A DESPERATE NEED FOR
A MOVE OF GOD
1 SAMUEL 2:22
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
1 SAMUEL 3:1–3
And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
HERE WE READ OF A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A DESPERATE NEED FOR A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD.
ELI WAS OLD,
AND HIS HEALTH WAS FAILING,
HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SERVE AS THE PRIEST AND PROPHET OF GOD TO ISRAEL.
HIS SONS WERE NOT IN ANY CONDITION TO SERVE
AS GOD’S MINISTERS EITHER.
THEY WERE DEFILED WITH SINS OF THE FLESH.
THEY COULDN’T MINISTER UNTO GOD
OR UNTO THE PEOPLE.
ALL THEY DID WAS MINISTER UNTO THEIR FLESHLY APPETITES.
A. V.1 TELLS US THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION
AND THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD
WAS PRECIOUS.
1. AFTER CAREFUL STUDY YOU LEARN THAT GOD WAS NOT SPEAKING TO HIS PEOPLE,
NOR WAS HE MOVING AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
2. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THERE WAS A DESPERATE NEED FOR A MOVE OF GOD IN THOSE DAYS.
3. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DAYS WE ARE IN.
CHURCHES ORDAINING
AND CONDONING HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS CAUGHT IN
ADULTERY,
PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS CAUGHT DRINKING AND DRIVING,
MOLESTATION OF CHILDREN,
PORNOGRAPHY.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHO’S SHEPHERDING SOME OF THE FLOCK.
4. THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR GOD TO MOVE IN OUR LIVES,
IN OUR CHURCHES,
AND IN OUR NATION.
5. CAN GOD STILL MOVE TODAY?
6. NOW, THAT QUESTION CAN ALMOST GO UNANSWERED.
7. IF GOD IS GOD, AND HE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE
THEN HE CAN MOVE AT ANY TIME HE WANTS TO,
AND HE CAN MOVE IN ANY WAY HE WANTS TO.
8. SO THE QUESTION IS,
WHY DO WE NOT SEE GOD MOVING IN A GREATER WAY?
9. I AM CONVINCED THAT GOD CAN STILL MOVE,
THAT HE STILL MOVES,
AND THAT HE WILL MOVE IN OUR LIVES
AND IN OUR CHURCH TODAY,
IF WE ARE WILLING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND ALLOW HIM TO.
10. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS GOD FROM MOVING IN OUR LIVES,
AND IN OUR CHURCH IS US.
12. WE STAND IN THE WAY WITH OUR TRADITIONS
OUR METHODS,
OUR HANG UPS,
OUR OWN WAY OF THINKING,
OUR UNCONFESSED SINS,
OUR SELF RIGHTEOUS-FAULT FINDING SPIRITS.
13. GOD WANTS TO DO A MIGHTY THING IN THESE LAST DAYS,
AND IF GOD CANNOT MOVE THROUGH US -
HE WILL MOVE AROUND US.
14. WE WILL BE LEFT OUT OF WHAT GOD IS DOING.
15. AND WITHOUT A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD,
OUR FAMILIES,
OUR NATION,
EVEN SOME THAT SIT ON CHURCH PEWS REGULARLY ARE HEADED FOR THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.
B. IT IS TIME THAT THE PEOPLE OF GOD DO MORE THAN JUST TALK ABOUT REVIVAL,
IT IS TIME WE LIVE,
AND EXPERIENCE REVIVAL.
1. REVIVAL CAN NO LONGER BE JUST SOMETHING WE DO EVER SO OFTEN IN HOPE THAT SINNERS
AND NEW PEOPLE WILL COME TO HEAR SOME HOT SHOT PREACHER,
AND START COMING TO OUR CHURCH.
2. IN FACT, STATISTICS SHOW THAT THERE ARE FEWER
AND FEWER CHURCH REVIVAL MEETINGS, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS
AND NO ONE WANTS TO COME OUT DURING THE WEEK TO ANY EXTRA MEETINGS.
3. TRUE REVIVAL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN EVANGELIST OR A SERIES OF MEETINGS.
4. TRUE REVIVAL HAS GOT TO BE BIRTHED IN THE HEARTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE,
WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR GOD,
WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR GOD,
WHO ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO HAVE A MOVE OF GOD IN THEIR LIFE,
IN THEIR FAMILY,
IN THEIR CHURCH,
IN THEIR CITY,
IN THEIR NATION
AND IN THEIR WORLD.
6. CAN I SAY TO YOU,
“A WORLD IN SINFUL, TROUBLE LIKE OUR WORLD,
NEEDS A CHURCH THAT IS IN A HOLY GHOST REVIVAL.”
C. MODERN DAY SODOM NEEDS AN ABRAHAM.
1. IN GENESIS WE READ THAT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ABRAHAM INTERCEDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF SODOM.
2. FIRST, GENESIS 14 TELLS OF A TIME WHEN SODOM AND GOMORRAH FELL TO THEIR ENEMIES.
3. KEEP IN MIND THAT LOT WAS AMONG THOSE THAT WERE TAKEN PRISONER.
4. ABRAHAM TOOK 318 TRAINED MEN
AND WENT AFTER THEM
AND TOOK THEM BACK FROM THEIR CAPTIVES.
