"going Deeper"

Going Deeper

Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ1P9KUupJo (Time: Go to 107:18)

In Revelation chapter 22 there was something that expanded my understanding of the Holy Spirit and power to live this life for Jesus, to be His disciples.

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1 NKJV)

This is a picture of the heavenly Jerusalem, and we see God’s throne, and upon the throne are the Father, the Son, who is the Lamb, or Jesus Christ. But where’s the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is none other than that pure river of the water of life flowing out from the throne. How can I be sure? Because, the same word structure used here to describe the river, is the same word structure Jesus uses describing the working of the Holy Spirit.

“‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.” (John 7:37-39a NKJV)

And so, the Holy Spirit is that pure river of the water of life that flows from under the Heavenly throne, and it’s the same river of living water then that flows from every believer in Jesus Christ.

But the question becomes, “How much of this river, how much of the Holy Spirit do you want flowing in you and from you?” Do you want a small stream, or a mighty river?

The Apostle Paul tells us that the Lord is able to do above and beyond what we can ask or think, and He does it through the power that works within us (Ephesians 3:20-21). And the power that works within us is Jesus Christ who sits upon the throne of our hearts, and out from Him flows the Holy Spirit, these rivers of living waters.

As I was thinking about this, I was then drawn to another river described by the prophet Ezekiel. It’s the river that will flow from the Millennium Temple. And what Ezekiel records for us is that wherever the river flows there’s healing and new life.

It says, “Where the river flows everything will live.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

And this river flows out from under the throne, out the Eastern gate, and into the Jordan valley and barren desert, bringing healing and life. The desert begins to blossom, and you’ll find trees in abundance on both sides of the river. And the river flows right into the Dead Sea, and the Dead Sea comes back to life and is teaming with fish.

What I saw from this picture is how Jesus will release a river that’ll flow not only into us, but out from us as well, the Holy Spirit, and He will bring both healing and renewal. Again, “Where the river flows everything will live.”

What I also found interesting about this river are its degrees of depth. First, it’s ankle deep, then it comes to the knees, the waist, and finally it’s over your head. But what we don’t see is that as people wade into the river, we never see them coming out on the other side, and that’s because once they reach the middle, the current is so strong it sweeps them away.

So how deep will we go, or better yet, willing to go? Know that the deeper you go, the mightier the flow, that is, the more healing and renewal there is.

So, let’s look at these two statements.

“Where the River flows there’s healing” and “The Deeper you go, the mightier the flow.”

Please allow me to illustrate

Take the anchor out and tie myself to it

o   Anchor represents all those things that we’re unwilling to give up, our comfort zone. And it is what prevents us from fully following God.

Illustrate each level

o   Ankle deep – This is where we’re willing to get our feet wet, but we’re actually not in the current

o   Knee deep – This is where we’re starting to feel that tug of the Holy Spirit

o   Waist deep – Now we begin to be moved inch by inch, sensing the Holy Spirit’s calling          

o   And finally, it’s Over Our Heads. It’s where we’re being used in ministry and seeing God do great and mighty things in us and through us

But the reason we don’t flow down the river is because we’ve tied ourselves to the shore, and that’s because when it gets too uncomfortable, when the Holy Spirit begins taking us where we don’t want to go, we pull ourselves out of the flow, out of the river and back onto shore.

When we get to the middle and the water is over our heads and we begin to be swept up in the flow of the Holy Spirit we get afraid, because we want the control. We want to know where we’re going.