[Excerpt from The Sound of an Abundance of Rain, a new book by Dalen Garris scheduled to come out this December]
“Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.” Song of Solomon 1:4
What was the real difference between David and Saul? What did the disciples have that the Pharisees could never grasp? Why is it that some churches are alive with the Spirit of God, while others only have religion? What is the difference between those who claim to believe God and those who are filled with His Spirit?
It has to do with how they define the love of God.
Anyone can say they love God, raise their hands and sway back and forth to the Praise & Worship songs, but that does not constitute the real love of God — that is emotional display.
Proclaiming zeal for God isn’t the principle thing either. Saul claimed to be zealous for God but was drowned out by the bleating of sheep. Instead of complete obedience to God’s command to slay all that the enemy possessed, his focus remained centered on himself. David, on the other hand, worshipped God.
Religious knowledge doesn’t constitute the love of God, either. The Pharisees had devoted their entire existence to the study of the Torah and built layers of rules to keep themselves from crossing any scriptural lines, but the Bible says that their mistake was in that they tried to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3).
The disciples of Jesus were not so self-possessed, not so sophisticated in their carnal religiousness, and not so intent on the fruit that is desired to make one wise — they just loved Jesus Christ.
Throughout time, you can see the difference between those who seek to be religious and those who seek for that secret place of the Most High God. Each claims to love God, but have very different approaches. With one, it is all about themselves, while with the other, it is all about God.
The true love of God does not lie in carnal adherence to tenets of doctrine or traditions, in pursuit of knowledge or power, in the segregation of denominational thinking, or even in gushing displays of emotional affection. The essence of the love of God lies in surrender.
To surrender means to give up your ways, your ideas, and your perception of life and religion. You have to love God so much that you choose to give up — completely give up — and empty all the “you” out of you so it can be completely filled with Him, and render yourself invisible so that the glory of God can shine out of you. You choose to die for Him, just as He died for you. You love God that much.
Dive into the Spirit of God, and let God lead you into all righteousness and true wisdom instead of trying to figure it out for yourself. Let His Spirit overwhelm you and cover you with His feathers. Surrender. Your reward is not in what you can be in Him, but what He can be in you.
When you do that, the glory of God will fill your soul and will fill your church. You will not be seen as a church where people meet, but as a place where the Spirit of God blazes with His Glory. It will be a place where you can feel the glow on those who have been drawn by Him, and Him alone, and have run after God to be brought into His secret chambers.
Surrender. That is the place where you fall into the love of God with great abandon.
Brother Dale
See other books available by Dalen Garris at: Revivalfire.org/books
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