Swimming In Deep Water!

Disclaimer:

Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Portions of this sermon were inspired by a sermon by Rev. Alan Carr. You can read his sermon entitled “Getting In Over Your Head” at this website.

Pastor James May

SWIMMING IN DEEP WATER!

Ezekiel 47:3-5, "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. 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. 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."

Are you living in the center of God’s perfect will in your life right now! Have you reached a level of spiritual maturity and obedience to God’s Word that you feel God wants you to have?

The truth of the matter is, we all have plenty of room for improvement!

That’s what this sermon is all about this evening.

I want us to see what God is telling Ezekiel about wading out into the deep spiritual waters of the Spirit-filled life. What has happened in the modern church is that we have become too afraid to give our all to Jesus Christ. We are afraid because we think that God may require more of us than we are willing to give. We reason within ourselves that, if I don’t commit to the work fully then I won’t be found guilty of failing in my commitment to Christ. We are just afraid of getting in over our head.

The Prophet Ezekiel is given a vision of a river that springs forth from God’s Throne. This river of living water, coming from the Throne of God, is representative of the working of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Ezekiel 47:6-10, "And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many."

Ezekiel saw the water as it flowed and became a mighty river that brought life, healing and deliverance to a dry and thirsty land. This land was to be the home of God’s chosen people, Israel. God had such great things in store for his people.

There are many who hear the Gospel and they see what the Spirit can and is doing in the lives of others, yet that is as far as they get! They never really get in. They never respond and surrender their lives to Jesus.

Ezekiel first saw the waters. He could not and did not go into the water alone.

We cannot enter into God’s Kingdom or experience the Holy Ghost in our lives unless we come God’s way. We don’t have the ability to step out without the Lord leading the way. We can’t even come to Him in repentance unless the Holy Spirit deals with us and brings conviction.