HE SPEAKS WHEN WE SEEK HIM

When I seek the Lord, He has promised to respond.

Everyday I seek the Lord to hear and see what He is doing. 
It is my most earnest desire. 

WORD O’ GRAM: SEEK HIM

Searching for His Truth.
Eager to know what He thinks.
Eternal perspectives are treasures.
Knowing He wants to be found.

Having questions He can answer.
Instinctively perceiving His Presence.
Making time to connect.

Matt 7:7-12 NKJV
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek , and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Prov 25:2 NKJV
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

 

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HE SPEAKS WHEN WE PRAY

There are many kinds of prayers and intercessors. There are loud prayers, soft prayers, silent prayers, whispered prayers, written prayers, singing prayers, instrument prayers, tongues prayers, groaning and yearning prayers, dancing prayers, banner prayers, living prayers and even wishful thinking prayers. I am sure there are even more kinds of prayers.  I believe that the Lord is so desperate for our prayers, that He turns most anything into a prayer, including our heart’s desires, when our hearts are turned toward Him.

Different styles of prayer can be likened to a teacher having different teaching styles.  One style is similar to a salesman who talks AT the students.  There’s a lecture with no pause for questions or response.  It’s the same with prayer; this kind of prayer may be quite fluent and say a lot, but there isn’t a lot of pausing when the Lord can get a Word in edgewise.  This is a one-way communication when the person talks and the Lord listens.  One should not expect to hear the Lord during this kind of prayer.  This is more for breaking through to be able to hear Him afterwards.

Another kind of prayer is like a teacher who talks WITH the students.  Instead of standing at the blackboard, the teacher is out among the students perhaps sharing a bit, then pausing for the students to ask questions and give a response.  It’s a two way process of communication and learning.  And that process can be fun.  It’s the same way with talking to the Lord, He also wants to participate and give a response.

Luke 5:16 KJV

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

There are also different times to pray.  In the above scripture, Jesus withdrew from the crowds so that He could have fellowship with the Father.  Quiet time alone in prayer is a wonderful and strengthening place to be.

Sometimes when I am going to sleep I feel very passionate about what I am praying.  I whisper my prayers very intensely.  I may be praying through groans and tears, and it is almost totally quiet.  Sometimes in bed, I just think my prayers in hopes that the Lord will respond to me back in same fashion.

Most often, I pray outside that quiet time.  If I have something on my mind, I don’t wait for the “prayer closet” opportunity to say it.  My prayers are more like a conversation with Him.  It doesn’t matter where I am, I just say it.  (I mostly pray in my mind, because I’m not that much of a natural talker.)  Often when I say something to Him, He will say some small Word or phrase back to me that can open up an entire scope of His answer.  The Lord is an expert at saying powerful and simple punch lines that open all kinds of cross references and common denominators to my mind. 

During the day, I may be speaking in tongues consistently, especially if I feel a heavy burden upon my soul or heart.  Prayer meetings where all gather to speak in tongues is really powerful.  Those times are always loud, powerful and dynamic when intercessors are all praying in tongues and in agreement as they rotate in taking the lead in English. The Lord’s Presence is strong and powerful. When I am by myself, most of the time I do not pray powerfully loud English prayers. I do pray out loud in tongues and English and receive some powerful breakthroughs, especially when I pray in the car or exercising with the music!! But when I am at home during the day, I pray mostly quiet prayers or silent communion prayers.

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HE SPEAKS WHEN WE WORSHIP

Mark 12:30-31 NLT

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.

Worship is a precious love story.  We pour out our hearts and adoration to Him and He soaks in our love and receives us.  Then in exchange, He shares His beautiful Words with us. 

One time I was worshipping the Lord at home via tongues and also interceding while dancing to worship music.  I have always been blessed by praying in the Spirit in worship, so this came natural to me. However, I had danced and I had prayed, but not both together as a form of intercession. Suddenly His Presence was all over me and I became totally abandoned in worship as I prayed and danced at the same time.  I was so covered in His Presence I was astounded.  I didn’t stop until I was just too tired to continue. This happened right before I went to bed.  When I went to bed I had a vision.

VISION:  I entered a beautiful glowing room somewhere in heaven.  I saw candles glowing, and smelled sweet smelling perfumes all over the room.  I was standing inside the door of this room and began dancing, praying in tongues and interceding just like I had done before going to bed.  The Lord me I had found a new door into His Presence and that He was very pleased.

The Lord dwells in the praises of His people.  (Psalm 22:3)  When we enter worship, there is an intimacy and precious touch as the Lord speaks straight into our heart and melts all our barriers.  In His Presence, He pierces our soul with His love and it can touch our life like nothing else.  Nothing can separate us from His love once we know it.

