Deep Waters

Monday, 11 May 2009 14:55

Today I want to start by asking a question, How many here can say we know that our relationship with God is at the level that he wants this?

This is not a question for anyone to answer me, but is a question that makes us examine our relationship with God. It is a question for us to realize this level to our spiritual growth, and our walk with the Holy Spirit. One of the great tragedies among the people of God today is that many people are not examined, many people are unwilling to be honest with himself, and the result is that sooner or later end up suffering. They end up suffering because their walk with the Holy Spirit never reaches the level that God wants this. This is the question we want to see in this day and today we will learn the four levels that exist in our relationship with God and our walk with the Holy Spirit. We will examine this very important part of our Christian life to find that level we are. We now turn to the Word of God.

Ezekiel 47:1-6 - Then he brought me back to the entrance of the house, and behold, water was flowing from below the threshold of the house eastward: for the front of the house on the east, and the waters descended from below, to the right side of the house, south of the altar. 2 And I took the path of the north gate, and led me around by the road outside, out the door, the path of looking to the east, and saw that the water was coming out the right side. 3 And the man went eastward with a cord in his hand: and he measured a thousand cubits and led me through the waters to the ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand, and brought me through the waters to the knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the water to the loins. 5 measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass, because the water had risen so that the river could not pass it by swimming. 6 And I said: Have you seen, son of man? Then he led me back along the riverbank.

As they say, to better understand the message God has for us will need to know a little better this man called Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest and prophet, and I touch minister during the darkest days in the history of Judah, seventy years they endured under the Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel was taken captive before the final assault against Jerusalem, he used prophecies, parables and signs to dramatize the message of God for His people. Like most of the other prophets, Ezekiel's messages were divided into two parts, the condemnation and consolation. This was one of the visions that God gave the prophet, and is a vision of consolation. It is a vision that is directly related to the Holy Spirit, and that shows the different levels that exist in our relationship with God. "You can not see yet? Look at these verses more closely and see if what I say is true.

First of all establish that "water" as shown here is a representation of the Holy Spirit. To establish this, look good as we are told here to read "I did back then to the entrance of the house, and behold, water was flowing from below the threshold of the house eastward: for the facade of the house was east, and the waters down below, to the right side of the house, south of the altar. 2 And I took the path of the north gate, and led me around by the road outside, out the door, the path of looking to the east, and saw that the water was coming out the right side. "In these two verses we have two tracks that help us discover and affirm the representation of the Holy Spirit. The first clue is that we are told that "at the entrance of the house", but what that house we talking about? From the house that we're talking about here is the temple of God, we are talking of the sanctuary where God dwelt among His people (Ezekiel 43:4-5.) At the time, God dwelt in his temple, but now lives in each one of us (John 14:16-17.) The second clue is that we are told that "water was flowing from below the threshold." In other words, water was flowing in the primary step of the temple of God toward his people. Ezekiel saw the water flowing and it became a great river, turned into a river that gave life, a river that heal and a river that freed the people of a dry land (Ezekiel 47:9, 12.)

God gave the vision to Ezekiel that the water would go below the threshold, but we who have accepted Christ as our King and Savior, we who trust in Him we know that the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us will sprout this water of life within us (John 7:38.) So no doubt we can establish that Ezekiel saw water flowing in that vision is the Holy Spirit of God poured out upon His people. With this in mind we continue now and examine the four levels that exist in our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us.

He says: "And the man went eastward with a cord in his hand: and he measured a thousand cubits and led me through the waters to the ankles." This little verse describes very well the first level between most believers and God. When the Holy Spirit begins to work in us, when a person is converted to the ways of God, a change happens. In modern terms would equal as they say here when someone has a new experience, or has overcome an obstacle or situation. Here we say "has wet feet."

When a person repents of their sins, when a person comes to the ways of the Lord, then we can say that person has wet feet. In other words, water has entered has entered a relationship with God to the ankles. This is the first experience, this is the first step, but unfortunately many are what get stuck here. Unfortunately many are unwilling to go deeper. Let us pause for a brief moment, and think of this in depth. Let's use our imagination, imagine that we are on the beach and the sea is the Holy Spirit. Now we enter the sea, but only until the water covers our ankles. Consider for a moment, how the water up the ankles, we can move freely? Do we find it difficult to walk in the sand? The answer to both questions is yes. If we can move freely as water covers only a small portion of our body, and if we do a little hard to walk in the sand because the water on our feet because some resistance, but we in no way limited. Brothers, this is where this danger. I say this is a danger here because when we can move freely, when we are not bound, then this means that we are not getting convinced our misdeeds. This means that often give in to impulses and desires of the flesh unsuccessful. This means that we will be dominated more by the things of this world, who by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. Ask once, do you want your relationship with God that He is at this level?

