“The Shallow Can Never Touch the Deep; The Outward Can Never Touch the Inward”

 

“The Shallow Can Never Touch the Deep; The Outward Can Never Touch the Inward”

Psalm 42:7 — “Deep calls unto deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have passed over me.”

Category	The Shallow Can Never Touch the Deep; the Outward Can Never Touch the Inward
Meaning	Spiritual depth can only be touched by depth. Shallow experiences, outward behaviors, or emotional impulses cannot reach true spiritual reality. Only what comes from the deep within can touch another’s deep and respond to God’s deep.
Representations	1. Shallow: emotions, outward excitement, intellectual knowledge, visible expressions. 2. Deep: roots, hidden experiences before God, revelation, inward dealings. 3. Outward: acts, talents, zeal, external performance. 4. Inward: life, motives, spiritual reality, secret fellowship with God.
Reasons	1. Depth is a matter of life, not knowledge. 2. God’s deep calls unto deep (Ps. 42:7). 3. Without root, one cannot endure trials (Matt. 13). 4. Hidden life is the source of real spiritual strength (Isa. 37:31).
Purpose	1. To lead believers to grow downward before upward. 2. To enable them to truly touch God and the deep of men. 3. To become those who supply life, not merely stir emotions. 4. To ensure outer ministry has real inner foundation.
Explanation	Deep calls unto deep (Ps. 42:7): • Only deep responds to deep. • If one does not speak from depth, he may move emotions but cannot touch the spirit. Roots and leaves (Matt. 13; Isa. 37:31): • Roots are unseen; leaves are visible. • With leaves but no roots = shallow soil; cannot withstand testing. • One must “take root downward” to “bear fruit upward.” Hidden vs. exposed life: • Those with only outward display but no hidden dealings have no roots. • Shallow utterance can never reach the deep of others.
Examples	1. Psalmist (Ps. 42:7): spoke from deep experiences. 2. Paul (2 Cor. 12:2): third-heaven experience kept hidden for fourteen years; a rooted man. 3. Shallow soil (Matt. 13): no root, withers under the sun. 4. Some ministers: can excite emotions but cannot impart life because message is not from the deep.
Application	1. Build a hidden life before God. 2. Live more in the spirit, less in emotion and outward display. 3. Seek deep supply from the Lord, not merely knowledge. 4. Minister from revelation, not talent. 5. Practice rooting downward through meditation and quietness before God.
Burden	1. Many Christians today reveal much but hide little; have leaves but few roots. 2. God wants people who can touch His depth and touch man’s depth. 3. The church needs vessels of life, not merely successful outward ministers.
Prophetic Speaking Guidelines	1. Speak life, not mere doctrine. 2. Speak from what God has wrought in your inner being. 3. Aim to touch the spirit, not excite feelings. 4. Let every word be brought from before God.
Key Scripture	Isaiah 37:31 — “The remnant… shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.” Matthew 13:5–6 — “Some fell on rocky places… and because they had no root, they withered away.” 2 Corinthians 12:2 — Paul’s third-heaven experience, kept hidden for fourteen years.

 

Conclusion: 

l   Only deep can respond to deep.

l   The shallow cannot touch the deep; the outward cannot reach the inward.

l   Only rooted ones can endure trials and truly supply the church.

l   No outward ministry is real unless it springs from inward depth.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training: General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7 - Extremely Important Aspects - Week 5: The Kingdom's People Have Personal Prayer Experiences, Contacting Their Heavenly Father in Secret, and Experiencing the Secret Enjoyment of the Father.