Hunger will take us where curiosity will not go. Hunger for God will lead us to do what we have never done before. Without real hunger for God we will lay back on the couch and let passivity steal our destiny of loving God and making Him known to a dying world.
Friends, are you hungry for God? Have you lost your appetite for His word? His presence? His power? Is your greatest passion for the Lord Himself or something else? We can be offended that someone even asked us that question, or we can humble ourselves and admit that we need a greater hunger for God! We must grow in what we know and move ahead of where we are! What will take us there - HUNGER FOR GOD. It's time for a baptism of hunger. To be immersed with an undying passion for God alone. He is our one desire and whatever we want more than Him is the very thing that is against us in our pursuit.
In Mark chapter 6 there is a story where Jesus comes to His hometown of Nazareth for the second time. The first time Jesus came to His hometown, after coming into His ministry, the people kicked Him out of the synagogue and tried to throw Him off a cliff. Obviously they were unsuccessful, so here Jesus comes back to Nazareth after traveling around to various regions while ministering with incredible power.
Mark 6:1-6 NASB
Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.
Does this passage of Scripture bother you? It has always bothered me. I understand that the people of Nazareth were struggling with the humanity of Jesus, especially since He grew up there. But what cant be denied, and shouldn't be overlooked, is the incredible miracles that Jesus had performed which had not been seen or experienced since the time of Elijah and Elisha!
But what cant be denied, and shouldn't be overlooked, is the incredible miracles that Jesus had performed which had not been seen or experienced since the time of Elijah and Elisha!
At this point Jesus had healed countless people, commanded demons to come out, raised the dead, and attracted crowds of thousands from all over the surrounding regions. The people of Nazareth had heard of the testimonies, and even saw the fruit of it - but instead of getting hungry for Jesus to do the same among them, instead of believing that Jesus was clearly of God despite their understanding of who they thought He was - they got OFFENDED AT HIM. WHAT? In a day where those who got an eye infection often ended up blind, a people decided to stand against Jesus and His ministry instead of welcome it. It seems unreal to me and yet I think we may be able to see similarities in us...
We must be hungry for Him. We must be hungry for ALL of Jesus.
Jesus was the same in Capernaum that He was in Nazareth so what is the difference in the effect of His ministry? The people - the recipients - US. Did you know that we can make the difference in whether or not the ministry of Jesus flows in our life, home, or church? I know we don't like to admit it, but its true. It says in Mark chapter 6 that Jesus "could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people." Jesus was astonished at their unbelief. He was amazed and surprised in how they responded to Him. Is Jesus welcome in our lives, homes or churches? I think everyone would say YES! But here is the real question, "IS ALL OF JESUS AND ALL OF HIS MINISTRY WELCOME?" Jesus doesn't JUST save, heal, deliver, speak truth, or serve - He does it all and more! When we welcome Jesus we need to welcome ALL that He is and ALL that He does. We must be hungry for ALL of Jesus. It's amazing to me how the last verse of our passage says this, "And He was going around the villages teaching." That's exactly what is going on in most churches today - teaching. Don't get me wrong. I love the teaching of God's word. But the teaching is supposed to equal fruit which is the point of the teaching. Jesus couldn't DO much in Nazareth, but He could teach in every village. That is startling to me. Have we become like Nazareth? Do we allow for, desire, prepare for and hunger mostly for good teaching? Are we welcoming the rest of His ministry?
We must welcome all of Him and I believe, as we hunger for and welcome all of Jesus we will be the exact opposite of Nazareth - and Jesus will do great things in and among us....
I am hungry for Jesus to do what Jesus has always done. I want all of Jesus. Everything I read about in the Bible that Jesus did is what we are truly called to do as well. We must welcome all of Him and I believe, as we hunger for and welcome all of Jesus we will be the exact opposite of Nazareth - and Jesus will do great things in and among us - that the world will see the living Christ in us, our homes and our churches! I encourage you to pray this simple prayer as often as you pray which will bring about a greater hunger for all that Jesus is and all that Jesus does. Lord, make me hungry for all of you! I welcome all of you in my life and ask that you give me a greater hunger for Your word, Your presence and Your power. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Ben Dixon, Director of Ignite Global Ministries
igniteglobalmin@gmail.com
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