The Truths Of Revival 2_sun 09-28-08
The Truths of Revival-2-OT -Samuel_SUN 09-28-08
§ Introduction {TT – 1 Samuel 7}
w The Truths of Revival
Ÿ We’ve begun looking at examples of Revival in O.T.
Þ After that we will move onto the N.T.
Þ Can’t possibly look at every single one.
§ The Bible is a Revival Book
w It is ALL about revival.
w Often don’t realize it because it uses other words.
Ÿ The word “revival” is not found in KJV.
Ÿ Instead Find words like revive; revived; reviving.
¯ Restore; restoration; renew; reconcile
¯ Deliverance; restitution; Jubilee; Day of the Lord
¯ References to being set/made free; liberty
¯ FAVORITE related word: Salvation
Ÿ IOW Bible is about Salvation/Revival.
¯ Revival is the process that leads to salvation.
Ÿ Tempted during prep of msg to do study on “salvation”.
Þ Huge subject that could take many weeks.
w .:. Short version – N.T. Salvation = soteriaj; sozo
Ÿ (and all of the derivative words)
Ÿ Save; heal; preserve; rescue; enable escape; make whole; provide safety’ victory; deliver;
Ÿ A.W. Pink – Fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and pleasure of sin.
Þ IMP: if you still secretly enjoy your sin, your problem is in not believing that God has saved you from the “pleasure of sin.”
Þ If you begin to develop that faith and eventually release it –
§ ANY addiction is “done for!”
§ You’ll never have to fight it again.
Ÿ Interesting – many commentaries note that soteria …
Þ … can often mean the –
§ PROCESS of becoming saved, -OR- the …
§ CONDITION of being saved.
w When translated, many languages require that either …
Ÿ … one meaning or the other meaning is used.
§ When translated into English – must use contextual phrasing.
w “Your salvation has come.”
w “Your salvation is coming.”
Ÿ Personally, I don’t believe God chose to be unclear.
Þ The “tense” for faith is always past, present, AND future.
® Mark 11:24 (ESV) - 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it [past tense], and it will be [future tense] yours.
Ÿ Your salvation came 2000 years ago and if …
Þ … you believe it, it’s yours now and forever.
§ You’ve been saved; you are saved; and you’re going to be saved.
Ÿ Suffice it to say –
Þ Personal revival is the answer to all your personal problems.
Þ Community revival is the ans. to any community problems.
Þ National revival is the ans. to our national problems.
Þ Worldwide revival is ans. to the world’s problems.
w Once we go thru Bible looking at examples of revival …
Ÿ … we will look at historical revivals since Bible written.
É Last week – looked at Jacob’s revival. Today – look at:
§ Israel’s revival during Samuel’s Day – Background –
w 1 Samuel describes 3 Major Transitions:
Ÿ Eli’s Judgeship à Samuel’s Judgeship
Ÿ Theocracy à Monarchy
Þ Demanded by Nation of Israel
Ÿ Saul’s Kingship à David’s Kingship
w Eli ( and 2 sons) unsuccessful à Samuel’s Successful
Ÿ Under Eli – the Arc of the Covenant is stolen by Philistines.
Ÿ The Glory of the Lord departs from the Tabernacle
Ÿ The Arc remains with Philistines for 7 months.
Þ Creating havoc the entire time –
§ They pass it from tribe to tribe like hot potato.
Ÿ They finally send it back by way of an ox cart.
Þ Oxen carry it to Bethshemesh (House of the Sun)
§ Revival has returned!
w But didn’t treat it as holy – looked inside.
w Many died as a result!!!
Ÿ Will find similar stories in modern times.
§ Not good idea to treat revival lightly!!!
§ This is where we will pick the story up in Cha. 7.
w Samuel was a judge, a priest, and a prophet.
Ÿ He was a wise, faithful priest.
Ÿ He was the last great judge.
Þ (His own two sons became corrupt judges.)
Þ That’s when Israel rejected Theocracy: (HP in cha. 7)
1 Samuel 8:1-7 (NKJV) - 1Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
§ Reminds me of one effect of Charismatic Renewal.
w Prior – many in office of pastor that didn’t belong.
Ÿ 1000’s have since rejected the office of pastor.
¯ Still ripples from it:
¯ IE: recent “house church” movement.
Þ He was the first great prophet:
® Acts 3:24 (KJV) - 24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
w Let’s look at his ministry:
Ÿ God raised up Samuel to restore (revive) Israel.
Ÿ Under his leadership, the ark is returned.
1 Samuel 7:1-17 (NKJV) - 1Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab [Father of Generosity] on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar [“God has helped”] his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. …
Ÿ Revival must be in the hands of those who will care for it!!!
… And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
Ÿ Important lesson here –
Þ The presence of the Lord is necessary for revival, but …
§ … it still requires action on our part.
w When the Lord returns to us, we must return to Him!!!
Þ After 20 years, Samuel finally speaks:
3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
Ÿ Clearly the problem was continued idol worship.
