Hunger and Thirst

March 1, 2010

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

What is righteousness? Righteousness is not a "what!" Righteousness is a "Who!" Righteousness is Christ Himself. There is none righteous (except the Lord), no, not one (Romans 3:10). There is no righteousness except in Christ!

30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17

My grandmother loved the Lord to a degree that probably few could understand. Before my wife and I were apprehended by the Lord, my grandmother would sometimes write letters to us. She never mentioned any "news" in her letters. All she did was lift up the Lord! At the time, we could not understand that. Now we do! After my grandmother went to be with the Lord, I read in one of her Bibles, "Lord, let me create hunger in their hearts, for until they hunger, they cannot be fed." What wisdom!

Natural things help us to comprehend spiritual things. In our natural body there must be food and water to maintain health, strength, and life. Our "new man," born of the incorruptible Word, and born of the Spirit also must be nourished. It also "hungers" and "thirsts." A good balance must be maintained of food (Word) and water (Spirit).

Food

In America, particularly, most people appear "overfed," yet sickly. Ask a doctor, and he will tell you to drink at least 8 glasses of liquid a day, preferably water. Could there be a similarity in the natural to the "substitutes" for water? soda pop? coffee? anything with a flavor?

Can it be that as Christians we are not healthy and spirit filled because we substitute other things which seem more flavorful for the water of life that flows freely for us to drink of? The days of glory and strength and power were days when people maintained a balance of the Word and Spirit. What occupies the majority of time within Christian meetings today? teaching and preaching ... words; some good, some not so good. We are saturated with words. We have read all of the books, seen all of the videos, go to all of the "conferences," and yet the Church is still weak and sickly, and many sleep (1 Corinthians 11:30).

How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Note that "Thy words are sweet unto our taste." The verse does not say, "The pastor's words are sweet unto my taste!" There is a difference! We must get our eyes and ears off of man and tune in to the voice of the Lord and His words!

Churches neglecting prayer, praise, worship, adoration, and majoring in teaching (food) only, are overstuffed, puffed up, dry, empty and barren as far as producing happy, healthy Christians. There is seldom growth in these churches, either because their vision is dulled, or a spirit of lethargy has set in. There is no burning zeal and passion for people and their needs to be met. Why? Because their "new man" is so dead they do not act or react as a healthy Christian should.

Who [God] also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

Water

It is more than interesting to consider the Psalms as a whole. Almost everyone throughout history agrees that Psalms consists of five (5) books, which correspond to the "Law" (the first five books in the Bible). Psalms 1-41 correspond to the book of Genesis, which concerns man. All blessing is bound up in obedience (Psalm 1:1 and Genesis 1:28). Obedience is man's "tree of life." Psalms 42-72 correspond to the book of Exodus, which concerns Israel as a nation. Psalms 73-89 correspond to the book of Leviticus, which speaks of the sanctuary and worship. Psalms 90-106 correspond to the book of Numbers, which emphasizes that, according to the counsels of God, there is no hope or rest for the earth apart from the Lord. Psalms 107-150 correspond to the book of Deuteronomy, which emphasizes God and His Word. Moses gave to the Israelites the five books of the Law; David gave us the five books of the Psalms. There is an amazing correlation between the two sets of books, which could only have been Divinely inspired! Many have probably written in detail of that amazing correlation, but that is not our purpose here.

However, let us consider the first two verses in the second book of the Psalms, Psalm 42, which corresponds to the book of Exodus.

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2

The book of Exodus describes how the Lord delivered the Israelites out of their great bondage in Egypt. Remember that those Jews were God's chosen people! Psalm 42:1-2 tell us that the way to be delivered out of our bondage today (and in every day) is to thirst after our living God! How great is our God!

We trust that no one said in his heart, "But I am not in bondage, and the Church is not in bondage." That is what the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus; but they were deceived.

They [the scribes and Pharisees] answered Him [Jesus], "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, ‘Ye shall be made free?'" John 8:33

When the wild hart is thirsty, it runs swiftly to a water brook to quench its thirst. So does every child of God. David did, and cried out, "Oh Lord, I am thirsty, and I long for You to come and refresh me, renew me, revive me, let me see Thy loving kindness and mercy; help me; You are my source of strength; You are my God; I trust in You, I rely on You."

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39

The Amplified Version expresses it this way: "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me (who cleaves to and trust in and relies on Me) as the scripture hath said, from his innermost being shall flow (continuously) springs and rivers of living water. But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, held faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the (Holy) Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor). Listening to these words, some of the multitude said, 'This is certainly and beyond any doubt, the Prophet.'"

