The River of God

Joyner

CHAPTER ONE

Experiencing the River

Rivers can be peaceful, violent, lots of fun and sometimes deadly. I’ve had several interesting river experiences. I remember floating down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. This was when the country was called Rhodesia and was embroiled in a great internal conflict between the whites and blacks. Due to the constant threat of terrorism, an army patrol boat continually circled us, watching for terrorists. A nice, relaxing cruise!

Then there was my trip down the Passion River in Guatemala, where an army of voracious ants crawled onto me as I lay sleeping on the boat. (Don’t ask me how they got in the boat; maybe they were swimming ants.) When they were all in position, the ants began to bite all at once and with incredible precision. Actually, gnaw would be more accurate. Fifteen screams, one boat-rearranging conniption fit and several dozen dead ants later, I regained my peace like the man of God I am and went back to sleep. Just like Jesus, sleeping through the storm.

Another time, I went skiing on the Ohio River near Cincinnati. I was in the water, not yet up on my skis, when my friend at the helm decided the barge was getting a mite too close. My buddy hit the throttle, and I grabbed the rope. Leaving my skis behind, I was dragged headfirst across the Ohio River out of harm’s way. It was a real drag.

Last, but not least, there was the time my buddies and I tried to drive a Jeep across the Miami River in Ohio—it was a bit deeper than it looked. We thought we might be in a little trouble when the engine died, but the significance of that faded when the Jeep began to float. My buddy had these huge tires—about eight feet wide and just as tall—and the law of buoyancy had kicked in. We pushed and pulled, finally getting close enough to the bank for the Jeep to sit on the bottom again. Then we all forced a Boy, that was cool, wasn’t it laugh and bragged about it for the next week at school. I, for one, was glad to be in the water. It camouflaged my true emotional response.

Surprised by the River of God

On March 9, 1997, God put me in His river. Though interesting and sometimes even exciting, my previous river adventures pale in contrast to what happened to me on this particular Sunday. Along with several others, I was praying during our regular morning service for the youth in our church. Powerful ministry took place as many were visibly moved upon by the Holy Spirit. Strong anointing was evident with young people weeping, laughing, repenting and falling under God’s power. I, too, wept.

Suddenly, someone laid their hands on me and began to pray. I found myself on the floor with some of the young people, receiving what I can only call a vision from God. I lay there for 45 minutes, sometimes laughing and other times weeping, as God took me on a journey. Not being a person particularly given to this sort of thing, it took me completely by surprise.

After all, I’m rather reserved and somewhat cerebral. I’m a teacher. I study. I do word studies, run references. I think didactically. I figure things out. I have to know why, how. My little cerebral, didactic mind wasn’t prepared for what was happening. Maybe this surprise invasion of my cranial disposition didn’t blow my mind, but it sure stretched it out of shape.

Does it bother you when God does something you can’t quite explain or understand? If asked, I’d be the first to say I don’t have God or His ways completely figured out. This doesn’t bother me. It’s when He demonstrates it that I get a little flustered. I’m just like you. I have my comfort zones. I pray, "Lord, send revival, but do it my way. Please check with me on the timing, methods and the particular changes revival will require before you begin."

He didn’t.

As with the wise men who followed a star and found a stable,¹ Mary who rocked a son and raised a Savior, and the disciples who longed for a crown and looked at a cross, He continues to surprise us.

I found myself in God’s river, frolicking with Jesus. This might offend your concept of our Lord, but He was in a very playful mood.

What happened while I was on the floor was nothing less than amazing to me.

The Vision

I found myself in God’s river—a river about waist-deep and perhaps 30 feet wide—frolicking with Jesus. This might offend your concept of our Lord, but He was in a very playful mood. We swam, we splashed, we laughed. He even dunked me! (I tried to dunk Him.) We did all the things people do when they play in the water.