Þ They worshiped Baal idols and “Ashtoreths” –
§ Ashtoreth was a female goddess worshipped by Philistines.
w [Show museum photos.]
w Many other examples – not appropriate for viewing.
§ Related to the Greek Aprodite and Roman Venus.
4So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. 5And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah [literally “watchtower”], and I will pray to the Lord for you.”
Ÿ INTERCESSION is always a key element to revival.
6So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. …
Ÿ REPENTANCE is always a key element to revival.
Þ The pouring out of water is symbolic of repentance.
® Lamentations 2:19 (NKJV) - 19“Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street.”
® Psalm 62:8 (NKJV) - 8Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
… And they fasted that day, …
Ÿ FASTING is an important element of revival.
Þ Assuming it’s not just some legalistic exercise!!!
Þ True fasting is giving up something in order to …
§ … focus on the Lord.
w Every revival has that form of sacrifice.
… and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” …
Þ Another reference to repentance – not optional!!!
§ No repentance – no revival.
… And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
Ÿ STRONG LEADERSHIP is crucial for successful revival.
Þ This is not referring to judgmental retribution.
Þ First - Like magistrate, rendering decisions and settling disputes.
§ Revival creates controversies (as we will see in this study).
Þ Second – Offering assurance that their repentance is accepted.
§ They didn’t have H/S living on inside.
§ Samuel provided assurance of reconciliation!
7Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel.
w The enemy hates true revival.
Ÿ He will certainly come against it!
And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
Ÿ Easy to get off here!
Þ Newspapers are writing about you.
Þ Relatives think you are nuts!
Þ Religious leaders writing hateful articles in Christian mags.
§ (Often these were the very leaders of …
w … the previous move of God!!!)
8So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
Ÿ Rather than rejecting God’s leader, they turn to him.
Þ (Compare with Moses and Children of Israel!)
9And Samuel took a suckling lamb [type of Christ’s sacrifice] and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
Ÿ Samuel redoubles his Intercession
Þ “Burnt Offering” – important form of WORSHIP.
§ Often offerings were sacrificed after setting aside …
w … a portion for the priest.
Ÿ This is how the priest “made a living”.
Ÿ (Sanctioned by God.)
§ But a burnt offering was completely consumed.
w Except for the hide – (Lev. 7:8)
§ Nothing left but ashes.
w All else ascends in smoke (type prayer) to God.
w Represents a COMPLETE sacrifice –
Ÿ Spirit, soul, and body!!!
®Romans 12:1 (NKJV) - 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
10Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. … … …
w Note: Both leadership and congregation have had …
Ÿ … every opportunity to compromise.
Þ But they didn’t – they stayed the course for God!!!
§ Watch what happens as a result:
Ÿ Have you ever noticed how easy it is to …
Þ … look to “natural” solutions to the enemy’s attacks?
Ÿ I would never teach “ignoring” natural problems.
Þ We live in the natural and have responsibilities, but …
§ … when the host of the enemy pops over the hill to attack, …
§ … where will you be?
w At the ATM trying to draw out enough to solve problem?
w On the therapist’s couch discussing your childhood?
w On the computer looking up symptoms on WebMD?
Ÿ -- OR –
Þ Will the enemy find you worshiping your God …
§ … with all your might!!!!
Ÿ Listen very carefully-
Þ I’m not against ATMs.
Þ I’m not against therapists. (Married to one!!!)
Þ I’m not against WebMD – I’ve done research there!
§ But those things are NOT where our help comes from!!!
® Psalm 121:1-8 (NKJV) - 1A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade [symbolic of covering or defense] at your right hand. 6The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Ÿ So what happened to the enemy when popped up over hill?:
… … … But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car [“place of the lamb” or “house of pasture”].
Þ Hope you noticed that we have a part to play in our victory.
§ Knowing God has won the victory for us is NOT the time …
w … to quit the “fight of faith”.
Ÿ Another element of Revivals is …
Þ … THE MIRACULOUS.
12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah [watchtower] and Shen [crag – sharp rock], and called its name Ebenezer [stone of help], saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Þ Don’t read as, “So far, so good!”:
Missionary J. Hudson Taylor had a plaque in his home that read, EBENEZER and JEHOVAH-JIREH. That means, “Thus far the Lord has helped us—The Lord will see to it.” This takes care of the past and the future, so why worry about the present? God is in control!
w Putting ourselves in remembrance of …
Ÿ … what God has ALREADY DONE is …
Ÿ … a powerful faith builder.
Þ This was all a pictorial of what had just happened!
§ Between the watchtower (where the people were), and …
§ … the precipice of destruction (the enemy), was …
§ … the rock of our salvation.
13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. …
Ÿ Another element of successful revival-
Þ RESTORATION of what’s been taken from you.
§ What has the enemy taken from you?
w Your peace?
… Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
w Has the enemy stolen your dream?
w Has he stolen your joy?
Ÿ If so – what you need – first & foremost – is revival!!!
15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. 17But he always returned to Ramah, [Rita and I like to return to RHEMA, too!] for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord.