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PRAYING
IN THE SPIRIT SERIES
THE
HUNGER FOR GOD THAT
DRAWS
DOWN POWER
I believe that
unless we continue to nurture our hunger for God we will not be able to reach
the fullness of what God has in store for our lives on this earth. Just as in
the natural so it is in the spiritual. You could have the best food in the
world in front of you but if you have no hunger or you are so full it will not
make any difference. As far as you are concerned, the food might as well not be
there. Have you tried eating when you are not hungry? It takes the pleasure out
of eating. When a person is sick, he looses all the appetite and he feels more
like fasting than to eat anything at all. So we realise in the natural how
important an appetite is. So in the spiritual realm we need to learn how to
nurture our spiritual hunger and appetite for God. All of us have a hunger in
our hearts for God, but to different degrees, and to different extend. And that
hunger of God in our life will determine the reception
of God Himself. Just as our natural hunger will determine our ability to
receive natural food, so our spiritual hunger will determine our ability to
receive the revelations of God onto us.
Matt. 5:3-6 Jesus on the
Notice verse six blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled,
implying that those who do not thirst and hunger after righteousness for the
things of God shall not be filled. It's only the hungry that will be prepared
to receive what God manifest. In a sense Jesus was saying a prophetic word. See
He was the revelation of God to His generation. He is the best visitation in
the whole planet earth. Who is the best but the Lord Jesus? He is the Alpha and
the Omega. History is His story. It revolves around His visitation on this
earth that God made flesh manifested and lived in our midst. As He appeared to
His generation, only those who were hungry for God would really receive the
fruit of His visitation in their generation. But even if Jesus Christ Himself
was to come and manifest in our generation or in a much lesser way through His
vessels or through the move of God, I am sorry to say that only those who are
hungry for God will really receive it. Only those who are hungry for God will
truly be blessed by that visitation. And Jesus Christ was saying to His
generation those who are hungry for God for His righteousness will truly be
filled.
Let's look at some
examples as we go through the word of God. We realise that there were primarily
two groups of people, having two types of responses to Jesus. One was the
religious folk together with His relatives who did not receive Him. These
people were not as hungry as the masses. There were the masses who were hungry
and who sought after God. And when God came on the scene they say this must be
the one. They were looking for Him. All the disciples who came to Jesus had an
element of hunger for God.
Let's look at the
gospel of John 1: 43-46 The following day
Jesus wanted to go to
This is the truth there is some significant involves.
Before they left everything to follow Jesus they have to examine Him. John
chapter one records the incident before Jesus told them come and follow me and
I will make you fisher of man that came much later. See sometimes when we read
the other gospels and see Jesus coming by their boat and say, "Come follow
me and I will make you a fisher of men," we would think that was the first
time He had met them. Before that incident was John chapter one. The disciples
have examined Him carefully. Their first step is to take some time off from
their work. If you are a farmer or a hawker who has to operate yourself there
is a lot of cares of this life to take care. And it is a decision when you say
I am going to put some these down and have a look at that. That decision is
going to be based on your hunger. So that was the first step as they explore
Jesus whom they knew is the Messiah. Then when Jesus walked by them in the other
gospel stories that you read and Jesus said, "Come and follow Me and I will make you a fisher of men," that is a big
decision. Only a very hungry and convinced individual would be willing to drop
everything and just follow Jesus. Believe me it takes faith to do that. What
made them able? How is it that they could receive Jesus in such an open and
simple way? It was their hunger for God.
And all through the New Testament as you see the
manifestation of God; it has always been God working among those who go the
second mile and who are hungry above the average. Think about natural food. If
there were good food people would go there. People would travel several miles
just to eat that food. Sometimes it is a barren land. Nothing is there but one
humble little shack. But the food is good. The shack looks like it is going to
fall down anytime. But yet people will go there. Why, they have developed their
taste bud until every other food doesn't taste as good. So they go the extra
miles just for that food. We are talking about spiritual hunger that will cause
us to go the second mile.
This is the day when half measures are no more enough.
God is dealing in the 90s in our generation with those who are neither cold nor
hot. We are in that generation that God is saying I am no more pleased with
half measures. I am no more pleased with three-quarters measures. Where you can
get by ten years or twenty years ago on half measures, you will not get by in
this decade. Where you could go by in the ministry, in business, in every area
of your Christian life with half measure, you will not be able to get away with
it in this decade. The time for half measures has finished. You are either cold
or you are either hot. Jesus says He will spew those in the middle out to make
the decision. No more half measures. Now is the time for the extra milers.
Now there is a pattern in the bible to show that those
who go the extra mile will receive the special blessing of God. Number one we
realize that revivals have seasons and times. Whatever season it is in when the
season of revival starts happening, it is those who have been the second milers
who will be at the top and the cream of the revival. Those who have gone the
extra mile; it will not be the average Christian. Yesterday I received a copy
of the "Ministries Today" it talked about Jamie Buckingham's bout
with cancer and how the Lord healed him through an operation although it was
inoperable. Inside was a little testimony of a member in his church. For the
first time that businessman in his church fasted a five-day fast. He was
praying for Jamie Buckingham to be healed. And as he was praying he could
imagine how wonderful when all this is over. When he could
get back to normal again. Half way through his fast he has visions of
food. Visions of the normal life he had lived. Now to him it was abnormal I
mean he is seeking God with all his heart and strength and mind for Jamie. As
he was praying for about three quarter way through the fast he heard a still
small voice of the Spirit saying does it takes the cancer of that person to
bring you to the stage you are in? If that is what it takes, what does it takes
to bring you close to Me? God is not involved in all
those evil but there is a question mark that God is bringing. God asked him a
question. Why does it have to take this to bring you close to Me? And that person started repenting. Repenting
for complacency, repenting for being normal, repenting for being average.
When he had finished all his repenting, the Lord said now he can never go back
to his old life. He wants a permanent changed. And Jamie was healed. But that
businessman was never the same again. He realized what God was saying. Now if
his life was like that, I wonder when the Father God looks down on this earth,
how many percent of Christians are complacent, "average"?
When you hear
people who are the extra milers, most people know them as fanatics. But
actually they are normal but the average ones are abnormal. But
because we live in a world where being Christians can mean complacent. I
mean as long as you got sufficient income, God supply your needs sufficiently.
You got time to spend yourself in prayer. You got good attendance in church on
Sundays. You got the time to do this and do that. You are Mr. Average. The lost
and the cry of the dying world don't sound in your heart. The
tears that our Lord Jesus weeps in heaven for the dying planet earth and the
human race going into hell doesn't reach your ears. Mr. Average. These
are the people who when God starts moving sorry to say they find themselves not
in the move. In fact some of these very average may
become hindrances to the move of God. Sometime when God want to move and people
are committing themselves to God, they will say "Let's pray every
night." The Mr. Average will say, "No" and end up the stumbling
block to some of the moves of God. See it is the second milers that many times
are the norm. What God is saying is be hungry for Him. Be either cold or hot.
If you want to be hot for God then go all the way. Your life revolves around
the Lord not around your schedule. But that kind of Christianity is too
fanatical for 20th century Christians.
Just to let you know that some East Malaysian
Christians have come here and shared with us about the wonderful things
happening there. They say that God's fire and angels were everywhere,
ministering to the Christians in every village there. And you say I wonder why
it is not happening here. Of course it is not going to happen to half measures.
It is going to happen to second milers where we get serious with God. And our
lives began to revolve around the Lord fully. Sometimes a person may be hot
once upon a time during the durian season. When the durian season is over they
are cold. They are seasonal Christians. If you are among those who used to pray
for five hours, it was revival. Now you get by with just half an hour. You used
to read the Bible like gold. I mean it was your source. Now you just get by
with half a chapter or one chapter. And then you pore over the papers. You must
have three a day, Straits Times, Malay Mail, Star. You
have lost your fervour another words your hunger for God.
This is the call that God is issuing forth get back.
God is saying get back there because He is about to do something. He is about
to move again. He is about to do something significant. He who has an ear let
him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. And He is saying now get
back there. Something is stirring and he wants second milers to get into
position. If we examine very carefully the book of Acts, we find that every one
of those whom God used were not half milers, they were second milers. They go
the second mile. Let's look at Acts 1: 13-14 They
went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John,
Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon of Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus,
and with His brothers. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples (altogether the number of names was about one hundred and twenty).
There was one hundred and twenty praying. Now let's cross reference to 1
Corinthians 15:4-7 And that He was buried and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the
twelve. After that He was seen by five hundred brethren at once, of whom the
greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He
was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Verse 8 and 9 Paul says
finally he also saw the Lord. I want you to see that after Jesus resurrected
from the dead about five hundred over people saw the Lord. That was before
Pentecost. But only hundred and twenty went on to wait in Acts 1 for the day of
Pentecost. What happened to the other four hundred odd people who saw the Lord
after His resurrection? Why were they
not there? I cannot come I bought me a cow. They got this excuse, that excuse.
Remember some
of the things of God have only a limited timing of revelation. You pass that
time its gone. God was not asking them to wait
forever. It so happen Jesus said don't do anything,
just wait in the Upper Room, wait in
Then in Acts chapter another great move of God
happened. This was a very unique move because it was never recorded in any
other parts. Acts 4:34-35 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for
all who were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds
of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet and they
distributed to each as anyone had need. So there was a move of God. People
started selling their land and houses and bringing in their offerings to the
church. That has to be a revival. And among those was a man who also joined the
second milers. His name in verse 36 was Joseph, who was also named Barnabas
by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement) a Levite of the
country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought it and laid it at the
apostles' feet. Barnabas later went on to become an apostle. But it tells
us that the type of person he was. If the move of God is there he wants to be
in the move. He wants to be involved in what God is doing. He wants to jump on
the bandwagon to be a part of the band that God is sending forth.
Once in a while a half measure guy creeps in. In Acts
five verse one Ananias and Sapphira had a private conference in their house.
Since we are half measures lets sell all our land and keep back part of it and
give the other measures. Since we are half measure lets give half measure. So
they brought a part of the proceeds in Acts five saying that it was all the
proceeds. Notice what happened. Half measures people will never admit they are
half measures. They like to put on a mask and let everybody know I am O.K., you
are O.K. How is everything? Super. But at the back their backs are burned.
After church tribulation at home, they want everybody to know we are part of the
bandwagon. They want everybody to know they are in but God know they are out.
They can fool people but you can fool God. Peter had a word of knowledge and
say you guys are out not in. He became a permanent reject and died on the spot.
No half measures with God. Don't misunderstand me. I am not saying people are
going to die because they are half measures. In the 90s you may not be knocked
out like Ananias and Sapphira but you are sure going to be knocked out in some
way or other. Because the times of the 90s that are hidden in the darkness will
be brought to the light. Those things that are half measure will begin to give
way under the intense pressure that will come in the 90s. What you are you have
to be. You can't hide anymore. And God is bringing forth those who are
determined to go for the full measure, the second milers.
Look at the book of Acts chapter six there is always
promotion for second milers. Promotion come not from the east or from the west
but it come from the Lord. In Acts 6: when there was a need and ministry in the
church, the apostle said therefore brethren seek out from among you seven men
of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom whom
we may appoint over this business. Notice they had a need and they want to do
some restructuring in the church. The apostles said to the congregation and
said you look out among yourselves people who are, notice, outstanding, of good
reputation, who stand not physically but spiritually
head and shoulder above the rest. People who go beyond what others do. People who are not Mr. and Mrs. Average. They are not going
to select seven Mr. and Mrs. average. They are
supposed to select seven second-milers. People who stood head
and shoulder above the rest in their efforts, in their work, in their walk in
everything. Now these seven people who were selected possibly didn't
know that one day that would happen. But day in day out they were faithfully
serving. But they didn't just serve half way. They served all the way and
walking the second mile many times. The extra mile is the mile that is not
legal and not required and not binding. The Roman soldiers legally could compel
someone to walk a mile to carry their loads. And what Jesus say go the second
mile, He say if they tell you to go two miles, you go another three. Jesus
doesn't make people to remain average because Jesus is not Mr. Average. Jesus
is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus is a winner; Jesus is a
conqueror. When we are in Him and He in us you are no
more Mr. Average and Mrs. Average. He doesn't produce half breeds. He produces
kings and priests. Hunger for God will bring you that direction.
Notice these people receive a special blessing. They
received a special laying on of hands which also means
an anointing and impartation. There could be many occasions in the bible but we
are pointing to some here and there. You will find in Acts chapter ten
Cornelius. God deals so specially with him. God doesn't just win his household
one by one. God brought them by the tribes. When Cornelius is
born again all his relations were there. They were born again baptized
in the Holy Ghost at the same time. And they heard them spoke in tongues and
magnified God. Why was it that way? Because one man called Mr. Cornelius of all
things a Gentile was not Mr. Average. He was someone who was hungry for God. He
had a good appetite for God for spiritual things. While others give a little
alms he gave real alms and help. He was a person who constantly goes out of his
way to help. He was a second miler. And when he prayed it was not a Mr.
Average's prayer. If he prayed he really prayed. He even fasted without knowing
God. Now this is the kind of person who was like that before he met God. God
wants us to move with greater hunger. That is Cornelius who goes beyond. In his
time there were other centurions who would come to Cornelius and say,
"Cornelius, please slow down." Cornelius was different. He was not
Mr. Average. He was a second miler. He goes beyond and when he fast he really
fasted. I am sure Cornelius must have earned a nickname among his friends.
Every time he walks by people would call him a fanatic.
But one day he met an angel. How many people meet
angels? Angels are not going to manifest to the non-fanatics. He is going to
manifest to the second milers in their own way. An angel appears and not only
that God had to send apostle Peter all the way, a
leader among the Jewish church right to Cornelius house. And after that Peter
got a scolding from some Jewish Christians for going there. Now here was a person
who did not know God. Notice what the angel said, "Your alms are come
before God." See when God looks down on our tiny little globe, the
question is are you outstanding? Remember there are about billion guys down
here making noise and you are one of the four billion. The question is does God
notice you? Of course He knows everybody. But do you make enough impact on the
heart of God that He could look around to His angels and say, "Have you
notice my man down there?" I am sure right now on this planet earth there
could be four or five billion people on this earth. And there could be a
certain percentage of Christians. There has to be some who walk closer to God
than others. Wouldn't you like to be among the cream?
And that is
what Paul is talking about running the race. Be in the top cream in God's book.
You can be sure when Cornelius does things he does it all the way. See the
angel said call all your relatives. I tell you he called all his in laws,
outlaws, grandaunt, and granduncles. The whole house was filled. If it was one
of the Mr. Average and when the angel says to call your relatives he would only
think of calling his auntie and my cousin and say, " I
think three of us are enough." Not Cornelius the angel said call your
folks our friend line up the whole house. I want you to see that if you are
faithful in little things you will be faithful in many things. That was
Cornelius. He is not going to be Mr. Average. You do something. Do it with all
your heart and soul and mind. Cornelius went all the way and as a result he got
the blessings of all his in laws and out laws and got them into God's law.
Notice this the apostle Paul who wrote one third of the N.T. was
never Mr. Average. Look at the book of Galatians 1: 14 And I advance in
Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. You know what Paul is
saying here. He is saying that when he was a Pharisee he was the Pharisee of
the Pharisees. And he did not know Christ yet. He says that among his own
generation when it comes to God he was number one; he was hungry for God. In
his own way he was wrong because he didn't know Christ yet. He advance, above,
he was number one. That is why when it came to persecuting Christians he also became
the number one persecutor. Anything he does he is no Mr. Average. If he is bad
he is a kingpin. If he is good he is the chief intercessor. No average with
him. Why? It was because he had a hunger, a burning hunger. Now he didn't know
Christ yet. He didn't know that Christ was the truth. He thought that Judaism
was the truth. And when he thought that way he pursued it all the way.
And when this fellow called Saul is born again the
same hunger remain. For some strange reason sometimes a person may be serving
the devil zealously but when they are born again they became half hearted
Christians. What has happened to the hunger? Not with Paul the same hunger was
driving him. He wanted more of God. And when he was first born again after some
attempts of preaching, which was unsuccessful, he went into Arabia in
Like Elijah said to Elisha, "It is a hard thing
you have asked." When he asked for
a double portion of the anointing, it is something costly and God will want to
see whether you mean it. Why is it that book after book, testimony after
testimony of men and women of God who have lived long ago and who live today
you always hear things like they prayed for eight hours for six months and
something happened, they sought God for so long and this thing happened. Why that training and preparation period? Because God wants to see whether we are second milers or half
measures.
These are the days and times when God is saying move
forth fully into Him. You know why Katherine Kuhlman got her anointing for? Hunger. You read in her biography that during her day she
saw all kinds of queer preachers. There were wrong things, people going into
the flesh, claiming healing anointing when there were none. And every night she
would go back and cry and weep before God. She told God that there must be
another way. Her ministry was birthed out of her hunger. She saw something that
must be changed. She knew something is not there. She goes to meeting after
meeting and she says where are the miracles. For
months she cried until one day the breakthrough came.
God used John Wimber in his days among the
evangelicals to promote the Charismatic Renewal. He talked about how when his
church started praying for the sick they didn't see the result. They blamed God
sometimes. They cried to God. They mourned. One day as he was driving in the
car he saw a vision. He saw clouds like drops of honey falling down on people
that represent the healing anointing. From that time onwards the healing
anointing started operating in his life. It was birthed out of a hunger for
God.
William Branham cried onto God. He felt that his life
was very peculiar and strange. Out of desperation he told his wife one day that
he is going to the forest. And he took only a jar of water. And he said to his
wife that if he didn't get an answer from God she might never see him again. He
was prepared to die than to live if he cannot get that truth. And it was in a
shack in the jungle that an angel appeared to him and told him about his
special call and the special gifts of God. It was birthed out of hunger.
William J. Seymour, one of the leaders of the Azusa
street revival when he met Charles Parham he was so hungry that he had been
praying eight hours a day looking for that power of God. He said Lord what must
I do. The Lord said pray some more. So he added two more hours. Now he prayed
ten hours. And out of that prayer one day the power line hit. And the
Right now the spark of hunger in your
life, which may birth future revivals and future moves of God. It is
the hunger that drives you on into the things of God. It is the hunger that
propels you and makes you different. It is hunger that makes you unsatisfied
with being average. You want the truth and the true God. You want the Christianity
as you read in the bible. You want the power that Jesus had that you read about
in the bible. It is possible today. You got to be hungry for God. And show him
that you are hungry steadily day after day, week after week, month after month.
And if you take heed to these words some of you will begin to move out like
Elijah. Some of you will begin to tap on some anointing. That has been reserved
only for those who wait on Him, those who show their love for God in a
demonstrative way. Eyes have not seen nor ears heard nor does it enter into the
heart of man which God has reserved for those who wait on him. (cf Isaiah 64:4)
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