At one point Jesus put His head under the water, then came up shaking His head from side to side, throwing water all over me. Intending to do the same to Him, I put my head under the water but was distracted by what happened. As I put my head under the water and began to shake it, impurities were washed off me and began to float downstream. Each time I was immersed in it, the river was cleansing me! As Naaman the leper dipping in the Jordan River (see 2 Kings 5:1-14), God’s river was purifying me of my uncleanness.

Another thing I found quite interesting was I couldn’t drown in the water. When my head went under and I accidentally breathed in, the water didn’t choke me as water typically does. Instead of going into my lungs, causing me to gag and choke, it flowed throughout my entire body, bringing refreshment and vitality. It was, indeed, the river of life (see Rev. 22:1).

We continued to frolic for a while, just having fun. I can’t overemphasize how much Jesus was enjoying Himself. Psalm 46:4 became a reality to me: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High" (italics mine). Throughout the vision, no matter what we did, Jesus was having fun. Imagine that—God having fun. Until this time, I don’t recall the thought entering my mind. I guess I thought He was too cerebral and didactic.

Let’s Splash Them

A group of people on the shore were watching us. For reasons unknown to me at the time, they were hesitant to get in the water. They seemed to be afraid of it. I realize now this group represented those who are somewhat cautious, or even fearful, of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit accompanying the worldwide move of God so many are calling the river. (I will discuss these manifestations and the concerns many have about them in a later chapter.)

As these people stood on the shore watching us, trying to decide whether or not to get in the water, the Lord looked at me and said, Let’s splash them. We began to do so and, without exception, when the water touched those on the bank, they wanted to get in the river. It was infectious. Then they, too, started having fun with us. How’s that for a paradox? The water not only quenched thirst, but also created it.

At one point I asked Jesus why the water was only waist-deep. I recalled from Ezekiel’s vision of God’s river in Ezekiel 47 that the river got progressively deeper, trickling…ankles…knees… loins…enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded (Ezek. 47:2-5).

He replied to me that this level was for the Church—for cleansing, refreshing and renewal. The deeper water, He said, is what takes the river to the nations. Instantly, the water rose until it was a deep, swift current that swept us away. Though it was strong and overpowered me, I was not afraid. After this demonstration, we were brought back to the original place and water level.

As people were moving in and out of the water, I saw a lady diseased with cancer. Jesus looked at me, smiling. He said rather matter-of-factly, Well, go heal her. I walked to her and put my hand on her. As I did, the Lord moved behind me and placed His hand in the middle of my back. When He did, power went from Him, through me and into this lady, healing her. We then went back to playing in the river.

Everything Will Live Where the River Goes

Next, the Lord did something unusual and fun. He pointed in front of Him at the water and said, Watch this. Suddenly a huge geyser spewed about 30 to 40 feet up out of the river and fell back to the surface. This surprised and amused me, but He simply laughed. As before, Jesus was thoroughly enjoying Himself. Looking at me, He said, Go ahead, get on it. As I stepped to the spot, the geyser shot up again, carrying me high into the air. It held me there for a couple of seconds, then lowered me back into the water. As you can imagine, I was startled, but at no point in the vision was I afraid. By this time, I was feeling somewhat bold so I said, Get on it with me.

To my pleasant, cerebral surprise, He said, Okay, and moved beside me. The geyser shot up again, this time carrying both of us skyward. We were laughing and having a blast. (Pun intended.) While we were at the highest point, Christ looked at me and said, Let’s go. As He said this, we were immediately whisked away through the air. I recall seeing the earth below us as we flew off.

The journey seemed to only last a few seconds, and we landed in a small, primitive village of tiny huts with thatched roofs. It reminded me of places I’ve seen in Africa and Guatemala. We were standing on the edge of the village with the river behind us. Though we did not travel to this place on the river, it was nevertheless there.

