New & Different Dimensions in Christ, Part I

For many of us, it is hard to believe that we, as Christ's children, do serve a living, loving, and active God who has so much more for us then the mundane. We have only come to know that if we go through one basic level...get up, go to church, hear the sermon, wear our masks, do some human works for God, act pious, and wear the right garb that we are 'in'. We are part of the religious circle. We have accepted Christ as our Savior. We have said the right words. “Hey, now, we can set back and do as we please until the Lord comes to take us home to Heaven.”...all comfy, cozy.

However, in that equation comes the Lord's desire that we grow and mature in Him. Therefore, is it a possibility that we get stuck in our lack of faith and complacency?

It was between April 5th and April 8th, l988. Due to my faith in God and in His presence working in my life, many didn't understand that faith; and, so, I had come under much condemnation and suffering.

The old song, 'I Beg Your Pardon...I Never Promised You A Rose Garden' permeated in my brain...along with the sunshine, there has to be some rain sometime. My people, my church did not understand. And, it was hard.

Along came a dear friend named Betty Lynch who came all excited saying that she had received a word from the Lord for me. She was in her daughter's kitchen praying when the presence of the Lord became strong around her. She wrote down what she felt the Lord had said to her for me. In that message, the Lord told me that as I would obey Him that I would now be entering 'a new and different dimension in Christ'.

Like most of us, I just said, “Say, what?” What does that mean? Are there such things...new and different dimensions in Christ? Thus, my search for answers began. (As an added note...That word was confirmed on April 8th in a mighty way. I had no doubt after that message that the words from the Lord were true. And, as Ms. Betty was such a lowly, humble lady, she cried in total awe that the Lord had indeed confirmed His word to her.) But, I still wanted to grow and learn about such a dimension for if it was for me, I just knew it was for 'you' too. If this was true, then, we would find out answers in the Word of God. The Lord was showing us His glory and majesty by offering us more and that message was confirmed in the very Word of God, the Bible.

*For the person who believes in the presence of the living God, the Lord comes back, regenerates him, and makes him a new creation. So, there 'are' different levels and dimensions of enjoying God.

Let's look at Ezekiel 47:l-2 (Amp.)...'Then He (my guide) brought me again to the door of the house (of the Lord—the Temple). And behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east; and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south side of the altar. 2) Then he brought me out by the way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side.'

*If we were to look into our regenerated spirit through God's eyes, we would see water. Jesus said through the Word in John 3:5 that 'Unless a man is born again of Water, that is the Spirit'. So every believer has the Holy Spirit, who is that Water.

So, there are new and different dimensions (levels) of appropriating that Water...new and different degrees of God. As in Ezekiel 47, Ezekiel used 'water' as a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence in an even-greater measure.

Ankle Deep...Ezekiel 47:3...'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 his ankles.'

Thus, every believer who is walking in water up to his ankles, is being led by the Holy Spirit at bare minimum. According to Paul, all born again believers are, at least, in Water up to their ankles. He divided the world into those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk according to the will of the Holy Spirit.*

Let's look at Romans 8:4 for one moment...'In order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit'.

Many believers say...”OK...I don't always walk according to the Spirit. But Paul was saying 'Yes. You do!' The fact that you are alive and that you believe Jesus is your Redeemer means you are walking according to the Spirit. Now, that may be all you do...but you are walking according to the Spirit.

Let's look at some of the character traits of those who walk only ankle deep...

...Their sins are forgiven.

...They know the Father.

...They need food (the Word of God) and time (no way around this) to spiritually mature.

Largely, they tend to be self-centered, concerned about their own daily activities; and basically, they are doing the walking. It is at times like those when they need the Holy Spirit most. However, it does not work according to their flesh. At this point, many choose to stay ankle-deep rather than getting to know the Lord God and go deeper into that new and different dimension in Christ. The Bible character, Lot, is a good example of this type of 'carnal' believer.

It is said that most believers are satisfied with ankle-deep even though there 'are' higher and deeper levels available.*

...continued 'New & Different Dimensions in Christ, Part 2'.