THIRSTING FOR GOD

Do you thirst for GOD? How much do you thirst for HIM? Do you have a problem or do you struggle in thirsting after God? Do you desire to thirst for God? If you are curios like me to desire to thirst after God and answer these questions then why don’t you join me as we plunge into these three amazing series of THIRSTING FOR GOD.

INTRODUCTION
One of the clear indicators that something is wrong physically is when we lose our appetite. It is the same spiritually. To hunger and thirst for God is at the very root of our being. It’s the way God made us. When there is no hunger for the presence of God, it is an indicator that something is wrong spiritually. Because hunger is so basic to human nature, it often finds fulfillment in other areas rather than in seeking God. Have you ever been thirsty? I mean have you ever been thirsty to the point of dehydration? if you have been thirsty to this level before now then you will be able to connect to the spiritual thirstiness this message will unfold. You will be able to see why the psalmist desire to be with God at all times.

WHAT IS THIRST? According to idictionary.com it defines thirst as a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids, also it refers to craving for something.

There are two forms of thirst:

The physical thirst deals with the definition provided above and then the spiritual thirst refers to the state of desiring God.

We are going to be discussing exclusively the thirst for God.

SPIRITUAL THIRST

The concept of thirst is naturally used in scripture for both physical and spiritual thirst and naturally speaks of desires, appetites, needs needed to be satisfied or fulfilled.

PSALM 42:1-2 this is one of many verses that provided scriptural references to the genuine thirst and hunger for God.

Exile in Jordan in the far north of Palestine, the psalmists recall and long for His experiences in Jerusalem in the sanctuary (temple) which was then the special place of God's presence (now His presence is ever with us according to His promise in Ezekiel which was fulfilled by His son Jesus Christ) and more so the special place for dinning and fellowshipping with the lord.

In VS 1 the psalmist made the analogy to the deer whom perhaps because it has been chased into the mountains by hunters and then had been searching earnestly for water, just like the deer He the psalmist long for fellowship which God because only this could quench the thirst of his soul. He understands that all human beings had been created for God and for HIS mandate. There was this vacuum in his being that only God can fill.

                       

Finding happiness without true and real fellowship with God would be like a dog chasing its own tail.

Just like a life without Christ is full of crisis.

Ephesians 4:17-19

 Looking at VS 2 you will note that the psalmist was in a state of despair, desperately longing for the living God.

We may know and believe the theology of the psalmist and express his sentiments and even tell it to others.
But I ask you brethren today as I do ask myself, how well have we faced the reality of this desire in our own lives? how much have we experienced this "thirstiness" like the deer panting for the water brooks, or have we been desensitized and so unable to recognize the symptoms of seeking to quench our thirst at the wrong source?. We desire everything except God. We take God in small doses throughout the week and somehow we hope that on Sunday we can catch up on our time with God. May God help us?

In our next series we shall be looking at the three kinds of spiritual thirst.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: HOW MUCH AND OFTEN DO YOU THIRST FOR YOUR MAKER?

By Godsent Omon