Going Deeper
Going Deeper: Moving Beyond Surface-Level Faith
Have you ever felt like there's more to your faith journey than what you're currently experiencing? Many Christians reach a plateau where they feel Jesus is "enough," but somehow still sense there's something deeper available to them.
The truth is, while Jesus is indeed enough for our salvation, there's always more we can learn, experience, and become as we grow in our relationship with Him.
What Does "Going Deeper" Really Mean?
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, we read: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
This verse reveals a profound truth - we are meant to be continually transformed into Christ's image, moving from "one degree of glory to another." This is what going deeper means - not that Jesus isn't enough, but that we haven't yet fully experienced all He has for us.
Unlike Moses who had to be hidden in the cleft of the rock and veiled his face after encountering God's glory, we now have direct access to experience God's presence through the New Covenant. Yet many of us settle for ankle-deep experiences when God invites us to swim in deeper waters.
The Problem with American Christianity
Many of us have embraced what could be called "American salvation" - getting just enough of God to feel good about ourselves without true commitment to change. We want forgiveness without transformation. We want heaven without holiness.
Jesus didn't lower the standards of the Old Testament - He raised them. In the Old Testament, the command was to love God with heart, soul, and might. Jesus expanded this to include loving God with heart, soul, strength, and mind - plus loving our neighbors as ourselves.
The bar has been raised, not lowered. Yet many of us are content with the minimum requirements.
The River That Brings Life
In Ezekiel 47, we find a powerful image of what happens when we go deeper with God:
The prophet is led through water that's ankle-deep
Then knee-deep
Then waist-deep
Finally, water deep enough to swim in
And what happens where this river flows? "Wherever the river flows, life will flourish... Where the river flows, life abounds."
This is what happens when believers and churches go deeper with God - life springs forth! Everything the water touches comes alive. The dead are restored. Revival happens.
Why Aren't People Coming to Church for Life?
If the church should bring life everywhere it goes, why aren't people flocking to our churches looking for life? Perhaps because in many churches, there is no life - because preachers aren't preaching life, or because people are living in sin and remain at enmity with God.
There's a difference between falling into sin and living in sin. As believers, we might occasionally fall, but we cannot remain there. The idea that "once saved, always saved" regardless of how we live misunderstands our relationship with God. While no one can pluck us from God's hand, we can choose to climb out ourselves.
The Cost of Going Deeper
Going deeper with God always costs something. While salvation didn't cost us anything (it cost heaven everything), experiencing the fullness of God's power and presence requires sacrifice.
Of the 500 people who saw Jesus after His resurrection, only 120 were in the upper room at Pentecost. Why? Because they didn't want to pay the price. They wanted the glory without the commitment.
Going deeper means:
Praying a minute longer
Fasting a day longer
Reading the Bible a minute longer
Being willing to be uncomfortable
One pastor was told by God to crawl up the aisle during a service. After five nights of preaching with no response, this single act of humility transformed the entire church. Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem strange or uncomfortable because He wants to show us something new.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
In Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit come upon the disciples with power. There was a sound like a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire appeared, and they began speaking in other languages.
This wasn't just a historical event - it's the same power available to believers today. Every Christian has the ability to lay hands on the sick, cast out demons, and be witnesses for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yet many of us are content with ankle-deep experiences when God invites us to swim in the deep waters of His presence.
Life Application
How can you go deeper in your faith this week? Start by making a simple commitment: "Lord, I'm going to take one extra step today. Meet me here."
Consider these questions:
What area of your spiritual life feels shallow right now? Prayer? Bible reading? Worship? Service?
What's one practical step you can take to go deeper in that area this week?
What might be holding you back from experiencing more of God's presence and power?
Are you willing to be uncomfortable to experience more of God?
Remember, just as swimming a mile becomes easier with practice until you can almost do it in your sleep, going deeper with God becomes more natural the more you do it. Eventually, you'll feel more comfortable in the deep end than in the shallow waters.
Don't be satisfied with ankle-deep experiences of God when He's inviting you to swim in the depths of His presence. The world is thirsty, and you have access to living water that can bring life everywhere it flows.
