water

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  (Isaiah 41:17-18)

What are we going to do with that promise, above?  I see that God is ready, willing, and able.  But I also see that there is something on our part, which makes the fulfilling of God's promise conditional.  The above passage begins with the word "when."  When what?  When the "poor and needy."  But Laodiceans are neither poor nor needy, spiritually speaking; instead, they are self-sufficient and content with their "form" of religion which accommodates their worldly lifestyle.  If we may benefit from such a promise as God has given, above, we must first become "poor and needy" for the things of God's Spirit.

When we humble ourselves before the Lord and see our true condition as "poor and needy," we will then truly begin to "seek water" from the Lord.  The act of "seeking" is not a one-time event, but it is a continual state of mind.  Seeking, moreover, is specific.  One does not "seek" after anything without even knowing what that is.  How can anyone seek for something which is unknown, undefined?  "When the poor and needy seek water."

In Scripture, "water" represents the flowing of God's Spirit and His living Word in the soul (in the consciousness)~as well as in the circumstances~of man.  The manifest Presence of God's Spirit is not merely refreshing but it is life-giving.  That is the "water" which is here spoken of.  Thus the "condition" upon which depends the fulfilling of God's express promise, above quoted, has to do with our spiritual condition which finds us truly thirsting and seeking for the reality of God to flow in and through us.

The quality of such "thirsting" is further described by God, thus: "...and their tongue faileth for thirst."  When we are but a little thirsty, we can wait to get a drink.  But when the tongue "faileth for thirst," all of one's thoughts and the passion of the will become intensely focused upon obtaining one thing only: that is, water.  That kind of thirsting produces the kind of "seeking" which God says that He will answer.  That kind of seeking, however, appears exceedingly rare among the Body of Christ  (if I may be so bold as to express my opinion of the matter).

So long as we are content to meet together once a week,

for a couple of hours (if that is not too inconvenient),

does not seem to me to suggest that our

"tongue faileth for thirst."

The Lord responds to earnest, diligent seeking after Him: "I the God of Israel will not forsake them."  We find, then, yet another qualification intimated in that promise.  What is that qualification?  It is suggested by the Lord's use of plural pronouns, i.e.: "their tongue;" "I...will hear them;" "I...will not forsake them."  On numerous occasions, I have written of the Scriptural imperative to corporately seek the Lord, together.  It is not a mystery in Scripture, but God's will in the matter is abundantly plain:

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.  (Zephaniah 2:1-3) 

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?  (Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:  2:15-19)

The Bible makes a point to mention that, on the day of Pentecost (in the book of Acts), "they were all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1); there was no "mixed multitude" present in the upper room.  But 120 or so true disciples of Jesus Christ were gathered together "in one accord" and "in one place."  It didn't take very long (a few days) before the Holy Ghost came upon each and every one of them "suddenly" and with great anointing and power.

Do we not desperately need our own Pentecost, in this dark hour?  Has not God promised to "open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys?"  Rivers pouring down from heaven; and fountains springing up in the lowest places: so that the wilderness itself become a pool of water.  That's a picture of real, heaven-sent Revival.

How does it come?  What does God require of us?  Not to multiply our programs or services, nor to do charitable works (as many suppose).  But God wants a praying, seeking People.  Prayer ~ earnest, diligent prayer; prayer which from the heart seeks communion with God; which seeks to be filled with God (not to have emotional "experiences" or "encounters").  That kind of seeking requires of us that we must put away other things, in order to make time to come together with other, like-minded Christians, and pray.

The reward which God has promised to those who will humble themselves and pray, and seek God's face, and turn from their (our) wicked ways, is unspeakably great.  The outpouring of God's own Spirit unto us, is better than anything else we could desire or seek at any time.  

Here is a somewhat lengthy passage which, not incidentally, follows closely after the above-quoted passage, in Isaiah:

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. 

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.  Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 

The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.  I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.  And  I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.  (Isaiah 42:5:16)

In Isaiah 41, God said that, to those who will seek Him with their whole heart, He will pour out His Spirit to them in great abundance.  In the following chapter, the Lord tells us His purpose and His promise, concerning the ministry to which He has called us in Christ.  Note, especially, that the work of ministry does not precede, but it follows after, our seeking and then being filled with God's Spirit.

In the context of the ministry, God said that He is going to do "new things;" and, furthermore, that He will first tell us what He intends to do.  All of which, the pouring forth of God's Spirit, in answer to our earnest seeking, is to anoint and equip us for the ministry of salvation and deliverance (involving "new things" which God will do).  The result of which returns to God as shouts of praise and waves of glory to Christ.

In this time when it seems that everyone is focused on elections, terrorism, economic hardship, and any number of other afflictions which our enemy, the devil, has sought to entangle and ensnare us with, God wants us to turn and focus our attention heavenward, to seek the face of God.  And He wants us to come together as the Body of Christ.  We have been scattered for far too long.

The Apostasy, which in no small measure deceived us and held us captive in unfruitful works and amongst ungodly organizations, God has freed us from that.  But He is not willing to leave us alone, separated, and without direction.  God is speaking, and in words which are not hard to understand.  "Humble yourselves, come together, and pray," is what I hear the Holy Ghost saying to us.

Will we obey?  Will we be the ones who will respond to God in every way that is pleasing to Him?  Will we be the "them" to whom God will "open rivers...and fountains?"  Will we be those whom God will use to "open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house?"

Or will God have to pass over us ~ as His eyes continue to run to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him; because, we won't take God seriously?