Ezekiel 47 is a prophetic message about a river - the river of God - that flows from the altar in the temple of God. This river, as it flows, gets ever broader and deeper and it brings life and enrichment. It teems with life and brings fruit wherever it flows.

This is also a picture of the church and the work of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Out of the church flows the work of the Spirit on earth. When a church is truly connected to the Spirit of God, His Spirit flows in ministry-first through the church and then out the doors into the surrounding community, bringing life and fruit wherever it flows.

How does a church become filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit of God? There is only one way: through prayer. The Spirit’s working doesn’t come through gaining Bible knowledge, though that’s important. It doesn’t come through learning about leadership, though that’s important. The Spirit’s work doesn’t come through dynamic small groups or the latest church growth ideas, though they are important, too. The transforming, life-giving work of the Holy Spirit only comes through powerful prayer. It comes through becoming a prayer-saturated church.

(Jonathan Graf, founder of Pray! Magazine)