By Shane Idleman, CP Visitor Contributor Saturday, February 22, 2025
“I would favor to aquire three bucks value of God, please. No longer ample to blow up my soul or disturb my sleep, but only ample to equal a cup of warm milk, or a snooze in the sunshine … I need ecstasy, no longer transformation. I need the heat of the womb, no longer a recent delivery. I need a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I would favor to aquire three kilos of God, please” – Wilbur Reese
Non secular dehydration
I as soon as shared with our congregation that one of the most irritating challenges linked with pastoring is no longer sermon preparation or taxing counseling appointments but witnessing the tragic results of non secular dehydration — individuals dying spiritually with residing water only a step away.
Sadly, we became too busy and too self-absorbed to drink of the residing water that Christ spoke of. The excuses are big, however the resolution is slim: “Whoever drinks the water I give him might possibly no longer ever thirst” (John 4:14).
Enact you in truth wish to know God?
Utterly just a few are surely hungry and thirsty for God. Even supposing most of us quote, “Blessed are these who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they’ll most likely be filled,” many bear by no design surely experienced it.
Paul acknowledged that He desires to know Christ in the energy of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). King David cried out, “One aspect I in truth bear asked from the Lord, that I shall peek: That I might possibly dwell in the dwelling of the Lord your complete days of my existence” (Psalm 27:4).
Hungering and thirsting for God is an all-drinking ardour that drives every aspect of existence.
Refreshing sense of satisfaction
One summer season, I took a motorcycle walk out into the desolate tract with little water. As I rotated and headed lend a hand to my truck, I seen I was out of water. Every mile introduced a recent level of thirst and desperation.
My tips had been consumed with water; nothing else mattered. The scenery and aloof that I enjoyed minutes earlier had lost its appeal.
Hope surged when I seen my truck in the space. Internal minutes, I dropped my bike, sprung the truck door delivery, and devoured the remainder water. Dehydration and exhaustion expeditiously gave solution to a refreshing sense of satisfaction. The intense thirst that I was feeling was now overjoyed.
Folks who in point of fact thirst are overjoyed
That skills reminded me of the thirst God in most cases describes in His be aware — these who surely thirst (peek Him) with all of their coronary heart will most likely be overjoyed. Here is no longer partial obedience, or no longer it is beefy resign; or no longer it is no longer searching out for to squeeze God in, or no longer it is about allowing Him to totally saturate every aspect of our lives.
Paradoxically, we are in a position to bear the letter of the law, but no longer the coronary heart of Christ. We can spoil down the Bible, but our hearts live as irritating as stone. We rule our properties with a rod of iron but know nothing about compassion, gentleness, and humility. We in most cases reach to church to favor others as a replacement of to in truth peek God.
Don’t replace conviction with compromise
There are moreover these who bear replaced conviction with compromise. As I in truth bear acknowledged before, if you notify, “I’m just no longer convicted,” it might possibly very smartly be time for self-evaluate. Even as you are offended by a name to holiness, it might possibly repeat that you like to peek repentance.
Holiness is a tag of conviction and a surrendered existence. Holiness is no longer an option love a necessity in a buffet line. Holiness is a characteristic of somebody who’s in point of fact full of the Spirit of God. Without holiness, no one will search for the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
The lukewarm church disdains the heat of conviction; thus, it remains lukewarm. Lukewarm knows nothing of holiness, resign, and the Spirit-filled existence. It might possibly bear a produce of godliness, but it denies God by its standard of living (search for 2 Timothy 3:5).
Charles Spurgeon rightly well-liked, “There will most likely be three effects of nearness to Jesus — humility, happiness, and holiness.”
Why many don’t in point of fact peek God
First, it might possibly very smartly be that some are no longer in point of fact saved. They’ll bear “faith” but no longer a honest “relationship” with the residing God.
2nd, many produce no longer favor to peek Him. The excuse is typically, “I just don’t in truth feel love trying to score Him.” However we must first discipline ourselves before need comes.
We must first empty ourselves in repeat to be filled. We must first obey before receiving the blessing. We must first spoil before restoration begins. We must first pray before there is transformation. We must praise Him before there is peace. And we must first peek Him if we are to in truth score Him.
Fire doesn’t drop on an empty altar
The fireplace of God, the manifest presence of God, doesn’t drop on an empty altar; there might possibly peaceable be a sacrifice on the altar. Paul wrote, “Therefore, I flee you, brothers, in uncover about of God’s mercy, to provide your our bodies as residing sacrifices, holy and comely to God” (Romans 12:1).
Valid faith is mirrored in trusty humility, selfless fancy, honest repentance, and a surrendered existence.
Does your existence mirror these traits? Are you surely trying to score God? It’s no longer too gradual.
“You would possibly possibly peek me and score me will bear to you peek me with all of your coronary heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). For more, see the sermon, The answer to Get the Secret Station.
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, just North of Los Angeles. Shane’s sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be came all over at shaneidleman.com or wcfav.org. He’s the author of Feasting & Fasting, If My Folks, Desperate for Extra of God, and Inspire! I’m Addicted. Apply him on Fb at: facebook.com/confusedchurch. You would possibly possibly have the opportunity to moreover follow Pastor Shane on Instagram @shaneidleman and Twitter (X) @IdlemanShane
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