The Deeper things of God

It is my deepest desire that more Christians would walk in a deeper faith. That they would come to know the deeper things of God. You can do this if you determine in your heart that you want to. It takes no effort, and in fact all your effort is but the hindrance to what He alone can give you.

In the Old testament days people could not reach the deeper things of God. Zophar asked Job, “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7). 

Yet we were promised something new was coming. “I will put My Spirit within you…” (Ezekiel 36:27).

The Old Testament pointed to the New Testament yet to be revealed.

The New Testament never replaces the Old Testament, but completes it. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things…” (John 14:26).

The Holy Spirit can tell us what He hears from God. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit, “…will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13).

Stop living the Old Testament life in the New Testament age. We have the Holy Spirit now, we can know more of the deep things of God. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

The veil has been torn, but will you step into the presence of God that you might know Him more? “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

We have the mind of Christ in the sense that the Holy Spirit places the words of Christ into our thoughts. Jesus said, “…the Holy Spirit [will]…bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Deep truths often come by deep trials

Touching the deep things of God requires that first God has touched the deep things in you. “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me” (Psalm 42:7).

God connects with us deeper in our trials than in our pleasures, because it is there we listen to Him so much more. It will be in the wilderness where he prepares us to walk in the promise.

Consider that as you try to keep it together, you are hindering all that He would do through you.

The holier the man, the more convicted his soul. The Lord Jesus said, “And when He has come [the Holy Spirit], He will convict the world of sin…” (John 16:8).

Whenever I see a saint with a deep faith, I know they went through much to get there.

We should never teach that the life of a saint is easy, only that it is right.

The lower the valley you are in, the higher the mountains that rise before you. The greater your impact will be on man; the greater the Lord’s impact must be on you.

The shallowness of man

The deep things of God are never found in the shallowness of man.

The shallowest place found on earth is in the minds of men.

You cannot study your way to knowing God deeper. The reason so few have a deep intimate knowledge of God is because they try to know Him with their head instead of with their heart.

You cannot take hold of heavenly truths so long as you are firmly planted in the things of man. The Lord Jesus taught, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12).

You cannot reach the depths of God using the natural tools of man. Knowledge comes through study, but revelation only comes by the Spirit of God.

The deeper faith can only come when the shallow ground has been broken. “…Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12).

Deeper roots

Your natural life reflects your spiritual condition.

The roots you have determine the fruit you bear. The higher the tree, the deeper the roots must be. The Lord Jesus taught, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit…” (Luke 6:43-44).

What is the point of learning deeper truths if you refuse to live them?

Keep yourself firmly rooted in the foundation of the Word, while at the same time reaching for the things of heaven. If you only burrow down, you will miss the higher. If you only reach for the higher, you will lose your footing.

Never rush growing in your faith, that your roots would go deep, and your faith would be firmly established.

Deeper living

You must think higher to live higher. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7).

I would rather walk in a lower gifting that is right, than to have a higher gifting with errors.

Nobody stumbles on their knees. Nobody falls lying prostrate on the floor.

Beware that you would organize the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit right out of your life. Just when you think you know how God works, He will choose another way.

The greater faith does not come by striving, but abiding. It is not the higher truth you know that matters as much as the simple truth you walk in.

The world’s idea of a successful ministry is one that fills a stadium with people. God’s idea of a successful ministry is one that fills a man with the fullness of God. “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

Seek to live a deeper faith every day, and it will be there you will find the deeper things of God.

Blessings to you,

Paul

 

All verses are in red and use the NKJV translation unless otherwise noted.


12 thoughts on “The Deeper things of God

  1. I discovered you by happenstance at the first of the year. I was raised by a wonderful Lutheran pastor who died in 1991. I continue to miss him desperately. I cannot articulate how much your words have touched me, and I look forward to each message. I am in the throes of marital discord (rooted in infidelity by my husband, who comes and goes and rips things apart regularly, leading me on (which I must become stronger and resist), and never failing to continue his despicable ways. It’s so difficult! Thank you for helping me more than I can say.

    1. Hi Elizabeth, you are most blessed to of been raised by a Lutheran pastor. I was confirmed in the Lutheran church, it left a deep impact on me. My condolences to you that he is gone now to be with the Lord. What a great peace we can have when we realize just how blessed those are who have gone before us to sit in the presence of our Lord Jesus. I am so saddened by the trials you are going through in your marriage. We live in such a fallen world where things are anything but how the Lord has intended them to be. I pray that the Lord would surround you with a church family that would love on you and care for you. So thankful if any of my words would be helpful to you. May the Lord watch over you go before you in everything you face. Praying for you, Paul.

  2. “The greater faith does not come by striving, but abiding. It is not the higher truth you know that matters as much as the simple truth you walk in.”…. ThankYou for your teaching… I love this phrase.!…. The Spirit of God Dwelling with in, 🎶day by day and with each passing moment strength I find to meet each Trial here, trusting in my Fathers Wise bestowment,I’ve no cause for worry or for fear🎶

    1. Thank you for your kind words! And I really love this phrase you have here, maybe from a song? It is “I’ve no cause for worry or for fear”, that is a life changing attitude! It is so achievable! Oh how i long for people to gain this! It is freedom and joy.

  3. Paul I thank you so much for sharing your love and passion for Gods kingdom and the things of God. I was sitting tonight and in writing my phrase that struck me was In our brokenness He loves us so beautifully!!!! When all hope seems lost there he is to love us and increase us in the very thing that was sent to break us!! We are truly Blessed!!!!!

    1. Thank you so much! And you have such a good word, such a deep word. It can be a hard word for some to receive, especially in the midst of their trial. But your word is spot on, it is as if we need the cracks in our lives that His light would shine through. Thank you for your words. I want to encourage to keep flowing in this wisdom you have.

  4. The worlds idea of a successful ministry fills a stadium. Gods idea of a successful ministry fills a man.
    Loved this so much I posted it, God Bless you and keep you and make His face shine on you Brother, I love your ministry!

  5. Hello, Paul – I wrote you on January 22nd. Elizabeth is my name. You need to know how much you have helped me. I am seeing a Lutheran pastor who has an incredible counseling background, and he’s working with me with my marriage difficulties. They are made lots more difficult because my husband has no interest in counseling. I have lately been gripped by a free-floating sort of fear, partly based on a recent scare with my vision, and accompanied by great uncertainty and unease. Your words today about fear I will keep nearby.

    Your words and scriptures today (2/18/17) have again arrived poignantly to help calm me and lift my spirits. I appreciate your wisdom and graciousness.

    Please include me in your prayers. You and your family most assuredly are in mine.

    Elizabeth

    1. Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for writing to me, and for all your kind words. You have been an incredible encouragement to me. You are most blessed to have such godly counseling in your life, and the willingness to seek it. We can never change another person, but we can pray to the Lord who can. Keep pressing in with changing yourself, drawing nearer to the Lord, gaining His peace, learning the assurance of His power over every aspect of your life, and then it will be the results of these things that will become the message preached through the life you will live. Praying for your marriage to a God who designed and ordained this most sacred institution. Blessings to you, Paul

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