OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL DEHYDRATION

Psalm 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. 

This is “a song” celebrating God’s triumphal ascent to Mount Zion. In this song David invited the people to praise in song the One who rides on the clouds (cf. Psa_68:33; Psa_104:3; Isa_19:1), a poetic description of God’s exalted majesty. God is worthy of praise because of His triumphant work: He delivers and comforts the downtrodden (fatherless and widows) and oppressed (prisoners), while leaving the rebellious desolate in the desert.

We know that in a desert water is scarce. If there is any water there at all. And without sufficient water the human body will become dehydrated which leads to weakness and posibily even death.

Have you considered what happens to the human spirit when it is deprived of what it needs, not just to survive, but to thrive? Science says that food, water and shelter from the elements of nature are all essential, but that’s just for survival. To thrive, the human spirit needs far more.

For starters, we need connection. We need to build relationships that are meaningful…like family and friends who give us emotional support and a sense of belonging. In that supportive environment, we can find purpose and meaning for our lives. They encourage us to engage in activities that enhance our well-being, whether through work, hobbies, or volunteering. And all of this leads to our personal growth, as we strive to achieve our goals that give us a sense of accomplishment and progress.

Throughout this development of the human spirit, we also learn to be resilient…to overcome challenges…to adapt to change…to maintain a positive outlook and to manage stress…because physical and mental health are just as important as food, water and shelter.

But what do we do when our Spirit Man has become dehydrated?

OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL DEHYDRATION (Look at someone and say, get ready, to take a drink)

Let’s take a look at Psalm 68. Psalm 68 is a psalm of celebration. It’s a psalm of triumphant praise. This song was called “The Song of Battles”. Written at the close of one of Israel’s many wars, it is the most beautiful specimen of Hebrew poetry on record. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, wrote with such lyric emotion and impressive description that his passion survives as we read it in the 21stcentury.

David, “the chief Psalmist” of Israel, boasts of a life lived under the power of an Almighty God…a life where the human spirit can enjoy the ultimate peace of SURE and COMPLETE survival. He says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered!” “Let the wicked perish at the presence of God….BUT here comes the good part…”let the righteous be glad!” David’s got it! He gets that when OUR spirit connects with GOD’S SPIRIT, we are ultimately and intimately connected to a peace that only a Deity greater than ourselves can provide.

It's hard to understand why mankind rebels against that kind of peace, but we do. And when we rebel against God’s peace, we are left to dwell in our own self-will. In other words, we are left to do things our way...to wallow in our own mess. Of those who rebel, David says in verse six that they “dwell in a dry land”. In other words, they have become spiritually dehydrated. Their supply of Living Water has evaporated...and spiritual rehydration is the only cure.

Spiritual dehydration begins with the smallest of warnings. Early signs give you a hint that you are headed for “dry land”.

· You get tired of going to church every Sunday.

· You skip bible study or prayer meeting because there’s a new show on TV.

· You use COVID, and FLU and RSV as an excuse from “assembling together” for worship, but you still go to work.

· You rush to swallow your lunch without pausing to give thanks to God.

· You miss your church group meeting because you FORGOT about it!

Those are early warnings that you are heading for a spiritual desert. Once you are in that spiritual desert, the dehydration only worsens, until one day you discover that you have lost all connection with your Creator.

There ARE late warning signs that you are on the verge of complete dehydration. Here are three of them.

First, your confidence in your Creator has dehydrated.

The LORD is no longer your go-to source for sustenance. When adversity attacks and trouble is double, what do you do? You panic. Then you run ahead of God and develop your own plan of attack against your enemy. Instead of letting God arise and scatter your enemies, you stay up late making your own plan for how to get out of the mess you’re in. And in those late-night hours…while you are mulling over your carnal calamity, you seldom think to pray. That’s a sure sign of a lack of confidence in your Creator. You panic, you plan, and you forget to pray.

Spiritual dehydration will cause you to blame God for all your troubles. Instead of seeking His guidance and support, you allow fear and anxiety to take over because you no longer believe that God has a plan for you. You find yourself in a faith desert having a “SON” stroke. Christ is your last thought as you deliriously grapple with your stymied situation. That’s when the blame game starts. You blame everyone else for your predicament. Then you hold grudges and refuse to forgive those who are at fault for your fiasco.

Spiritual dehydration will leave you believing that the promises and assurances of God are not for you. You think that God’s love and care are for someone else. Your life becomes a journey of constant worry because you have no confidence in your Creator.

