- If I want to build a tall building that reaches high into the sky, I must first put it’s supports… deep into

  the ground! And generally, the taller something is, the wider it is at the base so it won’t tip over.

Sometimes in life, two apparent opposites need to go together. This morning we’re going to start a series of messages that will hopefully spur us on in our spiritual life- our relationship with God- and as we make our way through it, I believe that we will see how two apparent opposites really go hand in hand.  Actually, we have been gradually introducing this theme for several weeks in your bulletins, on the overhead screen, and in our new logo contest.  In fact, this series is really the start of a theme that we will be pursuing for at least the next year together, and the theme is “Dig Deeper… Reach Higher.”  As we make our way through our series, we will see that in order to do one successfully, we have to do the other as well.

GOD IS ON THE MOVE     Now why are we moving in this direction?  Because, like many other church leaders in our area- and leaders in our fellowship- I believe that God is on the move. It’s evidenced in many ways:

- movement and commitment of unity among churches

- worship celebrations that involve more than just ‘feeling good’- but ministry as well

- people calling the pastor for spiritual help

- ladies- new small groups that are studying the Bible in depth, and a retreat at the end of this month

- by the way, guys, I’ve got a great video study series called ‘Wild at Heart’ that’s just for men, and I   

  would love to find 4 or 5 or more guys who would like to do it with me!

- Prayer Encounter this week at Hillsborough (give details)

- there are plans in the works right now for a spiritual life conference in the fall of 2007

More and more I am hearing about people who are tired of staying on a spiritual plateau, believing that there is something more… and there is!  They want to “reach beyond” where they are… but to do that we have to dig deeper into our knowledge of God and our understanding of what He has for us.  So the dig and reach go together

The real question is: Are we ready- or willing to get ready- to join in what He is doing?  Are we preparing new wineskins… making ourselves available for His use?  Are we ready to reach out for what he has promised?  As a kind of ‘warm-up’ this morning I want to point out 3 things that are vital for us to do and understand as we dig deeper and reach higher.

1- WE EMBRACE GROWTH AS “NORMAL”  As Paul shares his prayer with the people in Ephesus, he shares it as a prayer he really holds for all believers.  1 Corinthians 3:1-2- “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.  I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn’t handle anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready…”  The point Paul is making is that the spiritual immaturity of these people is not normal.  It is an addressing those who are still on spiritual milk… it shouldn’t be that way!

- growth is a process (no McSpirit or Insta-Faith)

- no easy way- no steps to skip... it’s called ‘discipleship’  2 Corinthians 3:18b- as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.

2- WE DISCOVER WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE    When we grow (change) spiritually, we grow into that which is constant (God, his love, etc)!  Listen to these sections of our passage: “… from his glorious, unlimited resources… May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love… may you have the power to understand- how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is… May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it…” 

All of these verses are describing something that already exists- it is there for us- it is in God for us.  We are not ‘creating’ God or creating a new faith- we are seeking to delve into what is already and always has been there. Everything we could ever want or need is already available for us in Christ- as we reach out to God, he provides all of the growth, etc., more than we could hope for!

Earlier, I mentioned that God wants to do something new, and in our experience it is- but it is not new in that he just thought it up as an afterthought. Through the prophet Ezekiel (36:26-27) God made the following promise to Israel- “I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.” It has always been His desire to do something new among His people… to have us live and anticipate life as an adventure!  As we were talking about paradoxes before, we are seeking to discover anew what God has always been holding out to us!

3- WE GROW TOGETHER     The giant red wood trees of California and Oregon can grow up to 300 feet tall and 20 feet across… and live for almost 4000 years!!  But these massive trees have a remarkably shallow root system, and the only reason they manage to survive without being blown over is because they are connected to each other… often with their roots intertwined.

In our passage, Paul takes the initiative to pray for his fellow believers, for their spiritual growth and health.  It was hard to pick a verse to fully clarify this point because this truth is at the core of the whole of the Bible- we are given commands of attitudes or actions toward ‘one another’ or ‘each other’ over 115 times in the New Testament alone!  But how about these words from Jesus in John 17:21- My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

Remember paradox?  Here’s another one: To grow as individuals, we have to live and experience life & God together in community.

WRAP UP…     Too many choose an infantile faith and never grow. In many respects, that is why there is such weakness in many churches today, and the lives of individual believers. Many don’t study or even read their Bibles… many don’t pray either in private or with others.  Then, when they encounter trouble, they don’t understand why God is letting it happen, or know how to deal with it.  Don’t let this be you!  Don’t stand before God and have him say, “I had so much more for you, but…”  As we begin this series, “Dig Deeper… Reach Higher,” make the commitment now to allow God to speak to and challenge you. Make the decision that you will seek God’s direction for your life, that you will do what it takes to go beyond where you are now spiritually. This may mean opening up your calendar a bit more to give God some ‘room’ to provide opportunities to grow and serve… it may mean removing some of the background noise in our lives so we can more clearly hear Him. With an open heart and empty hands, bring yourself to God and say, “I’m ready to surrender it all, Lord.  Please show me how, and give me the faith to trust You.”