THIRSTING AFTER GOD

Earnestly I Seek You

Early in ministry, I had one prayer that I constantly pray to God, “That I may know the reality of His existence”. I knew the bible teaches me to walk by faith but not by sight.

But at the same time, the bible tells me He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The stories about his fellowship are not just stories about faith without sight, they included tangible manifestations of his presence.

They are stories of God who did not only do wonders but he declared greater things than these shall accompany those who believed.

While my focus remained on the miracle worker NOT the miracles, I knew He is fully defined not without miracles, signs and wonders.

He is always faithful, He revealed Himself and He continues to reveal Himself in miracles, signs, wonders, fulfilled prophesies, confirmed word of knowledge……

I’m never satisfied; I want more of him.

You must thirst after God in all times.

DAVID THIRSTED AFTER GOD IN TIMES OF ABUDANCE.

Even at the height of his successes and strength of his kingdom, David thirsted after God.

the comfort of wealth, power and glory of kingship did not take his attention from God, and when he failed, he surrendered in ashes and sack clothes crying, "do not take away your Holy Spirit from me" Psalm 51.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalms 42–72 For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.¹ As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

DAVID THIRSTED AFTER GOD IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE

Many people blame God when things are not in order. They ask God questions but in this case king David, trudging through arid Judean wilderness, fleeing yet another assassination scheme, David pours out his craving before God, this time at his old age and running from his son Absalom,

 Psalm 63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Thirst for power of God.

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Beware of those who deny the power.

2 Timothy 3:1-8 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

• Lovers of themselves.

• Lovers of money.

• Without self-control.

• Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

• Having a form of godliness but denying its power.

JESUS TEACHES THE WISDOM OF PORVERTY IN SPIRIRT.

 When Jesus saw the crowd, he thought, “I must teach them what is important for man. He was God, he knows what is most important. He is the creator; he knows what we are created for.

• He knows motivational speaking will not give us peace-Else Absalom could be great.

• He knew not even seeing miracles could help-Israel could never have failed.

Matthew 5:3,6 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

• When you tell a doctor you have no appetite, they start thinking you have a illness.

• For the lack of desire is the ill of all ills.

• The greater the thirst, the more earnest the search.

• When we don’t thirst for God, we suffer from a soul-sickness, and it is a serious disease. It breeds, the desires of flesh, jealousy, hatred, evil competition, and laziness grows.

What do you thirst for.

•  Righteousness and Holiness.

• God’s presence.

• God’s manifestation.

•  Spiritual growth.

The sound of a thirsty man

• Benson Idahosa declared that the planned meeting of Witches and Wizards in Benin cannot hold while he was alive.

• John Knox prayed: "Lord, give me Scotland or I die"...

• During the Indonesia Revival, those hungry hearts were seen praying day and night: Lord, the harvest is ripe... If it pleases You, please use us".

• Reuben , a missionary in Indonesia, “When time came for him to launch out in ministry, he was sent to a Muslim village in East Java. There was only one Christian family in that village, and they were nominal in their faith. They did not receive Rueben. He would preach in the streets of the village by day and sleep in the open by night. Before long, Muslim villagers began inviting him to eat with them and stay in their homes. After one year of ministry, a hundred Muslims had come to Christ, and a church had been set up. Not everyone in the village welcomed this development and, in his second year of ministry, sixty armed villagers marched to Rueben’s residence. The Christian community prayed, and a police car quickly showed up, scaring off those who had come to do Rueben harm. In the following weeks, another sixty Muslims came to Christ. By the close of his second year of ministry, Rueben’s church had two hundred converted Muslims. (Zion christian inistry, n.d.)”

Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, give me children, or else I die. Rachel said to her husband, Jacob: "Give me children or I die."

A THIRSTY MAN IS A ZEALOUS MAN.

• The evidence of your thirst is the zeal in you.

Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” –

The Bible is filled with examples of zealous men who demonstrated their fervent devotion to God and His commandments. Here are some notable figures who exemplified this trait:

Phinehas: The grandson of Aaron, Phinehas is commended for his zealous actions in stopping a plague among the Israelites by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were defying God's commandments (Numbers 25:11-13). His zeal was so great that it turned God's wrath away from the Israelites.

