The Daily Word of Righteousness

Waters to the Ankles

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. (Ezekiel 47:3)

The description of the Temple of Ezekiel portrays the transformed inner nature of the mature Christian just as the first chapter describes the outer image of Christ, the outer image we also will have when we attain His image.

The water coming from the south side of the gate that looks toward the East is the Holy Spirit of God.

The adamic man lives by the resources of flesh and blood. The new man of the Kingdom lives by the resources of the Spirit of God. If we are Christians, you and I are learning to live by the Spirit of God.

There are only two ways in which a human being can live. One is by flesh and blood. The other is by the Spirit of God. It is the will of God that every individual in the new world of righteousness live by the Spirit of God.

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

How do we learn to live by the Spirit of God?

We start off in water to the ankles. Don't try to be a hero. Learning to live by the Spirit of God takes a lifetime of experience. Easy does it!

First we must always keep in mind that when we were baptized in water we became part of Christ's crucifixion and part of His resurrection. We count ourselves as dead and we count ourselves as raised in Christ to the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

Each day God establishes our position to a greater extent. He faithfully brings incidents into our life that cause us to choose between our adamic nature and our new born-again nature.

These exercises keep us praying every minute. We have to keep on viewing ourselves as dead indeed unto the world and alive indeed unto the Lord.

In this world we experience numerous pains, dreads, accusations, fears, betrayals, frustrations, insults—just about every type of trouble imaginable. Has this been true of you? Probably so if you're human.

It is what you do with these troubles that will determine whether you are transformed into the image of Christ or whether you end up as decaying protoplasm. You will turn out to be a prophet or a cranky, selfish old person, complaining about everything, with nothing to give the next generation. It's your choice each day.

God wants you to live in the Spirit! Read your Bible every day. Pray. Give. Serve. Do what you can. Quit your bellyaching. Forget about retiring. Get out there and do something profitable. At least you can pray and that's one of the most valuable exercises of all.

Every problem you have will drive you either further into the flesh or further into the Spirit. Complain, complain, complain and you will grow old and bitter with a face like a pickle.

Pray, pray, pray. Give your troubles to God. Go through the veil to the Mercy Seat. Christ paid for your admittance to the very Presence of the Majesty in the heavens. Quit blaming the devil, people, and God, and pull down some grace to help yourself and those around you.

You are in water to the ankles. You can keep running back on the beach if you want to or you can move on out to deeper waters.

I am too old; I am too young; I am too sick; I am too poor. There always will be an excuse if you are looking for one.

For those who love the Lord there are no excuses. They are out there at every age fighting the good fight of faith. They are moving forward in the waters of God. They are learning to live in the Spirit of God.

You can lecture your children and grandchildren about proper behavior but it may do little good. But if you will bring God into your life they will see and feel the glory and it will change them.

Which is it going to be? Get up on your hind legs and press the battle!