Those who are longing for Him with open arms are finding more of Him than ever before. They are enjoying freedoms in worship they didn’t know existed.  Their “religious boxes” of how to do things properly are falling away and they are expressing their love for Him without restraints.  They are worshipping Him with their whole spirit, soul and body.

He’s not looking for a people who play church, He’s looking for a people who ARE His church.  There’s a difference.  His church is His bride, and that bride loves Him passionately.  The last day church is going to get excited about God.  It’s going to pour out, run out, love out and gush out all over the world.  There will be only one priority of this last day bride:  To love God with her whole heart, mind and soul, and to love others the same way.  The Lord will be speaking to His bride by raining the intimacy of His refreshing Presence on those who give Him adoring worship.  And He will also be speaking to the world through His passionate bride as her love for Him bubbles over.  Look out world!

There is a power available at a group level of worship that is not as available on an individual level.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”  (Matthew 18:20 KJ)  There is a synergistic effect that takes place at a group level.  If you think about the fact that each person whose name is written in the book of life has a guardian angel, and when two or more gather in His name, their angels also gather. And when two or more gather, there is more faith and more power than just one.  Then add the fact that each person who has accepted Jesus as their personal Savior has the Holy Spirit living in their heart, and then add the fact that God’s Presence via His Holy Spirit is also present in the meeting. — What a combination of power!

The Bible also says that one will chase a thousand, and two will put ten thousand to flight. (Deuteronomy 32:30)  You get a gathering of people together in one room worshipping the name of Jesus, and the devil can’t stand it.  He’s out of there in a hurry.  More freedom and refreshing is available, simply because the devil isn’t around to hinder it!  The Lord draws near, rains His Presence and things happen!  Dramatic healing, deliverance, anointing and freedom take place. 

Because the Lord rains His Presence both in private worship and in group worship, there needs to be a balance between both, for He is not wanting to reach out to us in just one way or the other.  There seems to be a difference of opinion between some Mary and Martha people.  The Mary’s sit at the Lord’s feet in quiet prayer and meditation worshipping Him more on a personal level.  The Martha’s are out mingling and worshipping the Lord in gatherings.  In reality, we need to do both to have a strengthened and nourished life. 

Luke 10:38-42 NKJV

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." 

The problem is that we tend to do what we feel comfortable with and tend to do what works.  If we are used to being a Mary, quietly sitting at His feet, then it may be difficult to come into His Presence in group worship where there is so much distraction.  The Mary feels left out even when she participates.  One the other side, the Martha who actively seeks the Lord through meetings, tends to feel the Lord is far away when she is away from a corporate gathering.  Do you see this dichotomy?  If you tend to be one or the other, then be open to the Lord wanting to reach you in the opposite way.  He wants to touch every area of your life through every available means of worship and intimacy.

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 HE SPEAKS when we FAST

“ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”  (Mark 9:29 NKJV)

Fasting can break the chains of darkness and help place one’s heart in a position to discern properly including God’s guidance.  There are many motives why a Christian chooses to fast.  The most common incorrect ones have to do with 1.) justification and 2.) manipulation.   Man carries subconscious guilt and tries to purge and purify himself through fasting as a means to “obtain God.”  Perhaps some do this unknowingly because their faith level is directly tied to “feeling clean” and accepted by God.  This of course is not a proper motive for fasting, but even in our wrong understanding, God honors our desire for Himself.  We are accepted only because of Jesus Christ, and Who He is, not because of who we try to be.

In the need for guidance and answers, some have a subconscious drive to fast in order to manipulate.  They use fasting as a subtle way to persuade God to give them answers.  This does not please Him, but in His infinite mercy He may still answer because He knows our desire and need for His guidance.

Of course fasting is an acceptable means for discerning His guidance and hearing from Him.  (Acts 13:2) But the Lord chose fasting to prepare man’s heart to hear and receive, not to prepare or sway God.

The following is a breakdown of the pattern of the Isaiah 58 fast.   It can be divided into three descriptions: 1.  Its format  2.  Its promises   3.  Its result. 

