“Wade In The Water”
The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in.”
Ezekiel 47:1-5 NIV
It is by way of Ezekiel that we have received reports of many strange dreams, visions and creatures! It was he, you recall, that reported a vision of a wheel in the middle of a wheel! It was Ezekiel, who reported a vision of strange beasts that had the form of a man with four faces and four wings! It was Ezekiel, who took us along with him as the hand of the Lord was upon him and sat him down in a valley which was full of dry bones! Now, in this text, Ezekiel shares with us his experience of wading in the water which flowed from the Temple.
Yes! Here, Ezekiel shares with us an experience in which he was led through water that got deeper and deeper. But, before we go with Ezekiel into the water, I think it would do us well to see where the water was coming from. Ezekiel said, “I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple!” This water was seeping from beneath the door of the temple. Biblically speaking, water is symbolic of life, refreshment, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God. So then, it is of interest that the water was seeping from beneath the door! The door was not open so that it could flow out. No, the door was closed, yet the water could not be contained! It seeped out from beneath the door! Oh! My brothers and sisters, most churches that I know of, have an unofficial closed-door policy concerning the word of God! Although many of us say that we are “Missionary Baptist,” the truth of the matter is, that in many cases, our name should be changed to “Stationary Baptist!” We specialize in proclaiming the word within the door! Our best Christian behavior, most of our witnessing and testifying, occur within these doors! But, bless God today! Just like the water which Ezekiel saw seeping from beneath the temple door, the word of God cannot be contained between these four walls or behind the closed church doors: Somehow or another, the word gets out! Yes! The word seeps out, in spite of our closed doors and closed mouths!
Another thing of interest is the progression of the depth of the water. The further it went away from the temple, the deeper it got! Now, this is just the exact opposite of what happens with most of our churches today! It seems that with us, the farther the word goes away from the church, the swallower it gets! Oh! The word is deep on Sunday morning! All you can hear is “Brother this” and “Sister that,” “The Lord says this” and “The Lord says that!” But, the farther we get away from the church, the farther we get from Sunday morning, the less we speak and hear God’s word!
Perhaps this is true because many who claim to be followers of Christ have not had Ezekiel’s experience of progressively wading in the water! Many have only gone part of the way! Perhaps they have only gone into the water to ankle depth. Ezekiel said, “As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.” The ankle is a basic and quite necessary bone in the body. It supports the body’s weight and enables us to stand on our feet. You couldn’t stand up without your ankle! Being ankle-deep in the water is symbolic of foundational religion: It is basic and elementary! Now, mind you, you need to have a good, basic and solid foundation for your faith! But ankle-deep is too swallow, it’s too superficial! That’s why the Hebrew writer wrote: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, and not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (Heb. 6:1 KJV). If all you know about is being “born again” your religion is too swallow. You need to wade a little deeper in the water; for being born again is not the end of the journey, it’s just the beginning of the journey! It’s essential, but it’s basic and elementary, it’s too shallow, you need to grow in knowledge and in faith! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
Well, Ezekiel said that the man measured off another thousand cubits and led him through water that was knee-deep. Some have suggested that knee-deep is symbolic of prayer. And certainly, if you are to go on to maturity as a Christian, it is essential that you have a vibrant prayer-life! You need to spend some time alone with the Lord in prayer! Jesus said, “Men ought to always pray and not faint.” (Luke 18:1 KJV) Prayer is communion and communication with God. You can’t make it unless you pray! Others have suggested that knee-deep is symbolic of tradition. There are some people whose religion is simply a knee-jerk reaction! It’s something that they do without much thought as to the reason why they do it! They do it because momma and daddy did it, and their parents did it before them! Now, there’s nothing wrong with tradition as long as tradition doesn’t entrap one in the past and stifle growth and progress! There are too many folks in the church who are just knee deep! They come because they have always came! And when they get here, they are still not here! These people are comfortable in staying right where they are: They are locked into traditions. Yes, knee deep is farther than ankle deep, but you are still more out of the water than you are in the water! These people are at the church, but not really in the church! Some are in the church, but as of yet, have not allowed the church to be in them! Knee-deep, though better than ankle-deep, is still not enough! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
