Can We Have Still Waters and Greater Things?

30. January, 2012Latest Articles3 comments

As we look back on our lives, we can see where God has allowed us to go in different seasons.  I am starting to think about these different seasons.  Each season is so important in making us who we are and building our faith, but where do the seasons come from?  I mean… does God cause the seasons?  Do we cause the seasons?  Where do they come from or who do they come from?  I believe that they are sometimes caused by our decisions and they are a result to what we have done in the past and I think there are times where God causes the season to allow us to hear His voice and teach us some things. So how do we know?  Does it really matter where they come from? I am starting to think that it does matter.  Why?  Because so many times we might think we are going through something because God wants to teach us something, and in a way, He is. But, sometimes we accept it and it really is not in His will.  Why do we accept the fact that a loved one is not saved and they are going to be the same for the rest of their life?  Why do we accept constant conflict in our homes?  Why do we accept mediocrity in our church?  Is that a season of life that God is having us go through?  I do not think so.  Jesus came so that we will have an abundant life.  If we trust in God and believe in His Word, He will lead us beside the still waters (Psalm 23:2).

So, you may say, as I am, why do I not see still waters in my life?  It is most likely because, as with me, that we are not being led by the still waters.  According to the Psalmist David, He (God) leads us beside the still waters as he restores our souls.  I have been asking God why I am not seeing the “greater things” that Jesus talks about in the Scriptures (John 14:12).  I believe God has answered me and shown me why.  I believe the reason why we never see still waters and the reason why we do not see the “greater things” is because we have lost the source of the power.

Matthew 21 is a familiar passage of Scripture.  Jesus enters into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  The people who were outside were cheering and chanting in a very loud voice.   In the Gospel of John in the 19^th Chapter, John writes that the, “Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He (Jesus) answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”” (39-40) Then, going back to Matthew 21:12, Jesus entered the temple.  The temple is where the Pharisees came from.  They were in there acting religious and telling Jesus that He was interrupting them.  What was going on in the temple?  Their business was being affected because of Jesus being there.   Jesus went into the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling.  He overturned the money changers seats.  He corrected them and told them in verse 13, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

What was going on was the temple was a place of worship.  It was a place that God could lead one beside the still waters.  But, instead of finding God and peace in the temple, they were making it hectic.   When God leads us, he will change our focus.  We need to come to Him in prayer and seek Him.  When the temple is a house of prayer, we will see the still waters.  So what is the temple today?  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We need to be the house of prayer.  That means, when we are not focusing on God and we are just about the worlds business, we have made His temple (our bodies) into a den of thieves and we need to make it a house of prayer.  That will allow God to lead us beside the still waters and restore our souls.

But that is not it.  What about the greater things?  That will come next.  Because, after Jesus turned the temple back into a house of prayer, verse 14 is the greater.   A key word is there.  The word, “then” is key.  “Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.”  First, Jesus identified the problem.  Second, Jesus corrected the problem.  Third, the temple became a house of prayer and a place beside still waters.  Lastly, greater things happened when people came to Jesus.  They were healed.

What I am getting at is we need to allow Jesus to identify the areas in our lives where we need some tables turned over.  We need to allow Him to clean our temple and chase out anything that is not of Him.  Then we need to make an effort and pray.  Not just at meals but take time to talk and listen to our Heavenly Father.  Lastly, He will hear us and do greater things through us in the name of Jesus.  That is what 2 Chronicles 7:14 is all about.  “If my people who are called by my Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”  Humbling is allowing God to point out the areas in our lives that need change.  Turning from our wicked ways is allowing Him to overturn the tables in our lives and drive out anything that is not of Him.  Praying is seeking God’s will.  Then He will hear us and forgive us which is turning the temple into a house of prayer.  And healing our land is the great things that will be done in the name of Jesus.  It all starts with humbling ourselves and seeking God.  Let’s make it a point to start that today.  The still waters and greater things are waiting!