Following and Thirsting After Christ

Thirsting After God
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
01-20-2013

..."Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit"....

- 2 Kings 2:9

The first requirement to move in greater power and authority in God is to hunger for it. Yet even this hunger is born from God. Elisha hungered after God. Elisha saw many miracles as Elijah's servant. But he wanted more. He wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. When he asked Elijah for this, the prophet responded, "You have asked a difficult thing." It wasn't because it couldn't be granted. Elijah knew that with great anointing came a great weight of responsibility and difficulty.

Second, humility comes before honor. Elisha was known as the "servant of Elijah." How would you like to be known as "the servant of John"? Your name is not even mentioned. This was the preparation of Elisha. It has been the preparation of many men of God. Consider Joseph, the servant of Pharaoh. Consider David, the servant of Saul.

Third, Elisha committed himself totally to his calling. The Scripture says when Elisha was called to join Elijah, the younger man left his farm business completely. He slaughtered his oxen and had a great feast for the community. It was all or nothing. He could not fall back on his farm trade if his new venture didn't work. This demonstrates Elisha's pioneer spirit in stepping out, not knowing what was ahead.

Do you want greater anointing in God? "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you" (Jer. 29:13-14a). Begin thirsting for God's anointing in your heart today. This is the starting place.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

I’ve been reflecting on the word CHANGE all day today (January 1, 2013). I've been singing the chorus to Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror for the past several days and the hymn, I Will Bless Thee Oh Lord is in my spirit. Hallelujah!  

 

change

  [cheynj]  Show IPA verb, changed, chang·ing, noun.

verb (used with object)

1.     to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: 

2.      to transform or convert (usually followed by into  ): 

3.      to substitute another or others for; exchange for something else, usually of the same kind

4.      to give and take reciprocally; interchange: to change places with someone.

5.      to transfer from one (conveyance) to another: You'll have to change planes in Chicago.

 

Look at number 4 above - isn’t that what God did for us?  He loved us so much that he gave up His son to die in our place on the cross. Can we honestly say that we have reciprocated and loved God back by dying too?  (Mark 8:34 - “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”) (Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.) 

 

So here we are again at the start of a new year where the desire for change in our lives consume us and resolutions are made.  Each year we make them.  We start out good but seem to fall off that wagon by spring time.

 

It is okay to desire change, but what are those changes that we seek to accomplish and where are they coming from – flesh or spirit?   (Romans 8:5 - Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.)

 

The only change we make this year should be to commit ourselves to God, to desire Him more than anything; and to remain faithful and obedient to His Will over our lives. (Psalm 40:8 - I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.)  Once we put ourselves in God’s hands, He will change us and mold us into the persons He ordained us to be.  That is the only change that matters. 

 

My brother in ministry (thank you Rev. Parker for sharing what the Holy Spirit gave you)sent me these 6 words of inspiration this morning (acronym for C.H.A.N.G.E.) I’ve added some of the scriptures that came into my spirit when I read them.  I pray you all have a year of CHANGE… and I pray that God starts with me (Create in me a clean heart Oh Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me).

 

Correcting

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God^[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

Matthew 7:3-5 - ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

 

Habitual

Hebrews 10:19-26 - ¹⁹ Therefore, brothers,^[c] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

            Psalm 119:15 - I will meditate on your precepts     and fix my eyes on your ways.

 

Attitudes

Romans 15:5 - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:22-24 - ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

Negating

James 3:13-15 - ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

 

1 John 1:8 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

 

Hebrews 10:26  -  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

PS - Stop saying, "it's so hard being a Christian"!   Jesus never said that.  He said that in the world we would have trials and tribulations, but to be encouraged because He over came the world.  We need to speak life - It's EASY being a Christian!  Why?  Because Jesus said so!  He said, "...my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Generational

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 - ¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,

 

Psalm 34:11 - Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 

Errors

Matthew 22:29 - Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

 

James 5:19-20 - ¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

2 Peter 3:17 - Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.