“Deeper and Deeper”

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“Deeper and Deeper”

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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#139 – Hymns for Worship

 

Tonight, being the 5th Sunday, we want to examine another song we sing from time to time – Deeper and Deeper.  Published in 1914, it was a song that took about 3 years to complete.  The composer and author, Oswald J. Smith (1889-1986), a Presbyterian minister, was on his way to services one Sunday when the tune and the idea for the song formed in his mind.   After services he wrote the hymn tune, but the words to the song took about 3 years to complete. While he wrote and composed many hymns, to my knowledge, this is the only one that we sing from time to time.

This song is a reminder of the importance of Jesus in our lives.  Not only ought we to know Him, but we need to be growing in that knowledge.  2 Peter 3:18, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.  That is the foundation of the title.

  1. Vs 1 – Into the heart of Jesus
    1. Into the heart of Jesus – the heart of Jesus would be His motive for doing what He did.
      1. Philippians 2:5-8 describes what He did – leaving heaven, giving up His equality with God, coming to earth as a servant, etc.
      2. John 1:1-4 introduces Jesus to us. After that we note in vs. 14 that He became flesh and dwelt among us. The rest of the gospels reveal Him to us.
      3. John 10:9-11, esp. vs. 10 – as Jesus described Himself as the door to the Sheepfold and the Good Shepherd, He notes His reason for coming, that we might have life.
    2. Deeper and deeper I go – as previous mentioned, we keep growing in knowledge of Him. We should not stop with a cursory understanding of Jesus and His love. We keep digging to more fully appreciate everything He did for us.
      1. In Philippians 3:8-11, Paul describes why he gave up everything – “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”
      2. 2 Peter 1:3-8 describes how we continue to build upon our faith. OUR goal is that we be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
      3. Ephesians 4:15 notes that we grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ…
    3. Seeking to know the reason, why He should love me so –
      1. His love for us is the motive. Romans 5:6-8 – God demonstrated His love by sending Him.  Jesus loved us – John 15:13, Ephesians 5:2 etc.
      2. We often contemplate why He would do what He did, especially when we consider how so many reject Him. EVEN while He was upon this earth, He was despised and rejected by most (cf. Isaiah 53:3)
      3. But that did not stop Jesus – Ephesians 3:19 speaks of knowing the love of Christ which passes knowledge.
    4. Why He should stoop to lift me up from the miry clay –
      1. We certainly do not deserve His love and mercy. Romans 6:23 reminds us that the wages of sin is death.
      2. We sometimes look to the world’s wickedness and rejection of Him. But we too are guilty!  Paul understood this in 1 Timothy 1:15 – He was the chiefest of sinners.  Ephesians 2:1-3 describes our former condition – we were by nature children of wrath.  Vs. 12 notes we were without Christ, aliens having no hope and without God in the world.
      3. But He “stooped” – lowering Himself and coming as a bond servant. Why? Psalm 40:1-2, I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.  Perhaps this is the foundation of this statement in our song. There are many descriptions of our deplorable condition.
    5. Saving my soul, making me whole, though I had wandered away
      1. Again, this is why he came – to save us from the condemnation of sin. Matthew 18:11, – the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
      2. Making me whole – a word that we typically think of being complete. But it also implies the idea of being healthy and that is likely the meaning here (though both apply).  We sometimes think of Jesus as “the Great Physician”, a term not found in scripture, but Jesus DID make implication in Mark 2:17, When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
      3. The wandering away reminds me of the shepherd who leaves the 99 to find the 1 that was lost (Luke 15:4-7).
  2. 2 – Into the will of Jesus
    1. Into the will of Jesus – What was the will (or desire) of Jesus? While it involved our salvation as noted, ultimately His will was to submit to the will of the Father.
      1. John 4:34, Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. See also John 6:38
      2. John 17:4 – as He prayed to the Father He noted, I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
      3. Also remember the garden, Mattthew 26:39 – not My will, but Yours be done.
    2. Deeper and deeper I go – as I mature in the faith, my desire to please Him ought to deepen as well. The more I know, the more I appreciate – cf. 1 John 4:19 – we love Him because He first loved us.
    3. Praying for grace to follow, seeking His way to know – Is it my desire to more fully know His will?
      1. Recall Matthew 28:19-20. 2 Timothy 2:15 – be diligent – rightly dividing His word; Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