5. THE SECOND ACCOUNT IS IN GENESIS 18. IT TELLS US OF A TIME WHEN IT WAS REVEALED TO ABRAHAM WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO SODOM & GOMORRAH.
6. IN VERSES 23–33 WE READ OF ABRAHAM INTERCEDING ON BEHALF
OF THE SOULS IN THE CITIES.
7. AS ABRAHAM WAS,
WE THE CHURCH SHOULD BE.
B. WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR THE SOULS OF MANKIND.
1. THE BIGGEST LIES OF SATAN ARE . . .
THERE IS NO USE TO PRAY FOR THEM.
THEY ARE TOO SET IN THEIR WAYS.
THEY’LL NEVER CHANGE!
THEY ARE TOO DEEP IN SIN.
THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THEM.
2. CAN I TELL YOU THAT
THAT KIND OF THINKING IS SIN.
IT IS A MOCKERY TO GOD.
IT IS DOUBT.
IT IS UNBELIEF
AND GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH IT.
3. IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?
4. NO!
5. WITH MAN IT SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE,
BUT WITH GOD SHALL NOTHING BE IMPOSSIBLE.
6. IS GOD WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH?
7. NO! ON THE CONTRARY HE IS LONG SUFFERING WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT ALL CAN
AND SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
8. CAN GOD REALLY REACH THEM IN THEIR SIN WHERE THEY ARE?
9. OH, YES!
10. WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS LIBERTY.
11. WHERE IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD?
12. IF I MAKE MY ABODE IN HEAVEN HIS PRESENCE IS THERE.
13. IF I MAKE MY ABODE IN HELL HIS PRESENCE IS THERE.
14. WHERE CAN I GO TO ESCAPE THE PRESENCE OF GOD?
15. NOWHERE!
16. SO WHERE IS THE HOLY GHOST - EVERYWHERE!
17. AND EVERYWHERE HE IS
THERE IS LIBERTY.
18. THAT MEANS HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS WHEN HE WANTS
AND HOW HE WANTS.
19. HE CAN CONVICT THAT PERSON SITTING IN A BAR.
20. HE CAN CONVICT THAT PERSON IN AN ADULT THEATRE.
21. HE CAN CONVICT THAT PERSON IN PRISON.
22. HE CAN CONVICT THAT PROSTITUTE DOWN ON THE CORNER.
23. HE CAN CONVICT AND CONVINCE THAT ONE WHO FEELS THAT THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO GO TO HEAVEN.
24. HE CAN DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO
IN RESPONSE
TO OUR INTERCESSION FOR THE LOST.
25. GOD RESPONDS TO THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIGHT
AND THEY TRAVAIL TO BRING FORTH BIRTH IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
26. HOW CAN WE FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHEN WE ARE SO WRAPPED UP IN OURSELVES?
27. SEE, THAT’S WHAT SATAN WANTS.
28. STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE CHURCH.
DON’T BOTHER TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LOVED ONE’S SOULS.
DON’T BOTHER TO FIGHT FOR A CITY,
A NATION,
A WORLD.
AT LEAST YOU’RE SAVED
AND WON’T SEE HELL.
SO WHAT IF THE REST AREN’T AS FORTUNATE AS YOU.
SO SLEEP ON CHURCH, SLEEP ON.
LET THE WORLD GO ON TO HELL,
BECAUSE AFTER ALL YOU’RE GOING TO HEAVEN
AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN SELF.
IF YOU DON’T WHO WILL?
29. THE MODERN DAY CHURCH IS TOO BUSY DOING EVERY THING,
BUT, WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO.
31. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE STANDING IN THE GAP,
INTERCEDING FOR THE LOST.
ISAIAH 66:8 REMINDS US THAT IT WAS NOT UNTIL ZION TRAVAILED (BORE THE PAINS OF LABOR) THAT SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER CHILDREN.
C. YOU SEE CHURCH, WE’RE IN A BARREN PLACE. HEAR WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SAYING. . .
1. IT’S BEAUTIFUL . . . BUT IT’S BARREN.
2. IT’S COMFORTABLE . . . BUT IT’S BARREN.
3. IT FITS IN WITH OUR SELFISHNESS AND OUR OWN REASONING . . . BUT IT’S BARREN.
4. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE SOULS PRAYED THROUGH IN THESE ALTARS?
5. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE THIS CHURCH HAS BEEN IN TRAVAIL
AND BROUGHT FORTH A SPIRITUAL BIRTH?
6. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE SAW A REPENTANT HEART CRY OUT TO GOD FOR MERCY?
7. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE’VE HAD A SOUL BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST
AND FIRE?
8. OH, YES, IT’S BEAUTIFUL . . .
IT’S COMFORTABLE . . . BUT IT’S BARREN.
II KINGS 2:19-22
And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
And he ELISHA said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
4. ELISHA SAID, BRING ME A NEW CRUSE.
THAT IS A NEW VESSEL MADE BY THE SPIRIT
AND THE WATER.
BORN AGAIN.
