Ezekiel 47:2
Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
The verse pictures at its beginning a very small rivulet running out from under the threshold of the house on the right side eastward. That outflowing water is the gospel of Christ going out from Jerusalem and from the sanctuary to all countries, made fruitful by the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit accompanying the Word. The waters running out and growing show how the truth for this time is to spread, as a large work done by many who begin in a small way reaches many souls. That reaching is not through display or through human devising and schemes, but through the Holy Spirit working on the hearts of human agencies, which was Christ's way, and when His methods become the methods of His followers blessing attends their labor.
The very small beginning grows greater as it spreads, extending to the east and to the west, to the islands of the sea and to all parts of the world. Those who hold the fuller form add that the waters increase as they flow, extending to the east and to the north, to the islands of the sea and to all parts of the world, bringing healing wherever they go. The verse means the work is the Lord's and must grow and spread abroad through human instrumentalities with individual responsibility, with strength and efficiency not concentrated or built up in any one place nor centered under one management. Each institution is to remain independent working out God's plan under His direction, since burden-bearing gives strength and development while freedom from responsibility leaves character undeveloped and powers repressed and weakened.
The work at Madison illustrates this pattern and how the message should be carried in many places, by going forward, learning of Christ, and laboring free in the Lord without being daunted. The stream deepening and widening in its course pictures God's people as His chosen kingdom, a living advancing river and not a stagnant pool, with a life constantly flowing forward until its life-giving influence is spread over all the earth. Wherever the gospel is received its grace heals the maladies that sin has produced, giving sanctification, comfort, victory over the world, light, strength, refreshing, and good fruit bearing witness to a work of righteousness.
The deepening and widening in all fields, nigh and afar off, means the truth proclaimed in clear, unmistakable language and the gospel given in its purity under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit as God's people prepare the way of the Lord. The widening comes as men are called from the plow and from common commercial vocations to be educated in connection with men of experience who understand the truth. Mountains of difficulty are removed and cast into the sea through wonderful workings of God and divine providence by those who have experienced the virtue of truth as it is in Jesus, so the message is heard and understood and men know what is truth. Onward and still onward the work advances until the whole earth has been warned and then the end shall come.