Launch Out Into the Deep
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [Luke 5:4]
Has there ever been a time when the Lord beckoned you to go into deeper water? When Jesus suggested to Peter that he take the boat into deeper water, His disciple replied: Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. Nevertheless at your word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net broke. [Luke 5:5-6] By simply obeying the word of the Lord and going into deep water, Peter took in an abundant blessing--so much that even his fellow fishermen were blessed.
Many Christians at one time or another find themselves in a position where they seem to be going nowhere. When they were first born again, these folks were on fire for the Lord, and seemingly, we often find ourselves in the wilderness where not much is happening, or like in Peter's case, in a place where the fish aren't biting. When this occurs, it's a signal for us to launch out into the deeper things of God.
But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. [1 Corinthians 2:10]
I remember a Christian brother telling me of a time when he was in a spiritual rut. He related that while walking on the beach, he was praying for the Lord to re-ignite the fire he once had. The very next week while at work, the Lord arranged for a friend of his to introduce him to a book on Christian living. This book was called The Purpose Driven Life and after reading it, the book served to light a fire under him, even to the point of volunteering to teach lessons from the book at his church. An even greater blessing occurred with him as he felt so strongly about the book and how it had affected him, he began buying copies for friends, strangers, and anyone with whom he felt led to bring the good news.
The lesson here is that this brother realized he was in a spiritual rut and sought the Lord to bring him out of it. The result was a great spiritual blessing in that the book was serving as a catalyst for evangelism--it was an ice-breaker. The short of it is: he launched out into the deep and received a great blessing in reward.
How about you? Are you in a spiritual rut? Is the roaring fire you once had when you were first born again now only a flickering flame? Yeah, you go to church, pray, and read the Bible once in a while, but do you sometimes wonder if there's more to the Christian life than what you're experiencing? The answer: You bet there is.
Of whom [Christ] we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing. [Hebrews 5:11]
This is the ultimate purpose of these teachings--to make Christians aware that there is more to the Christian life than being saved, going to church, singing songs, prayer, etc. and motivate them to seek more of what Christ died to give us in order that He would be magnified in our bodies (Philippians 1:20). Jesus said: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks will receive; and he that seeks will find; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? [Luke 11:9-13]
Salvation is Only the Beginning
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. [Hebrews 6:8-
Many Christians believe that salvation is the end instead of what it truly is--the beginning of a new life in Christ. Because they have been taught only about the cross and salvation, they have yet to grow into any level of maturity necessary to operate in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we're born again, much like when we're naturally born, we have to be fed milk in order to grow. But when we grow, our bodies need meat or more sustenance to function normally. The same is true for the Christian. After we've given our lives to Christ, we are taught the basics of salvation, baptism, communion, assembly, service to the church, etc. This milk is the foundation of our walk in Christ; however, once we arrive at the point where we desire more solid food, we must seek to be fed this way in order to stimulate growth.
Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. [Luke 8:10]
The apostle Paul wrote of this in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat. For hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.
Paul was trying to encourage the Corinthian church to grow from babes in Christ to the point where they would know and understand things of God (1 Cor. 2:12). If you read 1 Corinthians 2: 9-16, you will see that Paul was trying to explain the difference between a natural (carnal) man and a spiritual oneor baby Christian and mature one. Because the church was in a state of confusion and strife (1:11; 3:3), Paul was admonishing them for failing to grow up. The rest of the letter consists of Paul laying again the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including three chapters (12-14) on the operation of Spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 4:14-16 Paul writes: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be followers of me.