Living that way is downright reckless. It will cause you to speak and act impulsively rather than rely on God’s wisdom and guidance. There is no communication through prayer because you lack faith in God’s responsiveness and presence. You are living in dry land!

Now let’s be honest. Everyone experiences moments of doubt. But when your faith desert becomes so large that you don’t seek support from your faith community, you’re in real trouble. When you stop reading the Word of God, you’re in real trouble. When you stop praying, you’re in real trouble. These are sure signs that you have no confidence in your Creator.

Your confidence in your Creator has dehydrated.

Second, your conviction has dehydrated.

Your faith has been disrupted and you find yourself defying God. God is no longer first. There are clear signs that you have kicked Him to the curb.

· Instead of Holiness, you use profanity.

· Instead of admiration, you show irreverence.

· Instead of kindness, you show wickedness.

You might find yourself losing your peace and becoming more irritable. You start to seek comfort in unhealthy habits or distractions instead of spiritual practices. You might even overload your schedule with secular activity to avoid addressing your spiritual needs. You surround yourself with noise and activity to avoid inner reflection. You become completely detached from your spiritual family. You become easily angered and frustrated.

You’re not the same anymore. That Believer who was a spiritual reflection of Christ has now become a calloused soul. Your morals begin to deteriorate. I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes. The cancer of lust creeps in. The malaria of gossip takes over. The frostbite of hatred and the gangrene of envy become a driving force in this desolately detached disciple, until you find yourself covered in tumors of self-righteousness and deceit.

The worst part is that the pain and suffering caused by the sin nature of this dry disciple becomes contagious. It’s a house built on sand…the sands of fault-finding, arrogance, rebellion, resentment, selfishness, stubbornness and self-pity…these are all clear symptoms of a Believer gone rogue. Your conviction has dehydrated.

Finally, your charity has dehydrated.

There’s a decrease in your desire to delve into the work of discipleship. In other words, you become weary in well-doing. You find yourself living in a desert of loneliness and grief.

Not all weariness is a sign of a disconnect with God. Spiritual fatigue can happen to any sincere Believer who puts others ahead of himself. That’s why it’s necessary to pace yourself to avoid spiritual dehydration. You have to know when to seek rehydration through prayer. BUT…when you find it easy to walk away from your duty to witness through service and sacrifice, you’re in a dry land.

Jesus warned us about a “fig tree dried up from the roots” (Mark 11:20). A tree that bears no fruit is useless. Try growing fruit in a spiritual desert! If you are no longer motivated by your Messiah to serve others, you’re spiritually dehydrated.

One of the evidences of your faith is revealed by your participation in the work of the church. It is your duty to “entertain strangers” and expose them to the love of Christ. This is your responsibility as a child of God! If you believe in Christ, and abide in Christ, and walk with Christ, and live for Christ…then you must WORK for Christ. You must share the gospel message that Christ is the Bread that satisfies our hunger, the Fountain that quenches our thirst, the Light that illuminates our path and the Compass that directs our course! Your charity has dehydrated.

If your witness and your work are waning, you may just be suffering from spiritual dehydration.

David sings that God protects the spiritual family. We are a holy habitation. God “setteth the solitary” in a home. There is no calamity too great for the God. But David’s song comes with this clear warning. “The rebellious dwell in a dry land!” They are separated from God. There is no one to fight their battles. No one to bear their burdens. No one to solve their problems. No one to confront their enemies. They are alone in their dry land.

Are you living in dry land? It’s not too late to overcome your spiritual dehydration…and seek the replenishing rehydration of Living Water from your Savior. Drink of His godly character. Drink of His humble Spirit. Drink of His faithful commitment. Drink from the Fountain that never runs dry!

Christ will restore your confidence in your Creator. Christ will restore your conviction and your charity. He will deliver you in times of difficulty and disaster. He will strengthen you in times of trial and temptation. He will sustain you in times of sickness and suffering. He will revive you in times of sorrow and separation. He will lead you in times of darkness and despair. But you must DRINK to dissolve your doubts. You must DRINK to dry your tears. You must DRINK to brighten your days. You must DRINK! Jesus said, “He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38).

If spiritual dehydration has you in its grasp, you can be an overcomer. The Psalmist has the answer. Call on the LORD and say, “I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after THEE” (Psalm 143:6). Christ will fill you with the Will of God, the Way of God, and the Work of God. You’ll be able to speak to the mountains of discouragement. And they will be moved! You’ll win battles over temptation. You’ll stand on the ground of victory. You’ll conquer the strongholds of Satan. And you’ll still the raging of the storms, As you discover the wells of refreshment…in Christ. And…”the righteous shall be glad”.