A DESPERATE NEED FOR A MOVE OF GOD
1 SAMUEL 3:1 – 3
1 SAMUEL 3:1
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. 2 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; 3And 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
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.
BECAUSE ELI WAS OLD, AND HIS HEALTH WAS FAILING HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SERVE AS THE PRIEST AND PROPHET OF GOD TO ISRAEL
AS WE CAN CLEARLY SEE HIS SONS WERE NOT IN ANY SHAPE TO SERVE AS GOD’S MINISTERS EITHER FOR OBVIOUS REASONS
V.1 TELLS US THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION AND THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS PRECIOUS
AFTER CAREFUL STUDY WE LEARN THAT GOD WAS NOT SPEAKING TO HIS PEOPLE, NOR WAS HE MOVING AMONG HIS PEOPLE
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THERE WAS A DESPERATE NEED FOR A MOVE OF GOD IN THOSE DAYS
SOUNDS BAD DOESN’T IT?
BUT IN MANY WAYS WE ARE IN JUST AS DESPERATE NEED OF GOD TO MOVE IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY
CAN GOD STILL MOVE TODAY?
THIS QUESTION CAN ALMOST GO UNANSWERED IN THAT WE KNOW THAT GOD CAN MOVE AT ANY TIME HE CHOOSES TO
IF GOD IS GOD, THEN AND HE CAN MOVE AT ANY TIME HE WANTS TO, AND HE CAN MOVE IN ANY WAY HE WANTS TO, AND WE KNOW IT IS HIS WILL THAT PEOPLE COME TO CHURCH
THEN WHY AREN’T PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE TO GET IN THE HOUSE OF GOD EVERY SUNDAY?
WHY THEN DO I NOT SEE GOD MOVING IN A GREATER WAY IN MY LIFE?
WHY CANT I EXPERIENCE THE GREAT SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGHS THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING?
I AM CONVINCED THAT GOD STILL CAN MOVE, THAT HE STILL DOES MOVE, AND THAT HE WILL STILL MOVE IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY IF WE ARE WILLING TO ALLOW HIM TO
THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS GOD FROM MOVING IN OUR LIVES, AND THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS GOD FROM MOVING IN OUR CHURCH IS US
QUITE OFTEN WE STAND IN THE WAY OF GOD MOVING
GOD WANTS TO DO A MIGHTY THING IN THESE LAST DAYS, AND IF GOD CANNOT MOVE THROUGH US HE WILL MOVE AROUND US {LEAVING US OUT}
WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED THAT WITHOUT A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD, OUR NATION, OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, EVEN SOME THAT SIT ON CHURCH PEWS REGULARLY ARE HEADED FOR THE JUDGMENT AND WRATH OF AN ANGRY GOD
IT IS TIME THAT THE PEOPLE OF GOD DO MORE THAN JUST TALK ABOUT REVIVAL, IT IS TIME WE LIVE, AND EXPERIENCE REVIVAL
REVIVAL CAN NO LONGER BE JUST SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SO OFTEN IN HOPE THAT SINNERS AND NEW PEOPLE WILL COME TO HEAR SOME HOT SHOT PREACHER, AND START COMING TO OUR CHURCH
REVIVAL HAS TO BE JUST THAT A RENEWING, A REAWAKENING, A BRINGING BACK TO LIFE
TOO MANY TIMES WE HAVE BECOME CONTENT TO JUST HAVE MEETINGS, AND AT THE END OF THE SCHEDULE THINK IT IS OK TO SAY O WELL WE TRIED AND GO ON ABOUT OUR BUSINESS AS USUAL
MODERN DAY SODOM NEEDS A ABRAHAM
IN THE GENESIS ACCOUNT WE READ THAT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ABRAHAM INTERCEDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF SODOM
1st GENESIS 14 TELLS OF A TIME WHEN SODOM AND GOMORRAH FELL TO THEIR ENEMIES
KEEPING IN MIND THAT LOT WAS AMONG THOSE THAT WERE TAKEN PRISONER
ABRAHAM IN VERSE 14 TOOK 318 TRAINED MEN AND WENT AFTER THEM AND TOOK THEM BACK FROM THEIR CAPTIVES
2nd GENESIS 18 TELLS US OF A TIME WHEN IT WAS REVEALED TO ABRAHAM WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO SODOM &GOMORRAH VERSE 20 & 21
IN VERSES 23 – 33 WE READ OF ABRAHAM INTERCEDING ON BEHALF OF THE CITIES
HERE IS ABRAHAM WE SEE THE CHURCH
#1 TAKING OUR TRAINED MEN AND WOMEN TO DO WARFARE AGAINST THE ENEMY OF THE LOST
#2 THE CHURCH STANDING IN THE GAP, INTERCEDING FOR THE LOST
THE MODERN DAY CHURCH HAS GOTTEN SIDE TRACKED,
TO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE TOO BUSY DOING EVERY THING BUT WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO
MOST CHURCHES TODAY SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE, WHO IS IN CONTROL, WHO IS RUNNING THE SHOW, WHO IS THE BOSS
IT IS SAD THAT SOME CHURCHES TODAY GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER AND CONTROL THEY MISS OUT ENTIRELY ON WHAT GOD HAS FOR THEM
#1 THEY NEVER DO SPIRITUAL WARFARE, MANY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT REALLY IS
#2 THEY NEVER REALLY INTERCEDE, ISAIAH 66:8 REMINDS US THAT IT WAS NOT UNTIL ZION TRAVAILED [BORE THE PAINS OF LABOR} THAT SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER CHILDREN
TOO MANY CHRISTIANS NEED TO LEARN EPHESIANS 4:11 & 12 BEFORE GOD CAN MOVE IN THEIR LIVES
EPHESIANS 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1 CORINTHIANS 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
NOT A CHURCH BOSS IN THE BUNCH
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE LORD CONDEMNS CHURCH BOSSES
REVELATION 2:19
19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
JEZEBEL HAD A SPIRIT OF CONTROL, SHE USED FLATTERY, MANIPULATIONS, TRICKERY, DECEIT TO GET HER WAY
AS WE SEE THE LORD IS NOT PLEASED WITH THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE
GOD WILL NEVER MOVE WHERE JEZEBEL DWELLS
ARE WE TRAINING FOR WAR?
AS A CHURCH WE MUST ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION ARE WE EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR BATTLE
ARE WE PERFECTING THE SAINTS
ALTHOUGH NOT POPULAR, A KNOWLEDGE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS ESSENTIAL FOR A MOVE OF GOD
WHY?
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, HOW MANY TIMES IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE DID WE SEE GOD MOVE THE MIGHTIEST
THE CHURCH TODAY IS LOOKING FOR GOD TO MOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THINGS ARE EASY
BUT GOD IS WANTING TO MOVE DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE GOLIATH IS, WHERE THE GOING MAY GET TOUGH SOMETIMES
THOSE WHO ARE SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO, AND THINGS BEING AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, WILL NEVER SEE A MOVE OF GOD
THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR MORE, AND WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES, TO PAY THE PRICE WILL SEE THE MOVE OF GOD
EZEKIEL 22:30a
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it:-- but I found none.
WILL THE LORD FIND A MAN OR WOMAN TODAY WHO HAS A BURDEN TO SEE HIM MOVE ENOUGH TO STAND IN THE GAP
ARE YOU THAT PERSON?