Well, Ezekiel was led even deeper! He said, “He measured off another thousand cubits and led through water that was up to my waist! Waist-deep is the half-way point; you’re half-way in, but you’re also half-way out! Some people have a half-way religion! They’re just like the Jews of Elijah’s day; halting between two opinions! Half-way or waist-deep religion desires to have a partnership with God. These are the ones who get up and testify saying, “I’m so glad the Lord is a part of my life!” But God has no desire to be just a part of our lives! Paul said, “For me to live is Christ!” In the Greek text, there is no verb. What Paul actually said was: Life equals Christ! This thing is not a partnership! We’re not on an equal footing with God! He doesn’t have to consult with us before he does anything! No! He is not our co-pilot! He doesn’t want to just ride along with us! No! The Christian life is not about a partnership; it’s about discipleship! Jesus said; “Follow Me!” So then, waist deep is still not deep enough! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
Now, before I come to a close, I want you to notice that, as Ezekiel went from one depth to another, Ezekiel said, “He led me through the water.” If you’re going to go deeper with God; if you’re going to wade in the water; then, the Lord has to lead you! You can’t go deeper on your own! No one knows the water like the Lord; He knows how to guide you safely. Notice that Ezekiel said that he was led through the water. Yes! He was led through! Whatever stage he was in, it was something that he was going through! Oh, my brothers and sisters, I think I need to tell you that if you’re going to wade in the water, there are some things that you must go through! Going through denotes progress and experience. You should be progressing from faith to faith! If you’re in the valley, don’t despair; you’re just going through! If you are on the mountain top, don’t get too satisfied, you’re just going through! Yes! Many they are, who start in the race; But with the light they refuse to keep pace, Others accept it because it is new, But not very many expect to go through! But, I’m going through, Yes! I’m going through; I’ll pay the price whatever others do; I’ll take the way with the Lord’s despised few; I’m going through Yes! I’m going through!
Then, finally, Ezekiel said, “He measure off another thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in!” Ezekiel was led into water that was over his head! And that’s where the Lord wants us to be: Immersed in His Spirit and immersed in His Word! He wants us to wade in the water until it is over our heads! And you know, that’s what true Christianity is; it’s over our heads! We can’t figure it out: it’s over our heads! It’s beyond our understanding; it’s over our heads! Many people stumble in their Christian walk because they spend too much time trying to figure it out instead of letting God work it out! You can’t figure it out: it’s over your head!
Yes! Ezekiel said that the water was deep enough to swim in; that meant that he could no longer stand on his feet! And I tell you my brothers and sisters; that’s where the Lord wants you and I today! He wants us where we can no longer stand on our feet, but have to learn how to trust and depend upon Him! I remember I took a swimming class once and the hardest thing for me to learn was how to relax and stretch out on the water! I kept trying to stand up, and every time I tried to stand up, I would sink! But when I learned to relax and stretch out on the water, I discovered that the water would carry me! What I’m trying to tell you tonight is, that if you just learn how to lean and depend on Jesus; He will carry you through! Yes! Just ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through! Yes! That’s where the real action is: out in the deep! You may feel secure near the shore, but mature salvation is out in the deep! You can stand on your feet near the shore; but God wants you to launch out into the deep. You can only catch minnows near the shore, but if you want to catch the big fish; you got to launch out into the deep!
Well, the man led Ezekiel back to the banks of the river. And when Ezekiel got back to the bank, he noticed a great number of trees on each side of the river: For everywhere the river flowed, it brought revival and new life! Everywhere the river flowed, it made the salt water fresh and the bitter waters sweet! And as I close today! That’s the way it is with the word of God! Everywhere it flows, it brings vitality and new life! It brings revival and refreshment! Now, I don’t know about you! I don’t know how you feel about it! But I’m going to wade in the water! I’m going to go deeper with God! I’m going to stretch out on His Word! His word is all right! His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my pathway! His word is a comfort to my troubled soul and my battle-ax in the time of war! His word is food for my soul and strength to my spirit! His word picks me up when I am down and turns me around when I am wrong! Oh! I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that I got His word! I’m going to wade in His word! I’m going to stretch out on His word! I’m going to trust in His word! Yes! I’m going to lean on His word! Yes! I’m leaning on the everlasting arms! Oh! What a fellowship, what a joy Divine, leaning on the everlasting arms! What blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms!