Paul was again encouraging them to follow his ways and grow up. He even sent Timothy to remind them of his ways and teachings, which according to 1 Corinthians 4:5-6, was by demonstrating the power of God. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should stand not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
How many churches today are like the Corinthian church? Instead of operating in the power of God, they are filled with strife and confusion, or even worse, they are dead. It is my understanding (from experience and from testimonies of others) that many churches offer little or no meat on their tables. Hence, the lambs (new Christians) they are supposed to be shepherding never become full-grown sheep, which is the reason many Christians are not operating in the power of God.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. [1 Corinthians 4:20]
From Milk to Meat
My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. --John 4:34
Now that you know there is more to being a Christian than simply being saved, how does one become weaned from milk to solid food? Again, similar to our natural lives, we must ingest solid food gradually--with small portions at first, eventually growing to where we can handle larger ones. In order to begin growing we must seek God first through prayer. Remember, ask and you shall receive. Come before the Lord with your desires to grow in Him and be sensitive to His direction, but don't be in a hurry to grow. Similar to a teenager wanting to be an adult, the new Christian seeking to grow too much and too fast can be very frustrating.
In my own situation, when I was born again, I was blessed with someone in my life who encouraged me to grow in Him. The Lord had already blessed me with a great hunger for Him and His word, so it wasn't difficult to motivate me. However, I remember her giving me a book to read that was, in her words, "Meat." She was reluctant to let me read it because the teachings in the book were very deep--and since I was still a babe in Christ, she thought I might not understand it. But, I had devoured every other book she had given me since the day I told her I'd given my life to Christ, so she had little choice. I was continuing in the Bible, but these books served to expose more light to the Scriptures.
She was right! I didn't get this book at all and didn't even finish it. However, a few months later, I picked up the same book and read it completely and it brought great light to my understanding of His word. Although I was growing in His word and knowledge, I still didn't consider myself "mature". It wasn't until I witnessed the power of God in action that I realized there was much more to being a Christian. This revelation helped me greatly: The Lord wants to live through us so He can continue His work on earth. In order to continue His work, we must be willing to operate in His love and power.
While seeking the Lord through prayer, I begin to delve into His word. The Bible is the only and final authority for the Christian. It is His living revelation to us and because it is alive, it offers different levels of truths. Much like layers of skin, you can peel back truths to find deeper truths, and as you dig, you will continue to find even greater revelations. This is evident in the case where one reads a verse of Scripture and it brings revelation one day, and then months or years later, the same verse sheds light on something greater. This occurs because His word is spirit and life (John 6:63). However, in each case, these revelations will never conflict with one another.
Consider the parable of the two foundations in Luke 6:47-49: Jesus said: Whosoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock. When we dig deep and lay our foundation upon Christ our house will be unshakable.
Other resources are necessary to the growth of a Christian because these teachings serve to focus on specific subjects in the Bible rather than in its entirety. These resources can come in the form of books, articles, audio/video tapes, Bible study/classes, and formal teaching from an anointed teacher. However, we are to prove everything by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21), which makes your knowledge of Scripture so vital.
In Ephesians 5:11-16, the apostle Paul writes of the offices of the Church (v. 11) and gives their purposes (v. 12) so that we can grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and become perfect unto the measure of the fullness of Christ. (v.13) Then, in verse 14, he describes what has happened as a result of immaturity in Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
The Christian who doesn't renew his or her mind on a daily basis is vulnerable to becoming a victim of false teachers and doctrines. Again, this is why it is so important to stay in the Word.
Coming Out of Your Comfort Zone
The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 is a great example of coming out of your comfort zone. The Syrian captain was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. When Naaman came to the prophet Elisha to be cleansed of the disease, the prophet told him, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean. [2 Kings 5:10] The next verse proves that the command from Elisha was outside Naaman's comfort zone. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be cleaned? So he turned away in a rage.
It appears that Naaman had been informed about God's healing power through his wife's servant [v. 3] and he thought this was the way it would happen with him. But when Elisha's messenger told him to do something outside of the norm, Naaman objected, asking if he could be washed in better water than the Jordan. It took his servants encouragement to get Naaman to lay down his pride and wash in the Jordan. He had to leave his comfort zone in order to be blessed.
Jesus worked His miracles in much the same way. He used spit and mud, and like Elisha, He commanded a blind man to wash himself in a pool. The Lord doesn't want us to get comfortable with where we are in Him. Yes, He wants us to have peace in Him, but comfort doesn't necessarily bring peace.
