THE SEEKER

Hello friends. Long time...no write. I have just returned from Guatemala... where the Lord was faithful. Before I went there...the Lord spoke a word...and gave me a vision. The word was found in Romans 1:11,12...where like Paul...I desired to come to the school to impart (give, share, impart, distribute grant liberally, encourage) some spiritual gift...so that they may be established. In verse 12 Paul clarifies what he means..."that is, that I may be ENCOURAGED TOGETHER with you by the MUTUAL FAITH...both YOU and ME." That did happen as we gave and received from each other. The vision was on of a world that was CONNECTED by WATER. I could see how one thing that everyone in the world has in common is the connectivity of the water ways...the rain...rivers, oceans, etc. They HOLY SPIRIT is represented by water...where Jesus speaks of thirsty people..."On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone THIRSTS...let him COME to Me and DRINK. He who BELIEVES in Me, as the Scripture has said...out of his HEART/BELLY will flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER." (John 7:38) Jesus clarifies what he meant when he said WATER..."But this He spoke concerning THE SPIRIT, whom those BELIEVING in Him would receive; for the HOLY SPIRIT was not yet given because JESUS was not yet glorified." (John 7:12)

This leads us to the purpose of this Rambling...THE SEEKER. It has been said that..."God is silent." Francis Shaffer says..."God is not silent...we are NOT LISTENING." I tend to agree.

The first collage that you see is a collection of pics...that touched me during my early days of following Jesus. This was during the times of what is known as THE JESUS MOVEMENT...or the JESUS REVOLUTION...where the followers of Jesus were called JESUS PEOPLE or JESUS FREAKS. This was before the current trends of Christian music called CCM...or Contemporary Christian Music. It was called JESUS MUSIC...or CHRISTIAN ROCK AND ROLL. One aspect of this revolution was a guy named Scott Ross...who in the 60's was one of New York City's top disk jockeys. When the Beatles landed in America they were met by the Scottish transplant Scott Ross. NOTE: For full details of the adventures of Scott Ross...read his book SCOTT FREE (this can be found on the CBN website in full form). Scott ended up marrying Nedra Talley who sang with Ronnie and the Ronettes (Be My Baby). She is the one on the far left. Together they started a place in Freeville New York called LOVE INN. This was a group of believers who lived community style. Phil Keaggy (my favorite guitarist) spent some time there. He was under Ted Sandquist who along with many talented members put out a couple of albums...one being IN THE COURTS OF THE KING. During this time...there was a teaching series done by Ted and Scott called A NEW SONG FOR A NEW AGE. It was about the heartbeat of worship...and the freshness of creativity in music/song. NOW...I said all of that to say this. One of the songs was based on Psalm 63. The Psalmist (David) wrote this when he was in the Wilderness of Judah...and was a song about joy in the fellowship of God.

O God...You are My God
Early will I SEEK You
My soul THIRSTS for You
My flesh LONGS for You
In a DRY and THIRSTY land
Where there is NO WATER
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary
To See Your POWER and GLORY

ENTER THE SEEKERS. Many people do not SEE God in their lives. They do not sense His presence. Since they are "sense people"...people who base everything on what they see, hear, smell, touch, and taste...they ASSUME that God is nowhere in sight. Hebrews 11:1 states..."Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do NOT SEE...and the conviction of their reality--faith perceiving as REAL FACT...what is NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible) In Hebrews 11:6...we see that..."But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would COME NEAR TO GOD...must (necessarily) believe that God exists...and that He is the REWARDER of those who EARNESTLY...AND DILIGENTLY...SEEK Him out."
(Hebrews 11:6 The Amplified Bible)

When your back is against the proverbial wall...and when your spiritual throat is parched to the point of being unable to even swallow...the tendency is to rely on you physical experience...and to lose all hope...give up...and consider the revealed senses. I know for sure that is what I do.

I lose my focus...and I begin to REACT in the FLESH versus RESPONDING in the SPIRIT. The key...is to KEEP ON SEEKING.

To be a SEEKER...you have to do one thing....SEEK. In the Old Testament the word seek means to tread or frequent...to follow for pursuit...or search. IN the New Testament it means to worship...desire...endeavour...enquire...seek after. This is not a PASSIVE THING. It is not throwing up your hand when you don't see what you are seeking...but is a DILIGENT SEEKING not a PASSIVE ENQUIRING.

There are many verses of Scripture that speaks of SEEKING...here are just a few...

"The FOOL has said in his heart THERE IS NO GOD. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works. There is non who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men TO SEE if there are ANY who understand, WHO SEEK GOD." (Psalm 14:1,2)

NOTE: At that time...three was...no, not one. Hopefully...as God looks our way...he will see us SEEKING...not GIVING UP.

"But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God...and his righteousness...and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

NOTE: This is the end of Jesus teaching about provision. Instead of worry and anxiety...we are called to SEEK His Kingdom (His rule) and His Righteousness (His standard). The rest will take care of itself. I find myself seeking the kingdom of Rod...and end up with my wrongeousness. The cause and effect is worry, tension, frustration, anxiety, doubt and unbelief.

"Keep on ASKING and it will be GIVEN YOU....KEEP ON SEEKING...and you WILL FIND...KEEP ON KNOCKING...it WILL BE OPENED." (Matthew 7:7) In the same flow of teaching...Jesus talks about the TENACITY of ASK (A=Ask S=Seek K=Knock). Jesus continues..."For every one who keeps on asking RECEIVES...and he who keeps on seeking FINDS...and to him who keeps on knocking... IT WILL BE OPENED. (Matthew 7:8) Jesus continues on comparing our earthly mentality of giving...and how good will give good and advantageous gifts to those who KEEP ON ASKING. In Luke 11...Jesus says..."...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ASK...and CONTINUE TO ASK.: (Luke 11:13) NOTE: Those who are seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit...don't give up...keep on keepin' on.)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

God's heartbeat is that of a REVEALER...to those who SEEK Him. In the parable of the sower/seed/soil...Jesus' disciples asked WHY He spoke in parables...where some did not understand. "And He said to them...To you it has been given to know the MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD...but those who are outside...all things come in parables...SO that...seeing they may see and NOT PERCEIVE...and hearing they may hear and NOT UNDERSTAND...lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven." (Mark 4:10-12). The kingdom and things of the kingdom are for WHOSOEVER...but it is for those who truly hunger and thirst...and SEEK...not those who would just PASSIVELY INQUIRE. So...........if you are hungry and thirsty...you will be filled and quenched.

Love and Seeking Kisses
Rodney "O Lord You Are My God" Boyd