Summer 1991

The Deep Call Within Us
Edited from a spoken message by
John Wright Follette

"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life" Psalm 42:7-8.

We may find disturbances within us that we do not understand. This is because we live very close to the surface of our life and fail to take the necessary time to penetrate down into the depths of our heart. This term "heart" speaks of the lower levels of our being, both natural and spiritual. Here are located the primary issues of life. When these are released in any form, they begin poking their way upward into our consciousness. Sometimes it may take days, weeks, and even years before they reach the surface, where they are made manifest.

When I say, "Lord, I am in need," I may be responding to a surface disturbance which is presently annoying me. This disturbance probably has its origin deep within me, down on the ocean floor of my being. In dealing with this, it may be necessary for the Lord to go down there in order to reveal the real reason for the disturbance that is manifesting itself.

We are a "trinity" in the structural law of our being. The Church fathers rightly said, "The heart was made for God; neither shall it find rest until it rests in Him." They were not just referring to the fact of our soul finding salvation. That is included, but we are much more than a soul. The soul content within us is only one aspect of our being. Our entire being; spirit, soul, and body, is to be brought under the power of redemption. The Lord takes regard to our body. We are never to become so spiritual that we lose consciousness of our body. Even in the resurrection, God will yet deal with our body. It is the completion of the redemption of the whole concept of life.

If our response to the Lord is only partial in any aspect of our makeup, then the Lord is only partially glorified in the release of redemption life to our whole being; spirit, soul, and body. The Lord is concerned with our spiritual life. He is concerned with our soul life. He is concerned with our body life. Do not shy away from His working in any aspect of your being.

In one of my books, "Broken Bread," is a chapter "Deep calleth unto deep." Please read this book quietly, with the Lord. (See note at end of article). There are two depths which are to be discovered. The first is the deep and chaotic ruin of the human race. This is one of the most profound depths that could ever be dug into. The other is the deep yearning in the heart of God that is pushing down to broken humanity. One deep calls to the other deep continually. God is calling us. Broken humanity is calling Him in ten thousand million voices.

All creation is calling, even in countries that are clouded with judgment. Why? For redemption. Redemption is not just saving our soul to go to a placecalled heaven which, in the minds of many, consists of golden streets and mansions. We must come to the place where we set aside this idea of golden streets and mansions. If we are frustrated and have never had our urges satisfied here, do not make heaven a projection of these frustrations, liberated into a glorified state.

"I've got shoes, you've got shoes, all God's children got shoes." What caused a slave to write a song like this? The slave was conscious of a terrible lack, due to his loss of freedom. So he comforted himself because he was denied. There was a frustration here, so what does he say? Heaven will provide for me what I cannot have here. Therefore he lifted his frustration into a new realm where it would be satisfied with golden shoes on golden streets.

To many, the concept they have of Heaven will be the perfect satisfaction of all the things they were not able to attain, acquire, or experience, here. There must be something more than this. Where is the Lord glorified in all this? Where is there a deeper understanding of His heart? Where is there a deeper communion? He seeks those who will stand before Him and lift up their hands in adoration and praise. This is the adoration and praise which is birthed of the Spirit of God, who yet desires to possess instruments through whom life might vibrate back again to the Throne of God. And, with our continuing expression of this adoration, we will have a beautiful heaven.

Our spiritual hunger or thirst is a potential thing. It belongs to us and is apart of our creation. God is the answer. This does not mean that He is just the answer because He gave us salvation. This is true, but our whole being is to find its perfect and adequate adjustment and satisfaction in Him. There is much beyond our initial experience of redemption.

This deep inner urge that is resident within us, do not allow it become toolocal in any one field, or area of spiritual experience. We are to remember that our whole being is crying out to God for its full redemption; body, soul, and spirit.

Note: This book, "Broken Bread" is available through the Pinecrest Book store. It may be ordered for $x.xx. Please enclose $x.xx for postage and handling.