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken; Deuteronomy 18:15

Others said, "This is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Even the guards of Jesus, in the Amplified Version, said (John 7:46), "Never has a man talked as this man talks." What a tribute to Jesus were the words of those who believed in Him! Even His guards recognized His anointing and ministry -- that He was either a Prophet or the Christ! Indeed He was -- indeed He is the Christ, (Anointed of God) sent to us, and how great is the legacy He left us -- "I will not leave you comfortless -- I will come to you." He comes now as the Holy Ghost to dwell in our hearts -- that same Holy Ghost He promised and has been pouring out on "believers" since the day of Pentecost -- when the Holy Ghost fell on the 120 in the upper room as they tarried for the Promise of the Father.

It is still available today for believers. It is for you and me -- if we are thirsty!

Thirst is something that stays with us until death. Appetite may leave; we can be sustained for days with intravenous feeding to maintain water in the system. Without water, dehydration sets in and death soon follows, for the natural body reacts to a need for water long after appetite for food is gone. With the natural man, we eat, and eat, and are full, fat, and, unfortunately, still "thirsting" for something to satisfy. Some sing a song, "These Are the Days of Elijah." In reality, "These are the days of the sons of Eli." Eli was a very fat man. Likewise, far too many of those in positional authority in the Church today today are getting "fat" from the money which they request from "their" flock.

Oh, that God's people would comprehend the truth that we must have the water that Isaiah spoke of:

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1

In the natural realm, that cry is still heard in natural Jerusalem. All of Jerusalem is surrounded by valleys and dry riverbeds (wadis). Therefore, water supply has always been a major problem and all water has to be bought. From the verse above, how can we buy and eat if we have no money? Bartering was very common in the Old Testament times. So we, as Christians, still barter ... we trade our weak, sickly, sinful, king "self" for His righteousness!

That thirsting within will never be satisfied except we learn to come to the waters and drink - in prayer, communion, repentance, heart searching, and worship until we are refreshed and restored to right relationship with God. The Word alone will not do it. We have seen too many pastors who seem to believe that all they have to do is preach a good sermon every Sunday morning and "their" sheep will thereby mature. Would to God that it was as easy as that! But if that were true, we would not need the Holy Spirit.

There is a "thirsting" in God's masterpiece creation (man) for Him. That thirsting has been built into our spiritual DNA by our Creator. Until we find Him, Whom our soul loves and thirsts for, we cannot find rest, peace, satisfaction, or happiness.

Could it be that on the cross of Calvary, where Jesus uttered one of his seven sayings, "I thirst," that it involved even more than the anguish of a thick, swollen, parched tongue? Could it be that within Him there was not the peace and rest and satisfaction to which He was accustomed, as He had always lived and brought His will into subjection to the Father's will; and now -- suddenly it was missing! He was in accord with the Father's plan, but peace and rest were gone. What was wrong? What had happened? He cried, "My God, My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?" Dear ones, it was for you and for me that He was forsaken of God! He who knew no sin became sin for us! It fell upon His head and swept through Him, as death drew near and He gave up the Ghost. He knew what it was to "thirst" for God's presence!

David knew what it was to fear losing the presence of God. He realized there would never be joy nor peace nor rest without it; therefore, he cried,

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore [bring me back to being at peace and harmony with You] unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12.

Lord, create within us that hunger and thirst for You! This is God's remedy for all ages. Amen.

Fishers and Hunters

December 27, 2009

14  Therefore, behold the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, That brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

15  But, the Lord liveth, That brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I have given unto their fathers.

16  Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

17  For Mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from My face, neither is their iniquity hid from Mine eyes.

18  And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled My land, they have filled Mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.  Jeremiah 16:14-18

Natural, historical interpretation

The Lord brought up the natural descendants of Israel, the Hebrews or Jews, out of bondage from the land of Egypt in the year 1491 B.C.  Some 40 years later, a remnant of the people, led by Joshua and Caleb, entered the promised land of Canaan.  For some 845 years, the natural Jews ebbed and flowed in their relationship with the Lord, but their idolatry, mixture, and compromise finally got so bad that in 606 B.C. the Jews were taken captive by the Babylonians.  Verse 15 was fulfilled some 70 years later, when 50,000 of the Jews returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel.  However, if those verses have only a past, historical meaning then they are of little value to us.  Some Christian believers today say that those verses will be fulfilled again in the natural realm sometime in the future, i.e., that the Lord will once more assemble all of the natural Jews back into a natural land which today is also called Israel.  Whether or not that will actually happen is of little consequence to this word.  We are much more concerned with what Scripture says to you and me, as believers, right now.

