Introduction
Imagine a smartphone that has all the latest technology, features and functions, yet it remains uncharged. No matter how advanced it is, if it doesn’t connect to a power source, it cannot perform its intended functions. Similarly, as believers, we are designed to operate in the fullness of the Spirit, but we often find ourselves disconnected from the true source of our power, the Holy Spirit.
Consider a plant that is rooted in good soil but is not watered regularly. Over time, it begins to wilt and struggle to thrive. Just as a plant requires consistent nourishment and care to flourish, our spiritual lives need the constant flow of the Holy Spirit to grow and thrive.
Scripture References
Ephesians 2:6: “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Why Must We Ascend to Higher Dimensions?
Power of God: When believers progress from the flesh to the Spirit, they open themselves to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This divine empowerment enables believers to overcome challenges, resist temptations, and live lives that fulfill God’s purpose. Acts 1:8 affirms this: ‘But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Presence of God: Progressing into higher spiritual dimensions fosters a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. This closeness allows for more profound revelations, answers to prayers, and divine guidance—crucial for navigating life’s challenges. James 4:8 encourages us: ‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.’ The higher we ascend, the nearer we are to His presence.
Purpose of God: Spiritual growth is vital for fulfilling God’s purpose on Earth. As believers transition into living in the Spirit, they become vessels through whom God can work, manifesting His love, grace, and truth to the world. Ephesians 2:10 states: ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ Our higher spiritual dimensions enable us to fulfill the divine purpose for which we were created.
Position in Christ: Through salvation, believers are spiritually seated in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6 declares, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This means that, in God’s perspective, we are already elevated above our circumstances—seated with Christ in authority and divine influence when we ascend in higher dimensions in the Spirit.
To truly ascend to higher realms in the Spirit, we first need to understand what spiritual dimensions are. These are levels of spiritual experience and influence that believers can operate in as they grow in Christ. Think of them as floors in a building; each higher level grants greater access to divine realities and supernatural capabilities.
With this understanding, we can now explore the symbols that represent these levels: the Lake, Well, the River, and the Rain, each illustrating a different dimension of our spiritual journey.
1. The Lake(Spirit with Us): The lake level symbolizes the active manifestation of God’s Spirit, empowering old testament`s prophets and kings to perform miracles regardless of their personal spiritual maturity. Even when individuals like Samson were flawed, God’s Spirit could still work through them, demonstrating that divine power is sovereign and not limited by human shortcomings.
2. The Well(Spirit in Us): Salvation
Definition: Represents our initial encounter with salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Bible Verse: John 4:14: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Example: The woman at the well (John 4:1-42) received living water, symbolizing salvation and new life in Christ.
Contemporary Example: Think of someone who has just accepted Christ—much like a new parent experiencing the joys and challenges of bringing a new life into the world. Their initial joy is evident, but they need support to mature in faith.
Vulnerabilities at the Well:
Spiritual Drought: Lack of prayer and Bible study can lead to dryness. Isaiah 41:17: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”
External Pressures: Trials and societal pressures weaken faith. 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Distractions: Busyness hampers spiritual growth. Luke 8:14: “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
3. The River(Spirit On Us): Baptism in the Spirit
Definition: Signifies the baptism in the Holy Spirit, empowering us for supernatural living and ministry.
Bible Verse: John 7:38: “He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Example: The disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), who experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in tongues and perform miracles.
Contemporary Example: A team of athletes training together, pushing each other, like believers in unity empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Quote: “Thou art willing to follow the Holy Spirit; you cannot be led where you are not willing to follow.” – Bishop David Abioye
Maintenance:
Neglect: Failing to engage in prayer and worship causes stagnation. 2 Timothy 1:6: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”
Stagnation: Complacency limits spiritual experience. Revelation 3:15-16: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.”
Environmental Pollution: Sin blocks the Spirit’s work. Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
4. The Rain and the Anointing(Spirit Upon Us): Divine Empowerment and Power
The Rain or the Anointing is the outpouring of God’s power—His divine empowerment. The Scriptures refer to this as the rain of God’s power. The anointing is the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The only way to fill a river is through the rain.
Bible Verse: Acts 4:31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
This shows that baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the end; believers can continually seek fresh infillings, which come as rain from God.
Bible Verse: Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…”
And Isaiah 10:27 states: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
The Purpose of the Anointing:
You cannot occupy your throne or make a meaningful impact in the kingdom without the anointing. It marks out a believer, enthrones the saints, and makes a difference. It is the master key to fulfillment and accomplishment.
Biblical Foundation: Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
How much breakthrough you experience depends on the level of the anointing upon your life.
Jesus’ Command: Luke 24:49: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
The kingdom of God is demonstrated in power, not just words. Without the anointing, even prophets and kings of old were limited.
The Active Use of the Anointing:
No man can retain the anointing without putting it to work. Lack of activity leads to decay, but consistent activity leads to maturity. The anointing increases as you actively use it. If you sleep on the anointing, it will sleep in you. The anointing is given for a purpose — to serve, to perform, to make a difference.
Example: Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.”
We are anointed for a mission.
What Qualifies Us for the Anointing?
1. Righteousness
We must be righteous—Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness, which kept Him always anointed.
Psalm 45:6-7: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
Sin limits the flow of the Spirit and the effectiveness of the anointing. Loving righteousness and hating iniquity are essential for growth in divine power.
Examples:
Jesus said in John 14:30: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 1:12: “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that, in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”
Hebrews 12:29 states: “For our God is a consuming fire.”
The more righteous you are, the more powerful your anointing. The price for righteousness was paid by Jesus’ sacrifice; we must also pursue holiness diligently.
2. Walking in Love
All issues of life stem from love, and the flow of the Spirit is linked to love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
When Jesus was moved with compassion, the Spirit was released, resulting in signs and wonders. The anointing is primarily for service—preaching, healing, delivering, miracles.
Note: The more you love people unconditionally, the more God can pour His anointing upon you.
3. Living a Praiseful Life
Nothing short circuits the flow of the anointing faster than a life lacking praise and worship. Murmuring and complaining hinder the Spirit’s power.
Exodus 15:11: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.”
Jesus never murmured or complained and always had the anointing.
Praise creates an atmosphere for divine power to manifest and yokes to be broken.
4. Live a Life of Prayer, Fasting & Fellowship
Jude 1:20 encourages: “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”
Fasting and prayer strengthen our spiritual capacity.
Isaiah 58:6-12: Emphasizes the power of fasting for breakthrough and elevation.
5. Be a Student of the Word
2 Peter 1:2: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”
Constant study of the Word sustains and deepens your spiritual ascendancy.
Final Words
To ascend into higher dimensions in the Spirit, pursue righteousness, walk in love, cultivate a praiseful life, be a lifelong student of the Word, and live a life of prayer and fasting. Deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Remember, both the well and the river are subject to weather conditions—spiritual climates. Never assume salvation or baptism in the Spirit guarantees constant spiritual flow; continual upkeep is necessary.
Are you born again? If not, this is the time to surrender your life to Jesus. Pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again.”
Shalom!