Bringing Back God's Glory

James O. Davis is the founder and president of Second Billion (TM). You are invited to learn more about Second Billion by visiting www.billion.tv.

TEXT: 1 Samuel 4:1-11; 2 Samuel 6

TOPIC: Bring Back God’s Glory

Theme: How to reveal God’s Glory to people today.

BRINGING BACK GOD’S GLORY

INTRODUCTION:

When was the most thrilling day of your life? When you reflect back on your life, what day stands out from all other days? The greatest day of my life is July 15, 1973. This was the day that I repented of my sins and became a born again Christian.

What day was the most exciting day in David’s life? Do you believe the greatest day for David was when he defeated the lion or the bear? Those were great days, but not the greatest day. Do you think the most thrilling day for David was when he defeated Golitha? That was a high water mark in the life of David, but it was not the greatest day of David’s life. Do you think the happiest day for David was when he was anointed king of Israel? This was no doubt a significant day for David, but again it was not the greatest day in David’s life. I believe the greatest day for David was when God’s glory came back to Israel.

There is no doubt that the greatest and most thrilling day in David’s life was when God’s holy presence returned to Jerusalem. The most outstanding day was when revival came to Jerusalem in particular and Israel in general.

Do you desire to truly experience the reviving presence of God? Do you desire for God to reveal His glory in the Church and in our cities and in our country? Will you practice the principles for the powerful presence of God to be revealed in your ministry and in your life? Will you miss this upcoming revival and spiritual awakening in America or will you choose to play a vital role in it?

There are five distinct principles regarding this late 1990’s revival that we must apprehend and apply to our live in order to bring back God’s glory to the Church and the nation. First,

I. WE MUST NOT MANIPULATE THIS REVIVAL POWER ( I SAM. 4:1-5, 10-11)

It is our privilege and responsibility to bring this world wrapped in the golden chains of gospel and lay it at our King’s feet. Any thing short of this is high treason in heaven’s court before heaven’s king. We have an awesome opportunity in America.

The ark of the covenant was a treasure chest of blessing. The dimensions of the Ark were about 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. The Ark was made of wood and overlaid with pure gold. On the top of the Ark was a solid slab of gold called the Mercy Seat. Out of the mercy seat were two Cherubim with their wings out stretched. In between the wings of the Cheribum dwelled the glory of God. In the

Holy of Holies, God would reveal Himself between the Cherubim while the Mercy Seat was sprinkled with blood from the paschal lamb. This was a holy sight.

The Ark of the Covenant led them out of barrenness, led them into blessing, and led them in battle. The Ark had divine power and energy. It leveled mountains, laid waste cities, and struck dead the enemy. The Ark led the Israelites from victory to victory.

Our passage depicts the Israelites in battle against the Philistines. The Israelites are losing the battle. They have already lost 4,000 men. The Israelites have become self-sufficient. Someone had an idea for them to go and fetch the Ark of God. As an after thought, they decided to bring God into their battle plans. They only wanted God when their plans had failed them.

The Ark was kept by two immoral men who called themselves men of God. Their names were Hophni and Phinehas. These two men were living in adultery. These two men had the unmitigated gall to bring that sacred object into the battle, that it may save them.

We are in a battle today. We need to disabuse ourselves of the idea that God will bless us in- spite of our disobedience. If we bring God into the picture while we are disobeying Him, He will engineer our failure. God gets more glory in the defeat of His carnal people, than He does in their victories. God is interested in not covering sin, but exposing sin.

From then on, the battle went the way of the Philistines. The Israelites lost 30,000 foot soldiers. Ichabod was the end result of their disobedience. The wife of Phinehas, before she died, said, “God has forsaken us!” The glory was gone.

Are we putting God first in our lives or “fetching” God when all else has failed in our lives? Will we make up our mind that God will be first in our lives regardless of what happens? What has to happen before will put God first in our lives?