Spiritual, prophetic interpretation

The verses in Jeremiah have a timeless, spiritual, prophetic fulfillment in our day.  The nature of man has never changed.  We live in a time when the Church in America has been taken captive by spiritual Babylon ... the political, religious, and economic systems of the world.  But somehow, and soon, the Lord will bring us back to the promised land ... the kingdom of God.  How will He do that?  Only the Lord knows.  But we have to believe that it will take great persecution and suffering, which the Lord will bring to bear, to get us to remove from the midst of Babylon and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 50:8).  There is scriptural support for our belief in Verse 18, above.  The Lord says,

And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled My land, they have filled Mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.  Jeremiah 16:18

Verse 14 says, "behold the days come."  What days?  the days that we are living in right now ... our very present days!  Spiritually, Verse 14 refers to being born again ... being delivered out of the bondage of Egypt.  In Verse 15, who are the children of Israel that the Lord has been bringing up from the land of the north and from all the lands whither He has driven them?  spiritual Israel ... all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Where is the land that the Lord has given to our fathers?  the promised land ... the kingdom of God.  The truth of Verse 15 is perhaps made more clear, and added to, from a similar passage, as follows:

7  Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

8  But, the Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.  Jeremiah 23:7-8

Some very popular, modern translations of the Bible (which are based upon the Nestle's Greek translation) translate the word "seed" as "descendants."  Because of that erroneous translation, many believers today reduce Verse 8 above to the natural realm, i.e., the natural Jews.  But the seed of the house of Israel refers to those who are in Christ.  All of the promises of God are to Christ and those who are in Christ.  Paul clearly understood, as should we, that the "seed" of Israel refers to Christ.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  Galatians 3:16

In Jeremiah 16:16, who are the fishers? and who are the "them" that shall be fished?

16  Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

17  And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.  Mark 1:16-17

4  Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5  And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word will I let down the net.

6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  Luke 5:4-6

3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.  They say unto him, we also go with thee.  They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4  But when morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?  They answered Him, No.

6  And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.  They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.  John 21:3-6

The fishers were originally the New Testament apostles.  In our day we call them preachers or evangelists.  They are those who cast wide nets for the fish, which are the "them," those whom the Father has given to the Son.  Fishers bring in large numbers of people into the kingdom of God.  That happened on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 4:4, and other times throughout the history of mankind.  One report states that in Africa and Asia, up to 175,000 are accepting the Lord every day!  The fishers speak of the quantity of those coming to the Lord.  Currently the fishers appear to be looking for Arabs ... for Muslims.  Two separate, reliable reports confirm that many Muslims are coming to accept the Lord Jesus Christ in this hour.

But the time of the fishermen is coming to a close.  We are on the threshold of the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled.  Now the Lord is sending forth His hunters.  Fishing is quite different from hunting.  Fishing speaks of quantity.  Hunting speaks of quality in small numbers.  The hunter looks for one in some area, two in another area ... those who are hidden away in the holes of the rocks.  The hunters shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Jeremiah 3:14

Who are the "them" that the hunters are looking for?  The very elect which the Father has given to the Son.  The hunters are looking for the "nobodies;" they are looking for the remnant ... the tithe of the tithe (believers, not money).  Further, the hunters themselves are nobodies!  The "big name" teachers and evangelists are still fishing, because fishing is much more profitable to the ego and to the pocketbook.  In churches, including charismatic churches, in the United States today, too many believers have become almost inoculated and desensitized to the word of God.  Whenever a minister is sent by the Lord (the key word is SENT) to a gathering of believers, particularly in the United States, to teach or preach the word of God, there are many times when it seems to the human messenger that the word of God is falling on deaf ears.  However, that is NOT a time to be discouraged!  because the Spirit of God is piercing one or two in that gathering.  It is the Spirit of God within you that is hunting for those who have ears to hear,  eyes to see, and hearts atuned to the Lord.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

What is the chief weapon of the hunters?  the wonderful grace of God!  Praise be to His wonderful name!  It is by the grace of God that hunters are sent out to look for those hidden away in the rocks of the hills.

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The counterpart in the New Testament to the above verses in Jeremiah is a parable which Jesus spoke.

