Running Hard After God

Why is it so difficult to run hard after God? Since Scripture teaches us that we will find the Lord when we search for Him with all of our heart, why are we having such a hard time finding Him? The obvious answer may be that we are not truly seeking the Lord with all our heart. How does one define "heart" as it is used throughout the Scripture? Is it simply refering to that fist-sized organ that pumps blood throughout our body? No, the word used for heart refers more to the control center of our body. The "heart" is that part of our bodies that controls our thoughts, attitudes, intentions, desires, and actions. So, when Scripture tells us that we are to love the Lord God with all of our heart,soul, mind and strength,this means that the control center of our lives is to be focused on Him. Our thoughts, attitudes, intentions, desires and actions are to be centered on the Lord. Likewise, if we are searching for God with our whole heart (control center), then our attitudes, thoughts, intentions, and actions are all in desperate pursuit of God.

While our lack of total pursuit of God may be one reason that we are not finding Him, another equally perplexing reason may be that while we are attempting to run hard after God there is someone (or something) that is in hot pursuit of us. Remember, Peter tells us to "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 1:8). Satan takes the battle for the souls of men seriously. He is the prince and power of the air and he will stop at nothing to keep you and I from chasing after God. Between our sin nature that distracts us from all that is godly and focuses our attention on the things of the world and Satan's desire to trip us up, the pursuit of God becomes a daunting task.

One wonders, who can possibly find God if the odds are stacked so heavily against us. Without God it is impossible; but with God all things are possible. While there is much opposition against us finding God, we must remember that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. The Christian will grow in his knowledge of the Word and in his spiritual walk when he determines to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The key is to agree with God that there is nothing good in us and then surrender to His Lordship and walk in His power. Paul tells us that when we walk in the Spirit we will not do the things of the flesh. So, if we want to walk in the Spirit and begin our hot pursuit of God then we must heed the words of Paul in Ephesians 6:10-12 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

We are not alone in our desire to follow hard after God. He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy lives. God has called upon us to pursue Him and then given us the means to be successful in our pursuit: His abiding presence. My friends, be encouraged in your pursuit of God. God is not only rooting for you; He is empowering you to be successful and grow deeper in your walk with Him.

What Happened To Revival?

Well, our revival services came to an end last Wednesday and with them the gnawing question as to whether what we experienced last week was a true revival or merely strong support of revival services. The early indicators leave me scratching my head. After having such great attendance all week during our revival services and such a powerful sense of God's Spirit, it seemed as if there was a spiritual vacuum present this past Sunday. There was no emotion, no zeal, and no sense of a hunger for God. However, the true indicators will come later.
How do we determine if revival has truly taken place? We must do an inventory of our lives. Has God brought about a change in your life? Do you know have a quickened desire to worship Him, to enter into His presence, to study His Word, to spend time in prayer, to share your testimony with others? The greatest indicator of revival is a change in behavior. Has the Spirit of the Living God readjusted the priorities of your life where God is now first and foremost,or are you still putting others things before Him? Do you find yourself more passionate about seeking God and learning from His Word,or is your passion channeled in another direction?
My spirit was broken Sunday night when I looked out at the congregation and saw barely 20 people there. Throughout the revival services we averaged 110 people a night. The Spirit was present and powerful and people were lining the altar to meet God. I was excited that the revival we had been praying for was coming. Now, I am left to wonder. If God really did a work in our hearts last week and brought a change to our lives, where was everybody? Our community is in a desperate situation. There is a great need for people to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If we are going to penetrate the darkness with the Gospel of Truth, then we must return to God with genuine repentance that shows its fruit in a changed life. My friends, I pray for a revival that brings a change to our lives and impacts our community for the Kingdom of God.