BEGINNING TO MAKE CONTACT AND HEAR FROM THE LORD
Ezek.47:4 – Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees.
This vision of the River of God given to Ezekiel has a powerful application for us in our day to day lives. When Ezekiel first stepped into the River of the Holy Spirit the scripture says the water came up to his ankles. I see this as just sticking your foot in the edge of the River to check it out. This first touch can be quite life changing as we come into contact with the living God for the first time. The next step is critical; Ezekiel went out into the River and now it was up to His knees. Ezekiel was a living picture for each of us as we taste the goodness of God for ourselves and step in a little farther. Water up to His knees speaks to us of prayer, communicating to God for ourselves, and realizing that He is here with us.
This whole encounter with the River is about being baptized or inundated with the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized in the Spirit our prayer life is awakened as we experience the Holy Spirit on us and in us calling out to the Lord for us and through us. Prayer has finally become real and effective in our lives. It’s not just a shopping list but communication with the Living God. Through prayer we are being transformed, enlightened, and empowered at the same time. We are being transformed as Christ is being formed in us through the power of the Spirit. As we learn to pray in the Spirit we are strengthened on the inside of our lives. We are being enlightened as the Word of God and God’s plan of redemption becomes strikingly clear to us. We see the importance of His church and God’s plan for our lives also becoming clear to us. We are empowered so that we can worship the Lord and pour out His Spirit on other people in our lives. This is the whole point of the River. As Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink, out of His innermost being will flow rivers of living water”. So maybe you just feel ankle deep, it just may be time for another step. Step out into the River and let the water come up to your knees. Prayer will no longer be just a discipline but a true delight in God.
