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Craving Desires of a Consecrated Soul
Psalm 42: 1-4
Intro: In these four verses, the Psalmist seems to placing a priority
on spiritual matters as they pertain to his walk for God. It is vitally
important that we pay close attention to the order that these events
are listed. We see:
Wants of the Soul (verse 1) (Desire)
Desires the presence of God. Just like a love relationship between
a man and a woman. A kiss is ok for a while, holding hands and being
around, talking to will suffice for a while, but then an intense desire
begins to set in, and that desire wants more of the one that is loved,
and is the object of his affections and desires. He wants all, will not
settle for less, has no intentions of being short changed, wants no
imitations or imposters, He wants the real thing and 100% of the real
thing.
2) Will of God (verse 2-3) (Dedication)
a) trials – (my tears have been my meat day and night)
persecution was at his door 24/7, yet he still stood for God
(illus: the levy that holds has known greater pressure than the levy
that breaks)
b) testimony - (“where is thy God?”)
World has rid themselves of God in everything, but when they look
at the church, they are asking “Where's your God?”
3) Way to the house of God (verse 4) (Direction)
He knew the way to the house of God, but He also knew what he was
supposed to do when he got there. He was going to be a wooden
Indian at church, he was going to be filled with joy and praise. Want
revival, start shouting and praise, start circling the church building
seven times, for seven days, and shout seven times at the end of the
seven days. (Prove me, saith the Lord of Hosts)
Our subject matter is contained in verses # 1 and it is divided into two
separate but equal important parts. These two parts are:
An Ongoing Desire
The Object of that Desire
This ongoing desire and the object of that desire is for water, nothing
else. There are three reasons why the hart or deer pants after the water-
and these three reasons can be applied to the converted soul. They are:
I. NEED OF WATER FOR REFRESHMENT
The Deer has:
A) An Instinctive Desire for Water
No one has to instruct a baby deer on what water is or where it is at.
It is an inborn and inbred desire for water. He doesn't have to enroll in
Water University or Dry Mouth Seminary to learn what water is. From
the time his trembling legs first support his body weight and the first
time his mouth gets dry, there is a voice inside that tells him he must
get to the waterbrook. The mother deer never has to lead that baby deer
to water and stick his head under and that mother deer never has to pry
open his mouth and force feed water down his throat. This is the driving
force, that inner desire, that “can't live without it” frame of mind, that
“nothing is going to stop me” mentality. This deer doesn't even have to
think about it, doesn't have to form a committee, doesn't have to consult
with the deer brethren, doesn;t have to call the local deer pope, doesn't
have to clear it with deer headquarters. He has an instinctive desire for
water, and nothing is going to stop him.
(never see a deer turning up a bottle of water)
B) An Intense Desire for Water
Ask a deer, Where are you headed? He would answer, “I'm headed for
for the waterbrook. Do you need any help? No, I just follow my in-
stinct. (do we have an instinct for water?) Mr Deer, we have a new
version of water, want some? No, there is no power in it.
If you could examine the deer when he is headed for water, we would
find that his brow is sweaty, his heart rate is high, and his blood press-
ure is elevated. He is not going to be satisfied with someone just talking
about water, or someone showing him a picture of water, he has to have
the real thing. Only a drink of cool, clear water will satisfy his thirst.
Never hear the deer say, “I wish I didn't have to go to the waterbrook
tonight”. Or “I think I'll take a week off from the waterbrook.”
A NEED OF WATER FOR REMEDY
A) A Remedy to heal his wounds
Many times in the life of a deer, they will be afflicted with wounds.
It could come from a bullet, an arrow or a trap. First it is an affliction,
but without treatment it becomes an infection. The deer knows that
unless he gets to the waterbrook and allows the cool clear and clean
water to wash out all the impurities and infections, then that wound
will soon render hm helpless and eventually cause death.
(antlers gett fungus- only washing water cures the fungus)
B) A Remedy to heighten his welfare
This is the difference between a preference and a passion. The deer
has always preferred water, but now the pathway to the waterbrook
becomes a passion. The joy, refreshment, and revitalization he
receives from the waterbrook begins to engulf his total being. Every
rising of the sun reveals a new opportunity for a trip to the water
brook. Every setting of the sun reflects back over a day of enjoy-
at the waterbrook. His total survival and welfare now depends on
getting to the waterbrook. It has become his heart passion. He has
now fallen in love with the waterbrook. He no longer goes for just
a drink of water, but he now goes to swim in the water. Before he
was putting the water in himself, now he is putting himself in them
water.
(Rev 22:17 “And the spirit and thebride say Come. And let him
that is athirst come, and let him that heareth say, Come and whoso-
ever will, let him take the water of life freely”)
(Mt 5:6 “Blessed are they who do hunger and thrist after righteous-
ness, for they shall be filled”)
(Eph 5:26 “that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
of water by the word”)
(Ps 23:2 “He leadeth me by the still waters”)
A NEED OF WATER FOR REFUGE
(VS 2 “my soul thirsteth for God, for the living God”)
When the deer is being pursued by a mountain lion,he knows that
if he can get to the waterbrook, his scent will be lost by the pursuer.
There is refuge for the deer who makes it to the waterbrook. Our
refuge is found in the water of the living Word. Notice in verse 4
the Psalmist states “I pour out my soul in thee”. Paul said, “Know
ye not that you body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?” That makes
us the container and before we can pour anythng out, there must
first be something poured in. That pouring will only come when
and if we reach God;s waterbrook and fill ourselves with the water
of God's Word. God will use our resources if we will just furnish
the library.