The Deeper Level of the River

 

The Deeper Level of the River

 

Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 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. 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. But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Ezekiel 47:1-12
 

The Lord is bringing His people into the deeper level of the River of the Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit revealed to His Prophet Bob Jones these deeper levels of the River were coming.

 

Two traits of the Spirit that are needed in God’s people are faithfulness and humility.
 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23

The increase in the flow of the water is creating great hardship on those that were not properly rooted and grounded in love, faith, and the Word of God (Truth). The faithful that have prepared themselves according to the directives of the Spirit found this season to be a tremendous increase in the promise and blessings of God.
 

Clearly, the stream is expressing the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Earth. In Ezekiel 47, we discover the prophet interactive in a vision as the Lord instructs him concerning the restoration of Israel and release of the Spirit for his people. The same application of this vision also applies to the church. And he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of {the gate} that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side. When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water {reaching} the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water {reaching} the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through {the water,} water {reaching} the loins. Again he measured a thousand; {and it was} a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, {enough} water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. (Ezek 47:2-5)

 

In Genesis 2 the Lord gives a beautiful picture of His Holy Spirit flowing as One Spirit, yet branching into four streams each denoting a greater measure of depth and flow. Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. And the name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. (Gen 2:10?14)

 

According to Biblical dictionaries the names of these four rivers shows an incremental increase corresponding with the Ezekiel 47 vision. This beautiful parallel illustrates the great love of the Father guiding us into the depths of His Spirit as we are able to grow and mature into the Fullness of Christ and the unfathomable riches of the Kingdom.

 

Pishon— Flowing Stream

Havilah— Bursting Forth; Free Flowing

Tigris— Rapid Flowing

Euphrates— Rushing Forth; Waters in Abundance

 

(Picture taken of the River of the Spirit)

 

 

Two predominant attributes will prepare us for the progressive release of the Spirit as illustrated in Ezekiel 47. The first is our faithfulness in the Ministry of His Spirit imparted to us. When we demonstrate faithfulness in the small things, we will be promoted to even greater measures in the Spirit. We must not despise the day of small beginnings; rather embrace every opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness. The apostle Paul described himself as a steward of the mysteries of the Kingdom and as such a steward must be found trustworthy. (1 Cor 4:1-2) This principle is perfectly illustrated in the parable of the talents. (Matt 25:14-23) To the servants who faithfully utilized the talents entrusted to them, even more was given to them. What greater words could the Lord speak to us in this generation than, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.”

 

The second quality essential for growth and maturity in the things of God is humility. Great grace in required to flow in the depths of God; He gives His grace to the Humble. As Peter admonishes, we must be clothed in the garment of humility. (1Peter 5:5). The expression in this passage uniquely describes someone that has been cloaked in a garment or apron securely fastened with ropes or strings. It directs us to be clothed in a spirit of humility so that the Lord’s glory would be shared with no flesh. As a beloved brother often shares, “ be just as small as you can be and the Lord will be just as big as He can be.”

 

A person bearing the fruit of the Spirit cannot miss Heaven because the fruit of the Spirit are an outward expression of an abiding Presence. It is Godly character that allows us to progress and flow into the deeper realms of the God until we swim in the River of the Holy Spirit with His abiding anointing. Along the banks of this river all manner of trees bearing fruit in their season flourish. Life then begins to overtake death and darkness is overwhelmed with light.

 

The Lord also revealed that as we are now going deeper to the loin’s level of the River it is the place of total commitment to God.

 

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. Ezekiel 8:1,2

 

 

Here in the above scriptures we see God appearing and from His loin’s down and His loins up fire and brightness. This is that loin’s level of the River.