God's Restaurant (Discipline in Receiving the Word)

Restaurants. A place where we go to relax, sit a spell, get refreshed, fellowship and, most importantly, have a meal. Eating is important (of course). The gist of eating, however, is not the pleasure of it all, but what we get out of it -- the nourishment. Nourishment provides our body what it needs to operate. That which God has programmed it to do and ordained that it accomplish. Without nourishment, our bodies falter and wither. Without nourishment, we fall short in our production. Without nourishment, we will cease to be . . . whatever.

As it is in the natural, so also it is concerning spiritual things. We need to make sure that we take time out for nourishment -- spiritual nourishment. Today's text highlights this matter. Jesus stated that "Man shall not live by bread alone...." Bread is necessary. To walk in the ways of the Lord, however, we must embrace the latter part of His statement -- "...by EVERY WORD that PROCEEDETH out of the mouth of God." In this statement, Jesus confirms the activity, necessity and continuity of the word of God in our lives. Job made a wonderful statement about placing value on the word of God in our lives. Job 23:12 states, "...I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."

Interestingly, there are several instances, in addition to today's text, where the word of God is referred to something that is eaten. Consider the following:

Jeremiah 15:16 says, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."
Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! "
Ezekiel 3:1-3 says, "Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."

These are figurative, of course, but practical. We can do these things. Everyone who encounters the word successfully will engage in ingesting, tasting, chewing and digesting the word of God. In the natural, that which is digested properly benefits the body. In the spiritual, that which is digested properly (embraced and understood) will benefit the hearer in the same manner.

Considering these things, let's take a trip -- a trip to a restaurant. God's restaurant. As stated earlier, this is a place where we go to relax. We go to settle ourselves. We seek to get refreshed and, most importantly, receive nourishment. As we enter the restaurant, we are seated and receive a glass of water and a menu. Water, in many instances in the scriptures, represents the Holy Ghost. There are a lot of people attempting to receive things from the Lord without partaking of the living water. The living water helps us to be "primed" (prepared) for what is about to be set before us. Those who attempt to partake of a meal without first being exposed (properly) to the Spirit of God, will not be able to ingest, chew and digest the word properly.

We've reviewed the menu and see many items that appear tasty. We see praise. We see worship. We see blessings. We see heaven. We see encouragement. We see exhortation. We see God's favor towards us. As we review the menu, we get an idea what we'd like to have. After reviewing the menu, something strange happens -- something different than what we experience in other restaurants. When the waiter comes out, instead of asking us what we'd like to have, he takes the menus away and explains that our meals will be brought out shortly.

The meal is brought out and placed before us. Some received meals that were very tasty. Some meals are sweet. Some meals only consisted of vegetables. Some portions are small. All-in-all, every person seated receives exactly what he or she needs. Whether the meal is what someone wanted or not, the meal is timely and full of spiritual nutrition. One receives exhortation. Another receives a meal of correction. Someone else receives general counsel. Yet another receives a stiff rebuke. The person across the table from them receives a meal of praise. All of the meals came from the same source, the same decision-maker and with the same heart full of love -- the Lord God Almighty.

Do you hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? God's people, person-by-person, needs to make a commitment to receive the word of God in a disciplined manner. Many approach the Lord and His word with itching ears -- predetermining what they want to hear and who they want to hear it through. God, in the scenario above, serves as the chef. He allows partakers of His meals to see His menu, but He makes the determination what we will eat. We can be like Ezekiel and eat what is set before us OR we can be like the people in John 6, who, when confronted with doctrine, rebelled and forsook the Lord.

We shall live by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God -- not just the ones that we like, not just the ones that are pleasant, not just the ones that we want to hear, not just the ones that are popular, not just the ones . . . you get the picture.

We visit God's Restaurant every day. Many see the meal God has prepared and reject it -- like a child with broccoli. As a result, something that needed to be imparted in the life of the person is left out and the benefits are lost. Let's be encouraged to eat what is set before us with a heart of gladness, receiving His word will all meekness (without retaliation and resistance), regardless of the meal God chooses for us.

Cry Aloud: Volume 4, Issue 44 -- God's Restaurant (Discipline in Receiving the Word)
CyberSaint Online Revival -- Winter 2000 -- Message 4 of 5
Copyright © 2000, Remnant Christian Assembly/CyberSaint. All rights reserved
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