I seek out...

 Praise the LORD!!!

    I seek out the LORD this day. Not as in other days, where I'd be at church listening to a sermon, but through HIS WORD and prayer alone!!! Lately, as many may know, I've been burdened by having to work for a living. Not works for the LORD, but works that are putting bread upon the table. This has allowed me little time for the things of the LORD. My Bible studies, prayer time, devotionals and all that I consider sacred to my existence has had to be laid aside. I've not had the fire or zeal to seek out GOD in even the smallest of ways. Yes, I've been reading my daily devotionals, but these too seemed dry and void of the SPIRIT. This is not a state of being that I truly relish being in.

    You see, I love the LORD with all of my heart. I've turned my life totally over to HIM, holding back nothing when it comes to life. I'll give my total life, even to my very last breath, to bring glory to the precious name of JESUS!!! But having been in a state of total weakness, where I had little energy to even take care of personal needs (meals and personal hygiene.) I've been in need of a refreshing. A need to feel the power of GOD coursing through my veins again. This morning I began to take the steps needed to procure this vital refreshing. I stayed home from church to fill my heart with GOD's WORD. Though I normally hear good sermons at church, they seem void at times. They are the impressions of a man's heart and not that of GOD HIMSELF. They're scriptural in content, but there is the power of the HOLY SPIRIT missing from them(or at least in my opinion!)

    I've been blessed since the beginning of my walk, to be highly attuned to the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT. HE has guided me in even the simplest of task that I've undertaken. When in church listening to a sermon, I can feel whether or not the presence of the SPIRIT is there. If HE is, I listen deeply to the message. If not, I spend the majority of the service in prayer, seeking HIS presence to fall upon the congregation. I've been told by people that I'm "to spiritually minded, to be of any earthly good." Which makes no sense to me. For to be centered on that which is spiritual, or that which is totally centered around GOD, one can''t help but to be of every "earthly good!" For that which is boiling up within you is the will of GOD for mankind and not that which some other person has impressed upon your heart.

    So I ask you this morning. What is the wellspring of your life? Is it the inspiration of man, that which others have been led to believe? Or is the the very WORDS of GOD, as impressed upon your heart by the HOLY SPIRIT? I ask that if you're following after the teachings of men, that you lay this aside and seek out your wisdom and knowledge through the power and guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. Surely there are many preachers and teachers out there that only relate that which GOD has led them to, but there are truly more that put forth their personal interpretations of what GOD has laid on their hearts. In a way, this is akin to gossip, for it is relating the message of another in your own words, not their WORDS exactly. The best way to dispelled gossip, is to go directly to the source itself. So I ask you this morning, take not my words or the words of any other man. But humble yourself before GOD, seek HIM out in prayer and ask that HE alone lead you in HIS will and understanding. That what you may follow after and relate to others will be nothing but the WORDS that HE wills for you. Draw closer to GOD and HE will draw closer to you!!!!!!!


Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International