“Hungry - Thirsty - and Cold”

“Hungry - Thirsty - and Cold”
The Message at our Praying Over our City Meeting

Have you ever been so hungry that your stomach growled to let you know about it? Have you ever been so thirsty that your mouth and throat was so dry as the desert? How about being cold? So cold that you shivered, seeking a place to warm yourself?

There are different kinds of hunger, thirst and cold. The natural man has physical needs of our bodies. Jesus said, that he cares about our simple needs and we see in the Bible evidence of this when he fed an extremely large crowd of people on two occasions. Jesus also said, he feeds the birds and not to worry about our food or clothing.

Elijah was hungry when he asked the widow women to make him a cake first and then feed her son. Her intention was for her and her son to eat the cake and then die, but she decided what difference would it make? I will feed the prophet. It was then an amazing miracle caused the oil and flour to replenish each day so that all three were able to daily eat for many months.

Jesus gave an illustration in Matthew 25: 31-40 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

The Bible is clear that those able to work are to secure jobs, but the truly poor and helpless; we are to assist as the Lord guides you to do so. We can do this by volunteering or by bringing food and offerings to the Rescue mission, the Hope Center, or Feed My Peeps or other worthy organizations.

Jesus was teaching and said in Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. The Bible tells us in John 7:37 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.

We usually eat and drink at set times during the day. Sometimes we just eat – just because and not that we are hungry. At times we are lazy when we seek God for MORE of what He desires to give us. God is anxious for us to mean business as we in earnest ask to be filled to overflowing with his abundant wisdom, knowledge, and He is pleased about our willingness to submit to His will, not our own.

When a person is HUNGRY and THIRSTY for God and His Gifts, they will become so needy and so ready to seek, ask and STAY until they are satisfied.

Where is your “Secret Place”? Are you willing to remain there until you are filled? God desires to equip us as believers, with spiritual muscles and stamina so that the sick will be healed as we reach out and touch those who are hungry, thirsty and cold.

The Holy Spirit desires to equip our mouth with bold words to not only comfort the addicts and sinners, but to confront them with their need to make a choice and follow Jesus today, this very moment not putting it off until tomorrow.

As we pray over out city today, let us ask God to create such a hunger and thirst in our citizens that they will be ready to acknowledge their need of Jesus the Savior.