The people from the village came and gathered in front of us. They were staring only at me, however, waiting for me to speak. I expected the Lord to do the talking. He looked at me and said, They can’t see Me, as you can. Go ahead and share the gospel with them. I did as He instructed, and the people immediately fell to their knees weeping, receiving Christ into their hearts.

They said to me through their tears, We knew someone was coming to tell us about God. We’ve been waiting. I wept also (both in the vision and, as I later discovered, while lying on the floor). Ezekiel 47:9 was made real to me:

And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there, and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

The Lord said to me, Come on, let’s go someplace else. Immediately we flew off into the air again. As we traveled, I asked where we were going. He said, You’ll see. We landed in Chernobyl, Russia, where the nuclear reactor blew up in 1986. I do not know why the Lord picked this place. I had not thought of it in years and had never been particularly drawn toward ministering in Russia.

I found myself facing people suffering from great oppression, diseases and birth defects. They stood before me with hopeless, blank expressions on their faces. Then they began to speak, telling me their problems and pains. So many are bound by alcohol, a woman said. Instantly, there stood before me a man who I knew was an alcoholic.

I said, That’s no problem for the Lord, and put my hand on his head and prayed. Immediately, he was delivered from alcoholism. He, as myself, had been cleansed by the river. He wasn’t in it, literally, as I had been; but I knew the power released through me came from the river.

A lady with a small child next to her then spoke to me. There is so much disease caused by the radiation, she said. I am very ill. I don’t recall knowing exactly what was wrong with her, but she was healed when I touched her. She continued, And my child is deformed, also caused by the fallout of the radiation. I saw the little girl’s hands were deformed.

Again I responded, But that’s no problem for the Lord, either. I reached out, touched the little girl and asked the Lord to heal her. She was given a creative miracle, and her hands became normal. The people were astounded, as anyone would be, but in the vision I was not. I fully expected God to heal and deliver the people.

I then said to all of them, Come on, let’s go get in the river.

Oh, no, they replied, the water is polluted.

Not this water, I said smiling, and I led them into the river behind me.

Messy and Undignified—and Loving It!

Again, the Lord said to me, Let’s go.

Where? I asked.

You’ll see, He again responded, and off we went once more. This time we landed on a beach. It was similar to a public beach with places to play, relax or rest.

What are we doing here? I inquired.

It’s time for some rest and relaxation, He replied.

But who will go to all the other places and tell them the good news? I asked Him.

Oh, I have lots of others who’ll go, He responded. It’s time for you to rest.

At this point, my wife, Ceci, and our two daughters, Sarah and Hannah, came walking towards me. The girls and the Lord went to the water and began to play—yes, He frolicked with them, too—while Ceci and I lay on the beach resting. A few minutes later, Jesus came toward me carrying something. As He came closer, I could see it was a birthday cake. (This vision actually occurred the day before my birthday.)

It was messy and undignified, and Jesus was loving it. He loved to shock me with His humor and lightheadedness.

Happy birthday, He said, extending the cake my way.

Wow, Lord! was my surprised exclamation. I can’t believe you got me a birthday cake!

Sure, He said. Let’s celebrate.

Go ahead and cut it then, I suggested.

"Cut it?! He replied in sort of a comical and teasing manner. We’re not gonna cut it. (Listen, when Jesus talks to someone in Mexico, He speaks Spanish. When in France, He speaks French. When He spoke to this Texan, He said gonna"!) He then began breaking off pieces by hand and passing them out to my family. It was messy and undignified, and Jesus was loving it. It seemed He loved to shock me with His humor and lightheartedness. By the way, it was carrot cake—my favorite.

Loosen Up!

At this point the vision ended, and I found myself on the floor in front of the podium. Several people were there milling around, the service having ended. I had lain there 45 minutes. I was told I wept one minute and laughed the next. This came as no surprise to me because Jesus and I went from frolicking and fun to reaching the unreached, from healing the sick to fun again. I laughed and cried in the vision as well. It was quite a ride and quite a