What do you long for?

The longings of many have been put into song. John Denver longed for that country road to lead him home. Ray Charles sang of thoughts and longings for Georgia. He said it was always on his mind.
Read what the psalmist has to say about longings.

Psalm 42:1
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

This describes one who is truly seeking after the Lord. To long for God as a deer for water, to know in your heart that you can't live without Him, and to feel that burning in your soul. This is a person who chases after God as though his very life depends on it, because it does.

This is what God wants from His church.

Read Isaiah 30:9-11

How much of the church falls under this description. How many of us sit in congregations asking to hear "a message of hope"? How many churches are bringing people in with the good news of the gospel, but never delving any deeper? Where is the correction? Where is the guidance? The church needs this so desperately, yet the vast majority does not want it. We say the "sinners prayer". We put our name on the church roster. We sit in our pews and wait to be told how great we are for coming to church on Sunday and how God has wonderful things planned for us.

Read Isaiah 30:19-21

We have been called to wake up. We have not been listening. If we have been listening, we have not been responding. We are the church. We are God's people, citizens of heaven. Why are we choosing to die of thirst? We have but to cry out! We have but to listen! God will show us the way. He has already made the path. We just need to wake up and let him tell us where it is.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

Do the words of the psalmist describe your heart? Do the words of the psalmist describe the church?

It is time to cry out.
It is time to pray.
It is time to open our minds and our hearts.
We have to listen.
We have to act.

Our very lives depend on it.

A better Harvest

Read 2Corinthians 9: 6-15

This is a prosperity message if I have ever heard one. Paul is urging the people of the church to give and reminding them of God’s promise. It is very easy to think of this message in terms of money. After all, that is what most often comes to mind when we think of giving and generosity. It certainly plays a role in the description of riches and abundance.

2 Corinthians 9: 10-11

Now he who supplies the seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

We read this and get excited. Who doesn’t like the prospect of having more? We live in a society that thrives on it. The truth is that God wants us to live abundantly. He wants us to have more. This, however, doesn’t mean millions of dollars for everyone. For some, it will be exactly that. There will always be those called to support the church financially. Bills must be paid, and the tools for outreach require funding. We are called to support our pastors financially as they support us spiritually. This however, isn’t the path for all.

2 Corinthians 9: 7

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We all have a calling. We all have something that we know should be given to the Lord. We know what we should give. It has already been decided in our hearts. What remains is to be faithful in this very thing.
Some are called to sing, make a joyful noise. When those with this calling are obedient to the Lord, their talent is multiplied. God makes them rich in talent, that they may share it with others to the glory of His kingdom.
Another may find that he is gifted with the pen, and can write words to reach and inspire others. Through this, the gospel can be shared with those who would otherwise not hear it. Words can uplift those who are not within range to hear.
Still, another may be gifted to paint, to build, to organize resources. There are many callings, many gifts. Every one of these can be utilized to spread the gospel, to reach out and uplift our fellow man. These gifts are meant to further the kingdom. We are called to use them for His glory. We are often called in areas where we feel weak, or without resources. Remember, that He who supplies the seed will increase your store if you trust in Him.
We give our praises to God and so will those who are blessed by our gifts. More are drawn in to the kingdom. The kingdom of God only gets richer as it grows. There is the prosperity my friends. We grow richer as the children of God, the heirs of the kingdom. We grow richer in the gifts that we share. We become better equipped to serve the Lord and to serve one another.

2 Corinthians 9: 12-15

The service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

Read this again. God has promised us so much more than we could attain on our own. He will multiply the measure of talent and treasure that we share. Our seed will lead to an increase in the harvest. He has promised us His grace. We will also have the prayers of those who are touched by our obedience, by the example that God has called us to live. Prayer is powerful. It is what defines us. The Old Testament tells us over and over again that God’s people were known by their prayer. That we are called to do works that inspire prayer is an amazing thing. There is nothing more powerful.