5. WE HAVE TO BE PURE,
HOLY
AND IN THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST SPIRITUALLY.
WE HAVE TO BE A VESSEL OF HONOR FOR GOD TO USE.
6. AND ELISHA PUT SALT IN IT.
7. JESUS SAID THAT “YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.”
8. SALT HEALS,
PRESERVES
AND MAKES YOU THIRSTY.
9. CAN I TELL YOU, WHEN WE GET RIGHT WITH GOD;
I MEAN REALLY RIGHT WITH GOD,
OTHERS WILL SEE CHRIST IN US
AND WILL BE THIRSTY FOR HIM.
10. OUR LIFE’S EXAMPLE SHOULD MAKE OTHERS THIRSTY FOR JESUS.
11. THEN ELISHA CAST THE SALT INTO THE WATER.
12. INTO THE FLOW OF WHAT GOD IS DOING.
13. INTO THE RIVER OF GOD.
AND IT WAS NO LONGER JUST PLEASANT
AND BARREN.
14. NOW IT WAS PLEASANT
AND IT WAS FRUITFUL.
LIFE WAS COMING FORTH.
NEW GROWTH WAS COMING OUT OF BARRENNESS.
15. HOW WILL YOU WIN YOUR LOVED ONES TO CHRIST IF THEY CAN’T SEE JESUS IN YOU?
16. IF YOUR LIFE DOESN’T MAKE THEM THIRSTY FOR JESUS?
17. THE CHURCH TODAY IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT COSTS THEM NOTHING.
18. BUT, I WILL NOT OFFER UNTO GOD THAT WHICH COST ME NOTHING.
19. GOD WANTS MEN AND WOMEN OF INTEGRITY WHO WILL STICK IT OUT
AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.
20. IS TRAVAIL EASY?
21. YOU WOMEN WHO HAVE BROUGHT FORTH CHILDREN KNOW THAT IT IS NOT.
22. BUT, THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS A MIRACLE OF LIFE GIVEN BY GOD.
23. IT’S NOT EASY TO FEEL GOD’S AGONY OVER LOST SOULS
AND FERVENTLY PRAY FOR THEM.
24. YET, IN THE END IT’S A GLORIOUS THING WHEN THE LAND IS NO MORE BARREN,
BUT FRUITFUL!
D. AND IT BECOMES MORE THAN THAT! THE WHOLE LAND BECOMES FULL OF LIFE GIVING WATER.
II KINGS 3:15-18
(ELISHA SPEAKING) But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD:
1. AS WE INTERCEDE AND TRAVAIL IN PRAYER
WE ARE DIGGING SPIRITUAL DITCHES.
2. DITCHES THAT WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN WITHOUT.
3. IT WON’T BE AN OUTWARD WORK.
IT WILL BE A CLEANSING OF THE HEART.
4. THEY WON’T ONLY LOOK SAVED,
THEY’LL BE SAVED.
5. THEY’LL NOT ONLY COME TO CHURCH,
BUT, THEY’LL WORSHIP FROM THE DEPTHS OF THEIR SOUL.
VERSES 20-24 OF CHAPTER 3 OF II KINGS
And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
5. WHEN THE CHURCH IS FLOWING IN THE RIVER OF GOD,
SNATCHING SOULS FROM GOING INTO HELL,
THE ENEMY MAY LOOK AND BE DECEIVED THINKING THAT WE HAVE FALLEN.
6. BUT, WHEN THE ENEMY COMES,
LIKE A FLOOD,
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.
7. AND WE’LL GO ON THE OFFENSIVE
AND DRIVE BACK THE GATES OF HELL
AND SEE VICTORY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
8. BUT, NOT UNTIL WE GET DESPERATE TO SEE A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD.
AND WE BECOME THE SALT OF THE EARTH,
AND WE TRAVAIL,
AND DIG DITCHES,
AND LET THE RIVER OF GOD FLOW FROM WITHIN WITHOUT.
9. THAT’S WHEN REVIVAL WILL COME.
10. THAT’S WHEN WE’LL SEE OUR NATION GENUINELY REPENT.
11. THAT’S WHEN SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE!
12. OUT OF YOUR BELLY,
YOUR INNER MOST BEING,
FLOWS OUT RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.
CONCLUSION
*CHURCH, WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE SELFISH ANY LONGER.
*SOULS ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
WE MUST WORK THE HARVEST,
INTERCEDE FOR THE HARVEST
AND SEE A HARVEST.
*WE CAN’T LEAVE IT UP TO THE CHURCH DOWN THE ROAD.
*THEY MAY BE LIKE ELI, TOO WEAK
AND SPIRITUALLY BLIND TO SEE A NEED FOR A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD.
*THEY MAY BE LIKE ELI’S SONS SEEKING PLEASURE FOR THEIR FLESH.
*WE MUST BE LIKE ABRAHAM AND ELISHA AND FIGHT FOR A FRUITFUL LAND
AND FIGHT FOR SOULS IN SINS DARK SNARE.
*WE MUST DIG THE DITCHES - - -
REMOVE THE SANDBAGS,
GOD’S READY TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT ON DRY AND THIRSTY LAND!
