Holy Hunger – Clare Matthews

It’s “Time to Eat!” Years ago, one of my former Pastors told the congregation a humorous story that I never forgot. He was visiting a senior home preparing to preach a message when all of a sudden, one of the resident ladies stood up and said, “It’s time to eat!” In “the twinkling of an eye,” there was a mass exodus to the dining room, and he was left standing by himself with Bible in hand. The natural hunger of these precious seniors overrode their desire for God. All too often, like these seniors, our natural appetites prevail over our spiritual needs. The result? God’s Word goes un-touched in our lives. When this happens, we must develop a “Holy Hunger” for God and His Word. How? By not allowing ourselves to become “Superficial Seekers.”

Superficial Seekers

My friend, if you and I live life on our terms and not God’s Terms, we become “Superficial Seekers.” People who strive for Spiritual Food through natural means alone.

John 6:27 (TPT);

“Why would you strive for food that is perishable and not be passionate to seek the food of eternal life, which never spoils? I, the son of Man, Am ready to give you what matters most, for God The Father has destined Me for this purpose.”

Jesus addressed a group of “superficial seekers” who witnessed His miracles and healing power. They had been among the five thousand miraculously fed when He multiplied five barley loaves and two small fish. Though their stomachs were satiated, their souls were empty. They did not develop a “Holy Hunger” for “The Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ. Their empty souls kept them from recognizing that The Son of God was offering to them “what matters most.” These “superficial seekers” were more concerned with what was in Jesus’ Hand rather than what was in His Heart. They had learned to feast on “The Diet of Compromise!”

The Diet of Compromise

Merriam Webster Dictionary:

DIET = Habitual nourishment

Oxford Languages Dictionary:

COMPROMISE = accept standards that are lower than is desirable.

One way to frustrate the Word of God in our lives is to choose “The Diet of Compromise!” By ‘accepting standards that are lower than desirable’ in our Christian walk, spirit, soul, and body, we will no longer recognize our undeniable need for “The Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ.

John 6:35-37 (TPT);

“Jesus said to them, I Am The Bread of Life. Come every day to Me, and you will never be hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never be thirsty.” “Yet I’ve told you that even though you’ve seen Me, you still don’t believe in Me.” “But everyone My Father has given to Me, they will come. And all who come to Me, I will embrace and will never turn them away.” What a strong Bible verse! 

The enemy of “Holy Hunger” is “The Diet of Compromise.” We compromise our faith through unbelief, which leads us to frustrate The Word of God in our lives! By tolerating a spiritually substandard diet of compromise, we introduce “spiritual parasites” into our system (our walk with God.)

Spiritual Parasites

Spiritual parasites of self-life will undoubtedly interfere with the digestion of God’s Word in our lives, potentially leading us into situations that could cost us our lives!

Galatians 5:19-21 (TPT);

“The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography,” “chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions,” “being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the Kingdom Realm of God!”

The spiritual parasites mentioned in the previous scriptures will spoil our “Holy Hunger” for God and His Written Word. By continually consuming a “diet of compromise,” “spiritual septic shock” sets into our walk with God. This action is where the vital signs of our Eternal Life in God begin to shut down! What a severe condition, my friend; let’s not take this lightly.

A Question of the Heart

Galatians 5:9 (TPT);

“Don’t you know that when you allow even a little lie into your heart, it can permeate your entire belief system?”

It is so important that we pause here and ask ourselves the following question of the heart:

What anti-Christ lie (spiritual parasite) may be depleting my heart of a “Holy Hunger” for God and His Written Word?

My friend, it is crucial that we honestly answer this question of the heart. It exposes what we believe to be accurate about the responsibility that we have in our relationship with God and His Holy Written Word (The Bible).

Hebrews 4:12-13 (TPT);

“For we have the Living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet. It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” “There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything gets exposed and defenseless before His Eyes, to whom we must render an account.”

A Prayer of the Heart

My heart’s prayer for us as we openly and honestly come before The Lord is this:

“I say and decree that every spiritual parasite that has caused us to be anemic by blocking the digestion of God’s Word in our lives be Gone In Jesus Name! I now speak to our hearts and call forth a “Holy Hunger” to ignite, as we passionately pursue God through His Holy Written Word in Jesus Name!”

Signs of Life

My friend, as we digest and speak “The Living Word of God,” our spirit man is resuscitated! Signs of life appear with a “Holy Hunger” for God and His Written Word! It’s time to rejoice!

Psalm 34:8-10 (MEV);

“Oh, taste and see that The Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” “Oh, fear The Lord, you, His saints; for the ones who fear Him will not be in need.” “The young lions are in want and suffer hunger, but the ones who seek The Lord will not lack any good thing.”

No longer “superficial seekers,” WE ARE BIBLE STRONG!

“It’s Time to Eat,” my friend!…. The Bread of Life!

John 6:51 (TPT);

The Bible says, “I Alone Am This Living Bread that has come to you from Heaven. Eat this Bread, and you will live forever. The living Bead I give you is My Body, which I will offer as a Sacrifice so that all may live.”

You will like “A Flood of Healing”

© 2021 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.” Photo: Bethany Laird