Recently, after the first three months of this year flying buy, and busying myself with church life, missions and preparations for Easter services & outreaches, I knew time away with my family was needed. Spending time away with the ones you love is always a good thing! We spent a week at the beach just enjoying each others company, building sand castles, throwing the Frisbee, catching ball, eating bad & the like... when it came to swimming, my son wanted to get in the pool everyday but being really warm enough only one day. When it came time to finally get in, he didn't want to, after begging all week, so naturally as a good father I pushed him in the deep end & dove in after him for a time of "pool fun" (Marco polo, etc.) after playing awhile he said these words, "Dad, I'm glad you pushed me in the deep end!" Ahhh, sweet victory!!!
Also recently I preached a message on "The River of God" challenging all to jump in, get in the flow of God, and swim in the deep end! To be a part of the pool where God is once again troubling the waters, allowing this River of Living Water to flow up & out of us. (Jn. 5:4-7 & 7:37-39)
In Ezekiel 47 verses 3-9 it talks about the three levels of the river that flows from the sanctuary in the new Jerusalem, a biblical picture of the types of believers in the church today:
1.) Ankle Deep- a place where everything is controllable & safe leaving one to only observe the move of God!
2.) Waist Deep- a place where you're comfortable with the move of God but yet still in control and able to get in or out whenever you're ready!
3.) Swimming in it- a place where you are fully engulfed, beyond your control, so deep you're lost in the water & having to swim to keep up!
THIS IS WHERE GOD WANTS HIS CHILDREN- FULL, OVERCOME, ABOUNDING IN HIS GRACE, GOODNESS & GLORY!!!! So today if your not in the deep end of the River of God, swimming in Him, ask your Father to push you in, after swimming with him awhile, you'll thank him for pushing you in! So see you in the deep end & bring your floaties, were gonna be there for awhile!!!!
5 comments:
Pastor. Thank God for the deep end, who wants to be in the shallow? There's not much there! I want to be in the deep where I can swim around and explore all of his wonderous works. I love the message, it's definitly revelation and not information!
One thing Pastor our Generation needs is to be in the DEEP END. We have to many of our young people just splashing around. I believe God's already pushing some of our young folk in the deep end and it's going to cause a chain reaction!!! :)
Great Word! I'm bringing my floaties!
Great blog Pastor!
We all need to sometimes be pushed into the deep end!
It's also great to see a man who loves spending time with his family and makes that a priority!
Thank you Pastor! I can hope and pray that MY family wouldn't mind me PUSHING them in the deep end. All things are possible with Him, His power and presence. There's nothing like "swimming in the deep end", and I so want everyone I know and love to jump in, too!!!
Pastor,
Thank you for your diligence in seeking the face of God. Our church and people are reaping the benefits and you're instilling in us a desire for for more of God ourselves.
What an amazing message. I'm glad I know how to swim cause I wouldn't want to be anywhere but the deep end.
sg
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