About a year ago Mary did a study with the aunties in the Children’s Home concerning spiritual hunger. She asked them, “Have you ever been hungry?” She was amazed at their response. Every one of them, at some point of their lives, had suffered true hunger. Hunger that meant they were so desperate to eat but there was nothing there; and nowhere to find the food they craved. Mary and I have never been through true hunger. Have you?
Hunger is a relative word. Hungry in UK is not the same as hunger in the Philippines; hunger in the Philippines is not the same as hunger in Mozambique. In the UK, hungry means you had a meal a couple an hours ago and you can’t wait for your next fill in approximately 75 minutes. Hunger in the Philippines means that you are not getting quite so much food (em, rice!) that you would like but you know that somehow somewhere there will be someone who you will eat with very soon. In Mozambique, hunger means desperation and death. There is no hope.
I hear a lot about Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival from folk in the UK. I finally managed to get my cable company to put on God TV but the Revival is on from 2-6am! So, I have seen very little of what God is doing there. But I managed to get the last 20 minutes last Friday and Todd was ministering to Pastors and their wives who felt like giving because it was so difficult. Some pastor’s wives were sick with cancer, some were so discouraged, some were worn out. At the end of the rope … but still hungry!
Hungry enough to travel huge distances to taste the healing power of God. Hungry enough to recognize their weaknesses and failures. Hungry enough to stand in front of millions and say, “Lord, I need you.” Hungry enough to realize that no-one can touch us like the Lord. Hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions. Hungry enough to reach out and touch God.
It was a joy to hear these lovely Pastors and their wives just tell God that they were hungry for a new touch from him. As I watched tears ran down my cheeks. Todd Bentley said something – “Friends, I am hungrier for God than anyone. I am hungry for His presence.” At first I thought, “Mmmmm, that’s a bit arrogant!” And as I thought about my own life and ministry I began to realize that you can go on week after week and month after month without being truly hungry for God. We can do things for Him without really being desperate to be with him.
Over the last week I have been really examining my life. Am I really hungry FOR GOD? I have to admit that there is so much going on at Sefton. Plan after plan, meeting after meeting, team after team, pressure after pressure, work after work … ALWAYS something to do and someone to see. Living under pressures of trying to minister, bring up a family, keep up with admin & write newsletters (when the kids are down!!), trying to live (and drive) in another culture, melting in the sweltering heat … etc. etc. We have around 60 staff now and we are responsible not only for them but, in many ways, their families. Sometimes, to be honest, it is really overwhelming. And hunger for God is lost amidst the cares of life and ministry.
This June, I have determined in my heart that I want to experience hunger for God. I know I must sometimes get out of Sefton and spend time alone with the Lord. I want to be desperate. I need to be broken. I desire something fresh. Something new. Who I am and what I am doing is not wrong, but I know I am not in the place I should be. I don’t want to be an advisor; I want to be a demonstrator. I don’t want theory; I want encounter. I don’t want to be an examiner of the river; I want to swim in refreshing water. I don’t want to paddle in the side; I want to go deeper. I don’t want same old same old …. I want anointing for today. I don’t want a heart of stone; I want a heart of flesh. I don’t want to be distant; I want to be close. I don’t want to be lukewarm … I need the fire.
How about you my friend. I don’t know who you are but I do want you to do this. Examine your heart and life. I am nit asking of you are busy for God. You probably are. I am not asking if you are a regular attendee in your church. You probably are. I am not asking if you give faithfully and live as righteously as you can. You probably do. I am asking – are you hungry for His presence? Are you hungry for one touch? Are you hungry enough to let go and let God? Hungry to be broken? Hungry enough to be vulnerable?
Hunger. Do you feel it? Hunger means your body needs more food. Do you long for more of God? Do you know that where you are is not where you should be and your life is not all that it can be? Whoever you are .. God has so much more for you. More dreams, more vision, more passion, more adventures, more revelation. He loves your life more than you do. Are you hungry to hear his words? Are you hungry enough to touch His heart? Are you hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions? Are you hungry enough to be honest with yourself?
A couple of weeks ago, the Youth in Cornerstone Santiago started a new youth service. Matthew was the speaker and I went along to encourage them. As they began to worship, I looked over and saw an amazing sight. Remember Willy? (left) He is the little boy who comes from Nagassican and prayed desperately for his dad to come home? Well, tears were tripping down his face as he lifted his hands and worshipped the Lord. He wasn't singing the words of the songs like everyone else; in fact he wasn't singing! He was lost in worship. Alone with God in a crowd of young people. I was deeply moved and challenged.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness … for they shall be filled! If you don't feel the hunger you will never be filled or fulfilled.
