The Holy Spirit and the bride (the
church, true Christians) say ‘come!’ And
let everyone come who is thirsty( who is painfully
conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened)
and whoever earnestly desires to do it, let him come and take and appropriate (drink) the water of life
without cost. (Amplified) Rev. 22:17. This powerful
scripture from the Apostle John brings a deeper understanding to the need for
believers to eat and drink of the Word of God. Whether it is the written Word,
spoken Word, or prophetic Word, we must show-up at the table to consume it!
A big part
of life is simply ‘showing up’. We must show up and be seated at His table if we are
going to eat and drink from Him. Note in
this amplified translation the scripture says whoever ‘earnestly desires to do it, let him come.’ I have found over many years of ministry that
there are many who say they desire to do something; however it is really only a
few who earnestly desire to
do it and then come to
partake. The scripture also says it is those who are ‘painfully conscious of the need’
that will choose to come to the water. Herein lies a demarcation
between a life of lack and a life of
abundance; a life of defeat and a life of victory; a
life of His will done only in heaven versus a life where His will is also done
on earth. It is the earnest
ones, the painfully conscious ones, the seriously committed ones that
come to eat of His word and drink of the water of life. We see a similar
scenario in Jesus’ parable of the great banquet. (Luke 14:15-24) Many were invited but excuses are made for not
showing up to eat.
Many of you
who lead ministries and pastor churches have wondered why some to whom you
minister don’t value that which is offered at the dining table. They talk but don’t walk. They make an occasional stop but never really
take a seat at the table. They don’t make the effort to show up, eat and drink. Others show up, taste the food but are not hungry or thirsty enough to actually be
filled and be nourished by it. Others
want home delivery. They want a more convenient dining
experience. Convenience is valued over the content.
I am
reminded of an experience ministering in a small church in Nepal. Deborah and I were teaching in a village
where this church was the only Christian church in the dominant Hindu
culture. An elderly lady in her 80’s was
in the group of 50 people that day. Her
attention hung on every spoken word from Deborah and I. She consumed everything
we brought to the table that day. She drank the water of the Spirit. Her smile
revealed an earnest desire, and a painfully conscious need for the living water
and word. As she ate, her toothless smile revealed an inner joy of being
satisfied and quenched. The pastor told us later that she was a new believer.
She walked 13 kilometers one way each Sunday to take a seat on the floor of
that ‘dining table’. Yes, she walked at the age of over 80 to take a seat at
the table.
Lord, I pray that every reader of
this message is stirred to hunger and thirst so earnestly that they overcome
every excuse and every convenience to come, eat and drink of what these leaders
bring to the table. Let every leader be
encouraged that those who do eat and drink will walk in abundance and victory
bringing your will from heaven to earth. Amen and amen!
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