Going Deep Series

Title: Going Deep

Theme: Show the importance of getting deeper with the Lord in the new year to see healing waters flow.

Text: Ezekiel 47:1-12, Mark 4:1-12

Ezekiel 47:3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Introduction

What an awesome and powerful service to close out our 2012. It was almost as if the Lord was saying this the beginning. I believe the Lord removed some “old wineskins” of 2012 and we are going to see the Lord pour out some new wine in our lives in 2013.

I just feel an expectation as we go through this fast. I am seeing the request that I write down differently. Just a reminder as you pray over these needs pray that you want the Lord’s will done, which means not my way but your way because your way is best.

If you would I would like you to turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 47. Read Ezekiel 47:3-5

This is a picture of where the Lord wants to take us in 2013. It is not just a gimmick to say “Go Deep” for 2013 but I believe that that there is a divine mandate for the Andrews Church of God that is connected with many blessings poured out in our life.

Introduction to Ezekiel

The book of Ezekiel is written from a prophets perspective in captivity in Babylon. Ezekiel, whose name means, “God strengthens or sustains” is commissioned in chapters 1-3 to preach to the captivity of Israel. In this we see God’s desire to keep fresh in the Israelites mind who he is and what they are to do.

It would be easy for the Israelites to blend into the Babylonian society. Although they were brought into this nation against their will they seemed to have all the freedoms except to be able to leave. We learn from Ezekiel that he lived in a private home and was married. It would be easy for them to just fall in line and be a part of this nation.

How easy is it for us to live in the world but yet keep separate from this world? It seems so easy just to fit in and ignore all the injustices and immortality of our society. Yet God reminds us over and over again in scripture that we are to be a “children of light in a dark world”.

I Love the way the Message Bible answers this dilemma

Romans 12:1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (2) Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

God reminds the Israelites of their coming judgement if they just become a part of society and don’t obey God. This happens throughout all of chapter 4-24. Then from chapters 25-32 the judgement of the other nations is prophesied. Ammon, Moab, Edom, Phista, the extensive judgements of Tyre, Sidon and Egypt. One by one the prophecy of destruction is shown. In some cases such as Tyre it is a prophecy of total annihilation.

Then finally we come to chapters 33-48. These are the chapters of renewal. Chapters of revival. Chapters of restoration. A promise from God to restore his people. In it we see the call of the church and its purpose. A while back we took a Sunday and looked at the Valley of Dry Bones and sensed God’s calling to revival. Revival in the church. Oh that we could sense God’s calling of revival.

We quickly learned that Revival would only come when God’s people are sensitive to the leading of the spirit of God. Knowing that revival begins when we walk in the spirit of God.

Now we come to another vision. A vision of peace. Here again Ezekiel is led. He is not a man left alone to fend for himself but he is led. “he brought me again unto the door of the house”. Oh that we would feel the desire to be led by his spirit then we would experience the things of God.