Ankle Deep - This represents the step of faith that saves the soul, Acts 16:31, Psa. 34:8. It is truly great to be saved, but it isn't the end! Yes, He brought us out, but He also wants to lead us on. Many stop right here and never go one step farther with God. There is much more to being saved than just getting saved!
Have you ever watched the children in the kiddie pool? They remind me of a lot of church members this evening. Always yelling and screaming, wanting somebody else's pool toy. Doing their best to splash someone and push someone else under. Sounds just like many of the folk in our churches, doesn't it?)
Knee Deep - The knees speak of prayer. This represents a life that is learning dependence upon the Lord. This is the person who prays and trying to live their life in faith before the Lord, Heb. 10:38. Many never reach even this shallow level of maturity in the Lord. You need to remember, however, that no person will ever stand taller than he does on his knees!
Those who are at this level know something of the power of the river. They can feel its power as it rushes past, but they aren't really affected by it. They are still standing on their own 2 feet. They are in control of their lives and aren't being supported by the river.
Loin Deep - The loins are emblematic of strength. This speaks of spiritual power in our lives. When one has waded out waist deep into the river, more of the river and less of the man is seen, Ill. John 3:30. When we have waded out this far, we can feel the power of the river, and others can see its effect on us, Eph. 6:10. This level of maturity is rarely reached, but when it is, you can't hide its effects in your life! It will tell on you! As deep as this level of spiritual growth is, it is still not as deep as we can go!
The few who are at this level of spiritual maturity, have lost some control over themselves. They are often picked up by the river and moved a few feet at a time, but still, they are close enough to the shore to be able to stand if they need to. They are in control.
Now we come to verse 5: At this point, Ezekiel has reached a place where the river is in control. It takes him where it will. He has no power over his destination. He is at the mercy of the river!
This represents the highest spiritual level that any believer can reach in this life. Waters he couldn't pass over! It just doesn't get any deeper than this.
There are three reasons why I can say that this is the deepest you can ever get as a Christian.
1. When you are this deep, you have gone beyond your own ability - Ill. Ezekiel was at the total mercy of the river. (Ill. Far too many like the safety of the shore.) The person who has reached this level of spiritual maturity has moved beyond himself and has placed himself under that control and command of God.
This is what true spiritual maturity is all about! It is about coming to the end of ourselves and realizing just how big this thing really is, and that there is no way that we could ever do it on our own. We must come to the place where we realize who is in control! Phil. 4:13.
2. When you are this deep, you have ceased to support yourself - Ezekiel was no longer wading, he was just resting. He wasn't in charge, he gave himself over to the power of the river! This is where God wants to bring you and me to. He wants us to reach the place where we learn to rest in Him and allow Him to support us and carry us through this life. It will no longer be you trying to run around and get things done, it will be you resting in the power of the Holy Spirit watching the Lord conduct His business as He caries you along with Him.
3. When you are this deep, you have given yourself up to the will of the river - Ezekiel was going to go where the river took him. This is how the Lord wants us to be. He wants us to loose sight of ourselves, our goals, our ambitions, our dreams and He wants us to be totally, 100% surrendered to Him and His will for our lives. God is looking for surrender from you and me, Rom. 12:1-2.
4. When you are this deep, you are just happy to be carried by the river - The will of the river becomes your will also. This is where we are all commanded to be - Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:25; 1 John 2:6. Basically, Ezekiel was all wet! He was into something that was way over his head. That, my friends is where God wants to get you and I.
Do you know what the secret to real revival is? It is nothing more than for God's people to get to the place where they are as deep in Him as they can get! That's what it is! It isn't for that ankle deep crowd! Those knee deep folks will get a ripple every now and then. Even those who are out there to the loins won't feel the force of God's power like they should. It is only when we throw ourselves on the mercy of the river and allow the Spirit of God to have the absolute right of way in our lives that we can experience true and genuine revival.
Now, I want you to notice 2 things that are so deep and profound:
Notice this statement in verses 3 - 4, "He brought me through the waters." Some of you are holding back on total commitment to the Lord this evening because you are afraid that if you fully sell out to Him that you will drown. God will never let you down! Some of this saints have walked through some mighty deep waters over the centuries and God brought them all out!
A. Job, Job 1-2
B. 3 Hebrews, Dan. 3
C. Daniel, Dan. 6
D. The Disciples - John 6 (Feeding the 5,000 and the storm!)
My friend, what the Lord did for them, He will also do for you! (Ill. Isa. 43:2; Isa. 45:7)
The deeper you go, the harder it is to jump out - When you are in the kiddie pool, you can jump in and out whenever you feel like it. Even when you are knee deep and loin deep, it is just a short hike back to the safety of the bank. However, when you have placed yourself at the mercy of the river, it's a whole lot harder to get back out again. What I am saying is that an ever deepening spiritual life is a hedge against failure. Get in as deep as you can!
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