Hungry?
I hear a lot about Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival from folk in the UK. I finally managed to get my cable company to put on God TV but the Revival is on from 2-6am! So, I have seen very little of what God is doing there. But I managed to get the last 20 minutes last Friday and Todd was ministering to Pastors and their wives who felt like giving because it was so difficult. Some pastor’s wives were sick with cancer, some were so discouraged, some were worn out. At the end of the rope … but still hungry!
Hungry enough to travel huge distances to taste the healing power of God. Hungry enough to recognize their weaknesses and failures. Hungry enough to stand in front of millions and say, “Lord, I need you.” Hungry enough to realize that no-one can touch us like the Lord. Hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions. Hungry enough to reach out and touch God.
It was a joy to hear these lovely Pastors and their wives just tell God that they were hungry for a new touch from him. As I watched tears ran down my cheeks. Todd Bentley said something – “Friends, I am hungrier for God than anyone. I am hungry for His presence.” At first I thought, “Mmmmm, that’s a bit arrogant!” And as I thought about my own life and ministry I began to realize that you can go on week after week and month after month without being truly hungry for God. We can do things for Him without really being desperate to be with him.
Over the last week I have been really examining my life. Am I really hungry FOR GOD? I have to admit that there is so much going on at Sefton. Plan after plan, meeting after meeting, team after team, pressure after pressure, work after work … ALWAYS something to do and someone to see. Living under pressures of trying to minister, bring up a family, keep up with admin & write newsletters (when the kids are down!!), trying to live (and drive) in another culture, melting in the sweltering heat … etc. etc. We have around 60 staff now and we are responsible not only for them but, in many ways, their families. Sometimes, to be honest, it is really overwhelming. And hunger for God is lost amidst the cares of life and ministry. This June, I have determined in my heart that I want to experience hunger for God. I know I must sometimes get out of Sefton and spend time alone with the Lord. I want to be desperate. I need to be broken. I desire something fresh. Something new. Who I am and what I am doing is not wrong, but I know I am not in the place I should be. I don’t want to be an advisor; I want to be a demonstrator. I don’t want theory; I want encounter. I don’t want to be an examiner of the river; I want to swim in refreshing water. I don’t want to paddle in the side; I want to go deeper. I don’t want same old same old …. I want anointing for today. I don’t want a heart of stone; I want a heart of flesh. I don’t want to be distant; I want to be close. I don’t want to be lukewarm … I need the fire.
How about you my friend. I don’t know who you are but I do want you to do this. Examine your heart and life. I am nit asking of you are busy for God. You probably are. I am not asking if you are a regular attendee in your church. You probably are. I am not asking if you give faithfully and live as righteously as you can. You probably do. I am asking – are you hungry for His presence? Are you hungry for one touch? Are you hungry enough to let go and let God? Hungry to be broken? Hungry enough to be vulnerable?
Hunger. Do you feel it? Hunger means your body needs more food. Do you long for more of God? Do you know that where you are is not where you should be and your life is not all that it can be? Whoever you are .. God has so much more for you. More dreams, more vision, more passion, more adventures, more revelation. He loves your life more than you do. Are you hungry to hear his words? Are you hungry enough to touch His heart? Are you hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions? Are you hungry enough to be honest with yourself?
A couple of weeks ago, the Youth in Cornerstone Santiago started a new youth service. Matthew was the speaker and I went along to encourage them. As they began to worship, I looked over and saw an amazing sight. Remember Willy? (left) He is the little boy who comes from Nagassican and prayed desperately for his dad to come home? Well, tears were tripping down his face as he lifted his hands and worshipped the Lord. He wasn't singing the words of the songs like everyone else; in fact he wasn't singing! He was lost in worship. Alone with God in a crowd of young people. I was deeply moved and challenged.Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness … for they shall be filled! If you don't feel the hunger you will never be filled or fulfilled.
Hungry?
1 comment:
Wow Mark I can't believe it! George and I have been so challenged this last few days about not being hungry enough for God. We know we are not hungry enough and have been praying for more hunger. Its no use wanting more power but not doing anything about it,so we have determined in our hearts to spend more time seeking God.Betty and Billy are here at the moment and we have been sharing this with them so she was amazed when she read your blog too! Give our love to Mary,Lydia and Josiah. Love Jayne and George.
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