A lovely treat in our walk with God is the delight we enjoy as God reveals more of Himself and His grace to us. Over the years I have experienced long seasons where things seem fairly static, but then find times when it is as if new lights have been turned on.Press In For MorA lovely treat in our walk with God is the delight we enjoy as God reveals more of Himself and His grace to us. Over the years I have experienced long seasons where things seem fairly static, but then find times when it is as if new lights have been turned on.
It’s always wonderful for me when a fresh wave of God’s anointing, or fresh revelation from God’s Word, or fresh experience of God’s reality impacts me. Everything within me is revitalised at those times.
That is probably why God prompts us in various ways to keep pressing in for more of Him and His Kingdom.
Jesus talked of that, saying that since the arrival of John the Baptist people have pressed in to claim God’s Kingdom.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12
The original Koine language can be translated as “the kingdom of heaven is forcibly seized and the positively assertive capture it”.
John declared that the Kingdom was at hand, available to people. Since that time there were people who were determined to get the benefit of accessing God’s Kingdom.
Every time someone came to Jesus, calling on Him to heal them, whether they were a leper or blind, or had a sick relative, or whatever, they were pushing into God’s Kingdom to claim the benefits of God’s power being on hand. So those people are examples of what Jesus was talking about.
All of those who might have said, “Oh, we shouldn’t bother the master. He has more important things to do”, would have missed their miracle, because they didn’t press in for it.
Apostle Paul described himself as one who pressed in for more from God.
“I press on so I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
We see another reflection of pressing on signified in Ezekiel’s vision of the River of God, in Ezekiel 47. An angel showed Ezekiel a river flowing from God’s Temple, and the angel took the prophet into the water at measured distances. At first the water was ankle deep, then knee deep, then waist deep and finally too deep to stand in.
This signified us being in the River of God and learning to go deeper.
Apostles Paul and Peter, in their letters to the New Testament churches, explained that we are to keep on growing and changing, to become more like Christ.
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” 2Corinthians 3:18
“Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2Peter 3:18
Many years ago a lady asked me to pray for her that she would recapture the joy she felt when she first new the Lord. She had become bogged down in issues and frustrations and missed the lovely sense she had enjoyed of being new and being close to God. I prayed with her and she began to smile in delight. I have no idea what my prayer did or how long any effect may have lasted, but I was impressed by her desire to press in for more. She was keen to take the Kingdom by force and make sure she didn’t miss out.
Her prayer was much like that of King David thousands of years ago …
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” Psalm 51:12
At times I have been in the doldrums, sticking to routine and going about my life, but without any special sense of God’s reality fresh in my life. Then I have met someone who was enjoying fresh encounter with the Lord. That would quickly awaken my hunger for God and I would find myself calling out to God for more, so I too could enjoy what others were enjoying.
Crying out to God is a great way to start a time of spiritual refreshing, because God hears us when we call.
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Prayer is included in that calling on God. We are to ask for things in prayer. We are to cry to God for help and rescue. We are to ask in Jesus’ name.
“Truly, surely, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you.” John 16:23
Calling to God starts with our own heart cry to want more of God and to be closer to Him. That is a journey in itself, taking us deeper in the things of God.
I think of the ministry of Jackie Pullinger among the drug addicts of Hong Kong. Her team from St Stephen’s Society at times hold public Christian meetings on the streets, to attract addicts. Often an addict, standing on the edge of the group, will be approached and asked if they want to be set free from their addiction. When they indicate they do, they are told to pray to Jesus. Many of them don’t even know who Jesus is, but they are told that if they cry out to Jesus He will help them. That begins the addict’s journey to recovery.
Sometimes, like those addicts, we don’t know to cry out to God, we just know we need something to change. We may have tried every other possible thing, never realising we can press in to God.
When someone prompts us to call out to God we begin a journey into the wonder of salvation and knowing God’s power and love. That journey is indeed a journey, leading us ever deeper into things we otherwise did not know.
But we can pause along the way, and stop pressing in. That’s when things get stale or even go bad for us. That’s when God will try to prompt us to Press in For More of God.
So, in your situation right now, be assured that God has abundantly more of Himself and His love and grace to share with you. He wants you to call out to Him and to claim the reality and power of His Kingdom.
In Jesus’ name, I urge you right now to cry out to God, asking Him to be more real in your life and circumstances, and for you to assertively Press In For More.
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