Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0147
ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE OF GOD?
We are living in an age when so many are suffering from all kinds of ailments and problems. These can cause life to be somewhat draining. For the Christian we have Someone Who we can look to and call upon. It is important that we know that God responds to our desire. Desire is a strong word and can even be translated as a craving. So how is it with our relationship with God? Do we desire more of Him? Is our hunger to fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives growing stronger? In the natural, if anyone is hungry – really hungry – then their major desire is to satisfy that hunger, that craving, for food. Lesser priorities are put aside as they pursue a course of eliminating that hunger. A strong desire for the will of God to be done in our lives will lift us out of any negativity that tries to hold us down. We simply cannot afford to live in negativity.
ASK, SEEK and KNOCK!
It is no different in the spiritual realm. Jesus taught us that if we “hunger and thirst for righteousness we will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). He promises blessings to those who hunger after righteousness, which is hungering after God through Jesus Christ and in the power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus also said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Please take a few minutes to consider what is being said here. Did you notice that in each statement it is us who has to initiate and demonstrate to God our desire. If there is no hunger and desire for more of God, then we do not ask, seek or knock. God is waiting to show Himself strong on our behalf, but we have to show Him our heartfelt hunger by our actions. Demonstrate your hunger for God to God!!
DESIRE EARNESTLY!
It is the same with Holy Spirit Ministry and the nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures exhort us to “earnestly desire” them (1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1 & 39). They are strong words and mean that our desire has to be as a result of our seeing the subject matter it is referring to as being extremely important; to the point that we give ourselves in earnest to seeking them so they will function through our lives. Sadly we rarely see that kind of desiring after the things of the Holy Spirit today. Then we wonder why we and the church are so powerless.
When our desire is satisfied in the spiritual, we function in a whole different way to the natural, normal way most people live. We are called to be different, but to be different in a God’s-kind-of-way we have to cultivate a growing hunger for all that God has for us. It does not “just happen”. Far too often I hear excuses being made, like “God knows where I am if He wants to use me” or “If He wants me to prophesy, He’ll make me do it.” I’m sorry but it does not work that way. That kind of attitude will rob us of so much of what God has for those who love and obey Him. And He has said that we need to hunger, to ask, to seek, to knock and to earnestly desire the gifts of God. We need to know that when we remain passive or inactive in the things of God we are robbing others of a touch of God in their lives through those gifts that God has given and placed within us. We are not called of God to be robbers, but to carry the blessings, reality and answers of God to our generation. “The manifestation (“a making known; exhibition, i.e. expression. The act of demonstrating”) of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit (“advantage; be better for”) of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Our hunger for God will be demonstrated by our actions and willingness to share what He has given us with others. What a privilege! Yes, what an awesome privilege to be called of God and to be used of Him through the power of His Holy Spirit!
Let us all be found exhorting and encouraging one another to be more hungry for God and all that He has for us in these days. We can never be the losers when He is “Number One” in our lives through a genuine hunger for more of Him! God Bless YOU! ~ Rodney W. Francis.
- “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled” (Luke 6:21).
Bible Readings: Psalm 37:4; Matthew 5:3-16; Matthew 7:7-14;
Prayer: “Father, I come to You in the precious name of my Lord Jesus and ask You to help me to be more desirous and hungry for You. Help me to lay aside everything that would hinder me from being fully satisfied in my relationship with You. I want to do Your will fully, and realize that it can only happen as I have a divine desire and connection with You – and separate myself from the ways of the world. In Jesus’ name I pray these things, Amen.”
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.