Passion, Passion, Passion!

     Do you have passion, thirst, hunger for God, or, passion for the things of God?  Both are good, but not the same.  Some have only passion for the things of God.  And, that is good unless, like the prodigal you waste your inheritance while away from the Father's presence.  And, anywhere He is not, is a bit of a pig-pen wasting place, in my  opinion.  You can have both, but one must never surpass the other.  If it does, you may soon have neither.  I know a lot of people, well meaning people, who are passionate about certain things God supplies; harvest of souls, church growth, health, prosperity, ministry, etc..   Those are all good and can come from God.  They are good, that is, unless the desire for things, even good things, surpasses desire and passion for God. 

      It is unfortunate that so many in the modern church want the things of God, but not God.  They want God to do something for them, but they are not hungry for Him.  Some, sadly, equate God doing something as being the same as God.   In a way, that is true but in a way it falls short of the whole truth. I have been places where He seemingly does stuff  but still, there was no touch of intimacy there. Oh, I do love it when God does stuff, gives stuff, supplies stuff.  It tells me He is alive and well and is a good God.  But, as good as that is, I love it when God touches me for no reason other than to touch me.  Did you know God loves to touch His own?  Sometimes He passes by and reveals such an impression of intrinsic goodness it takes away your breath.  Sometimes it drains the natural strength from your knees and the floor becomes an altar. Sometimes it infuses strength and the room becomes a race track and you want to explode with fire.  Sometimes the altar becomes a well of wine and you want to just linger and drink 'til drunk. There is nothing like just soaking in His presence just because you love soaking in His presence.

      I know a lot of believers are passionate about having God do this or that. And, they are so right but still so wrong.  Their worship, as good as it is, is based on stuff God has given them, or based on the performance of God on their behalf.  And, they should be thankful, but oh what a difference when our worship reflects our love of His touch, His person, His pesence, His goodness.  I feel just a tiny bit sad for pastors and their flock whose worship revolves only around the receipt of blessings.  I guess I even feel sad, on behalf of God, who is so good and so giving, yet receives so little in return.

    The modern church is deeply confused about ministry.  We mostly focus on ministry to people. We are deeply concerned that man gets saved, healed, prospered, led, etc., etc.  We should be and all that is good but I wonder if God is up there saying, "Look at me. Minister to me".  When Israel came out of Egypt, God told Moses to tell the people He had brought them out to minister unto Himself.  We too were saved to worship Him, but do we?  God is seeking those who will worship, minister, unto Him.  Has He found such a one in me?  In you?  I hope so.

      Can I tell you a secret to passion for God?  Passion for the Holy Ghost (God on earth in Spirit form) equals passion for the Lord Jesus.  Passion for the Lord Jesus equals passion for the Father.  In our ministry, we preach as loud as we can, passion for the Holy Ghost.  When people catch it, they start worshipping Jesus in the power of His resurrection and then they start enjoying the whispers of the Father in their deep parts.  Skip passion for the Holy Ghost and you will remain as you are, focused on stuff.   And, if stuff satisfies you, so be it, but it does not satisfy me. I want God. All I can get, anyway I can get it.