Sun. July 18/93 I Sam. 7:1-14
STRATEGY FOR REVIVAL
The Atlantic Fleet was holding maneuvers. On a
destroyer the call to general quarters had the whole crew running to their stations, while already reports of simulated damage were being recorded by damage control. On deck an officer, crayon in hand surveyed the hurrying men, then stooped and traced out a rough
circle several feet in diameter extending from the rail to superstructure, and scrawled in the middle of the area, “BOMB HIT, DECK GONE." Then he stood by to watch.
A belated seaman, running to his post, reached the artificial wound and stopped. He gazed wistfully at the far side of the circle, then his face lighted. Plucking the crayon from the hand of astounded officer he quickly drew two straight lines through the center of the circle, scribbled in the middle ,"SIX-INCH PLANK" -- and hastened on his way.
I Sam.
- As believers we are holding maneuvers with our faith
- We are looking for crayons to draw imaginary
planks around what we think we need.
- We are really pretending with our spiritual battles
- Our day has not changed much with I Sam. days
- Ch. 1 people wanting and having families
- Ch. 2 The church in a mess v.12
--- Its leaders have v.17 no standards
v.22 immoral
- Ch. 3 seems like only one ministering to the Lord v.1
- Ch. 4 nothing but defeat v. 10
--- v.21, 22 God’s glory has departed
- Ch. 5-6 the enemy having his day
- Ch. 7 A real plank across a real gulf
- v.2 sick of the whole mess they were in
1 Samuel 7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
- v.3 came before the Lord
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, .........
- v.3 listened to His word
then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
- v.4 obeyed His word
1 Samuel 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
- v.6 repented
1 Samuel 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
- v.8 believed
1 Samuel 7:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
- v.9-10 God answered
1 Samuel 7:9-10 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
- v.12 people remembered
1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
- v.13-14 peace (a contentment)
1 Samuel 7:13-14 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
(KJV)
THE WELSH REVIVAL {last week}
It began at a Youth Meeting in a tiny Welsh
town. A timid young girl arose. She was so
nervous that she could only utter one
sentence: "O I do love Jesus". Than she
sat down The Lord used that earnest
testimony to fulfill His own purpose Sp.
fire came down on that young peoples
meeting which spread to the church than
the small village & on to the country.
Its influence was felt around the world.
The Welsh Revival 1904-1910
The impact was astounding. For example, Judges
were presented with white gloves -- not a case to try: no robberies, no burglaries, no rapes, no murders and no embezzlements, nothing ....Drunkenness was cut in half. There was a wave of bankruptcies but nearly all bars.... The illegitimate birth rate dropped.
All because what had happened to 17 church people, submitting themselves to God.
WHAT’S THE STRATEGY FOR US???
1. PRAY
- It’s not unanswered prayer but un-offered prayer
- Churches are dying on their feet because they are not living on their knees
- The key to fervent prayer is always the same NEED.
- Someone has said "Adversity has slain its 1000’s but prosperity has slain its 10,000’s
- The only people who pray are those who not only need God, but those who KNOW they need God.
- D.L. Moody - Every revival can be traced to a kneeling figure
2. OBEY
- Revival is obedience
- Obedience is doing exactly what I’m told to do, when I’m told to do it, and doing it with the right attitude
- Just as there has never been a revival without prayer there has never been a revival without obedience.
- Church and family splits can be headed off so simply if obedience is immediate and complete.
3. BELIEVE
- The time has come when we not only need to believe our beliefs, we must start believing God.
- Whatever is not of faith is sin
- It may seem like we are living in the last days and the falling away has started but that does not mean God can’t work
- I believe just as the church started in a blaze of glory it will go out in a blaze of glory.
- Simply because people take God at His word
- Jesus did not do many mighty works in His hometown because of unbelief
- Is the same happening today?
4. REPENT
- The last word to the church in Rev. was 5 out of 7 times -- REPENT
- In the old days flour mills were constructed by rivers and large creeks so that the water channeled to the waterwheel would cause the giant grind stones to turn and crush grain. If, in the middle of the day, the stones stopped turning the miller would go outside to see what was wrong. If he found the flow of water had been reduced to a trickle, he would go upstream to see what was blocking the flow of water and he would expend his energy removing the trash and blockage so the water could flow freely again.
- Jesus described the Christian life as rivers of living water flowing out of our innermost being.
- When the living water stops flowing its time to remove the blockage
- This is repentance
The strategy for Israel is the same for us
- PRAY
- OBEY
- BELIEVE
- REPENT ———— When will we begin?
