Ears To Hear # 37

INSTANT GRATIFICATION
(Satisfied)

         Great Peace have those who wait upon the Lord. “They shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). Teach us Lord. Teach us to wait.

IF YOU NEED
INSTANT GRATIFICATION

         If anyone reading this Angel Food serving, finds themselves on the run, and needs “instant gratification”, please scroll to the end of this article. I’m praying for a One-Liner that will satisfy your understanding of what our Lord wants us to see. At this point I do not know what it is, but I am willing to wait until I get there. Smiles!

YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO
KNOW ME

         These words come to me on a regular basis as each event in my life, or the lives of friends, helps me understand Jesus better. I learn to relate to Him and understand more of the ways He relates to us.
         I was thinking about how important “Family” is to us and God. I knew what a great desire God built in women to keep their families together. Their dreams center around home, husband, and family relationships. Eventually, the women recognize the real need of their husband to make this dream complete. As God led women to pray, many men began to recognize and take their God-taught positions as the head of their family, respecter of their wife, and example for their children. But this didn’t happen over night.
         “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). 

TODAY’S LIFE STYLE

         I don’t need to explain this. The world is quite aware of our many forms of instant gratification: television, remote controls, instant breakfast, instant communication, instant everything in the natural.
         But, oh the things that come from above…those things that endure. Those things that are worth waiting for.

THE CHARISMATIC MOVE

         Even the Charismatic Movement, where people began to know the Holy Spirit in a more personal way, is an example of men’s desire for instant gratification.
         Yes, our Lord can heal instantly and often does. He can do anything in the twinkling of an eye. That is always our hope. That is what our faith pictures when we pray.
         But what happens to our faith when we do not receive instant gratification?
         Does that mean God has not heard our prayers? Does that mean we are not praying according to His will? Does that mean that He does not love us or consider us worthy to receive His answers to our prayers? Does that mean we are seeking instant gratification?
         Or, could it be that God reserves the best for those who wait for Him?

WHAT DOES A MATURING CHILD OF GOD
DO?

         What does a true son or daughter of God do when there is no instant gratification?   They go back to their prayer closets, search their own hearts, and seek the Face of God. They study His Word and get to know Him better than ever before. They continue seeking His Face and His ways.
         In the process they receive a much higher form of gratification. They get to know Him and often understand why that instant gratification they so desired was not His Best for them at their chosen time.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

         Even some times in prayer and God’s Word, we do not receive instant gratification. No. He says, “those who wait upon the Lord….”
         The word “wait” also carries with it the meaning of “service”, and I believe there is no greater service we can do for him than to fellowship with Him. Not to hurry, but simply “Be still and Know that He is God.” (Psalms 46:10). To hear His quiet words of Love and to hear His special revelations that do bring a form of “instant gratification” when we seek Him First.
         Instant Prayers as we journey through our day, I believe God hears. But where is the power behind those prayers? When we meet with God First, giving Him the First Fruit (the best) of our day, we begin to “mount up with wings as eagles”. Then our Instant Prayers have a substance that we recognize as faith, because Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17).

THINK ABOUT IT

         Think about those in the Old Testament who did not receive “instant gratification”. What became of them? They either walked away from God, or clung to Him and grew into mighty men and women of God.
         Think of the New Testament. Even the expectations of Christ’s disciples sought “instant gratification.” How did they react?
         Think about children of God you have known in your life time who expected instant gratification, but didn’t receive it in the natural when they expected it. How many sought and found something better than the instant gift? They found a closer walk with the Lord and a maturity not always evident in those who received their instant gratification in a worldly sense.
         Some people I pray for seem to be seeking “instant gratification” through money, deliverance from oppressive spirits, wisdom, direction in ministry, restoration of family, physical and emotional healing for self and loved ones, or open doors for ministry. 

I THINK ABOUT
PATTY

         As all of our life is a training process, I look now on the day we ministered to Patty as she sat in her wheel chair.
         Faith was strong and desire abundant among the women gathered around Patty. We believed that she would walk out of her wheel chair that day.
         We even took her hands and tried to help her stand. We believed she would walk. But she didn’t.
         I know our hearts were sincere, as was Patty’s desire and faith for “instant gratification”. Since we were all in training by the Holy Spirit, using what knowledge we had, I see us now as ‘children playing church’. But this is the way children learn…and these lessons of faith were merely a step to be used in all of our lives, later. The building of our faith, recognizing what it felt like to have that kind of faith, stepping out in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit…we did all we knew to do. And God has honored that in many ways in the years that have followed. But it was not “instantly” as others seem to receive. We don’t really know how long others have waited for their healing. Only God knows and He knows what is best.
         What became of Patty? She became one of the mightiest women of God that I know today. Rearing two children without an earthly husband, trusting God for all of her financial needs, constantly witnessing and discipling others, hours in prayer, clinging only to God as her True Source.
         She still BELIEVES that she will walk one day. And so do I. It’s been 18 years now since Patty’s husband accidentally shot her in the back of her head, then thinking she was dead, in remorse he turned the gun on himself and died.
         Satan probably thought she was dead, too, but God always had a plan for Patty…even before she came to Him. It was after the accident that Patty truly found Jesus.
         It has been 17 years since the day we met in her home and believed for her “instant gratification” to walk out of her wheel chair. I feel honored that she calls me her mother…and each time I am in her presence…I receive “Instant Gratification.”
         More than seeing her walk in the natural, I rejoice in the solid, eternal gratification I receive as I watch her growth in wisdom and knowledge. I delight in each new understanding she receives of her Lord and Heavenly Husband, Father, Friend, Provider, Counselor and Guide.

HIS HARVEST IS COMING IN

         We are living in God’s Season of Harvest. This is the time when God is bringing in His Harvest. It may begin to look like we are receiving many “instant gratifications”. But, please remember the many seeds of prayer that you have planted, so when they sprout up, you will know that they are NOT “Instant Gratifications”, but promises fulfilled by God. Just because you chose to cling to Him in Faith…no matter how long it took.
         And when He comes to get us…we will experience…TOTAL GRATIFICATION (satisfaction).  The wait will be more than worth it. All of our gratification is in Him…whether early or late, instant, progressive, or when He comes. We can TRUST Him!

     SURPRISE! 

 

         Okay, you are here. You have scrolled to the bottom of the page and this is the most exciting part of our message…for those who couldn’t wait.

         The most exciting “Instant Gratifications”; the ones that make us jump up and down and leap with joy…usually come when we are not expecting them. If you think about them, they are not “instant at all.”

Like when we see our Lord return for His Bride.