How Deep Are You?
“The man holding his measuring line walked east and measured off a thousand cubits. Then he made me wade across the shallow water, and it was ankle deep.” Ezekial 47
Ankle deep is when we begin our walk with Jesus. The first miracle the disciples did in the book of Acts was heal a man’s ankles at the Beautiful Gate, which is the same gate this river flowed out of. This man was able to walk into the temple for the first time. Sadly, this is where most people remain in their relationship with Jesus. In ankle deep water you can be in a relationship with Jesus yet still live your life how you want.
“He measured off another thousand cubits and told me to wade across the stream again; the water was up to my knees.”
Knee deep water represents a place of prayer. In this depth, we are beginning to turn our hearts to Him in faith to pray. It is a comfortable level for a lot of people. We can know Him a little more intimately but yet still maintain control of our lives.
“He measured off another thousand cubits and made me wade across the stream again, and the water was up to my waist.”
As we wade out in the river of living water to our waist it is the place we begin to birth fruit. We are experiencing more of the fruit of His love which in turn displays patience, kindness, gentleness, joy, meekness and hope for our lives. This can be a tricky one because once we see fruit we stop going deeper. We see and experience Him in a way we never have but yet in waist deep water there is a part we can still feel in control.
“He measured off another thousand; it was now a river over my head, which I was unable to swim across. It was a deep swollen river—a river no one could cross.”
This depth represents the revelation of the Holy Spirit that is so deep no human can understand without divine help. His Spirit dwells in each of us today. He is inviting us to go in over our heads in His presence. This is the place of surrendering control over your lives and trusting Him with every aspect. We truly mean it when we say: Jesus, my heart is yours. My life is yours. What happens on the other side of Ezekiel going in over his head?
The shining man said to me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he brought me back to the riverbank. “When I got there, I was astonished to see an enormous number of trees on each side of the river. He said, “This water flows east, down to the Jordan Valley and to the Dead Sea. As it flows into the stagnant waters, that water becomes fresh water. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures will live and thrive. Schools of fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the river goes, it brings healing, and everything will come alive!”
When you and I make the decision to dive deep into the presence of Yeshua we will see things come alive around us. Those children you are believing for, that spouse you have been crying out for, those family members you see drowning in despair, our cities and states will come alive. We carry healing in our leaves as Oaks of Righteousness.
The danger of staying in control and only wading in ankle, knee and waist deep is nothing really changes. Jesus should receive His due reward for the Cross and Resurrection, and it is to come by way of His beloved ones.
