“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.” 1 Kings 8:35-36 ESV
Drought. Spiritual drought. I remember when I was a child and we went to prayer meetings and they were hours and hours long, women laying, kneeling, and pacing at the altar. They sang, and prayed and worshiped – they cried out in groans and wailed. I recall once a warning about becoming dry and that all started singing “Spring up a well!”
Over time that church had a few church splits and the focus was divided after the first. I don’t recall many good prayer meetings after that. Attendance grew and dipped – the regular ebb and flow of a church doing the best they could do. God preserved His church – and I walked away.
Recently, I have noticed from conversations with others that the churches they attended did the same things. Not real notable revivals or visits from evangelists. Nothing bad – just staying the course.
In the world during that time, I noticed what others were saying about the church. It was a dead concept. Churches, Christians and especially God had no power. Lives were not changed by believing in God and therefore believing in Him made no difference – it was a waste of time. More and more hardened their hearts – as individuals and as a nation we turned our back to Jesus as things dried up.
This is a spiritual drought if I ever did see one.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39 NIV
Jesus promised a drink – a glass of water that would quench!
I am seeing more and more posts on social media which refer to God. I hear more and more people talking about God. And many are people I never in a million years would think they would be turning to God (ever)! During this pandemic, people are thirsty and searching for that living water.
People are thirsty they are grasping at even the muddied waters. You know the images with a (hopefully) well-intended positive message, but the message is slightly off from the biblical truth. It’s muddy water! False profits will come and take the message of God and change it slightly, making false prophets hard to discern without really knowing your Bible well. Be wary of false prophets.
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 NIV
Know the Bible, discern the spirits, and be wise.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
They post verses and search for this plan God has to get them through this time. Oh – but His plan is so much bigger than this time! The waters are coming! The drought is over! Jesus is filling His followers with living water to overflowing and they are passing it along.
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 44:3 ESV
Hallelujah!
You my friend and I have been placed here for such a time as this. I time of awakening, I time of freedom and boldness, a time when the damn of the spiritual river is about to burst! Wait, what??? Someone doubted. Who did that?! Someone reading this did not believe Jesus has called you and loves you. I am someone who understands. Even my parents have told me they do not love me – so how am I ever to be loved? I am a lowly outcast, a geek, a nerd. I am also a terrible sinner – having done sins that will make people gasp. But look at the first disciples of Jesus – most of them were considered sinners and outcasts.
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” 1 Corinthians 1:26 ESV
Jesus came for everyone, yes. He called the lowly and the foolish things of this world. He raised them up. He called them His brothers and explained how we are heirs with Him of our Father God’s inheritance.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Jesus chose us while we were yet sinners, before we were even born – and died on the cross for our sins, arising again to give us victory over death!
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16 ESV
Before those fresh clean waters of the spring break forth in our lives we must understand this. We are loved and special and important. He has a plan for us – yes a plan to pour out these waters, but also a plan that is much greater. Yes Lord – Pour out your plan over my life!
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 ESV
He wants a deeper relationship, the same as when you are in love and it grows and you want more from your sweetheart. Move into the gift of the Spirit. Be baptized with the Holy Spirit – just pray and ask. And if you already are – pray in the spirit for these waters for yourself and for our nation! It’s time to submit further, release it all to God and go deeper – there is a river beneath and we need to dig it out!
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:6-8a ESV
It all comes down to “Seek God’.
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV
Just thirst for Him, really thirst for him and He will fill you overflowing with these waters of Life!
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
All these things- what things? Everything. Everything follows seeking him – truly seeking him! Therein is the power, and glory and grace!
And as we look around at people thirsting after God, during a pandemic, realize – this drought is over and it’s time to water these souls. They are a ripe harvest…
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2 NIV
The harvest is plenty!!!
I have unsaved friends and family members, who I cannot reach – they will not accept it coming from me. I pray, Lord, send workers into this harvest, to my dear ones. Send them to bring in the harvest! And send me to harvest for others.
Yes, send me! Send you too?? Yes! Rush out into the harvest they long for the living waters too!!!
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
~Grace be with you ~
~Thank you for reading ~ Be healthy and blessed ~
~ Pray for our nation ~ Pray Psalm 91 ~
If Not For Grace 