Numbers 25:11-13 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. ¹² Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. ¹³ He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”

Elijah: 1 Kings 18:20-40 :The prophet Elijah demonstrated zeal for the Lord in his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. His unwavering commitment to God's truth in the face of widespread apostasy is a prime example of zeal.

Jesus Christ: In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies zeal in His cleansing of the temple, demonstrating His fervent dedication to the sanctity of God's house.

Matthew 21:12-17 Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers , Jesus went into the temple courtyard and threw out everyone who was buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. 13 He told them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you’re turning it into a gathering place for thieves!”14 Blind, and lame people came to him in the temple courtyard, and he healed them.

LACK OF THIRST LEADS TO SPIRITUAL BARRENNESS.

2 Samuel 6: 20 David went back to bless the people in his home, but Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, “With what honor the king of Israel acted today! You took off your clothes in front of the servant girls of your officers like one who takes off his clothes without shame!”21 Then David said to Michal, “I did it in the presence of the Lord. The Lord chose me, not your father or anyone from Saul’s family. The Lord appointed me to be over Israel. So I will celebrate in the presence of the Lord. 22 Maybe I will lose even more honor, and maybe I will be brought down in my own opinion, but the girls you talk about will honor me!”23 And Saul’s daughter Michal had no children to the day she died.

1 Samuel 1:9-28Hannah’s Prayer for a Son ,9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.[a] 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.[b]”12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

• Why was barrenness so loathed in the bible?

• It denies the affected the hope of the future.

• It speaks of a death to a generation.

• A church that is not thirsty for God becomes barren and dies slowly.

But unfortunately, our churches are filled today with people who are not ashamed of spiritual barrenness. We are asking "God give me money. God give me spouse. God give me visa, give me cars, give me a nice house".

• Let the wisdom of God reign among us. And make us desperate for God’s presence.

• To seek God every moment we get.

• To desire to know him more.

• Sometimes I wonder when I see the disciples asking Jesus, “what did you mean when you said this’ it portrays a people that had grown thirsty for knowledge.

Where do we see believers again that will be praying and fasting, and when you listen to them, you will be hearing:"

• Lord, let Your Fire fall in my community and let there be revival"?

• That I may know you and the fellowship of your suffering.

• Let the holy spirit come and fill me to overflow.[AW TOZAR]

• Let my people be saved.

• That I may walk in righteousness.

HOW DO YOU STAY SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY?

REMIND MYSELF HOW MUCH GOD LOVES ME

Ephesians 3:18-19 “…pray that you have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. THEN you will be filled with the fullness of life AND the power that comes from God.”

STOP FILLING UP ON JUNK FOOD

Isaiah 55:1-2 “The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty, come to me and drink! And to those of you who don’t have money to buy food, come and eat for free! Why do you spend your money on something that isn’t real food and doesn’t really satisfy you? Come to me and you’ll eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the stuff that really satisfies!” 

• Why spend your energy on unworthy things?

Why waste your resources on unnecessary stuff.

MAKE KNOWING GOD MY #1 GOAL

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 Exodus 33:14 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people. “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory. “  

GET INTO GOD’S WORD EVERYDAY

1 Peter 2:2 “You must crave the pure spiritual milk [of the Word] so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment like a baby cry for milk!” 

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

RELATE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE // BE CONSISTENT IN CHURCH.

• Be careful with discouragers.

Proverbs 2:20 “Join the company of good men and women, who will keep you on the path of the righteous.” 

• Be careful with people who talk too much.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

• Be careful with unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

BE READY TO PAY THE COST.

Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

• No sacrifice that doesn’t go through the fire.

2 Samuel 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels[a] of silver for them.

You mean business if you are ready to pay the cost.

HE HAS PROMISED.

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

 Isaiah 55 Invitation to the Thirsty 55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

 John 19:28

The Death of Jesus, 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.

The plan of God is revealed when people learn to thirst.

• Daniels thirsted for deliverance of Israel.

• Mordecai thirsted that the Jews would be safe.

• Jesus thirsted for the salvation of man.

• Lord, let Your Fire fall in my community and let there be revival"?

• That I may know you and the fellowship of your suffering.

• Let the holy spirit come and fill me to overflow.[AW TOZAR]

• Let my people be saved.

• That I may walk in righteousness.

Do not just wish, thirst because thirst will not allow you to stay still and at ease, but you will push on.