The past week or so I've been reading Ezekiel 37- The Valley of Dry Bones- over and over. It's like the Lord was trying to tell me something about the road ahead. There is revelation here for those that are chosen to do a work for the Kingdom and you are being lead into a land that is currently barren.
This morning, these words came to me while in the spirit:
I will lead you and guide you through these waters. I have prepared the way. Press your ear to me and my word and continue to love others but hate sin.
Today, Ezekiel 47... 10 chapters later... quickened to me, so I read that
chapter as well. It talks about The River from the Temple. There were some areas that stood out to me where the Holy Spirit has shed understanding on for this journey:
1. Ezekiel was lead into water that was ankle-deep initially.
2. Next, the water was knee-deep.
3. The water then rose to waist-level.
4. According to Ezekiel 47:5, He then came to an area that he could not cross because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in, but it was a river that no one could cross.
As we progress in our spiritual journey and calling, there are different levels of anointing that we'll need as we move ahead. When we first start, an ankle-deep anointing is good enough but as we move forward we'll get to points where we'll need a higher level of the anointing, doing high level Kingdom work that clearly shows that God is helping you because you can't do it in your own power and strength. Heidi Baker's Iris Ministries is a great example of this high-level anointing.
As I continued reading into Ezekiel 47:7-12, it became quite clear to me
1. The function of the anointing:
a) to freshen surroundings
b) to give life to surroundings
c) to draw "fishermen" or fishers of men to your work to cast their nets and help bring in souls
d) to bear fruit that will edify and heal surroundings (specifically, verse 12- their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing)
2. The importance of not stagnating at the lower anointing levels:
a) the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt
So, I hope this gives you faith and encouragement to continue moving forward in the water to the point that God's anointing consumes you and you are no longer in control. The puzzle pieces of Ezekiel 37 and Ezekiel 47 came together today and I praise the Lord for His revelation and illumination as it pertains to the journey ahead for His people.
Praise you, Father God!
