lives] to flow. And God wants to flow in our midst here. Even more so, for that to happen, you have to be open,” Cahn teaches. Freshness and revival come when we repent and seek God anew. The river flows both ways: we receive from God, allowing it to transform our lives, and then release it outward, impacting others.
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“The Spirit coming is always new. A river has to flow both ways,” Cahn reminds us.
If we remain open to His movement, He transforms the dead into life, routine into the miraculous and the ordinary into theextraordinary. The river is waiting—will we let it flow through our lives?
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