16  A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17  And sent his servant at supper time to say unto them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse.  The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things.  Then the master of the house being angry said unto his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

22  And the servant said, Lord it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.  Luke 14:16-24

According to Jewish custom, when a man prepared a feast or banquet, an initial invitation was sent out long before the date and accepted, but the specific hour was not announced.  Then, when the day of the feast came and all things were ready, servants were sent out to summon the already invited guests.  It was considered a serious insult to accept the invitation initially and then to refuse it when the day and hour finally came. In Scripture, association of a great banquet, or supper, or a wedding feast with the coming of the kingdom of God is very common.  Note that almost all of Luke 14 has to do with feasts and banquets.  Few things are more pleasurable than a wedding feast.  Everyone is very upbeat and joyous at a wedding feast, particularly the bride and the bridegroom.  Further, every Christian should be like a man who is forever at a wedding feast.

Note that there were three sets of people: (1) those who were originally bidden; (2) the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind; and (3) those in the highways and hedges who were compelled to come in, that the house of the Lord might be filled.

In Verses 16 and 17, those that were originally bidden, the invited guests, represent the Jews, particularly the affluent, religious, educated Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and lawyers, who came from the temple and were the elite of the day.  But when the Jews refused God's invitation and left His table empty, the invitation went out to the Gentiles.  Note that all of them, in Verse 18, began to make excuse as to why they could not come.  None of the "reasons" given was genuine.  The phrase "with one consent" can be translated as "with one mind."

The first man said that he had bought a piece of ground, or a field, and was going to see it.  No one would buy a field without first seeing it.  Would you?  The second man said that he had bought five yoke of oxen and had to go prove them.  No man would do that either.  He would first prove the oxen before buying them.  The significance of both of those two excuses is that too many people become so immersed with the things of this world that they have little time left for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  The third man said he had married a wife and therefore could not come.  Note that the third man never asked to be excused because he knew the letter of the "law."

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.  Deuteronomy 24:5

The above verse shows the mercy of God, despite all of the law.  A man's secular job, entertainment of all kinds, television, sports, and even his own wife and family, may, unconsciously, become a man's "god."  One of the tragedies of life is when good things, even the better things in life, crowd out the claims of God on our life.  It might be worthwhile for every man to sit down and count the number of hours spent each day on specific activities.  Jesus said,

No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  

Luke 14:26

In Luke 14:21, the second set of people were brought in.  They were the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.  They came from the streets and lanes of the city.  This set of people, particularly the poor, always constitute the majority in any nation.  There are many more poor than rich.  Jesus said that the poor you will always have with you.  So this set of people are brought in by the fishers in Jeremiah 16.

And the common people heard him gladly.  Mark 12:37

26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are:

29  That no flesh should glory in His presence.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

In Luke 14:23, the third set of people were called, from the highways and the hedges.  This final set of people are brought in by the hunters in Jeremiah 16.  The word "compel" in Luke 14:23 could more accurately be translated as "constrain."  That verse has been very sadly misinterpreted and  misused.  The misinterpretation and subsequent misuse has been and still is based on lack of understanding of Who the "servant" in the parable represents.  There is the compelling that man does.  Saul of Tarsus, in his ignorance before he was converted, exercised that compelling nature.  He said,

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.  Acts 26:11

Who are the "them" in the above verse?  The same as the "them" in Jeremiah 16:15 and 16 ... the chosen "seed" of Israel ... those whom the Father had given to the Son.

Augustine, like Saul of Tarsus, used that text in Luke 24:23 as a justification for religious persecution.  It has been used, and still is, as a command to coerce people back into the "fold," i.e., back into the Roman Catholic church.  It was used as a defense for the great inquisition.  Jesus warned us of that when He said,

2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yes, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  John 16:2-3

To understand the correct meaning of the word "compel" in the parable in Luke 24:16-24, we must understand who the master of the house represents and who the servant represents.  The Master of the house is God the Father.  The Servant is the Son.  How does the Son "compel" them to come in?  By His great love, grace, and mercy!  In the kingdom of God there is only one compulsion ... the compulsion which is the love of God!

For the love of God constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead. 2 Corinthians 5:14

There is a huge difference between the compelling or constraining by man as compared to the constraining by the love of God!  It is by His Spirit, not by or through any man!
For it is God Which worketh in you both to will and to do, of His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:14

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The fishing season is drawing to a close.  The hunting season has begun and the hunters have been prepared by the Lord.  The elect of God, the remnant, who have been hidden away for years in the wilderness, in the mountains and hills, in the holes of the rocks, the "huntees," have been prepared by the Lord.  Although the following verses describe natural, physical conditions that some men of old endured, the "huntees" are those who have spiritually

37b  wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented [or vilely treated];

38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  Hebrews 11:37b-38

All things are prepared and the banquet feast is ready.  It is time for the hunters to go out and compel them to come in.

Be encouraged in the Lord!