When we are comfortable, we become complacent and will stop growing in Him. The Lord sharply criticized the Laodicean church in Revelation for being lukewarm, which He attributed to their comfort. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have not need of nothing. And know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. [Revelation 3:17] Since these folks were, in their own minds, lacking nothing, they had no need to seek Him. They were comfortable in their salvation only, and they failed to seek the deeper things of God so that they could affect others. The Lord spoke very plainly regarding a lukewarm attitude and everyone should take heed to this warning: So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew [vomit] you out of my mouth. [Revelation 3:16]
The greatest mistake a Christian can make is to stop seeking the Lord in times of prosperity or abundance. In order to maintain a solid foundation in Christ Jesus, we must continue to pursue Him so that when the storm hits, our houses will be strong enough to withstand whatever comes our way. Paul reprimanded the Hebrew church for failing to build upon the foundation already established. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [Hebrews 6:1-2]
Once this foundation is laid, we must continue building on it by seeking the greater things of God. If you read the above verse again, you will see that Paul is encouraging us to go on unto perfection once the basic principles of the doctrine of Christ have been established. The problem for many is that they haven't yet established this foundation strongly enough, and for others, once this foundation has been laid, they claim to know it all and refuse to dig deeper. Let me tell you a truth, friends--as God's love, mercy, and grace are eternal, so are the mysteries of Him. They are as infinite as He is and the mistake many have made is to put God in a box and make statements like "I'm already there."
Even someone like the apostle Paul, who had great knowledge of the mysteries of God had only scratched the surface of the infinite wisdom of God. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 3:13-14]
As I discussed before, His word is like skin--with layers upon layers of truths, just waiting to be uncovered. Moreover, like our skin, because it is alive and constantly growing, His word is so vast you can never uncover it all.
There are many Christians who are staying in a constant state of comfort because there is no risk of being persecuted, ridiculed, and rejected by the world in doing so. However, where there is no risk, there is no reward. (Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25?) In this case, the rewards are a greater relationship with our Lord and Savior, witnessing the manifestation of God's power, and taking part in demonstrating the love of God, not to mention the eternal rewards given to us upon His return.
When Christ said, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters. [John 7:37-38] The Lord was making an important point to the believer. The believer should be so filled with the life of Christ (the Holy Spirit) that it cannot be contained inside the person. Like the haul of fish caught after launching out into the deep, Christ should be flowing abundantly from us--in our words, deeds, and manner of life. We'll discuss this in greater detail in a future message, but the point is: Christ should emanate from us in such a great way that everyone we meet will know it.
Staying in a comfort zone is another sign of spiritual immaturity. The apostle Paul spoke of this fact when he chastised the Hebrew church for its failure to grow up: For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God. And are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness. For he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [Hebrews 5:12-14]
In order to grow to maturity in Christ Jesus, we must use and exercise the word of God. Similar to bodybuilding, Christians must work out their spiritual muscles and stretch them so they can grow and become stronger. The way we do this is by stepping out in faith and launching into the deep and pursuing the works of Christ.
No Meat on the Table?
Earlier I quoted from Luke 11:9 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. If you are not being fed the entire word of God at your church, seek it elsewhere. The only way you can know whether you're being fed the entire word of God is from your independent study. Our journeys as Christians are dependent upon how much we put into growing in Him and seeking more of His grace. Your church is not responsible for your individual growth--you are. Granted, the ministry of the church is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying the body of Christ [Ephesians 5:12], but the responsibility for your own growth lies in you and you alone.
Here are some tips to stimulate your growth in Christ:
~Focus on things above [Colossians 3:1; Matthew 6:33]
~Renew your mind daily [Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23-24]
~Earnestly seek the gifts of the Spirit [1 Corinthians 12-14]
~Do the works of Christ [Matthew 10:7-8; Mark 16:17; John 14:12]
~ Surround yourselves with like-minded believers who are hungry as well [1 Thessalonians 5:11; Matthew 18:19]
I cannot stress this enough--it is up to each and every individual to pursue the things of God--through His word, prayer, and by stepping out in faith, or launching into deeper water and doing the works of Christ.