      2. Do I pray for knowledge and wisdom? (James 1:5)
      3. Do I appreciate all that His grace has done for me – 2 Peter 1:2-4.
    4. Bowing in full surrender, low at His blessed feet – in our discipleship study we have emphasized full surrender to Him – He will accept nothing less – Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1 – present yourselves a living sacrifice, Galatians 2:20, etc.
    5. Bidding Him take, break me and make, till I am molded and meet (suitable) – will we become like “clay” in His hand? Romans 9:21 gives the illustration of God as a potter and we are the clay.  The point being, we allow Him to mold us according to His will.  This is not a loss of our free-will, but a willingness to conform to His standard – Again Philippians 3:10 speaks of being conformed to His death…
  3. 3 – Into the cross of Jesus –
    1. Into the cross of Jesus – While the whole life of Jesus gives us hope and direction, it was His cross where the plan was brought to its fulfillment.
      1. 1 Peter 3:18 – He suffered for our sins.
      2. John 12:27 – “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
      3. Hebrews 12:2 – He gladly endured it for us.
    2. Deeper and deeper I go – as we mature and learn more of what the cross involved – the brutal torture of it, His demeanor on the cross and the purpose behind His suffering, it ought to humble us. Galatians 6:14 notes we glory ONLY in the cross.   Why? Because we KNOW what it means – cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24.
    3. Following through the garden, facing the dreaded foe – the garden was a place of great angst and sorrow. This was where He pleaded with God if there was another way.  Luke 22:41-44 – He was in agony.  His sweat became as great drops of blood.  The dreaded foe – was likely death itself – even though He knew He would conquer it, death was still the enemy.  In death, judgment becomes final.  Death WAS the dominion of Satan – but not anymore! 1 Corinthians 15:26, 15:55, Hebrews 2:14-15
    4. Drinking the cup of sorrow, sobbing with broken heart – again describing His physical demeanor. BUT consider the weight of what He was enduring and WHY.  Scripture records Jesus weeping 3 times – at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), Over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and here in the garden (Hebrews 5:7).  He wept because He cared!
    5. “O Savior, help! Dear Savior help!” – Help me to be willing to bear my cross.  How often do we, knowing what He went through, still engage in willful sin?  We know better, or we put ourselves into situations where the tempter overpowers us.  Either way, we are guilty of sin and need His Help.  Recall the invitation of Jesus – Matthew 11:28-29.
    6. Grace for my weakness impart – it is His grace that gives us hope of salvation. Titus 2:11-12.
  4. 4 – Into the joy of Jesus.
    1. Into the joy of Jesus – just as Jesus with “joy” endured the cross, so true relationship with Him bring us joy.
    2. Deeper and deeper I go – as with everything else we have addressed; our joy increases with our understanding of our hope and faith in Him. Philippians 4:4 – rejoice in the Lord always.
    3. Rising with soul enraptured far from the world below – we have this joy in our lives with hope. We know that if this house is destroyed, we have a building from God eternal in the heavens – 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, Colossians 1:5 Paul spoke of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 reminds us that that Lord will descend from heaven and we will be caught up in the air to always be with the Lord.
    4. Joy in the place of sorrow, peace in the midst of pain – it surpasses understanding.
      1. 1 Peter 1:8 speaks of rejoicing with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
      2. Why is it Paul and Silas could sing in a prison in Philippi having been beaten (Acts 16:25) and the apostles leave the counsel also with stripes rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Him – Acts 5:40-41, etc. It is because the joy we experience in Him is NOT like that of the world.
      3. John 16:21-22 as Jesus told His apostles He must go away He noted their sorrow would be turned to joy eventually.
      4. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to pray and the peace of God will guard your hearts.
    5. Jesus will give, Jesus will give, He will uphold and sustain –
      1. Matthew 11:28-29 – Jesus is able to give us rest. Matthew 28:20 – He promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.    See also Hebrews 13:5-6
      2. Because He is greater than He who is in the world He can sustain us – 1 John 4:4.

And thus we have examined another song we sing from time to time.  There is a 5th verse that addresses the love of Jesus, which we also need to appreciate with greater fervor, but what we have studied is sufficient to encourage us to remain faithful to Him.

As you look at your spiritual life compared to what it was in the past, would you say it is deeper than before?  Think about it!

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