Hercules is a well-known figure in Greek mythology. To make a long story short, he was assigned several very difficult tasks as punishment. Among these feats was killing the Nemean lion, taming the Cretan bull, capturing the Cernian stag, slaughtering the Lernaean hydra (a serpent with nine heads) etc.
The most interesting and difficult task assigned him was that of cleaning the ox stables of King Augeas. The king had 3000 oxen housed in stables. They had not been cleaned in thirty years. He was required to clean the stables in one day - a Herculean task indeed!
He could have looked at the mess and said, Wow, this is impossible! But having succeeded in the previous tasks, he would not be out done by dung! He made two openings in the stables, front to back. Two rivers that were flowing nearby were diverted by a channel through the stables. They were cleansed in a single day!
An ancient myth but possibly a modern plan for the church. The fact that the church needs cleansing is without debate. Pastors cannot do it alone. One after another have tried and failed.
Through the world and always near the church flow two mighty rivers - the Spirit and the Word. One (the Spirit) empowers the other (the Word); the other (the Word) provides the channel for the flow of the one (the Spirit). They both are necessary, each complimentary to the other and mutually dependant. One is the source, the other the course. The flow of each is vital but incomplete without the other.
Some through the years have tapped into the flow of these rivers and felt their power to restore, purify, and enable. At times a whole culture has been changed. At present, it seems that the rivers are so far away and the channels are too small.
If the body of Christ on earth can dig a channel to these great rivers through humbling repentance and prayer, connecting them with the body, the cleansing will be wonderful, swift, and thorough.
Our Lord, mightier than Hercules, waits to accomplish this task! He is committed to "make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish.' (Eph. 5:26-27)
Lord, bring the rivers together in our church...and let them flow!
From The Word Of God With Power by Jack Taylor
I thought the Lord would have me share these thoughts with you. ...Halleluia, thine the Glory! Revive us again.
Mitch
