Knee High In The Holy Spirit
Today we are going to study Ezekiel’s Vision as described in verses 47:1-4). In this vision, he had a guide that would guide him through it. This vision prophesies the beginning of the Church after the resurrection of Christ, and explains the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian that will determine our spiritual growth and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I see new Christians every day eager, even impatient to grow and receive all of God’s blessings. – If that’s you, or you’ve lost what you once had, listen to what I have to say next.
The Holy Spirit takes up residence within each believer the moment they are born again. The growth process is greatly accelerated when a believer consciously surrenders to Christ and to the filling and control of the Holy Spirit. A believer who is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is a faithful student of God’s Word, who has learned to trust and obey God, can go through the various stages of spiritual growth and become a mature Christian in a short period of time. time. — Some Spirit-filled Christians demonstrate more of the fruit of the Spirit within a year than others who have not been taught or are uncommitted believers for 50 years.
Ezekiel 47:1. — “Then he brought me again to the door of the house (the temple – Church); and, behold, waters came out from under the threshold of the house toward the east; for the front of the house was toward the east, and The waters came down from under the right side of the house, on the south side of the altar.” — The waters spoken of here is the Living Water – or the Holy Spirit.
We become more filled with the Holy Spirit as we learn and surrender to God’s Word. These waters came from God through the church and to the world. From Him spring those living waters.
Ezekiel 47:3 — “And when the man who had the line in his hand went out toward the east, he measured a thousand cubits, and led me through the waters; the waters came up to my ankles.” — The water apparently emerged from under the Eastern Gate as a small stream flowing a thousand cubits, a little less than a third of a mile. Ezekiel then records, “The man…carried me through the waters,” and states that he was ankle deep. (This symbolizes the area where the New Convert or Christian Baby walks)
Ezekiel 47:4 Again he measured a thousand, and made me pass through the waters; the waters were knee deep. He returned to measure a thousand, and made me pass; the waters were in the distance. (This symbolizes spiritual growth and maturity as we walk deeper with the Holy Spirit.)
The more this water flowed, the deeper it became. Among other things, it symbolizes our ongoing walk with the Lord because as we walk through the Living Water and experience more of the Holy Spirit, we realize that his supply of grace and love is abundant and limitless.
THE ANKLE DEEP CHRISTIAN — This is the area where we build our foundation. This is also why my church runs a special 13-week class that teaches new converts the fundamentals of the Christian life. (Building a firm foundation).
At the moment of salvation we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. However, it is up to each individual to determine how much of the Holy Spirit we want to fill our lives.
Ezekiel 47:3 It symbolizes a new Christian who is submerged in the Living Water that reaches his ankles. But you have to walk continually, and downstream, through this ankle-deep water if you hope to grow to maturity. You will notice in verse 4 that as you walk down the river, the water gets deeper.
Yet we see many Christians, new and old, crossing the stream instead of going downstream. They come on Sunday morning, go from the shores of the world to the water, and then return to the shores of the world when they leave the church. We have well-meaning people who start our Firm Foundations class, but don’t attend regularly. Some people never attend a Sunday school class, only attend Sunday morning service, never pray or read the Bible, and then wonder why their lives are such a mess or why they don’t receive all of God’s blessings. These people aren’t even ankle high. They are barely dipping a finger in the water. To grow, they must walk downstream, searching below the surface.
We allow our trivial tribulations to become bigger problems through our “self-centeredness” and lack of faith in God’s Word,
We allow a “simple disagreement” to escalate into a major confrontation that leads to broken friendships or even broken homes. – But if we had been walking in the Spirit and had a right relationship with God – It would have been just a “simple disagreement”.
Our faith grows by walking in the spirit and receiving the Word. But how many of us even open our Bibles for a few minutes a day to receive His glory?
We can have as much of the Holy Spirit as we want. All we have to do is get into the water and keep walking downstream.
The current is available to each of us. It is your decision or choice to step into it and then have the wisdom and desire to walk downstream. Sometimes it will require sacrifice.
Spiritual maturity is always determined by our willingness to sacrifice our own desires for the interest of the Kingdom of God, or for the good of others.
THE KNEE DEEP CHRISTIAN — Ezekiel 47:4 – “Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the waters; the waters were knee-deep. .” (This symbolizes spiritual growth and maturity as we walk deeper with the Holy Spirit.)
This is what the Holy Spirit does in the lives of those who surrender to Him. We begin to experience His supply of grace as a small stream flowing from Christ, the Spring, and it continues to increase in preciousness as we walk daily downstream. in the light of His Word.
Ezekiel 47:7 “Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were many trees on one side and on the other.”
As Ezekiel emerged from waist-deep water, he began to see both sides of the river lined with strong, healthy trees that were laden with rich fruit. (This symbolizes the masses of mature Christians in the church who were teaching the Word and producing new fruit.) This is where the church will be at some point before Christ comes.
Galatians 5:22,23 “But when the Holy Spirit governs our life, he will produce in us this fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance.”
When we develop these fruits into mature Christians: broken marriages are mended, forgiveness comes easily, talking to others about Jesus is a joy (an obsession), we have acquired the patience to stand still and let God intervene. our lives, — God’s love is shown through us through our good works, — our self-control is strengthened so that we receive the power to resist temptation, — we have a desire to serve God to his glory — and we have the strength to experience joy, peace, and contentment no matter what our situation. (How much better could life be?)
But to receive those things, we have to enter this river of “Living Water” that Ezekiel saw in his vision, and walk continuously until all those fruits flourish in our lives. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, we long for the knowledge that is available to us through the Word of God. We lift our hands and voices in praise as we sing to him in our Church services. We have a desire to become more like Jesus.
If you are a Christian and your life is out of control, under stress, fighting temptation. Or you’re under an addiction that you can’t break. If you are not experiencing joy and peace, then perhaps you have come out of the water and need to get back in. Or maybe it only goes to the ankles (some of you may have been there your whole life) and the fruits can’t bloom. Then ask God to give you the strength to keep going. We have to keep walking until we receive enough of the Holy Spirit and the Word to produce those fruits. We can have as much of the Holy Spirit as we want. All we have to do is keep walking down the river.
Ezekiel 47:7 symbolizes the masses of mature Christians who taught the Word and produced new fruit. Thousands are beginning to lead others to Christ through “Bridge Ministries.”