The FORMAT of god’s fast

(Isaiah 58)

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?”  (Isaiah 58:6 NKJV)

1.  SHARE YOUR SUSTENANCE WITH THE NEEDY (verse 7)

Literal

a.  Divide your bread with the hungry  

b.  Bring the homeless poor into your house     

c.  When you see the naked, to cover him

d.  Don’t hide yourself from your own flesh

Spiritual

a. Share God’s Words with those in famine

b.  Pray for the captive to come home

c.  Forgive and cover your brother’s sin

d.  Pray for your family

 2. TAKE AWAY OPPRESSIVE HEAVINESS  (verse 9B)

Literal

a. Remove the yoke from your midst 

b.  Remove the pointing of the finger

c.  Remove speaking wickedness

Spiritual

a.  Don’t oppress others - not only in deed, but in thought and  expectations

b.  Do not criticize or judge your brother’s walk

c.  Pray and think kind words

3. SPEND YOUR OWN ENERGY FOR THE NEEDY (verse 10 NASB)

Literal

a.  Give yourself to the hungry   

b.  Satisfy the desire of the afflicted

Spiritual

a.  Lay aside your own goals for those hungry for God

b.  Give hope to those in torment

The PROMISES of god’s fast

1. LOOSE THE DARKNESS  (verse 8 and 10B)

Physical, spiritual or emotional deliverance from darkness:

a. Your light will break out like the dawn

b. Your light will rise in the darkness        

c. Your gloom will become like midday

2.  QUICK HEALING (verse 8 NASB)

Healing for body, mind, soul, emotions, spirit:

a. Your recovery will speedily spring forth

3.YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WILL GUIDE YOU  (verse 8B, 11, 9)

He will answer your plea for understanding:

a. Your righteousness will go before you        

b. The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard

c. You will call, and the Lord will answer

d. You will cry, and He will say, Here am I

4.QUENCH THIRST AND STRENGTH  (verse 11)

In trying times, He will give physical and spiritual strength and refreshment:

a.  He will satisfy your desire in scorched places

b.  And give strength to your bones      

c.  You will be like a watered garden

d.  Like a spring of water whose waters do not fail     

5.  RESTORATION OF THE FALLEN  (verse 12 NASB)

You will repair other’s brokenness:

a.  Those from among you will rebuild the ruins

b.  You will rise up the age-old foundations       

c.  You will be called the repairer of the breach

d.  The restorer of the streets in which to dwell  

The RESULT and PURPOSE of the fast

1.DELIVERANCE  (verse 6 NASB)

Break satan’s chains that immobilize, restrict, and restrain us from freedom:

a.  Loosen the bonds of wickedness  

b.  Undo the bands of the yoke

c.  Let the oppressed go free

d.  Break every yoke

In today’s culture there can be many indulgences. One can have an appetite for that morning cup of coffee, for that TV show, for the closest parking place, for reading the newspaper, being the first in line, or for sleeping in.  There are many places of indulgence of the flesh that can be yielded in relation to a fast.  The strength of the yielding is totally reliant upon the passion an individual has for whatever is given up.

I describe fasting as a type of purging, cleansing, or emptying oneself of the pampering things that are not supernaturally imparted by God.  It is letting go of the “physical” in earnest desire of the “spiritual.”   The desire for the spiritual, meaning God’s spiritual answer or provision over mankind’s answer or provision. 

The most important key to fasting before the Lord is the heart.  A fast is not intended to:

1.  Manipulate God into responding  “Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see?  Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?” (Isaiah 58:3 NASB)

2.  Enter into a tug o’war, battling wills with Him...they ask Me for just decisions...  (cont)  vs 2 NASB

3.  Provide justification of oneself through cleansing “...as {if they were} a nation that has done righteousness, And has  not forsaken the ordinance of their God”  (vs 2 NASB)

Rather, the proper response of the heart is the voluntary emptying, pouring out, abasing, humbling of self, IN THE INSIDE, before the Presence of Almighty God.   It is letting go of the sustenance of self, yielding to Him.  With or without the physical characteristics of a fast, the Lord hearkens to the heart. 

When the heart is right before the Lord, one will not oppress others, and seek self satisfaction, as recorded in Isaiah 58:3.  When the true humility before the Lord comes from the heart, it will show on the outside.  For instance, how we live and treat others.

In summary, the promises of the fast the Lord chooses in Isaiah 58 are to disperse darkness, quicken healing, provide guidance, quench thirst, restore strength and restore that which has fallen.  Results are often deliverance for the fasting one, or for whom he is fasting.

The concepts in this chapter are some of the things we can personally do to hear more from the Lord.  Few people, if any, will comply one hundred percent to any of them.  God is a very loving and merciful God.  And He understands our weakness.  Regardless of our shortcomings, He wants so deeply to reach us on our own personal level.  So, do not let guilt or condemnation disqualify you from seeking the Lord to hear more from Him!  He loves you exactly the way you are and wants to have fellowship with you.  The deeper you crave His fellowship the deeper and more accountable your life will become.  The Christian walk is a growing, maturing process from infancy to adulthood.  We can’t learn to walk until we learn to stand.  We can’t run, if we haven’t learned to walk. And believe me, God is there cheering us every step of the way. 

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