Last night (in worship) I asked the question, "Why do some experience an outpouring of Your presence and not others?" "Is it because they're manufacturing something that is fake, or because we're missing out on something?" The response was, "You're not hungry".
We're not hungry!
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Pour it out, Lord! I'm hungry!
Isaiah 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.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
In order to buy something, you have to say, "I'll have that". "I'll take that one, thanks".
We must come thirsty
We must recognise our thirst
We must acknowledge our thirst
Perhaps we need to drop some stuff off in order to reveal our thirst.
Drinking of alternate (idolatrous) stuff temporarily quenches the thirst and dulls the original 'true' thirst.
Senses are dulled.
Allow your thirst to lead you to one thing only - The Holy Spirit.
Now, usually you would then reach into your pocket, or your handbag, to grab for the money required (the money that you earned) to pay for it.
But you cant,
(1) Because it can't be bought.
(2) Because you can't earn it (or, the right to buy it).
(3) Because resource that you own can never pay for it. Your wealth is not enough.
(4) Because it's free - because Jesus reached into the depths of his own glory and paid for it for you.
So, all you have to do is ask!!
"You who have no money"
That's a reminder that, we have no money.
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit!
We have nothing - on our own - of kingdom worth.
We cant buy or earn His Holy Spirit or his outpouring of Him.
"Come buy and eat"
How can we buy if we have no money?
According to His riches in glory!
"Come, buy wine and milk".
The best! Abundance! Blessing! Joy!
Buy into the inauguration of His kingdom come.
Jesus is "in office". It's "his term".
Ask for it. Select it. Buy it!
"Without money and without cost"
Don't spend (someone else's) money (seek/ask) on what brings zero nourishment. The wine and milk represents the outpouring of the presence (the inauguration of the Kingdom) of God.
What are we seeking? Warm and fuzzy's? No! Kingdom empowerment.
Be careful not to spend your time seeking what you already have (what's already been given to you), otherwise you're demonstrating that you don't know you already have it. And if you don't know that you already have it, you won't recognise when you're given it again.
Recognise what you have.
Pray for increase!
"Less of us, more of You".
"Listen, listen to me"
How is the transaction completed?
By listening.
Pray!
You're on His credit card, but you can't purchase without his authorisation.
He only authorises you to ask, seek, knock, desire and to purchase what is good!
His authorisation (for you to purchase) is for what allows you to delight in the richest of fare!!!
Good food!
Pour it out, Lord.
I'm hungry!