Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Deep Calls Unto Deep


As believers in Christ, we sometimes think we have it all figured out.  We go to church, read our Bibles, and pray... sort of... but what we don't realize is that we're drowning in the shallow end of the pool.  We're dying on the vine.  There is an immeasurable depth of living water available to us, but we refuse to access it... or maybe we don't know how...

We feel the longing.  We know there is something more, and we can almost taste it. Sometimes it feels like our hearts will burst if we don't find the answer soon... and we have a feeling that if we wait too long, we may never find it.  We begin to feel desperate to quench the thirst, and we feel a sense of urgency, but we're not sure where to run or what to do!  We know the Lord, we work for Him, we're good little boys and girls... but we sink in the knowledge that we are somehow, tragically, missing the mark.
"Deep calls unto deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me." ~Psalm 42:7
The barren dryness of the desert resides deep within humanity.  People are dying of thirst. They are longing for something they cannot name, and therefore, cannot find.  They have good ideas, but can't quite put their finger on the answer that will soothe their dry, cracked souls.  All too often, they settle for less.  They get used to their thirsty emptiness... used to feeling chapped and sunburned.  They begin to believe the soothing shade and healing balm will never come, so they get comfortable in the desert and stop searching for that deep drink of water.  
Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ~John 7:37-38
For those who do not know Christ, accepting Him into their lives will be like water in the desert to their dry and weary souls.  A peace they have never known will flood into them like a river overflowing its banks, and though life will still have trouble, they will be able to rest knowing that Jesus has changed the foundation of everything. They will have that blessed assurance that, come hell or high water, God's got their back.

But then there are those who HAVE known Christ... for a while... maybe even their whole lives.  And even though they have been granted access to deep, living water, their relationship with God has grown stagnant and stale.  They are overcome by life's daily struggles, and have become the enemy's playground.  No victory can be found in them.  Defeat rules the day... because they have been taken in by a lie, and lulled to sleep.

That's the enemy's plan for each of us.  To make us distracted and ineffective at the very least... and at the most, bound up in every way and used by the enemy to defeat others.

But there is still victory to be had!!  It will only take one little spark of faith to wake these believers up... one little glimmer of hope will break into their spirits with a SHOUT, saying, "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light!!!" (Ephesians 5:14). And like a switch got turned on inside them, they will sit up out of their stupor, shake off the dust, and begin to swim out into the deep parts of the Spirit of God. Their need for Him will become desperate, and they will begin to seek Him out like never before. They will hunger and thirst anew to hear His sweet voice, and they will not rest until they have found Him again. And our ever-faithful Father will meet them there and He will begin to change them... to renew and revive them... and to make them a bright and shining light drawing all men unto Him.  Just a little spark of faith... a small belief in the power of the One True God... will set their hearts and lives ablaze in VICTORY for all to see... for the GLORY of GOD!!

I once heard a wise man say, "the enemy's only weapon is a lie."  We are in a fight for our lives, and we must know what our true weapons are, BUT THIS IS NOT A FAIR FIGHT!  Not even close!  Our enemy is already defeated, and he knows it.  His biggest job in these last days is to make sure WE never truly know it.  But, dear one, we are waking up... a sleeping giant is rising up from the dead... revival has already begun on the earth, and the children of God are beginning to walk in new victory.  We are trampling new ground, taking back what the enemy has stolen.  We are standing up and worshiping our God in spirit and truth, and He is enthroned on our praise!!  The depths of the Spirit of God are calling out to the depths of our souls... and together, as we humble ourselves before Him and submit to His perfect will... we are answering His call.  

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