He says: "he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters to the knees." Here we find the second level that exists among many believers and God. Using the same example of our walk on the beach, ask yourself, how the water up to their knees, we find it harder to walk in the sand? Are we limited in what they can do? The answer to both questions is again yes. With water up to their knees it's hard to walk a bit, as the sea current exerts more force on your body. Yes, we are limited in some things, because if we run, this is something that we would make it impossible to do because of resistance from the sea, right? Again here we find a great danger. We found a great danger because although the relationship with God can be a little deeper, we can still move with little difficulty, in other words received conviction of our bad actions, but ignored.

We continue yielding to the pleasures of this world, we continue yielding to the impulses of the flesh. That means letting us continue to dominate the influence of this world.

Ask once again, do you want your relationship with God that He is at this level?

says: "Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the water to the loins." Here we find the third level between some believers and God. Continuing using the example of our walk on the beach, ask yourself, how the waist-deep water, we find it harder to walk in the sand? Are we limited in what they can do? Again the answer to both questions is yes.

With the water waist walking becomes much more difficult, and we certainly have many more limitations on what we can do. It means that we will not be washed away of evil that creeps into this world, this means that no longer give in to impulses of the flesh or the pleasures of this world so easily. But let us ask again, do you want your relationship with God that He is at this level? While your relationship with God is now at this level, although your relationship with God is deeper, I say to you today is not where God wants you. But where God wants is your relationship with him? The answer lies in the fourth step.

He says: "measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass, because the water had risen so that the river could not pass it to swim." Here we find the fourth level, in other words the level that exists among the faithful believer and God. I want to be fixed well in what I have said from the beginning until now. The first level, the water to the ankles, describing the relationship between the majority of believers and God. The second level, the water up to knee, describing the relationship among many believers and God. The third level, the waist-deep water, describing the relationship between some of the believers and God. But now in the fourth level, a river but can not be crossed by swimming, describes the relationship between true believers and God. I want you to notice that very well because God does not want your relationship with him is first class. God does not want your relationship with him is second tier or third tier. God desires that your relationship with Him is the fourth level. God desires that you are willing to enter the waters to make no feet.

God wants you to fellowship with the Holy Spirit is a guide to let you at all times. Let us return to the example of our walk on the beach.

Let us ask ourselves the same two questions. If we enter the sea to where we no longer foot, shall we make it difficult to walk in the sand? Are we limited in what they can do? Again the answer to both questions is yes. When we met at a depth where we do not walk, do not we find it difficult to walk on the sand, we find it impossible. When we met at a depth where we can not have no feet only a few limitations, we are completely limited because if we sink we swim. This is where God wants you encounter in your relationship with Him when we are at this depth, this means that we can not be washed away the evil that creeps into this world, why? Because now we are completely immersed in the Holy Spirit because we are guided at all times by the Holy Spirit, because now we are moving completely in the Holy Spirit. In this place, where feet is where we do not learn to depend on God, and God wants his people depend on it (Jeremiah 33:2-3.) Most believers will never have the joy, fulfillment, confidence and love of God that comes with this type of relationship. I do not get because they are not willing to go into depth. I do not get because they are not willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times, and this is truly sad.

To conclude. If we reach a deeper relationship with God, we must move beyond our ability, and trust God for everything. God wants us to lose sight of our ambitions, our goals and our dreams (Isaiah 55:8-9.) God wants us to surrender to Him completely, and let ourselves be guided at all times (Romans 8:13-14.) Ezekiel said, "And I said: Have you seen, son of man? Then he led me back along the riverbank. "In other words, do you understand? I wonder now, have you misunderstood the message of God for your life? Maybe some people still have not made a genuine commitment to God. Perhaps some fear into the depth of his Holy Spirit because they think they are drowning, but remember that we serve a just God (Revelation 7:17.) Remember that we serve a God who cares for and protects us. Take heed as Ezekiel said, he said "Then he led me back along the riverbank." When you trust God, when those willing to enter into deeper communion with Him, He will take care of you and protect you at all times. God will never fail. Walking in water up to their ankles do not take effort, but it is very easy to enter and exit the water. In other words it's easy to enter and leave the communion with the Holy Spirit. That's why we as believers often fall back into sin. That's why as believers we often leave their blessings. Walking in water up to their knees takes minimal effort, but again it is difficult to be forced out of the water. A wave can give us and we will be thrown out, it can give us a push and fall into the sand. Actually just go to the knees is not very different from those who walk on water to the ankles. I say this because once again we find that we can easily be removed from our communion with the Holy Spirit. Now, walking in waist-deep water requires effort. At this level it will not be easy to be pulled from the water, it will not be easy to be forced out of the water. It will not be easy to push us and make us fall in the sand, it will not be easy to force us out of our communion with God and the Holy Spirit. But even this level shows a certain amount of compromise, this is not the level that God wants you to stay. God wants us to go into deep waters, God wants you to do a genuine commitment to Him and are willing to trust him at all times. Do not stop your walk. Do not let fear stop your spiritual growth, and your relationship with God. Do not let your relationship with God pond, move to the depth and see the power of God at work in your life. Now ask yourself, what that level is my relationship with God?

Comparte este enlace