May 20, 2021
Four Levels – Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit
Ezekiel said, in my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in but too deep to walk through. He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. (EZEKIEL 47:1-8)
Precious one this is a season God is calling you to launch out into the deep in faith. In 2001 I had a vision one day of me in a green fishing boat tied to a dock. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was enjoying the beautiful sunshine just rocking along so comfortably tied to the dock. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, ‘I am calling you to launch out into the deep!’ You can remain tied to the dock where everything is comfy, or you can untie the knot of the boat and launch out in the deep. It’s your choice, but either way, you are launching out into the deep. (Psalms 42:7) You can go the easy way, or you can go the hard way, but either way, you are going out into the deep. If you choose not to untie the rope to go out into the deep, then I will send a storm and cut the ties and you will go out into the deep. Immediately, I said, ‘God I will untie the boat!’ I believe that is what God is saying again, today!
I remember talking to a peer at the office, she said, ‘Judy get out of the boat! The water is not very deep! It’s only an illusion! Get out of the boat and slosh around in the water! In December 2020 I remember saying, ‘God I am so happy and content with my life, where I live and I love what I do. Six weeks later my apple cart was turned upside down in the ice storm in Texas. It’s been an adventure, but I am traveling light these days because I am in the deep waters of faith, where are you in your walk with the Holy Spirit? Are you:
1. Ankle-deep level? That is when you think you are in control of your life and decisions.
2. Knee-deep level? When you have totally yielded control to the Holy Spirit.
3. LOIN-deep level? At this point, you can sense the struggle between the spirit and the flesh.
4. Over Your head level? THE RIVER EXPERIENCE (Ezekiel 47:5): There is a river that flows from the throne of God through the Holy Spirit to your spirit.
What level are you currently at spiritually? Will your body be a vehicle or a prison for the Holy Spirit? In this passage, there was water everywhere – this level signifies a situation where the Holy Spirit is fully in charge. You must get to that place where you bring your mind, your thoughts into subjection to follow the Holy Spirit and be in over your head! (Psalms 64:6)
Paul said, I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (Romans 7:18-23) When you get into the spirit realm, you suddenly discover that uncrucified flesh is a terrible enemy to spirituality, and there are things that want to feed that uncrucified flesh in your life. Most people have filled their homes with gadgets that service the uncrucified flesh such as TV and entertainment shows of all kinds.
As a child of the most high God, He wants you to turn it around and use it to feed your spirit. You can either tune your TV to a pornographic channel and rated R movies or choose to watch a Christian channel, you determine which one you want to feed on. You have to guard your heart, via your eye gate and ear gate with what you allow into it.
Proverbs 4:23 NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
NKJ says Guard your heart for out of it will flow the issues of life or it will be a wellspring of life. You choose.
PRAYER:
Father God, I submit my all (spirit, soul, and body) to the commands of the Holy Spirit. I yield my will to become your will. Holy Spirit I listen intently to your voice and I ask you to lead me and guide me in all my ways. I ask you Father to release a stronger discipline in me. Help me to discipline myself in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen.