"Drought to Refreshing!" by Wade Urban Amos 8:11, “Behold, the days are coming.’ says the Lord, ‘that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Anyone with any kind of spiritual antenna knows our nation is in serious trouble! We are in the very days Amos prophesied. The same way a natural drought develops slowly and initially goes unnoticed, so it is with spiritual drought. •Lack of moisture (dry eyes) •Vegetation and trees start to wilt, wither and droop (praise-less, joyless, life-less) … no passion, no zeal, and no revelation! Jer. 2:11-13, “Has a nation changed its gods? Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,’ says the Lord. ‘For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.” The church has walked away from their spiritual oasis and wandered into the desert of religious activities, personal acclaim and recognition – many attempting to usurp God’s glory for themselves. Hebrew word for cistern is “bor”. Truly, life becomes a “bore” when we pervert our purpose. Why would one leave their place of plenty? I believe the lack of true spiritual hunger is the culprit. Our souls must deeply crave God’s presence causing us to seek Him with our whole hearts. Only then will He bring true excitement and joy we look for. More and more are attempting to satisfy their hungry, thirsty souls with the things of this world which can never satisfy. Solomon said, “All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7). Peter’s message is our only prescription for true spiritual satisfaction: “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). True refreshment comes from the presence of the Lord; never from human striving! Desperation for God’s presence is essential for breaking the drought. Ps. 63:1-2, 5 -“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” When we get to that place of desperation, the Lord responds with His River of Life filling us with His power and glory. Ps. 36:8-9 -“They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life.” We have no excuse for spiritual dryness when Holy Spirit lives within us offering His “times of refreshing”. Hosea 10:12, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” This refreshing presence of the Lord is described as a wide, peaceful river: Isa. 33:21, “There the majestic Lord will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will sail nor majestic ships pass by.” The church needs a change of priority. Notice what the prophet said – there will be “no galley with oars” – no man-powered boats equipped with new programs and manmade plans and schemes – works of the flesh will find no access here. And, there will be “no majestic ships” – “showboat ministries” intent on drawing AUDIENCES, not equipping ARMIES! Rivers have great significance in scripture reflecting the operation of Holy Spirit in believers’ lives. From Ezekiel’s river in Ezek.47 which flowed from under the threshold of the temple, first ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep then to waters to swim in; to John’s Revelation, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev.22:1-2); to Jesus words in Jn.7:38, “He who believes in Me ..out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.; we see that this River immerses whoever steps into it! The Lord desires an unprecedented move of Holy Spirit so that no one will be able to gainsay or declare, “Oh, I knew that already!” Isa. 48:6-7, “I have made you hear new things from this time. Even hidden things, and you did not know them. They are created now and not from the beginning; and before this day you have heard them, lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.”’ I expect a tsunami of God’s River of Life to hit the church as His people get serious in worship, prayer and intercession. With His River comes not only blessing and joy, but renewed fruitfulness as well. Ps. 1:3, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” This anointing will draw all who suffer from famine to a well-watered garden of His truth and power. Isa. 58:11, “The Lord will satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” This “refreshing” will not happen without God’s people awakening from slumber and taking up spiritual arms against the enemies who have infiltrated lives, families, churches and the nation. Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 13:06:16 +0000
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