Winter 1990

The Intent of Our Heart
Wade E Taylor

"Deep calleth unto deep. At the noise of thy waterspouts, all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" Psalm 42:7.

Our Lord is a seeking God. He desires to have times of intimate fellowship with us, whom He created with this capacity. He actively looks (Deep calleth)upon the hidden intent of our heart, seeking for an indication of any willingness that we may have to respond. If He finds, even buried deep within us, any indication of a sincere desire to personally know Him, He will begin to take a singular interest in us.

This personal attention that we receive from the Lord can be likened to a waterspout, rather than to rain equally falling upon all. A waterspout is caused by a wind pattern that whips rain into a funnel of water with a singular point of destination. While rain falls upon all, this waterspout causes a deluge upon one, (all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me).

It is truly marvelous to experience this "Deep calling to deep," in which the Lord singularly becomes active within our lives, taking a personal interest in bringing us into a place of intimate communion and fellowship with Him. At first, we may not understand the purpose and direction of this Divine activity(at the NOISE of thy waterspout), but gradually this "noise" will become within us a song of worship that will open the door to times of intimate fellowship with our Lord.

If the level of our spiritual hunger falls short of this deep desire within the Lord for personal fellowship with us; then reluctantly, He will feed us on the level of our desire towards Him. Many seek after and are satisfied with, what the Lord can do ÊÔÚ them. This can be better understood as we comp are two groups that followed Jesus.

"And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased" John 6:2. Five thousand men along with women and children heard about this outdoor Gospel meeting and came to see if it was as they were told. These were observers who came out of curiosity. Therefore, Jesus fed them on the level of their hunger.

These received the best meal they had ever eaten. Jesus Himself multiplied the five loaves and two fishes. He gave each portion to His disciples who in turn gave to the people. They were given all that they were able to eat, as twelve baskets full were left over. They literally "burped" on a miracle, but this that they had received was temporal and only temporary.

Later this multitude returned, looking for Jesus. Their only interest was in the materialistic satisfaction that they had received from Him. There was no indication of any interest in Jesus Himself as one who desired their fellowship. The only word that the Lord spoke to them was a word of correction.

"Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed" John 6:26-27.

There was another multitude of whom the Word tells us something quite different. "And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret" Luke 5:1. There is a vast difference in the heart attitude of these two groups. The first group desired only His miracles, the second group desired from Him the Word of the Lord.

The response of the Lord was entirely different concerning this second group. The deep desire within Him for fellowship with His creation reached out to them. "And (He) saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship" Luke 5:2-3.

The land speaks of our natural habitat, were we feel comfortable and are in control of our circumstances. The water speaks of the realm of the Spirit, where the Lord is in control and where He guides us so as to make Himself, and His ways, known to us. He will begin in the "shallow" areas by teaching us the basic principles of "walking in the spirit." Then when we are ready, He will lead us out into "depths" in the realm of the Spirit, (all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me). Here, we come into times of intimate communion with Him.

Notice that two ships were available. There will always be two boats, (two choices) that are available at the critical moment. Jonah was told to go to Ninevah. He went down to the seaport and found a ship, waiting. However, it was going in the wrong direction. He went aboard, but later was thrown overboard and found himself within the belly of a second "ship" that was going in the right direction.

"Deep calleth to deep." It is up to us to respond to this call. The Lord will make it easy for us to go another way. We must choose which "ship" we will enter. One will take us away from His desire for our fellowship. The other will take us out into the deep where we can let down our nets at His Word.

One of these ships can be considered to be "John Chapter 6." Here, He will multiply loaves and fishes (the prosperity message), but the satisfaction will only be temporary. The other ship can be considered to be "Luke Chapter 5." Here, He will push out a little from the shore and teach us. Then He will be able to lead us out into deep where "all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." Yet, it is here where our nets will hardly be able to hold all that He will provide.

The Lord knows which chapter (ship) we are in; John 6 or Luke 5. His action towards us will be determined by our attitude, which will place us in one or the other. Even if we are found to be in John 6, there is a way that leads to Luke 5. He will take of the loaves and fishes, multiply them and feed us. Then He will chasten us, showing us that there is something better. Most encouraging of all, He will show us the way. That we might enter into to His waves and billows, and hear His deep calling unto the deep of our spirit.

May we respond to this desire of the Lord for our fellowship, and go beyond the loaves and fishes (prosperity), no matter how good it may be. Then, He will find the satisfaction that He greatly desires; our being singularly in the boat with Him, with all His waves and billows going over us, as we move out into His deeper purposes.