Job 11:7-9 (NKJV)-7 “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?8 They are higher than heaven–what can you do? Deeper than Sheol–what can you know?9 Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
Happy New Year, everyone!! Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)-11 You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance. This is my prayer for you in this New Year! That it will be your best year ever! I recently revisited a short book I read many years ago. It is a book by Charles Swindoll. It is called “Intimacy with the Almighty.” I’ve enjoyed this book so much because it encourages us to reflect on our lives. To take a look at where we’ve been and where we need to go, to deepen our walk with God! It addresses four areas in our lives. Here they are: Simplicity, silence, solitude, and surrender. Ask yourself these questions: “Where are you in these four areas?” Is your life simpler? Do you have times of just being silent in God’s presence? Are there places of solitude to reflect, meditate, and listen to the Holy Spirit? Finally, how surrendered are you to the Lord and His word? Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)-27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart. Apostle Paul addressed this to the Corinthian Church in their devotion to Christ.2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)-3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
We live in a fast-paced world. We are constantly going every day—the tyrant of the urgent. They say being busy is being under Satan’s yoke rather than Jesus ( Matt. 11:28-30). As busy as Jesus was in His ministry, he took time to get away. To hear His father, to be renewed, refreshed, and get much-needed wisdom and guidance. How much more do we need this? In the scripture above, Eve was not satisfied with all that God provided. The enemy, Satan, convinced her she was lacking something. That there was something she didnt have. “There was more to have.” She forgot that she had everything! God wasnt holding out on her( Psalm 84:11). He provided everything. Isn’t that what our culture is today? To get more of whatever. The Bible clearly tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things would be added to us-Matt. 6:33. Wouldn’t it be better to go deeper in God than deeper in debt, just so you could have more stuff?
What about plunging into the depths of God and the depths of His Word? To deepen our relationship with Him. What does that even look like in todays fast passed world? Is it even possible with all of our responsibilities? Are we stuck in the mundane and superficial? Can we be a deep person rather than shallow? Deep in our caring, deep in our relationships, deep in our compassion, deep in our faithfulness in serving, deep in our faith and trust in God, and being deeper in our knowledge of God and His Word. Going deeper is not about being a spiritual elitist, spiritually high-minded, all-knowing and all-seeing and better than anyone else spiritually. Rather, it is being more humble! We see this characterized in the life of Jesus!. Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)-5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
It takes time and thought to reorder our lives. Maybe in this New Year, we can start. The Bible talks about the depths of God. To know the breadth, the length, depth, and height of God’s love- Ephesians 3:18-19. Romans 11:33 (NKJV)-33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Before you say,” Who can know the depths of God?” Look at this verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)-9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,Nor have entered into the heart of manThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Here is a promise that the prophet Daniel mentions. Daniel 2:21-22 (NKJV)-21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
What are deep things? It is going below the surface, it is finding a deeper meaning, and it addresses the motives and desires of our hearts. It is about biblical inspiration and revelation. It is looking at our reasoning and why we do things. Is it for self or for others? Is it for the kingdom of God or our kingdom? I like what Apostle Paul tells us about the character of Timothy, his son in the faith. Philippians 2:20-22 (NKJV)-20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel. Going deeper is developing in our character. To be more like Christ! It is going past the layers of being superficial. That we would not settle for being shallow, phony, hypocritical, and disingenuous. Christ is the real deal; he is the real thing. So should we be! Authentic, transparent Christianity. This is our witness to the world around us. How we respond, especially in times of hardship and difficulties. Are we being more Christ-like? Does the world see Christ in us?
The depths of God are seeing beyond the natural into the spiritual realm. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NKJV)-17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. It has an eternal perspective on life. It involves using the lens of God’s Word to guide our lives. Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV)-1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Apostle Paul encourages us not walk by what we see in the natural when it comes to believing God for what He promises us in His Word. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)-7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. The just shall live by faith-Romans 1:17.
The depths of God are what are revealed in the New Testament, which the Old Testament prophesied about. The shadows of old turned into substantial Christ realities of truth. Truths that were being revealed for the first time in the New Testament. Truths that came by revelation through the Holy Spirit. It was going beyond human reasoning and intellect. Going deeper in our Christian walk is understanding the importance of the Holy Spirit’s revealed truth written in the New Testament. This is what Apostle Paul was mentioning in 1 Cor 2:9-12. Such as the revelations that salvation comes by grace through faith, not of works, Eph. 2:8, and righteousness that comes by faith as well. It also includes the character and true nature of God. Our brains cannot comprehend these truths without the help of the Holy Spirit in us (John 14:26). The wonderful truth of the gospel of Christ. An example would be in Jesus discourse with Peter in the book of Matthew.Matthew 16:15-17 (NKJV)-15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
In closing, let’s go deeper! Let’s take the dive and plunge into the wonderful truth of the New Testament, especially the revelations that Apostle Paul received from Christ through the Holy Spirit (Gal 1:12,Gal 2:2, Eph 3:3), to grow deeper in our intimacy with our Father in heaven. Luke 5:3-4 (NKJV)-3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Let’s launch out into the deep…. Peter said, Luke 5:5 (NKJV)-5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Going deeper is listening and obeying the Words of Jesus! Do you want to be a deeper person? A person of depth in spirit and in character? Why go deeper, you might ask? To be a greater blessing to those around us. That they may see Jesus is us! Apostle Paul expressed this depth. It came down to knowing God and Christ deeply above everything else! Philippians 3:7-8 (NKJV)-7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)-10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)-12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I love the song “Ocean” from Hillsong Music.
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep My faith will stand
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail, and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed, and you won’t start now
[Bridge]
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour
- “The deeper you go in your relationship with God, the more you discover His love.”
- “Dive into Scripture; it’s the living water that nourishes your soul.”
- “Let your doubts lead you to deeper questions and a stronger faith.”
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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