Moving to the next level (2)

Life is designed to be progressive and in stages, moving from one level to another. This is true whether in the physical or spiritual things of life. David progressed in greatness (2 Sam. 5:10). Isaac progressed in prosperity (Gen. 26:13). Paul progressed from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). Peter admonished that we progress in Christian virtue (2 Peter 1:5-11). The psalmist moved from strength to strength. God has promised to increase us more and more (Psalm 115:14). So, be ready to make progress to the next level in 2024. Stagnancy is an aberration to the life of God. Man has the inherent capacity for progress. As we align ourselves with God, we are pulled to higher levels of glory.

When God said to John: “…Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after now,” it was an invitation to the next level. God wanted John to step up to a higher pedestal of revelation and understanding. When the disciples were ministering to God in Acts 13:1-2, the disciples were already engaged in some form of work of the ministry, but when they began to worship God, the Holy Spirit spoke and said: “Now, separate for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” This marked a new phase in the work of the disciples. From this point, Paul began his missionary journeys. Paul also began to witness supernatural miracles during his missionary journeys.

Then, in Joshua 1:2-3, God invited Joshua to step out into higher leadership responsibilities. God said to him: “Moses My servant is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel.”

Therefore, moving to the next level of life should not be anything strange, but something that is a normal progression in life.

In the first part of this series, we did say God wants us to progress to the next level. We read from Ezekiel 47:1-12 how the angel of God took the prophet from one level of the river to another until they got to a point where they could only swim, they were submerged and completely immersed in the water. Each level of the river marked a significant experience in our relationship with God.

We must consider verses 9 and 12 for a better comprehension of the power of this river of life. Verse 9 says: “And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.”

This river possesses healing power to revive anything it comes in contact with or anything that comes in contact with it. The Holy Spirit quickens, enlivens and revives any dead thing.

Then we come to verse 12: “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

In many ways this verse shares similarities with Revelation 22:2. This speaks of the fruitfulness of every believer. No believer is “a dry tree.” We are created to bear fruit regularly. We must pray that the Holy Spirit will activate the capacity for fruitfulness in us this New Year.

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